IELTSPwint Nee Aung

Content• Introduction • My IELTS Progress • How I prepared for IELTS • Tips (or) test strategies

o Listeningo Readingo Writingo Speaking

• Final Words • Q&A

Introduction • Pwint Nee Aung • Government school• GCE O & A Levels• Taken IELTS 3 times (not TOEFL)• 2007 • 2012• 2015

My IELTS Progress

Oct 2012 8 Aug 2015

Listening* 8.0 9.0

Reading 8.5 9.0

Writing* 7.0 8.0

Speaking 8.5 8.5

Overall 8.0 8.5

How I prepared for IELTS

• 2012 IELTS Preparation class• Recent Independent Study • IELTS Book 10 • Focus on Writing • Look for IELTS Band 8 or 9 sample answers on

Google• Learn structure for Academic Writing • Timing is important

Listening• Every second counts Read ahead as much as

possible • Check answers & transfer 10 minutes at the end

• When to read questions?o Beginning of the test o "You have some time to look at question … to

…"o "You now have half a minute to check your

answer.“

Listening• How to read?

Listening• How to read?

o Predict answers write them down near the blanks

o Underline key words in Questions as well as Answers

• How to Listen? o 90% of my attention Listeningo 10% of my attention Tracing question & note

taking • It’s okay to be messy

Listening• Note taking skill

o Write down key words/main points that you hear

Listening

• Benefits of note-taking

o aid your memory.

o help you check answers at the end of the test

when you have 10 mins.

Reading• Reading skills

o Speed o Skimming (Main idea) o Scanning (Looking for names, numbers, or

specific word) o Reading for details o Understanding Synonyms

1. Skim by reading Heading, First paragraph, first & last sentence of body paragraphs.

2. Read Questions, underline key words Scan paragraph to locate answer Identify synonyms.

Writing - Task 2• Most challenging to get higher marks

• Read not just anything. Look for Band 8/9 IELTS

essays online

• Write Practice as much as I can

• Write Task 2 first

• Always take 3 to 5 minutes to plan (mind map)

Writing (Sample Band 9)

• Thesis statement (yellow) • Topic sentence (green)

Short Intro

Writing Task 2• Academic Writing Structure

o INTRODUCTION Thesis Statement

o TWO BODY Paragraphs Topic Sentences

o Conclusion Paraphrase thesis statement & own

opinion

• At least one example in each paragraph

• At least 10 impressive vocabularies

• Signaling words

Writing – Task 2

Example

Signaling Words

Task 1

• Checklist

Task 1 (Report Format)

• Introduction (2 sentences)

o Sentence 1: What is the graph about?

o Sentence 2: Overall trend of the graph.

• Body

o Details – highlight the significant facts only

o Comparison between facts

• Conclusion (1 sentence)

o Summary (or) Prediction

Speaking• No special strategy

• Attend speaking classes (in addition to IELTS

Preparation class)

• Read sample answers

• Key is to extend your answers as long as possible

Final Words• Good foundation (e.g. Grammar, certain degree

of fluency)

• Know your weakness and work on it

• Do not ignore your strengths

• As much practice as possible (Classroom hour is

not enough)

Thank you

Q&A