Share some tips on IELTS

Nadine

Good day, my fellow IELTS takers...

Last December 8, I took the IELTS test on a whim because my husband suggested that I take a job as an IELTS lecturer/reviewer. I registered exactly 2 weeks before the exam date and because of my job, I was unable to review or prepare for the test. I honestly thought it was just like any other English exams because I have a lot of friends who have taken it and easily got overall band scores of 8 and 9.

Last night, I checked my IELTS exam results and it was a bit disappointing. I was aiming for a total band score of 8 or 8.5, however, because of my scores in the writing and speaking sub-tests, my overall band score became a 7.5.

Here are my sub-tests' scores:
L - 8
R - 9
S - 7.5 (I know I committed a few grammatical errors [e.g. wrong prepositions) and I struggled with part 2 of the speaking test ['describe a very memorable trip you took as a child' - My parents never took us on any trips when my brothers and I were still kids so I struggled with the content of my short speech] however, I was still expecting an 8)
W - (a friggin') 6

It's true that I failed to add an overview or a conclusion to my composition for writing task 1 (I ran out of time) and instead of 150-175 & 250-280 words, I wrote approximately 220 words and 330 words in task 1 and task 2, respectively. However, I do not believe these should have a big impact on my band score. I rechecked my essays before the time was up and I know I did not commit any spelling errors. I think I deserve at least a 7.

Should I request for a remark? If so, how good are my chances at having my writing and speaking score increased?

Thanks!

Hello!

If you are aiming for a 7.0 in writing, medyo malabo po umangat from 6.0 to 7.0. Usually, it's an incremental increase of 0.5 only. And since, may bayad for remark, masasayang lang po yun. It will be more cost-effective to take it all over again. (in my humble opinion po).

However, if you have both W and S re-assessed, at kahit may isa dyan ma-increase ang score, they will return the money you paid for remarking. To add lang, rarely din may score increases with R and L kasi these are objective areas, may answer key na.

For some reason, sobrang strict sila sa writing. I was told they look at every single punctuation!!! WRITING din talaga is my waterloo. Kaya yung 7.0 ko sa writing, ang dami ko dasal dun!

solidjeff

@aolee sir, bka pwd makahingi ng copy ng ielts reviewer mo? pasend nman po sa [email protected].

Plan ko kc mgtake na din ng exam. Academic po ba or General Training yung type ng ielts yung appropriate for migration?

solidjeff

mga kabayan, ask ko lng kung gaano katagal yung time alloted per module/exam sa ielts?

RobertSG

@solidjeff for listening = 30mins + 10mins (to transfer answers), Reading = 60mins, Writing = 60mins and speaking= 11 to 14mins. Eto ung link for more details http://www.ielts.org/test_takers_information/what_is_ielts/test_format.aspx

What is your nominated occupation?

Aiwink

@solidjeff actually hindi ko matandaan alam ko kse is yung reading writing and listening e halfday lang inabot. parang from 30-45 mins sya lagi eh. tapos 2 items on each. two items sa listening, 2 items sa reading 2 items sa writing. tapos sa speaking mga 15mins-20 mins sya.

if I remember it correctly.

wynx

@jaroma

sa opinion ko po ay mas maigi nga na mag retake k na lang IELTS exam. kagaya ko, nag retake din ako ng exam. gawin mo n lang n reference ung first na exam mo. at least now you know kung saan k dapat mas mag effort ng review which is sa writing.

based on my experience, baka sakaling makatulong lang po, specially sa writing task 2. it's very beneficial kung gagawa k ng simple table to lay out ung mga points lalo n if you need to discuss 2 sides of the coin. (advantages & disadvantages, pros & cons, etc.), in this case kasi mas madali ka makapag expand at mas madali mo ma fifigure out ung flow ng essay mo. you will be able to reach the required number of words and also ung coherence ng writing will be good.

another simple advice is to follow ung basic part ng essay. 4 fundamental parts lang un. intro, body, another body and conclusion.

good luck po sa'yo. and kayang kaya mo yan.

LokiJr

^ I agree! Saka when constructing your sentence, keep it simple. Back in elementary, I remember our teacher saying that compound complex sentences make your composition look intelligent but in real life, it only makes your point confusing...so keep it simple.

One subject + one predicate = assessor gets your idea

RobertSG

Hi guys, input lang sa mga may writing issues like me It is important to have an introduction/especially conclusion sa essay writing. No matter how good your composition is if you miss one part like paragraphing or giving introduction/conclusion, the max score that they can give to you is 6....

nhiang

hi everyone!

