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  • Language and Grammar • Mar 2025

    Vocabulary Exploration

    Here are some interesting words that you could use to describe different situations, people and things. These are definitely among those words that will make you seem articualte!

    First Academy Team

    New
  • Writing • Oct 2024

    Common Mistakes in Letters

    There are some simple mistakes that Indian students commonly make. These can damage scores especially when those mistakes are made in exams. Here are tips on how to correct these!

    First Academy Team

  • Listening • Oct 2024

    8 Strategies for Listening Success

    Deciphering speaker intentions is a critical skill for success in the listening section of any language test. In this post, we will look at how this could be done better.

    First Academy Team

  • Writing • Oct 2024

    Writing Sample with Top-Grade Vocabulary

    Here is a writing sample that is an embodiment of good word use and native-level English

    First Academy Team

  • Writing • Oct 2024

    How to Paraphrase Better

    Paraphrasing is simply a restatement of the information of the original text or passage so that it has the same meaning, but in “your own words”. The phrase “in your own words” indicates that you have to rewrite the original text or passage in your own writing style by using different words.

    First Academy Team

  • Reading • Oct 2024

    Reading Comprehension Tips and Tricks

    The full primer of understanding reading comprehension questions - no matter which exam you are taking. Dive in

    First Academy Team

  • Writing • Oct 2024

    Two questions in one - WT2

    Here is a sample answer to this Cambridge IELTS Writing Task 2 - real exam question. In this post several key words have been highlighted. These words demonstrate flexibility and precision that is needed for a Band 9!

    First Academy Team

  • Reading • Oct 2024

    Reading Question Types

    As long as it is a language test - the language, and the name of the text notwithstanding, reading is clearly one of the most, if not the most, challenging section. Here are some of the common question types you should be ready for.

    First Academy Team

  • Language and Grammar • Oct 2024

    Idioms - Agreeing and Disagreeing

    In this post you will learn several idioms and idiomatic expressions that you could use when agreeing or disagreeing with someone. There is also an audio recording of three people having a conversation using those idioms. Read the conversation below. You will note that all the idioms have been underlined for you. Then and listen to the 🔉tape at the end of the post.

    First Academy Team

  • Language and Grammar • Oct 2024

    Boost Your Exam Score

    This is the secret ingredient to quickly and surely improve your exam score.

    First Academy Team

  • Language and Grammar • Oct 2024

    10 Words For a Great Score

    Use these words correctly an ensure a great score - Also take the embedded free test! Using Band 9 and GRE Vocabulary Using words correctly is more important than using big words. Correct grammar and spelling are essential for effective communication, as they help to ensure clarity and prevent misunderstandings.

    First Academy Team

  • Language and Grammar • Oct 2024

    Idioms for a Better Score

    Idioms are a group of words whose meaning cannot be understood from the literal definition of the individual words. They are unique to each language and culture, and often reflect the history, values, and beliefs of the people who use them. This makes them difficult to translate accurately into other languages. Translating idioms word-for-word can lead to confusion and misinterpretation, as the figurative meaning of the idiom may not be clear. This is why many test takers struggle to understand idiomatic expressions and therefore pick wrong answers and end-up with lower then ideal scores.

    First Academy Team

  • Language and Grammar • Oct 2024

    Connecting Words in Writing

    In this post we will look at the use, abuse, and the right use of connecting words. Read on to know more about how to write both with and without connecting words. Connecting words are also called transition words. While it is possible to write an essay without obvious connecting words, it may not be very clear or coherent for the reader. Connecting words help to show the logical relationships between different ideas in your text, and they also make your writing more engaging and interesting. However, overuse of transition words can make writing seem overly formal or robotic. It can disrupt the natural flow of language and make the text feel choppy or disjointed. While transition words are useful for guiding the reader through the text, relying on them too heavily can lead to redundancy and monotony.

    First Academy Team

  • Language and Grammar • Oct 2024

    By vs. Because

    Many test takers and learners of English are often confused between 'By' and 'Because'. This simple post will help you understand the difference between the two!

