IELTS HELPER

IELTS Academic Module Writing Tip 4: Know the Kind of Essay

noreply@blogger.com (Helen of Troy) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:28:00 +0000

Knowing what kind of essay you have to make in the IELTS Writing Task 2 provides a lot of advantage. You would be able to easily come up with the main ideas as well as the supporting ideas for your essay.

In this writing task, there are three types of essays that are commonly used. To help you easily remember, let's use the acronym "A-H-S".

The A-type. A stands for an ARGUMENT. When you are asked to write this type of essay, you need to present the advantages and disadvantages, pros and cons, the reasons supporting each of the argument, while you take only one side. In this type of essay, you should be take a stand and support your stand. Look at the following example:
           "Children benefit greatly on the use of internet. However, using the internet without parental
            supervision has its disadvantages. Discuss the bad effects of the internet on children."

The H-type. The H-type of essay requires one to write about a HIDDEN ARGUMENT. It would usually ask you to answer questions such as "To what degree...?", and "How has something affected...?". Whenever you see these types of questions, the task is already asking you to take a side. Take a look at the following example:
         " To what extent should media participate in the children's education?"

In this question, the topic is asking whether or not the media should educate the children.

The S-type. This type asks you to present a SITUATION. In this type of essay, you need to describe the situation, to provide reasons, and to predict what would happen in the future. These topics may involve problems, therefore you might be required to give a possible solution.

Being able to distinguish the types gives you an advantage. It points the direction to which your essay should be going. It also lets you accomplish the task well. So take some time to distinguish the kind of essay required before you start brainstorming about the topic at hand.

IELTS Academic Module Writing Tip 3: Use Words to Add Color to Your Report

noreply@blogger.com (Helen of Troy) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:13:00 +0000

Reports can either be dull or interesting depending on the choices of words that you would use in it. A report that would simply say "The number of stocks sold in 2009 went from 1,850 to 2000..." is a little bit boring. In order to avoid this, we have to add color to our report with the appropriate word choices.

Various words can be used in every type of figure that could be given in IELTS Academic Module Writing Task 1. In this article, we would like to show you what words would be most appropriate to use in every type of chart or figure that could possibly be given.

1. Single line graph/ Double line graph
A line graph would simply express an increase or a decrease in the values given. However you can use adverbs to describe the change that occurred. Take a look at the following:

WORDS TO DESCRIBE AN INCREASE

	How?	How much?
increased	dramatically, significantly, considerably, rapidly, substantially, steadily, sharply, markedly, greatly, slightly, exponentially, proportionally, strongly	by X% (by X per cent), by X (units), from X to Y, tenfold, fourfold ...
grew	rapidly, steadily, slowly, gradually, dramatically, substantially, enormously, quickly	by X% (by X per cent), by X (units), from X to Y
rose	sharply, slowly, steadily, slightly, rapidly, quickly, dramatically, significantly, substantially, gently, fractionally, considerably, gradually	by X% (by X per cent), by X (units), from X to Y
went up	The above adverbs are not usually used with "went up".	by X% (by X per cent), by X (units), from X to Y

Source: Essay Builder (2009). http://www.essaybuilder.net/LineGraphs.html.

Sample sentences:
1. The population of the United States rose steadily from 1.9 billion in 2001 to 2.1 billion in 2002.
2. The inflation rate significantly increased by 3.5% in 2009.

WORDS TO DESCRIBE A DECREASE

	How?	How much?
fell	sharply, heavily, slightly, steadily, dramatically, significantly, considerably, quickly, rapidly, steeply, gradually, gently, substantially, precipitately, fractionally, drastically, marginally, markedly, progressively, continuously	by X% (by X per cent), by X (units), from X to Y, tenfold, fourfold ...
decreased	significantly, markedly, slightly, steadily, rapidly, considerably, continuously, dramatically,	by X% (by X per cent), by X (units), from X to Y, tenfold, fourfold ...
declined	sharply, rapidly, dramatically, steadily, slightly, markedly, significantly, considerably, steeply, drastically, continuously, substantially, quickly	by X% (by X per cent), by X (units), from X to Y
dropped	dramatically, sharply, slightly, considerably, steadily, significantly, rapidly, drastically, alarmingly, noticeably, markedly, radically, abruptly, substantially, gradually, gently, slowly	by X% (by X per cent), by X (units), from X to Y
went down	The above adverbs are not usually used with "went down ".	by X% (by X per cent), by X (units), from X to Y

Source: Essay Builder (2009). http://www.essaybuilder.net/LineGraphs2.html.

