Study planning · · 4 min read
IELTS vs TOEFL: Which English Exam Should You Take?
An honest comparison of IELTS and TOEFL iBT: format, scoring, difficulty by skill, acceptance, cost factors and how to choose in one afternoon.
More guides
Older IELTS and TOEFL preparation guides. The newest writing lives on the blog front page.
Writing and speaking · · 4 min read
IELTS Writing Task 2: What Examiners Actually Reward
The four public band descriptors turned into practical writing decisions: task response, paragraphing, vocabulary risk and grammar range in Task 2.
Writing and speaking · · 3 min read
TOEFL Writing for an Academic Discussion: Winning the 10-Minute Task
How the TOEFL discussion writing task works, what raters look for in a 10-minute post, and a repeatable structure that leaves time to check your work.
Reading, listening and vocabulary · · 4 min read
How to Learn Exam Vocabulary That Sticks: Spaced Repetition Done Right
Why word lists fail before IELTS and TOEFL, how spaced repetition and active recall actually work, and a daily vocabulary routine that survives busy weeks.
Reading, listening and vocabulary · · 3 min read
True, False, Not Given: Beating the Trickiest IELTS Reading Question
A reliable method for True/False/Not Given questions: what Not Given really means, the tester traps to expect and a drill routine that builds accuracy.
Reading, listening and vocabulary · · 4 min read
TOEFL Listening: A Note-Taking System That Actually Helps
How to take notes during TOEFL lectures and conversations without losing the thread: what to write, what to skip and how to drill the skill in four weeks.
Study planning · · 4 min read
The Final Week Before Your IELTS or TOEFL: A Calm, Complete Checklist
What to do in the last seven days before your English exam: the taper schedule, logistics to confirm, what to review, and what to deliberately skip.
Reading, listening and vocabulary · · 4 min read
IELTS Listening: How to Stop Losing Marks You Already Earned
Most IELTS Listening marks are lost on mechanics, not comprehension: spelling, word limits, plurals and distractors. Here is how to plug each leak.