IELTS KITE

16/10/2026

Did you see our student Alex's great IELTS results on Wednesday?

He had been struggling to reach 6.5 or higher in his IELTS writing and reading, so he came to use for help.

After doing a diagnostic IELTS writing test to identify his problems with his texts, Kate knew exactly how to help him improve.

For reading, she showed him reading strategies to improve his time management, and taught him techniques for different question types.

He went from 6 to 7.5 in reading and 6 to 7 in writing.

Well done Alex, and thank you for the great review.

14/10/2026

Well done to our student, Alex, on achieving the scores he needs in his IELTS test.

Alex, from Brazil, needed IELTS to register to work as a radiologist in Ireland.

He had lived in Ireland for a while so he had good language skills.

However, every time he took the IELTS test, he got 6.0 in IELTS writing and reading.

I did a diagnostic IELTS writing test with him and found that the main issues were with Task Response and Coherence and Cohesion

😔He was not addressing the question properly
😔He was not developing his ideas clearly and logically
😔He was not showing his position (opinion)

Alex took 1-1 online lessons with me, where we focused on:

✅ The different essay question types and what they require
✅ Essay structures for different question types
✅ Developing his ideas logically using the Main Point - Explain - Link to the question structure
✅ Writing paragraphs with clear topic sentences
✅ Language to show a strong position

He wrote essays after each class and got expert feedback on how to improve.

Alex's essay became more logical, less vague and better structured.

In his next IELTS test, he scored band 7.0.

If you are struggling to reach band 7.0 or higher in your IELTS writing, ask about our diagnostic IELTS writing test. This can identify your issues and help you understand what to improve.

13/10/2026

We see so many iELTS candidates who believe that vocabulary is the most important thing for a high score in IELTS writing task 2.

They learn lists of vocabulary and then try to use them all in their essays

Then they are disappointed when their score does not increase 😞

As a former IELTS writing examiner I will tell you the truth. 🧑‍🎓

Learning more vocabulary is not the best way to improve your IELTS writing score❌

The problem with most IELTS essays that are stuck at 6.0 or 6.5 is NOT vocabulary.

It is the Task Response

In the essays, the IELTS candidates do not:

👉Fully address the question
👉Develop their ideas
OR
👉Have a clear position

✅Task Response is 25% of your mark for IELTS writing task 2.

Understanding how to do these things can increase your IELTS writing score to 7.0 and higher.

Do you understand Task Response?

Let us know in the comments 👇

10/10/2026

How many main points do you need in an IELTS essay?

Our advice as experience IELTS writing tutors who have marked thousands of IELTS essays is....

✅No more than two points per paragraph.

If you write more than two points in one paragraph, you do not develop them properly.

One of the biggest reasons for a low score in Task Response in IELTS writing is listing points in body paragraphs and not developing them

✅Choose one or two points for each paragraph

You need to explain each point clearly and logically.

👉Make a point - Explain the point - Connect it to the question

For example, if the question is:

"Many people don’t feel safe either when they are at home or when they go out.

What are the reasons for this?

What can be done to solve this problem?"

✅In body paragraph 1, choose two reasons/causes

Reason 1 = too many reports of crimes on social media

Explain reason 1 = nowadays news websites share stories of home break-ins on their social media channels, which appear in people's news feeds. As people are often online constantly, it seems that crimes are very frequent and that it is easy for people to break into homes.

Explain how it connects to the question:.= This results in people not feeling safe in their homes

Reason 2 = cities are not well maintained

Explain reason 2 = governments lack money, so they don't repair city infrastructure. Street lights are broken resulting in dark streets. Buildings are abandoned and not repaired

Explain how it is connected to the question = At night, people have to walk through dark streets, past empty buildings which makes them scared

Explain your points clearly, do not just write lists. This is how to reach band 7+ in your IELTS writing test.

08/10/2026

Every day we see far too many myths about IELTS writing shared on Instagram and Facebook.

As former IELTS examiners, we can see that they are not true. However, these posts are often shared thousands of times, which means you probably believe them.

This can stop you getting the IELTS writing score you need 🥺

Here are the most common myths about IELTS writing task 2.

1️⃣You need to use 'advanced' vocabulary to get a high score.