Sample Sentences:

1. The unemployment rate sharply declined from 20% in 2006 to 15% in 2007.
2. The gross sales of Market Plus plummeted drastically in the last 20 years.

2. Bar Graphs
Bar graphs are more commonly used to compare the magnitude. Therefore, in describing a bar graph, it is important that you know what words you could use to make such comparisons. Look at the following table:

Adjective	Comparative	Superlative
bad	worse	worst
big	bigger	biggest
expensive	more expensive	most expensive
good	better	best
great	greater	greatest
high	higher	highest
large	larger	largest
little	less	least
long	longer	longest
low	lower	lowest
many	more	most
much	more	most
new	newer	newest
old	older	oldest
poor	poorer	poorest
rich	richer	richest
short	shorter	shortest
small	small	smallest
strong	stronger	strongest
weak	weaker	weakest

Source: Essay Builder (2009). http://www.essaybuilder.net/BarCharts.html

3. Pie Chart
A pie chart is usually used to demonstrate proportion. This is usually expressed in percentages or fraction. Hence the words highest, higher, lower, lowest, greater, greatest, more, most, lesser, least are the common words that could be used in describing a pie chart.

4. Process
In describing a process, one must be familiar with the conjunctive adverbs. These words are used to determine which step came first and which step came second. The following are some of its examples:
   first                  second                         third
               and                then    next
                 after that          in addition                     finally
                 lastly                moreover                      otherwise
                simultaneously       concurrently at the same time

Making interesting reports is easy especially when you know the right words. However, knowing them is not enough. You have to know your way around these words. So, .be more familiar with how ty use them by making sentences with some of the suggested words.

IELTS Academic Module Writing Tip 2: Examiners Look For Structure in a Report

noreply@blogger.com (Helen of Troy) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:22:00 +0000

What do examiners look for when they evaluate your report? There are many things that they look for but the first thing would be structure. When we talk of structure, we are referring to what things make up your report. We are also looking at how your ideas are organized.

Every writing composition has the following basic structure:

1. Introduction.An introduction is composed of a paragraph that describes the purpose of your report. Do you wish to inform, to persuade or to entertain people. Moreover, it also contains a thesis statement, in which you describe your main point in the report. If it's a report about a graph or a chart, then it describes the general trend that you were able to deduct from the given figure.

2. Body. This is the second part of the report. Due to the time limit and the number of words required in the IELTS Writing Task 1, you could simply write down two to three paragraphs for your body. What do we describe in the body? In this part, we should discuss the most important trends that you could find in the figure. For instance, you are given a graph with two peaks, you should mention their values.

Remember that the body is not simply a discussion of the important trends. It's a discussion with logical order. If the figure offers more than two distinctive features, take note of their features and divide them into paragraphs. Then figure out which should come first and would should come next. Remember that making a report is similar to story-telling. There should always be in order so it would make sense.

3. Conclusion. This is the last part of the report wherein you can state the overall trend in a different way.
It's simply one paragraph placed at the end to wrap it up.

Examiners look for structure to make sense of your report. They need to clearly see these basic parts in evaluating your report. So when you practice for the IELTS Writing Task 1, make sure that you are able to organize your report with an introduction, body and conclusion.

IELTS Academic Module Writing Tip 1: Be more familiar with the graphs, tables and charts

noreply@blogger.com (Helen of Troy) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:29:00 +0000

In IELTS Writing Task 1, you would be asked to make a report based on the given graph. So the first thing that you have to do is be familiar with the types of graphs and other materials that could be given during the test. This would help you better interpret the graph and write a report about it. Here are some examples:

1. Single line graph. A single line graph is used when it is important to see the changes between two points. It is normally used to see increases and decreases over a period of time. Take a look at the following example.

Source: Headline Health.( http://jnelander.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/unemployment-and-the-national-health-care-debate/)

2. Double Line Graph. The main goal of a double line graph is to compare two different subjects based on a given variable. Take a look at the following:

In this graph, you would see that the performance of two people are being compared based on the number of washers that they sold.

