Share some tips on IELTS

btarroja213 · August 2013

Scores have been released today (at least for those who took with British Council last Aug 17). The wait was nerve-wracking. But thankfully, I got pretty decent scores. One hurdle done. Next is waiting for the ACS Skills Assessment results.

Good luck to everyone!

What do you mean "Pretty Decent Scores"? Your scores are freaking AWESOME!!!! Congrats!!! :-D

mhej · August 2013

@btarroja213 - hehe. thanks! I was really nervous all throughout. Nahirapan kasi ako sa mga practice tests na pinrovide nung migration agency ko. But luckily, the exam itself was not that hard.

. First hurdle palang naman yan. It wouldn't mean anything kung hindi ako papasa sa Skills Assessment. So that's what's making me nervous right now.

Anyway, since this is a tips discussion, here are some of my tips for the IELTs General takers out there:

1. Listening

- Same as what everyone is saying here. You really need to practice this one. It would be best if you can download audios that are actually being used for an IELTs Listening test. It will help you get an idea of how the test is run and will give you time to strategize on what is the most effective technique for you during test date.

- Personally, underlining keywords helped a lot. They will give you time to read the questions before they play the audio. Take advantage of that.

- If you miss a question while the audio is playing, DO NOT PANIC. Keep your focus and move on to the next question. Dwelling on that missed question will compromise your attention and will effectively make you lose the succeeding questions. They only play the audio once. So there is no turning back.

- Clean your ears before taking the exam.

2. Reading

- Forward read the questions before reading the actual article. Like what is said here, it doesn't matter if it doesn't make sense. At least you will already have an idea of what to look for when reading the articles.

- Nothing is verbatim. Everything is paraphrased. Or at least, keep that in mind. The reading exam tests your comprehension skills, not your word search/word matching abilities.

- Once you have an answer, put them directly on your answer sheet. There will be no time to transfer your answers from questionnaire to answer sheet (unlike in the listening test). Believe me, the reading test will take 1 hour just to go through it once.

3. Writing

- You will need to write 2 essays. Most likely, the first one will be a letter. The last one would be some sort of editorial where you will have to express your opinion on a certain subject and justify it with examples.

- For the letter writing, practice familiarizing yourself with the correct structure of how to write a letter. It is very important that you read the instructions and accomplish every item required. When writing a letter, depending on the situation, you can write it in an informal or formal way. But always remember to be polite in the words that you write.

- For the editorial/essay writing, the questions would normally be generic. But knowledge of general information would be very helpful to you especially if you need to provide examples. The minimum number of words for this is 250 words. And that is a lot especially if you have difficulty expressing your ideas in writing. Another good tip is providing an opening statement (at least 1 paragraph) so that you don't go directly to answering the question. This gives good structure to your essay and buys you a lot of words off the minimum requirement.

- Expand your vocabulary, but make sure to know when and how to use them. Just because two words are synonyms in the thesaurus, doesn't mean you can automatically use them in the same context.

- Use conjuctions to string your ideas together.

- Never go under the minimum required number of words. They will take points off that.

4. Speaking

- Relax and feel comfortable as if you are only speaking to a friend.

- The questions they ask are very generic and simple. But that doesn't mean you can give the most simplistic answer. For example, when asked "Would you like to own a boat?", it would be easy for you to answer "Yes". But answering "yes" does not give them enough information about your speaking abilities. A good answer would be "Yes, I would like to own a boat if I have the means to purchase one."

- If, by an unfortunate draw, you are given a topic you are not familiar with or are being asked a personal experience about a certain topic that you have no experience of at all, I would suggest to make something up as fast as you can. For example, if asked "Describe the best speech you have ever heard and how this has affected you", and you draw a blank in your head not having ever heard a useful and inspiring speech in your life, make something up like hearing a good speech your High School valedictorian had when he/she talked about the challenges you are about to face and how graduating high school is just the beginning. It may not be true, but the interviewer does not know that.

- You don't have to talk fast. There are no minimum words. What is important is to construct your sentences properly and deliver them articulately.

Good luck to all!

