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More Idioms for TOEFL and IELTS

As mentioned in previous ICON+ blogs, using idiomatic expressions in your speaking and writing for the TOEFL and IELTS is a fantastic way to achieve top marks. Incorporating idioms into your sentences helps show the examiners your fluency in English. Furthermore, it adds emotion and creativity to your work.  If you are getting bored with your revision for TOEFL and IELTS, spice up your language by using some of the idiomatic phrases below in your speaking and writing.

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More Idioms for TOEFL and IELTS

As mentioned in previous ICON+ blogs, using idiomatic expressions in your speaking and writing for the TOEFL and I

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Get the Most Out of Your TOEFL or IELTS Course

Every year, we at ICON+ work with hundreds of students preparing for the TOEFL and IELTS exams.

The scores they achieve impact which colleges, universities, and graduate programs they attain admission to; career opportunities; and even whether or not they can migrate to their countries of choice. A great deal of impact for tests that each last less than four hours, huh?

Although our students pay for the same course to prepare them for these crucial exams, we’ve noticed that some students walk out with disproportionately higher improvement on scores. We’ve scratched our heads and come out with the following tips to help you get the most out of your TOEFL or IELTS preparation course:

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IELTS – Tips for Perfect Pronunciation

Many students worry about their pronunciation, which can significantly affect their overall confidence on the speaking section of the IELTS. The truth is the IELTS exam is not going to mark you down for having an accent. What IELTS wants to see is that you can communicate your points effectively to the interviewer. I’ve compiled a list of tips to help improve your English pronunciation.

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Worthwhile Revision Books for TOEFL and IELTS

Getting started on your revision for your IELTS or TOEFL is always the biggest step. Purchasing a great revision guide can be the easy kick start you need to get going with your preparation. These revision tools provide useful techniques and tactics to effectively answer different question types as well as general exam advice.

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IELTS – Requirements for Schools and Immigration

 The IELTS is a wonderful multipurpose exam. This English proficiency test is not only used for applying to academic institutes but also for immigration purposes and work visas.

So the question is what mark do I need to attain on the IELTS to be successfully admitted to the school of my choice or to migrate to the country of my choice? Well, to be honest, the answer is not as simple or straightforward as many hope, as each country and academic program has different criteria to fulfill.

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Popularity of the IELTS

Two weeks ago, we posted a blog about the increasing popularity of the TOEFL. To be fair, the numbers of IELTS test takers have also been rising.

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Singlish and the IELTS/TOEFL Exams

Admit it. Singlish is COOL!

“La”, “Ma”, “Ah”, “Arama-!” Although foreigners from North America, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand might not understand what we’re saying when they first arrive at our shores, they quickly find themselves falling in love with this dialect that incorporates words from so many different cultures. Here, on our tropical paradise, we convey ideas and messages in the most efficient way possible. “Sure, I can certainly do that for you, sir!” becomes a succinct, “Caaan!” Come on - what’s not to love about Singlish?

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IELTS – Graphs and Letters

The IELTS writing section provides you with two independent writing tasks; your allotted time is one hour to complete this section. Dependant on whether you are taking the Academic IELTS or the General IELTS, you will be presented with a graph and an essay or a letter and an essay respectively. During the writing section you are advised to spend 20 minutes for either the graph or the letter and 40 minutes for the essay.

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TOEFL and IELTS Language Tips

Overcoming the challenges of the English language is your first step to conquering your IELTS or TOEFL examination. What makes it so tricky is that the English language, like many others, has various exceptions to the rules we learn. As Stephen Fry of the BBC famously stated, there are actually more exceptions than words which follow the rule! If understanding the nuances of the English language doesn’t confuse you enough, there is a whole load of common exceptions that you need to know. Along with common exceptions to the rule, here are some useful tips for mastering the English language.

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