3. Bar Graph. In a bar graph the quantity or the change in magnitude is given importance. Take a look at the following example:

In the graph above, the number of students are given much more importance rather than the change that occurs over a period of time. The graph above can be interpreted as a comparison of the number of students in each grade level who are taking the bus. The words "more", "less", and "fewer" would be better used to describe this type of graph.

4. Pie Chart. This type of graphs are very popular. "They are used to represent categorical data or values of variables"(http://www.typesofgraphs.com/pie.html). This type of chart usually describes categories of a whole. Take a look at the following.

The two pie charts describe the source of funds and the type of expenditures. Source of funds has different categories that are being described in the chart using percentages. In the chart, it is very easy to assume that the biggest source of funds would be the private health insurance while a small portion of it comes from the taxpayers themselves.

In this type of chart, one would simply describe which section comprises most of the chart and which section comprises the least of the chart. It means we need to describe which category is the big slice of the pie and which category is the small slice of the pie.

5. Tables. In the IELTS Writing Task 1, you may also be asked to interpret a table.However, interpreting data from a table can be a difficult task. It would be better if you could plot down the values in a graph. It would be easier for you to determine whether there's an increase or decrease over a period of time, whether one ore two values are more than or equal to another.

6. Flowcharts. A flowchart is often used in order to describe a process. This could be a process that describes the stages of development, stages of a project, or steps in making something. In this type of material, you have to describe the possible events that occur in each stage.

There are several types of materials that could be given in IELTS Writing Task 1. To better interpret and come up with a sound analysis, you need to be more familiar with the various types of materials and how you could interpret them. So try looking through different kinds of materials and practice making an analysis. Not only would this help you make a better report but also give you more time to review your work.

IELTS Reading Tip 4: Know What To Expect

noreply@blogger.com (Helen of Troy) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 00:35:00 +0000

Knowing what to expect in the IELTS Reading Test would help you to better prepare for the upcoming test. What kind of questions would appear in the test? That's what we should find out. Here are some of the common types of tasks that would appear in the test.

1. Matching. In this type of task, you would have to read each paragraph of the test and decide which heading would be the most appropriate for every paragraph. In the test, it would look like something below:

Questions 24-29
Reading passage 2 has six paragraphs A-F.
From the list of headings below, choose the most appropriate heading for each paragraph. Write the corresponding numbers in boxes 24-29 on your answer sheet

List of headings

=============================================================

i. The disadvantages of the new Green Policy

ii. Opposition to the new Green Policyi

iii. Foundation of the New Green Policy

iv. What proponents say

v. Future that it holds

vi. Expected results from the proponent's point of view

vii. Actions against the new Green Policy

viii. Masses point of view

===============================================================
24. Paragraph A

25. Paragraph B
26. Paragraph C
27. Paragraph D
28. Paragraph E

29. Paragraph F

How do we deal with this type of task? The first thing to do is to read each heading given in the lest. You will notice that the heading is similar to a main idea. In this task, you have to be able to spot the main idea. You need to skim through the reading passage and find out what it is about. If you did the what IELTS Reading Tip 2 said, then it would be easier for you to answer this type of task.

2. Multiple choice questions. Many of us are familiar with this type of task. It's just a set of questions and a number of choices. All we have to do us find the right answer.

How do we find the right answer? Here are the things that you have to remember:

1. Usually, the questions are according to the order of information found in the reading.

2. You need to read the questions and all the choices before going back to the paragraph. In cases wherein you need to find the appropriate ending to a statement, you need to find out if the question pertains to a detail or a main idea.

Example:
13. According to the speaker of the House of Representatives, the biggest problem facing the country

today is

        A. the lack of funding for the education system.
        B. the widespread of the A1H1 virus among the students.
        C. the lack of budget for the following year.
        D. the increase in crime rate in some regions of the country.
        E. the depletion of natural resources and the constant devastation brought about by continuous calamaties

rampaging the country.

3. In the sample question given above, there are key words in the question that would guide you to the location of the answer that you need.

4. There are some words in the choices that would appear in the text. However, this may not necessarily be the answer. Be careful because it might just be a trap.

3. Sentence completion. In this task, you must complete sentences using words taken from the passage. Take a look at the following example.

