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Advice From A Guy With IELTS Band 8...

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Image Credits: Yash Singh Credit for this guest post goes to Yash Singh. The owner of thebrainwrites.com doesn't support, advocate, or promote any opinion or view expressed in the content below. If you're interested in a guest post on thebrainwrites.com, comment below with your contact detail. Listening: 9.0, Reading: 8.5, Writing: 7, Speaking: 8, Overall Band: 8.0.  In my experience, IELTS is an extremely accurate estimation of a person's English language capabilities. Hence, if one wants to prepare for the test, they work on improving language skills rather than taking to preparation like a conventional examination. Rote learning and exercising stress for cracking IELTS is a strict no. Having said that, it is always helpful to be aware of the format in which the test would happen, and practice to get accustomed to the time limits. My preparation was focused on taking as many mock tests as possible. I opted for the British Council and they provide a booklet wi...

How To Prepare For IELTS | IELTS Preparation

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Image Credits: British Council Listening: 9.0, Reading: 8.5, Writing: 7, Speaking: 7.5, Overall Band: 8.0. This was my result when I appeared for the IELTS Academic Test in September, 2018. Before diving into the preparation strategy and relevant tips & suggestions, let me make a point clear: IELTS isn't a test where overnight study would guarantee you awesome band score. The pivotal point in acing this exam is your existing command over English, both written and spoken. For someone who has been using the language as a medium of communication for a really long time (say, right from the time they started at school), IELTS won't be a major hassle to deal with. On the other hand, if your usage of English is infrequent, intermittent, or really casual, you'll find IELTS to be challenging--I won't sugarcoat my words. The content in this post is useful irrespective of you appearing for the Academic or the General version of IELTS. If you have doubts on which version o...

Poetry Fanatic? Some Writing Tips From An Emerging Poet

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Image Credits: Harsh Parashar Credit for this guest post goes to Harsh Parashar. The owner of thebrainwrites.com doesn't support, advocate, or promote any opinion or view expressed in the content below. If you're interested in a guest post on thebrainwrites.com, comment below with your contact detail. Over the last few years, people have become infatuated with the art of writing, making a career out of it or pursuing it as a hobby. Yes, I'm confidently saying people are choosing writing as their hobby!   The most common gigs people write are poetry, short stories and stand up sets. All of them have one thing in common: identifying and resonating with the audience. I am a Hindustani Poet. When I write, I always keep one point in mind--when people start relating to your words, only then do they read or listen to you. I am listing a few tips that flow through my mind when I begin writing a piece. Do not rush while writing. Writing poetry is not just ...

Writer's Toolkit: Compilation Of 650+ Idioms And Phrases

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While your writing should be fluid and concise enough for readers to get the message, you should not forgo playing with words. Idioms and phrases are a medium for writing wizardry. In fact, anyone who uses English for day-to-day conversation or communication should ideally have some idea about them People often utter idioms and phrases in a single breath, thinking both are the same. Wrong! If you're one of those individuals not sure on how the two differ, I'd recommend you to read this . To help build your English language arsenal, I've compiled a list of 650+ idioms and phrases. Credit for this list goes to the creator of the 'Idioms' App that I downloaded from the App Store.  For each idiom/phrase, you'll find the meaning and an example. In case you want to report any error or share an idiom or phrase not covered in this list, do comment! A (real) go-getter: A very ambitious, hard-working person. Sentence: She’s a real go-getter. ...