Videographics – for IELTS practice

Have you ever seen a videographic? I’m sure most of you have. Have you ever thought of using them in an IELTS class? Well, they are an excellent choice for IELTS students because a videographic is a video which combines moving images with graphical images on top. (macmillan dictionary) There are several videographics you can find online which are like ‘live’ charts. Everything takes place in front of your eyes. I find them particularly helpful for students starting to work with charts. It’s a great practice.

I have started preparing a short series of such videographics which students can watch and complete a short exercise. The videos are short so they do not have to spend a lot of time on them. In this way, they watch the analysis of a graph/chart, etc. and also learn and/or revise language used when writing a report for IELTS task 1. Teachers can download the video and do the exercise in class or you can ask your students to visit my blog and do the exercise. Whichever is more convenient.

I hope you like them. Remember to leave me feedback so that I know you find them helpful!


Global smart phone shipments

Sales have reached a ———— (1) but with a new cast of companies. In ——— (2) around ———————– (3) smartphones were sold. Nokia shipped— ——– (4) , —————- (5) by Blackberry, Apple, Samsung, HTC and others. The market soared but Samsung and Apple took over the first and second ————- (6) and pulled away. Last year, shipments ———– (7) a billion according to the research firm IDC. Samsung and Apple still dominate but new names make the top 5 : LG of S.Korea and Huawei and Lenovo from China . Nokia left the —————- (8) all together. It’s selling its mobile phone Division to Microsoft. Blackberry and HTC are absent, too. The ———— (9) growth is the cheap android phones especially from China. Today, supplies outside the top 5 ———— —– (10) almost 40% of shipments, ——– (11) the ——- (12) of just 4 years ago.

ǝɹɐɥs ˙21 ‘ǝlqnop ˙11 ‘ɹoɟ ʇunoɔɔɐ ˙01 ‘ʇsǝʇsɐɟ ˙9 ‘pɹɐoq ɹǝpɐǝl ˙8 ‘pǝɥɔɐǝɹ ˙7 ‘sʇods ˙6 ‘pǝʍolloɟ ˙5 ‘ ʇsoɯ ǝɥʇ ˙4 ‘000˙000˙003 ˙3 ‘0102 ˙2 ‘uoıllıq ˙1
ʎǝʞ ɹǝʍsuɐ


New IELTS speaking topics (December, 2015)

New IELTS speaking topics (December, 2015) in Greece, as our students who sat the exam  remember them :
Speaking test



Do you work or study?

What do you study?

Why did you choose this field of studies?

What are your plans after you finish your studies?

Do you watch any tv? What kind of shows do you watch on tv?

Do you watch more tv now compared to when you were a child?

Do you think that children today watch a lot of tv?



Describe a short trip you did in the past. Please say :

Where it was

Who you went with

How long you stayed

Why you would like to repeat it



Why do you think people choose to do short trips?

People who visit your country do you usually come for short or longer trips?

What is the difference between a short and a long trip?