====================================================================

Questions 22-24

Complete the sentences using words taken from Reading Passage 1.

Write your answers in boxes 22-24 on your answer sheet. Use NO MORE THAN THREE

WORDS for each answer.

............................................................................................................................................

In the 18th century, businessmen are commonly involved in _________22________.

The agricultural age was at its _________23____________.

It had been predicted that the agricultural age would end as soon as _______24______.

.............................................................................................................................................

====================================================================

Look at the instructions given above. It specifically asks you to answer using at most three words that are taken from the passage. In order to find the answer to these question, you must first look at the words before and after the blank. These words could serve as key words. From these, you could predict what exactly you should look for. After guessing what kind of words you're looking for, scan the passage. If you mapped out the passage, use the topics as a guide. Then scan through the paragraph. When you think you found the answer, try reading the sentence with the word(s) that you chose. See whether or not it is correct in terms of grammar and meaning.

4. Short-answer question. You would normally see an instruction telling you where to find the answer and specifically how many words you would need to write down.

5. Chart/Table Completion. You would be asked to complete a table or chart. In completing the table or the chart, you must first look at the information given. What is common among all the information given in the table? There should be a common thread. Find out what binds them all then look for the information in the passage.

6. True/ False/Not Given Type of Questions. You would be given a statement. Then you would be ask to decide whether it is true, false or not given in the passage.

7. Gap-fill. There are times when you would be asked to complete the summary of a reading passage using the words from a list or using the words that you could find in the passage. In dealing with this type of task there are a number of steps that you could do:
                    1. Read the summary thoroughly and find out what it is about.
                    2. Re-read the instructions. Take note of how many words you could use in each gap to
complete the summary.
                    3. Take a look at the words before and after the gap to predict what kind of words are you
                        looking for.
                    4. Choose the best word(s) from the text.
                    5. Read the summary again with your chosen words for every gap. Check if they are
                        grammatically correct and if the meaning makes sense.

8. Diagram Labeling. In this part, you would be ask to label different parts of a drawing based on what you read. In handling this task, the first thing you have to do is to underline the keywords in the instructions. Then you would have to look at the notes. Find out which parts of the passage deal with the keywords in the notes. Choose your best answer and make sure that you would use the number of words allowed.

Knowing what to expect puts you in a better position. You would be able to specifically prepare and practice these different tasks in order to have enough time to both answer the questions and review them. So it is important that you understand what each task entails and how you should go about answering them.

IELTS Reading Tip 3: Teach Yourself the Rules

noreply@blogger.com (Helen of Troy) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 12:03:00 +0000

In the IELTS Reading Test, there are times that you know the answer but when you right it down, you'd find out that you got it wrong. Why? You forgot what the instruction said and didn't follow the rules.

In the IELTS Listening Tip 2, you were told to strictly follow the rules. The same tip applies to the Reading test. You have to read the instruction carefully and take some time to look at the example. The examples would show what exactly you must put on your answer sheet.

Now, let's go over the basic rules that would apply to the IELTS Reading Test.

Style. How your answer looks like is important. Take a look at the following example:

Ireland    France    Spain
        Birth Rate           Example 1: 64%      _________    __________
        Death Rate         Example 2: third       _________    __________

       When given an example, strictly follow the example. It is possible that answering using any other form
       may affect your score.

Word limit. You would always find a word limit in the instructions. More often than not, it is limited to three. Remember that prepositions such as "of", "with", "on", "in" and articles such as "the", "a", and "an" count as words.

Number of answers. You should be very particular with number of answers being asked in the question. Remember that if the question ask for only one answer, even though there are several possible answers in the passage, you should always give only one correct answer. If it asks for two answers, the correct answer that would give you the perfect score would be two answers.

These rules may be redundant that this tip would sound like a broken record. However, there's nothing wrong with reminding you over and over so you wouldn't forget to follow these rules during the test. Remember, knowing the right answer is not enough when you don't follow the instructions carefully.

IELTS Reading Tip 2: Map It Out

noreply@blogger.com (Helen of Troy) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:16:00 +0000

Time is of the essence! You don't have enough time to get lost within the passage while looking for the answer to just one item. Remember, in IELTS Reading Tip 1, we need to manage our time well. We have to make a schedule and strictly follow it. So what we need to do is to make a map that will guide you through the test.