    First Academy Team

  • Language and Grammar • Oct 2024

    12 Words to Boost Your Exam Score!

    The article showcases a rich vocabulary, employing words like "apex" and "bacchanalian" to paint a vivid picture of Ibiza's transformation. It goes beyond mere definitions, using context to illustrate nuanced meanings, aiding reader comprehension and vocabulary expansion.

    First Academy Team

  • Writing • Jan 2024

    Positive and Negative Development Question

    Here is a writing sample with complex sentences and excellent use of vocabulary. Both these elements will definitely boost your writing score to Band 8 and beyond!

    First Academy Team

  • Writing • Oct 2023

    Reporting Data - Graphs and Charts - Band 9 Sample

    It is essential that you understand the information presented in the diagram before you begin writing. Here is how you may do it.

    First Academy Team

  • Language and Grammar • Oct 2023

    Do Not Make this Common Exam Mistake!

    This is one mistake a lot of people make and a common one tested in many exams like SAT, IELTS, and PTE. Read to find out more!

    First Academy Team

  • Writing • Oct 2023

    Writing Task 2 : Creating Ideas

    For most of us writing becomes a problem when we do not know what to write. This post will help you overcome the writers block!

    First Academy Team

  • Writing • May 2023

    The perfect paragraph for a great score

    Paragraphing is a skill that is important for both writing well, and for reading better. What many new learners do not understand is that tips to write better paragraphs, also are indicators to understand reading comprehension better!

    First Academy Team

  • Language and Grammar • May 2023

    Verb-Tenses | Important English Exam Concept

    Verbs are words that describe an action, occurrence or state of being. Tenses, on the other hand, are different forms of verbs that show when the action or state of being occurred.

    First Academy Team

  • Language and Grammar • May 2023

    Modal Verbs - Improve your Band Score

    Modal verbs are an important aspect of English grammar that can often be tested on English exams, including those like the IELTS.

    First Academy Team

  • Language and Grammar • May 2023

    Gerunds and Infinitives

    This is one of the most overlooked concept in English. Understanding this will instantly improve your understanding of complex sentences. This concept confuses most learners of English and mastering this concept will make sure you will never make this mistake again!

    First Academy Team

  • Language and Grammar • Apr 2023

    Common Mistakes in IELTS - Articles

    one of the most challenging aspects of the language to teach is the use of articles. Articles are small words that are used to indicate the presence or absence of a noun.

    First Academy Team

  • Language and Grammar • Apr 2023

    5 tips to instantly improve your IELTS score

    These 5 tips will instantly improve your language and make you ready for any English language exam like IELTS, PTE, DET, OET, or TOEFL.

    First Academy Team

  • Reading • Apr 2023

    10 Must Know Concepts for Reading Comprehension - Part 2

    The second part of a two part article on how to be better prepared for exams like GRE, IELTS, SAT and more. These concepts are commonly repeated concepts in these exams.

    First Academy Team

  • Language and Grammar • Apr 2023

    10 Words You Must Know for your next English Exam

    There are some words you must know irrespective of which competitive exam you are taking. These words are important for IELTS, GRE, TOEFL, Digital SAT, PTE, OET, and More.

    First Academy Team

  • Language and Grammar • Mar 2023

    Verb Tense and Verb Mood - Quiz

    Here are some questions on Verb Tense and Verb Mood. These questions are important for any English test. in IELTS, using these correctly are important in Writing and Speaking. In SAT, there are a specific set of questions that test you on these aspects.

    First Academy Team

  • Writing • Mar 2023

    Letter about environmental initiatives

    Your local newspaper published an advertisement asking people to offer time for local environmental initiatives in your area.

    First Academy Team

  • Writing • Jan 2023

    The main environmental problem...

    Some people say that the main environmental problem of our time is the loss of particular species of plants and animals. Others say that there are more important environmental problems. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

    First Academy Team