This is not true.

✅You need precise vocabulary so you can explain your points clearly. This means words like 'bite' 'scratch' 'fur' 'allergic reaction' if you are writing about pets

✅ Collocations (phrases) are far more important than single words e.g. pose a threat to, put pressure on, have a detrimental effect on, foster a sense of...

✅You need the right prepositions e.g. result in vs. result from

2️⃣Don't repeat words

Many IELTS candidates use synonyms for all the words in their essays, so they are really confusing to read

✅It is ok to repeat words sometimes. We have to repeat grammar words like 'is/are', 'have/has' 'the'. This shows you that the advice 'don't repeat words' is absolute rubbish.

✅ You need to use the same topic based words e.g. if the essay is about environmental problems, you need to repeat the word 'environment'

✅You can change the word forms e.g. benefit, beneficial

✅Use referencing (this, that, it etc) to avoid repeating the main words

✅If you use synonyms, make sure the meaning and use is the same. It is better to repeat the word than to use a different one that is wrong.

3️⃣ Write a lot of linking words at the start of sentences

✅ Use them within sentences too e.g. There are those, however, who.....

✅Use phrases, as well as individual words: Moreover = Another serious issues is....

If you believed some of these myths before, and you learned something new today, you need to follow us

05/10/2026

We see the same problem with IELTS writing task 1 map descriptions.

IELTS candidates write about the changes between the maps...

BUT
..they don't consider how to organise the information within the body paragraphs.

This makes the text confusing to read, and you get alw score in TA and CC. 😔

✅Our recommended structure for IELTS task 1 is:

Body paragraph 1 - describe map 1
Body paragraph 2 - describe the changes between map 1 and map 2

For body paragraph 1, look at the maps. What is the most logical way to organize the information

👉By location

Describe the features from north to south, south to north, east to west or west to east

👉By features

Group the related features together

e.g. put all the housing together, all the amenities together and all the transport together.

Then make sure body paragraph 2 is organised in the same way.

Try writing your IELTS task 1 maps like this, and watch your score improve.

For more advice and tips on IELTS writing task 1, follow us and check out our stories.

01/10/2026

Do you know the right vocabulary for IELTS task 1 map descriptions?

IELTS writing examiners are looking for certain things when you describe a map

1️⃣ Locations

You need to describe precisely where things are in the map. For example

For places:

✅ in the north/south/east/west
✅ to the north/south/east/west of
✅along the coast

For floor plans:

✅on the left/right
✅ in the corner
✅ along the back wall

✅next to, between, opposite

2️⃣ Features

You need to describe what is in the map or plan

✅fields, forests, woods, swamp, river
✅farmhouse, barn, skyscrapers, factories,
✅roads, streets, roundabout, junction
✅ cupboards, shelves, doors,

3️⃣ Changes

You then need to describe the changes in the map or plan. You need words like

✅demolished/knocked down
✅build/constructed
✅cleared/cut down
✅extended/expanded
✅moved/relocated
✅rearranged/reorganised

If you learn the right vocabulary, you can get a good score in IELTS writing map tasks

If you found this useful, follow us for more mosts about IELTS map tasks

30/09/2026

If you are a teacher, come and watch both Kris and Kate talk at an online conference on Saturday.

All the money goes to support Ukraine.

Your students know the vocabulary. They completed the grammar task. Then you ask them to discuss a question and the room goes quiet.

Silence does not always mean they have nothing to say. Teenagers and young adults may be worried about mistakes, peer reactions, or simply not know how to enter the conversation.

At TTD 2026, Kate Lloyd will unpack the reasons learners hold back and share practical ways to increase participation without forcing performance.

Kate is an English teacher and trainer with 19 years of experience, including seven years as an academic manager in Ukraine. She specialises in IELTS and holds the Trinity DipTESOL and Cambridge Train the Trainer certificate.

If “work in pairs” is not enough to get them talking, this session is for you.

Ready to transform your teaching?
👉Registration: https://forms.gle/2kDQ1cNgksoNPd7c9 (690 UAH )
🔗Learn more and register: https://events.ihkyiv.com/en

💵100% of proceeds go to the "Come Back Alive" foundation.