Here's how to make it.

1. Skim through each paragraph.
2. Determine the topic sentence or the main idea in each paragraph.
3. Write down the topic of the paragraph in the margin near it. If you think that it would take down too much time, then underline the topic sentence.

There is a limited amount of time to finish the IELTS Reading Test. With so much information given in the passage, you can easily get lost and lose time. So you need a map to guide us through the passage to follow the schedule and finish the test on time.

IELTS Reading Tip 1: Practice Time Management

noreply@blogger.com (Helen of Troy) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:43:00 +0000

Time is a luxury that we don't have during the IELTS Reading Test. You have to use your time well since you're only given 60 minutes to complete the test. So, here are some pointers in managing your time well.

1. Count the number of passages in the test booklet.

2. Divide your time according to the number of passages. Most people would divide their time into three equal parts. However, this may not be a smart move. Remember that the difficulty of the passages increases as you progress towards the end of the test. So, allot more time on the last passage and less time on the first passage. You can try using the "15-20-25" rule.

3. Make a schedule. Write down on a piece of paper what time should you start and finish reading and answering the questions.

4. Remember to stick with your schedule. If you don't finish a passage on time, move on to the next one. If you finish the last passage before you expected, then you would have the luxury to go back to the previous passages and answer the missed questions.

Time limit is what makes the IELTS Reading Test more difficult. So learn how to manage your time and strictly apply these pointers even if you're just answering a practice test. Sooner or later, you would realize that you've conquered the greatest enemy in the test even before you take it.

IELTS Listening Tip 5: Beware of Traps

noreply@blogger.com (Helen of Troy) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:05:00 +0000

Traps are all over the test especially in the listening test. However, we won't be able to watch out for them if we don't know what kind of traps are we looking for. In the listening tests you would usually find three types of traps. To better understand, we'll explain the traps using examples.

1. One of the common traps is the sudden change of plans or information given by the speaker. Take a look at the following:

     Speaker:   Yes, I'd like to book a ticket on Friday at 8 o'clock in the morning. Oh! Wait. I think I
                       have a meeting before that so please book me for the 10 o'clock flight.

In this example, the speaker said he wanted to get the 8 o'clock flight. Then he took it back and said that he wanted the 10 o'clock flight. If the question would ask you for the time of flight, what would be the answer and what would be the trap?

Watch out for these types of recordings. You have to listen well up to the very last words to avoid falling for this kind of trap.

2. Another type would be generalizations. Sometimes the speaker would talk about a list of things. Then he would sum it up in one word before or after the giving the list. Take a look at the following example:

           Speaker: Our company is involved with Habitat for Humanity, UNICEF, Blue Ribbon
                          Foundation and other similar non-government organizations.

In the test booklet, the question would go like this: "What kind of organizations is their company involved with?" The answer should be "non-government organizations" and not "Habitat for Humanity" or "UNICEF".

3. Most of explicit answer choices are traps. For instance, the speaker would say "The exams shall cover chapters 1 and 2 excluding the articles excerpted from the New England Journal of Medicine". In your test booklet, you would find a True-or-False question that would go like this: The students should study all topic in chapters 1 and 2. In this question, False is the correct answers. To avoid falling for such traps, take note of the exceptions that you would hear from the recording.

Traps are laid out in the IELTS listening test simply to confuse you. However, with practice and knowledge of what traps to look for, these traps will never catch you off guard.

IELTS Listening Tip 4: Use Test-Taking Strategies

noreply@blogger.com (Helen of Troy) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:13:00 +0000

We always deal with time constraints during the IELTS Listening Test. These constraints make the test more stressful. However, as most of you would know, there are test-taking strategies that you could use for IELTS Listening test in order to breeze your way through the test.

Elimination
Most tests including IELTS utilize multiple-choice questions and the best way to deal with this type of question is by using elimination. More often than not, 50% of the choices are not completely related to the question being asked. You would have to be able to quickly spot these items in order to narrow down your choices. However, remember that there are times when all choices are correct or none of them is. So, remember to read and follow the instructions strictly in order to get through these tricky questions.