RepotSirc · August 2013

What do you mean "Pretty Decent Scores"? Your scores are freaking AWESOME!!!! Congrats!!! :-D

Un din nga sana sasabihin ko eh, kung decent lang ung sayo eh anu na lang itatawag mo sa score ko, haha.

mhej · August 2013

@RepotSirc - hehe. I didn't want to sound "mayabang" kasi by saying I got great scores. Also, I didn't expect to get a score like that. Sobrang sineryoso ko yung pagrereview na halos umiyak na ako when I get low scores sa mga practice exams. 8D

wizz · August 2013

@mhej ang galing! congrats sa tumataginting na IELTS 20pts!!! pero totoo yan pag talaga focus at seryoso ka makukuha mo talaga eh.

filipinacpa · August 2013

@mhej congrats sayo! Dream score ko yan

renee · September 2013

Pwede po pa advice sa academic writing, dito po ako nabitin for 6.5, need ko po band 7. First time ko pa lang mag take at self study lang po, although sa writing nga ako nahihirapan magpractice,,, I appreciate your tips and secrets to share,, thanks!

yhanie_17 · September 2013

I have finished my exam last 29 August pero I know na mababa score ko especially sa writing... Take 2 ako for sure but of course hoping na sumabit kahit 7 man lang.

quelly · September 2013

Congrats to those who got great scores! >:D< for some reason the pressure is getting into my nerves since my occupation is now available in only two states...waaah!

renee · September 2013

San po maganda magreview ng IELTS sa pinas? Meron po ba sa british council? Mahal kc dito sa abroad prep course nila, hehe

gmad06 · September 2013

hi @yhanie_17 would you mind sharing your essay task2 prompt? thank u

jcruz · September 2013

@renee hello renee. I'm currently enrolled sa JRooz Review Center. So far so good. Magaling yung mga IELTS instructors at d ka talga pababayaan. What I also like about this review center is that they have flexible sched - good for me because I'm currently working.

bachuchay · September 2013

@jcruz

How much po s jrooz?

jcruz · September 2013

@bachuchay depends on the program po. You can visit their website nalang at http://www.jroozreview.com/ielts-review-center. You can ask if meron cla promo para mas makaless po kayo. Good luck po.

alchemicus · September 2013

...some additional tips from the IDP

:

How to prepare for your IELTS test:
http://www.ieltsessentials.com/prepare/how_to_prepare.aspx

filipinacpa · September 2013

Hi all, how long did you prepare for your IELTS exam?

wizz · September 2013

@filipinacpa saktong 1 month lang dahil nalaman ko na mbbusy ako ng sobra sa work sa month na plinano ko sana mag exam. pero nagdedicate ako ng at least 1hr every day pag-uwi fr work para mag-aral. yun ung ginawa ko.

katiequintos · September 2013

Hands down to @mhej and to all those who passed IELTS.
I know the pros are here.

And I'm writing to seek help from you guys to please have a look on the sample writing I did yesterday. I am working here in Malaysia and didn't have a chance to enroll at Niners for review. I paid for a writing review though, but the former examiner hasn't gotten back to me yet. So it would be great if i can get inputs from you guys.

I need your honest feedback. Please help me improve my writing. My exam will be on Saturday (September 7), so if you could please please comment on what I did, I would appreciate it very much.

Thanks guys!

Cheers,
Katie

WRITING TASK 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Clothes are a necessary part of people’s lives.

What do you think clothes communicate about an individual?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Clothing is a basic human need. For most people, clothing gives us protection from the weather. It gives the feeling of warmth and brings comfort to the body. While for me, clothing defines my fashion sense and creativity.

I know people who are really not particular to the clothes they wear. Most of them don’t even care about the color or if it is in style. What is important to them is something that could make them feel comfortable. For example it is winter, they will wear anything that could protect them from the cold. It doesn't matter if they will look good in it, or if they will look skinnier in it, but as long as it gives them warmth, that's what matters!

From my point of view, clothing is a very important aspect of my life as I use it as a way to express my personality. It is something I give a thought to weekly. Since my college days, I plan out the clothes I will wear every week. I never repeat my outfit for a month. It is a mortal sin for me to go outside with my shoes not complementing my dress. I'd rather not go and meet my friends if I’m not happy with what I wear. I make sure that the color of my dress, ensembles, nail polish, and hair go all together. It doesn't mean I have to spend a lot to buy new clothes every time, just to come up with my outfit for the day. Being creative; mixing and matching what I already have; and being able to come up with a new look after that is a big satisfaction for me.

Clothing might just be a necessity for some, however, in my opinion; it is a way to express one's creativity and fashion sense.

Sungsung · September 2013

@katiequintos, think of some words that you can substitute to the words clothing and clothes like dress, garment, gear, attire, apparel.

Use the third person when writing as it will give you a higher band score.

I will try to look for a sample essay regarding clothing.

