👋 Who I am

I taught English and worked as a Director of Studies for 28 years, in the UK and Australia. I taught IELTS, academic English and business English, and I trained new teachers. As a Director of Studies, I ran busy language schools, with up to twenty teachers and two hundred students.

I was also an IELTS examiner. That means I know how examiners look at your writing and speaking, and what makes the difference between one band and the next.

Since 2019, I have worked as a materials writer and course designer. I write IELTS lessons, teaching materials and courses for teaching sites and platforms, and I edit Chinwag, an online magazine for English language learners.

🎯 Why I started Start IELTS

Many learners do test after test and only get a score. The score tells you where you are. It does not tell you what to do next.

Start IELTS is built to fill that gap. Every lesson explains the answers, so you understand your mistakes. Every lesson also shows you what to practise next, so you never waste study time.

📘 How the lessons work

• Useful phrases, not long word lists. You learn phrases and grammar you can use to talk and write about your own life.
• Real IELTS contexts. Grammar and vocabulary are always shown in IELTS Speaking, Writing, Reading or Listening tasks.
• Practice with answers. Every exercise has answers and short explanations.
• Clear English. Lessons are written so that learners from about A2–B1 level can follow them.
• AI used the right way. Ready-made prompts help you practise with AI and get useful feedback.

✍️ Personal feedback on your work

If you want a teacher to look at your work, I offer writing assessments marked against the IELTS band descriptors. You get clear feedback on what to fix first, and a study plan with Start IELTS lessons to help you improve.

📚 Start IELTS books

Start IELTS lessons are also available as books on Amazon, including a five-book Grammar series, a Reading Strategies book, vocabulary word searches and guides to practising with AI.

➡️ Where to start

New to Start IELTS? Take the free level check, then choose lessons for your skill.

Start IELTS is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by IELTS, the British Council, IDP or Cambridge University Press & Assessment.