Gap-fill strategy
Another test-taking strategy you can use in IELTS is the gap-fill strategy. In this strategy, you need to take a look at the words beside the blank. You would have to identify which part of the sentence is missing. Is it the subject? the predicate? the direct object? indirect object? transitive verb?or a modifier? After figuring out which part of the sentence it is, figure out which part of speech is it. Is it a preposition? a noun? an adjective? adverb? or a verb?

Look at the example below:
Engines contained capsules of mercury to ensure a _________________ trip.

What are the words that you could see before and after the blank? You would find the words "a" and "trip".
"A" is an article that is usually used before a noun. However you would find that the noun is already given. The noun here is the word "trip". So it is safe to assume that the missing word is an adjective. Moreover, we could assume that the word we are looking for starts with a consonant since "a" is used and not "an".

In order to fully utilize this strategy, one needs to review basic grammar. Here are some sites you could use:

English Trainer

English Club.com

esl-lounge.com

Spotting "Chameleon" Questions

It has always been the practice to use words with the same meaning to replace those that are found in the recording. Why? The examiners simply want to confuse you.

Let's look at the following example.

In the recording, the speaker would say "Children are not allowed to go past this line because it is dangerous."
Then the question would say " Children are prohibited from going past the line."- is it True, False or Not Given? What do you think is the correct answer?

Time constraints make IELTS a little more stressful. However, there are test-taking strategies that we could use in order to deal with the pressure. And remember that know these strategies is simply not enough. You have to constantly practice and apply them whenever you're taking IELTS practice tests.

IELTS Listening Tip 3: Maintain Focus

noreply@blogger.com (Helen of Troy) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:39:00 +0000

Taking the IELTS listening test can sometimes be tricky. There would be a lot of distractions that may come from the recording itself or from the mixed feelings that you're having inside you while you're taking the test. Because of these, we tend to lose our focus and eventually mess up.Then, what should we do to avoid this?

Ignore everything else except for what the speakers are saying. In listening to the recording, you would hear different voices that would have different accents. There would also be background noises as a result of the setting in which the recording was trying to portray. Sometimes you would hear them talking in an airport, street, university lecture. Expect these noises and be ready to ignore them. These noises are simply there to make an easy task become more difficult.

Start answering while listening. Knowing that we are taking a test gives us stress. Moreover, we are continuously bombarded with information so we tend to quickly forget some sentences soon after we heard them. We also don't get a second chance to hear the recording so what's forgotten might simply remain forgotten during the test. So, it is best to write down the answers as soon as we hear them.

Move forward. Trying to remember an answer to a question when you missed it will do you no good. You'll end up missing one answer after another and this is the worst thing that could happen to you during the test. To avoid this, always read one or two questions ahead.If you missed one question, try to forget about it and move on to the next one.

Maintaining focus is necessary in taking the IELTS listening test. All you have to do is listen well, multi-task and keep moving forward. By following these simple tips, you'd be able to get through the test a lot easier.

IELTS Listening Tip 2: Strictly Follow Instructions

noreply@blogger.com (Helen of Troy) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:56:00 +0000

The IELTS Listening tests provide tasks with specific instructions. You would have to carefully read these instruction and strictly follow them. For instance, you are asked to choose five things from a list of items, you must choose only five things. Choosing more or less than the required five items will give you a 0 score.

Let's look at the following situation. In the recording, the speaker would say "Children, we are going to camp tomorrow. You must bring a tent, batteries, a flashlight, a sleeping bag and a Swiss knife."

In the test booklet, the question would say "Name three items that the students should bring."

One should write down three items so the answer could be any of the following:

tent, batteries, flashlight;
batteries, flashlight, sleeping bag; or,
flashlight, sleeping bag, Swiss knife.

The question may also ask you to give an answer using a specific number of words.

In the recording tape, the speaker says "The little girl wandering on the street during the rush hour met an old lady who gave her a big bag of apples. The little girl was surprised knowing that she should not accept gifts from strangers. However, the sweet smile of the old lady put her at ease. Eventually, she accepted the bag of apples."

In the booklet, the instruction would go like this "Use exactly three words to answer the question. What did the girl receive from the old lady?". One may answer only "bag of apples". Writing down "apples", "a bag of apples", or "a big bag of apples" would get you no score.

It is always best to carefully read the instructions and make sure that you fully understand them because knowing the right answer is similar to not knowing at all when you don't follow them.

