We're Taking IELTS. Making First Steps.

More and more people are taking different kinds of exams to prove their knowledge with certificates and diplomas. Now, I join this group of those who try and start a new section in my blog that would be entirely dedicated to my preparation to IELTS, useful tips for candidates, and would just help me to organize all the information I got in my head.

What’s IELTS.

IELTS is an International English Language Testing System and the world’s proven English language test. The exam features two modules: general and academic. Very often people feel a bit confused when they’re asked what module they need. The majority of applicants only glimpses at some requirements and don’t read further for any details.

How to decide which module I should choose?

General. Usually this kind of a test is required to get visa to the UK or Australia. Please, visit the web sites of the embassies in your region to check the minimal score demanded. It may vary according to a land you’re going to and a program you’re applying for. Earlier the band score for the applicants moving to Australia was a bit lower and was about 6, while to get a British work visa a candidate had to show at least 6.5 certificate.

Academic is aimed at those who are going to apply to a University. From the name of the module one can easily guess that it is more complicated than a general one and focuses mainly on the scientific vocabulary and analytical skills.

I can prepare myself.

For sure you can but that would be a bit more challenging than doing the same in a special training center or with a tutor. The main reason is that not only does IELTS check your language proficiency, but assesses your ability to analyze large volumes of information within a short period of time, make conclusions fast, and stick to a clear structure in your answers. For sure, I’ll not be able to cover all the points in my blog, but I’ll try to share some strategies I’ve picked up at a language school to help other candidates to go this way.

And yeah, don’t forget to provide yourself with various learning materials. They are really helpful. You should just know how to use them. In my future posts, I would try to show some example that might be useful and would refer to the books where I’ve found them.

The exam structure

Listening

The exam includes 4 modules. That’s true for both academic and general versions. It starts with listening that lasts for about 40 minutes. You’re answering the questions as you hear and at the end you’ll have a couple of minutes to transfer your answers to a special answer sheet.

Reading

Then you continue with reading. An hour is allocated for you to complete this part. You’re expected to read 3 different texts and answer 40 questions. You should carefully track the time during all stages of the exam. So, you should spend no more than 20 minutes for each text.

General and Academic candidates would have different texts. The texts for a general module mainly include some issues you’re to face abroad. So, you will be asked to analyze a table and answer when some event starts or you should read an ad offering a flat to rent. This module is developed with regard to some common situations and daily issues to ensure you’ll be able to deal with them.

If you’re going to take an Academic module then you should prepare much more carefully. Your texts would cover some scientific issues, would feature lots of names, periods, causes and consequences and the main target for you to manage answer all 40 questions. That’s difficult, believe me. After making such an experiment, you’ll remember my words about strategies. And I’ll say it once again, without them you’ll get lost in the text, stuck in the second task, and would fail even read the last article.

The Exam Structure and Timeline

Writing

The first task is different for general and academic applicants. General candidates should write a letter to a friend, while potential students of foreign universities have to analyze some bar or pie charts, describe a process, or present the differences between some appliances. The main difficulty there is that in 90% of cases you would have no idea of what is shown on the picture, how it works, and how to say this in English. You have only 20 minutes to write no less than 150 words in this task.

The second task is the same for all candidates. You should write an essay that would contain at least 250 words and you’re generously awarded with 40 minutes for this. But here’s one more issue. You should know structures that are not clarified but are just implied and 100% stick to them in organizing you essay. You would have a higher score if you use simple vocabulary but put it in a right structure then for using super advanced language with a structure you invented a night before an exam. That’s the first thing the examiners pay attention to. Then comes coherence. Only after that—you vocabulary. And one of the final positions is reserved for a common sense of your writing.

Speaking

You would be asked some general questions to learn who you are, where you come from, etc. Then similarly to a common exam at school or University you take one of the cards. You’ll see 2 topics there. You should choose one and speak about 2 minutes without a break. If the examiner interrupts you, this means they’re satisfied with your answer and your 2 minutes of fame have finished :). After that, the examiner would ask some questions relating to your topic and then some questions that may touch upon anything. You main task is to be natural. You should memorize some phrases that you would use as patterns. They would help you to start your answer, sum up your idea, or take some seconds to organize your thoughts.