Newbie here.. I took IELTS last Dec 8. unfortunately, hindi ko nakuha yung required band score. and ngayon lng din ko napunta sa page na to which is recommended by my former colleage na nasa Aus na. sayang nga ngayon lang ko nagstart magbasa s forum na to. anyway, to those who have available reviewer kindly forward to me: [email protected] . I'm planning for re-take by month end of january next year.

thank you in advance. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!!

jaggedsoul

Hi everyone, i'm new here and i'm planning to take the IELTS exam on the 2nd week of February. Pashare naman ng reviewers ninyo for IELTS. Aiming for 8 but would settle for 7. [email protected]

LokiJr

Hi sa mga bagong dayo sa forum Back read po kayo sa thread na ito.

Sa mga naghahanap ng reviewer, meron po tayo sa forum na mga files binilugan ko na para madali hanapin (hindi po siya advertisement hehe)...puwede kayo magsimula sa mga ito

blackrose

Hello po. I will be taking the IELTS on Jan 5th at BC. Kinakabahan na ako! Admittedly last Friday lang ako nagsimulang magreview ng mabuti dahil sobrang busy at ngayon lang talaga ako nakapagVL sa work. Thank you for the reviewers you shared in this site. Cramming mode but I have strong faith. Goodluck saten! ^_^

LokiJr

@blackrose, huwag po kayo mag-alala kung last minute na kayo nag-rreview. Ang mahalaga naman kumportable kayo sa kakayanan niyo sa English at hindi kayo sobrang kabado sa exam date mismo...

In fact, I would dare say confidence / familiarity in English is more important than the amount of time you review for the exam

hotshot

@blackrose : good luck! tama po si @LokiJr...basta confident lang kayo at relaxed during the exam.

blackrose

@LokiJr and @hotshot, thanks for all the support and thank you again @LokiJr for the review materials you have provided. yun po yung nirereview ko at syempre yung mga napupulot ko na tips dito sa thread

Hindi naman makakatulong saken kung iisipin ko pa na gahol ako sa time magreview. I'll try my best na wag kabahan on the exam day. God is good. He will guide us in all our endeavors.

cchamyl

hello all... happy new year! can't find the cambridge practice reviewers in the site... was it removed?

LokiJr

@cchamyl, baka may error sa hosting site. PM niyo sa akin email niyo ipadala ko yung direct link ko sa file hehe

vhoythoy

Kulang yung audio sa cambridge 8 Thanks sa reviewer

LokiJr

May cambridge audio ako rito pero hindi ko alam kung aling version, pm niyo na lang sakin yung email niyo hehe

cchamyl

hello @LokiJr... happy new year!

email add is [email protected]... if you can send the cambridge practice reviewers na may answers... lalo na sa listening... i'm focusing on listening and writing kasi... i hear that these are the difficult modules to get good scores in... i have copies of the cambridge reviewers but these are without the answers... and meron nga answers wala naman ako audio... heheh... if you can send it to me tonight, i'd really appreciate it... my exam is on jan 12 and i am cramming my ass off... hahaha...

LokiJr

@cchamyl, sige, may ipapadala ako sayong link maya-maya hehe sana gumana :P

stolich18

For Listening skills (or any exam), alam ko pdeng sulatan ang questionnaire. Kaya pag may mga important information like for example contact number ung sagot, isulat nyo na yun agad.

LokiJr

Yep, mark the key words in the Listening exam para alam niyo yung tututukan niyo sa conversation...saka in chronological order yung conversation at yung sagot sa tanong...:)

faye

hi guys! sa mga balak mag review center my promo ngaun ang niners 999 pesos lang. Ito ang link

http://www.dealspot.ph/group-buying-philippines-campaigns-details-51_hours_english_proficiency_review_for_only_p999_at_9_0_niner_ielts_review_and_tutorial_center_30_branches-2597.html

LokiJr

Parang buwan buwan nang may promo ang niner a hehehe

rara_avis

Hello sa mga mag-eexam bukas, goodluck sa atin. Ngayong araw lang ako nagrereview ng seryoso dahil sobrang busy. Dadaanin ko na lang sa prayers.

faye

@LokiJr oo nga halos sa lahat ng online buying site ngppost sila

blackrose

@rara_avis, goodluck po sa atin. sabay pala tayo...ako po last Friday lang nagsimula magreview tapos ngayon lang ulet ako magrereview for writing. mahirap talaga makahanap ng time para magreview kapag busy. anyway, lakasan na lang loob at taimtim na dasal.

LokiJr

Good luck sa inyo! As always, pashare ng mga tanong niyo sa exam hehe :P

kathfrancisco08

guys, magsasubmit ako ng ielts application sa sunday... pero hindi ko alam yung exact address ng embassy na ipoforward ko yung result ng ielts ko(applications to recognizing organizations).... any information po will help.... maraming salamat..