International English

language testing system

(IELTS)Rick Zepeda

Objectives of course

Improving language skills and subskills

Getting students familiar with the structure of the exam

Significantly aiding in an increase of points on the IELTS exam

Focusing on weak areas and improving them before the exam

What is the Purpose of the IELTS Exam?

IELTS number one English language test

2 million people

international exam

used by a selection of committees of governments, universities and multinational companies.

four language skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening.

It is accepted by most Australian, British, Canadian, Irish, New Zealand and South African universities, over 3,000 academic institutions in the United States accept the IELTS including all Ivy League schools.

 

Why study the IELTS?

to study abroad

to meet English language entry requirements for university or visa processing will need to take IELTS.

to open doors to international education and employment all over the globe.

candidates with high scores are particularly sought after by universities and employers in English-speaking countries.

WHAT TYPES OF IELTS CAN I CHOOSE FROM?

Academic: undergraduate or postgraduate

General Training: secondary education, work experience or training programs, or for immigration purposes to Australia, New Zealand, Canada or the UK

How is the IELTS graded?

A nine band system

Most universities require a band between 6-8.

Bands

9 Expert User

8 Very Good User

7 Good User

6 Competent User

5 Modest user

4 Limited user

3 Extremely limited user

2 Intermittent user

1 Non user

European Framework

IELTS bands

What is the exam structure?

Listening

Reading

Writing

Speaking

Listening

The listening material is recorded on a cassette tape

which you will hear only ONCE !!

A range of English accent are used

At the end, Candidates will be given 10 minutes to

copy the answers onto the answer sheet

Spelling is important – can use both British and

American spelling

Answer sheet has two sides

One for Listening test

One for Reading test

Listening

Before Listening:

Read the questions

Look at all the questions in each section

Read the instructions carefully

Known the form of your answer

Decide what listening for

Predict the answer

Listening

When count words Prepositions

(in, of, to, at, etc) and Articles (a,

an, the) do counts as a words

Each question is worth one mark

The problem Getting lost !!

The solution Read ahead !!

Listening

To do well in listening:

Key words

Main topic

Synonyms

Listening

Section 1: Conversation (Two Speakers – based

on social and semi-official context)

Section 2: Monologue (A talk by a single

speaker based on a non-academic situation,

e.g. in a film, play etc…)

Section 3: Conversation (Four Speakers -

based on academic topics or course-related

situations)

Section 4: Lecture

Reading

All candidates are required to read three texts of

between 500 and 900 words each

The texts and questions increase in difficulty

The answer and the record on the answer sheet

within the 60 minutes (Remember the guy with ZERO

score)

Each question is worth one mark

No penalty for wrong answers

Spelling is important - can use both British and

American spelling

Reading

Texts are taken from books, magazines,

journals and newspapers, all written for a

non-specialist audience

At least one of the text contains a

detailed argument

The problem Not having enough time

The Solution Time management

Academic writing

Allocate about 20 minutes Task 1

Allocate about 40 minutes Task 2

Task 2 is worth more marks

Task 1: write description of at least 150

words based on material found in a chart,

table, graph or diagram

Task 2: essay of at least 250 words in

response to a statement or question

Academic writing task 1

Task 1 - Tips

Do not copy phrases from the question

Do not include information not in the

graph or picture

Do not take more than 20 minutes

Do not forget to leave time to read it

through

Academic writing task 1

Academic writing task 1

Academic Writing task 1

Acadmic Writing task 1

Academic writing task 1

Academic writing

Academic writing task

Task 1 (Example)

You should spend about 20

minutes on this task

The graph below gives information about changes in the birth and death rates in New Zealand between 1901 and 2101

Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information shown below

Academic writing task 2

Task 2 - Tips

Study question carefully

Underline key points

Quickly brainstorm the topic

Decide on the main points and supporting

details

Organise points in a plan

Structure according to the type of essay

Academic writing task 2

Academic writing 2

Speaking

Time: 11 – 14 minutes

Individual oral interview (Three Parts)

All Speaking tests are recorded

How the speaking component is assessed

Fluency and Coherence

Vocabulary

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Pronunciation

Transition signals

Speaking

When you entre the exam room:

Smile and act confident

Look at the examiner in the eyes

Confidently introduce yourself

Eliminate nervous gestures

Wear smart clothing

Remember !!!

Speak clearly

Project your voice

Avoid repeating phrases

Always say more than Yes or No !!

SpeakingPart 1 (Introduction)

This section of the test lasts 4-5 minutes and in it you may need to give longer

answers to questions to ensure you display your best ability

Speaking

Part 2 (Individual Talk)

Candidate is given a verbal prompt on a card and

is asked to talk on a particular topic. 1 minute

preparation time before speaking at length for up

to 2 minutes

The examiner then asks 1 or 2 rounding-off

questions

Speaking

Part 3 (Discussion Topics)

The examiner and candidate engage in a

discussion of more abstract issue and concepts

which are linked to the topic in Part 2

The discussion lasts between 4 and 5 minutes

How long is the testing session?

The testing session is about 2 hours and 45 minutes.

May I take notes?

Yes, and you should take notes. These notes will be taken from you after the exam.

How often can I take the IELTS?

You can take the test as many times as you would like.

For how long is the IELTS valid?

It is valid for two years

What happens if I cheat on the exam?

Do not cheat. Cheating on the IELTS is very serious. If caught your exam will be canceled and you may be liable for prosecution.

If I am proficient in English do I need to take this course?

Yes, learning strategies on how to take this course can make a huge difference in the results.

Which part do I take first?

You do the Listening test first followed by the Reading and Writing sections of the test. The Speaking test may be taken up to 7 days either before or after the test date.

Study Habits

Accept responsibility

Get organized

Set realistic goals

Establish priorities

Manage time

Stay motivated

Choose to be positive