IELTS Listening Tip 1: Brush up your Listening skills

noreply@blogger.com (Helen of Troy) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:32:00 +0000

Some people find the IELTS Listening Test difficult because they're afraid that they might only hear "blablabla". But people need not to be afraid since listening is a skill that can be improved over a period of time. People are not born with listening skills only hearing abilities. Acquiring this skill is similar to how babies learn their native language. They can hear so many sounds but they can only distinguish words from other sounds through constant exposure to the word. They also start to understand only after these words are being used with actions, images, and other sounds associated with the word.

How to brush up your listening skills

Watch TV shows. To start brushing up on your listening skills, you can start by watching English TV programs. By doing so, it would be easier to understand what you hear. You would be able to see the actions, things, and the actual situation wherein sentences, words, and phrases are used. Don't be bothered by the fact that you weren't able to understand what you're listening to. All you have to do is to relax and get the general context of what you're watching. Through the course of time, you would realize that you are able to understand most of the words they are saying. If you wish to have start a fun journey to prepare for the IELTS listening test, Watch To The Max is a blog that provides links to many of the English shows that I enjoy.

Learn new words. Never open up a dictionary and start memorizing all of the words that you can find there. Many of my students use words that are inappropriate for the situation. Sometimes they use words that are in different form. This can be a result of constantly memorizing new words from the dictionary without being able to see how they are properly used. So the best way to improve your listening skills to prepare for the IELTS listening test is through training your EARS.

To train your ears, you would need an MP3 player that you could carry around with you wherever you go.Using the mp3 player, listen to various types of recordings such as news, lectures, tv show, or even IELTS listening materials. After each phrase, stop the recording and try to repeat the phrase in your head for several times. Then, "say it out loud". By doing this exercise, you would be able to kill two birds with one stone. You would improve your listening skills while improving your pronunciation. Don't be afraid if you don't understand the phrase. No one is looking so you could repeat the recording as much as you want.

To help you train your ears, here are some links where you could get some listening materials:

Brushing up on your listening skills is the first thing to do when you're preparing for the IELTS Listening Test. You can watch numerous TV shows to understand and learn new words. You can also listen to different recordings to teach yourself new words while improving your pronunciation. So get started since there's a long way to go to be ready for IELTS.

IELTS at a Glance

noreply@blogger.com (Helen of Troy) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:08:00 +0000

People who wish to enter an English-speaking country in order to study or to migrate need to take IELTS. These countries require students to demonstrate English proficiency before they are given permission to enroll in an educational institution. However, there are two different types of IELTS module: Academic Module and the General Training Module. Candidates applying for a degree in the university must take the IELTS Academic Module while those who would be taking vocational training or secondary education should take the IELTS General Module training. Both modules assess the test-taker's proficiency in listening, reading, writing, and speaking.

The Listening Test

The listening test takes about 30 minutes to finish. Test-takers are given 20 minutes to finish the test and 10 minutes to write down their answers on the answer sheet.

The test is also composed of four sections with a total of 38 to 48 questions. The test-taker needs to answer the questions while listening to the tape since the recording is played only once without any pause. The test questions become more difficult towards the end of the test.

The Reading Test

During the Reading Test, one would be required to read three text passages from books, newspapers and magazines, and to answer a total of 40 questions. This test entails answering multiple-choice questions, labeling diagrams, completing the sentences and/or filling gaps. Like the listening test, the level difficulty of the passages increases towards the end of the test.

The Writing Test

The writing test is divided into two tasks. The first task involves writing a 150-word report based on a graph, diagram or table. On the other hand, the second test requires writing a 250-word essay about a given topic.

The Speaking Test

This part of IELTS is divided into three main parts. The first part is similar to a job interview wherein one would be ask to answer questions about oneself, work, education, family, etc. In the second part, the test-taker shall receive a card and would be given one minute to prepare for a short speech. The speech should last for one to two minutes. Meanwhile, the third part is simply a discussion between the test-taker and the examiner. The questions in this part is some how related to the topic given in part two. However, these questions would be more abstract and would require one to justify an opinion.

Taking the IELTS is one of the steps in in migrating or entering a university, a vocational school, or a secondary school. In this test, a person's proficiency in the English language is assessed based on his/her performance in the Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking Tests. However, one should not worry about taking these tests since knowing what IELTS is all about would help one better prepare for taking the test.