We are getting a pretty wet Spring this year. What are some words that we can use to describe this rainy weather?

Very useful video on CEFR levels

https://youtu.be/rPsOyJSb2Bc?si=b8flFWFKcGeaWVW8

#RamadanChallenge

Day 9: Writing Task 1: Maps and Process diagrams

Instructor: Bekzod Mirakhmedov (Overall 9.0)

Time: 6AM (post-Suhoor), 1-april

Venue: @ieltszone_uz

The new Eminem album out?????

I got a feeling that it is an April Fool’s day thing. 🫣😬🤦‍♂️ I may have been fooled :) and so have you :)

One is certain: the new album is on the way but today is not the day!

Did you know that today, April 2, is an Autism Awareness Day around the world?

I would urge everyone to learn something interesting about Autism and share it in the comments section (if the link sharing doesn't work, I will enable it) with a brief summary.

And I'd like to leave you with a touching quote by prof. Temple Grandin:

If it weren't for autistic people, we would still be living in caves.

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/world-autism-awareness-day-2024-theme-date-history-significance-and-other-details/articleshow/108950342.cms?from=mdr

Who is going to be there? Make sure you sign up for the event and meet us there! Unfortunately two of the niners can’t make it, but I will def be there!

https://www.tg-me.com/ieltszone_uz/7568

#GuessTheIDIOM

What idiom or expression is illustrated in this AI generated picture?

Here is a short story (again AI-generated) that captures the essense of the expression hidden in the picture.

Sunshine Companions

Ella met Amanda during one of the best summers of her life. They were both interns at a bustling tech startup downtown, and their desks were only a few feet apart. Amidst the coding marathons and late-night product launches, a friendship blossomed. Amanda was vibrant and full of stories, always suggesting they grab the newest foodie spot after work or hit the beach on weekends.

The summer flew by in a blur of shared selfies and laughter. Ella felt like she had made a friend for life, someone who understood her quirky jokes and shared her passion for graphic design. When the internship ended with promises to stay in touch, Ella believed them wholeheartedly.

But as autumn leaves fell and Ella’s life took a challenging turn—her mother fell ill, and medical bills piled up—Amanda seemed increasingly distant. Calls went unanswered, and texts were met with brief, delayed replies. Ella tried to understand, attributing the silence to the new job Amanda had mentioned in one of their last conversations.

One chilly evening, Ella saw a group photo on social media of Amanda with new friends, all smiles at a local festival Ella had mentioned wanting to attend. The sting of exclusion was sharp. It was then she reached out again, this time to share her struggles and seek support.

The response was a generic message, filled with hollow apologies and vague promises to catch up soon. Days turned into weeks, and then months, with no real effort from Amanda to reconnect. Ella’s challenges grew, but so did her resilience and her circle of genuine friends—those who stood by her when the skies were grey.

It wasn’t until the following summer, as Ella organized a small exhibition of her graphic designs, that Amanda reappeared, effusive in her praise and congratulations. But Ella, now wiser and more discerning, recognized the signs of a fair-weather friend.

Politely, she accepted Amanda’s compliments, engaging in small talk but no longer opening her heart. As Amanda drifted away to mingle with other guests, Ella turned her attention back to her true friends, grateful for the lessons learned and the love around her. She knew now that some friends were like summer storms—intense and memorable but never meant to last through tougher seasons.

Make a list of the collocations we can all learn from this short story.

#GuessTheIDIOM

The expression "fair-weather friend" refers to a person who is supportive and friendly only when circumstances are pleasant or profitable but fails to be supportive in times of trouble.

Example sentence:
Jane realized that Lucy was just a fair-weather friend when she suddenly stopped calling after Jane lost her job.

IELTS Liz has certainly been a prominent figure in the IELTS community; most of us have used her free resources at some point, either for test preparation or teaching. I was quite surprised by a video a colleague shared with me. It turns out that Liz has been battling a serious illness for several years while continuing to create her videos, which she stopped producing about nine years ago. A few days ago, she released this YouTube video to share her personal journey, which I found both touching and beautiful. I've decided to share it with all of you. I suppose the takeaway here is that people can be facing challenges in life; just because it doesn't seem apparent on the surface, doesn't mean it isn't happening.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN9FBn0PBXw

#GuesstheIDIOM

What idiom do you think is depicted here?
This one is very straightforward.

Many of you have suggested the expression “heart-touching,” and as soon as I saw this suggestion, I immediately regretted the illustration I chose.

The idiom I was thinking of was “to have one’s finger on the pulse,” which means to stay informed and aware of the most recent developments, trends, or sentiments, particularly in fields such as business, politics, or culture. It's about being attuned to what is current and relevant, ensuring that one can respond effectively and timely to changes or new information.

Definition: The idiom “to have one’s finger on the pulse” means to be keenly aware of and responsive to the latest developments, trends, or sentiments, particularly in business, politics, or culture.

Example Sentence: The marketing director always has her finger on the pulse, quickly adapting strategies based on current consumer behaviors and market trends.

Feel free to use this idiom in your own sentences in the comments section!

#CommonMistakes

❌ It is no doubt that the rich have a great advantage.

One way to fix it is to replace It is with there is:

✅ There is no doubt that the rich have a great advantage.

In spoken English, you might often hear people say “it is no doubt.” However, in writing, this phrasing can be unclear without proper punctuation. To correct it, you can use commas to separate “no doubt,” which clarifies the phrase without altering the spoken flow:

✅ It is, no doubt, that the rich have a great advantage.

#Speaking #BandDescriptors
Fluency (& Coherence)

Band 9

* fluent with only very occasional repetition and self-correction

* any hesitation that occurs is used only to prepare the content of the next utterance and not to find words and grammar.

* speech is situationally appropriate and cohesive features are fully acceptable.

* topic development is fully coherent and appropriately extended.

Band 8

* Fluent with only very occasional repetition or
self-correction. (the same as band 9)

* Hesitation may occasionally be used to find
words or grammar, but most will be content
related. (band 9 candidates use hesitation only for content, not words or grammar)

* Topic development is coherent, appropriate
and relevant. (not as fully and extended as band 9.0)

Band 7

* Able to keep going and readily produce long
turns without noticeable effort.

* Some hesitation, repetition and/or self-
correction may occur, often mid-sentence and
indicate problems with accessing appropriate
language. However, these will not affect
coherence.

* Flexible use of spoken discourse markers,
connectives and cohesive features.

#Speaking #BandDescriptors

Lexical Resource

Band 9

* Total flexibility and precise use in all contexts.

* Sustained use of accurate and idiomatic language.

Band 8

* Wide resource, readily and flexibly used to discuss all topics and convey precise meaning.

* Skilful use of less common and idiomatic items despite occasional inaccuracies in word choice and collocation.

* Effective use of paraphrase as required.

Band 7

* Resource (not wide enough) flexibly (but not readily) used to discuss a variety of (not all) topics.

Some ability to use less common and idiomatic items and an awareness of style and collocation is evident though inappropriacies occur.

Effective use of paraphrase as required. (the same as band 8.0)