Sungsung · September 2013

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

In many countries, schoolchildren are required to wear school uniforms.

Do you think this should this be enforced in all schools?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

In many countries, pupils are required to wear uniforms when attending school, and this is something that should be enforced for the following reasons.

Primarily, students, especially those in their teenagers years, are under pressure both academically and socially; insisting on a standardised uniform within the school alleviates some of this as it means that the student does not have to worry about whether their peers think that they are dressed well or in the latest fashions. This has the added advantage for those from lower income families who may simply not be able to afford the clothes worn by those from more affluent families.

Not only does it remove the social pressure, but wearing a school uniform also has a psychological advantage, as the student is dressed in the mode of attire used for study. Much like wearing a suit and tie may signal going to work for many people, wearing a school uniform prepares the child for the day of learning.

However, this perhaps works best for younger students. By age 16 or 17, it may be appropriate for the student to wear more casual clothing when they reach their later teens, as the idea of 'conforming' by wearing a uniform could discourage the student from pursuing further education and this is often the time in which young adults are looking to establish their own clear identity. It is at this point that it may be more productive to allow more relaxed clothing such as jeans.

In conclusion, although a school uniform does have advantages at certain stages of a student's academic career, there is also a time when the enforcement of a standardised set of clothing may be counterproductive.

(282 words)

habibi · September 2013

@mhej Ano SOL mo? Parang ang tagal ng assessment sa yo.

katiequintos · September 2013

@sungsung : Thank you! I sent it out to my friends too. Most of them told me the same thing. I sounded like a blogger, not formal writing at all. Question, are you guys satisfied of how I answered the task?

Cheers,
Katie

Sungsung · September 2013

@katiequintos, ok naman yung writing mo. magaling ka ng mag -English kelangan langng polishing at i-organize mabiti ang yong mga ideas. At saka improve pa ng konti ang vocabulary. At iwasan ang "!" kasi formal writing tayo. Eto may tips ako sa yo. I'm not a writer but I got an 8.5 in IELTS writing exam. Technique lang at bilis magisip ang kelangan:

WRITING TIPS- gaya nga ng sabi nung isang kasama natin dito, gumawa na kayo ng pattern para sa Introduction, Body, at Conclusion. for example, sa INTRODUCTION, puede niyong simulan ng "In a contemporary society....", "In the advent of globalisation....", "It is not uncommon nowadays to..." Para naman sa BODY, puedeng "Perhaps the most persuasive argument that supports the idea of..." para sa argument at kung counter-argument naman, puedeng "Granted, there are also some strong points that contradicts..." sa Conclusion yung usual na "In Summary", "Therefore", etc. pinakaimportante dito ay yung outlining at yung sentence construction, guwag kalimutan ang mga connectors tulad ng "In addition", "Moreover", etc.

katiequintos · September 2013

Wow! 8.5 ang galing!!! Thank you so much for the tips...I need to find time for this. Gawin ko tonight. Thank you ulit ng marami!

ynnozki · September 2013

@katiequintos good idea yung nasimulan mo, para sa writing I think marami dito ang handang magCritique ng mga essay like @sungsung napakalaking tulong po nyan...

papacritique din ako pag full blast na ulet ako magreview for retake..3rd take na kung sakali

renee · September 2013

hello po! pwede po mag ask anong magandang website to subscribe for online academic ielts tutor who can check writing, thanks for the suggestions

marc_chrono · September 2013

Hi Guys,

Ask lang po kung ano usually ang topic na lumalabas sa writing task 1 & task 2? Need lang some ideas. Thanks!

michel_75 · September 2013

@marc_chrono anong module kukunin mo po?

chiko_au · September 2013

@chiko_au, post mo naman dito Sir kung nabago ba ang W/S mo na 6.5. Meron din kasi akong ganyang score kaso nanghinayang akong magpa remark at nung nakapag decide ako na itry, too late na dahil lagpas na ng 6weeks.

Hi @cylin, you requested that I post the result of my re-mark. I am delighted to inform you that my scores in both W and S are successfully bumped up

Writing (from 6.5 to 7.0) and Speaking (6.5 to 8.0). Examiners are human and may not have assessed a candidate accurately. Requesting for a re-mark (or EOR) does work wonders in some cases when a more senior examiner reviews your materials. Kailangan mo lang talagang paniwalaan ang sarili mo, ang proseso at maghintay ng matagal (mga 10 weeks inabot for me bago ko na natanggap updated TRF), but it's all worth it. The cost of re-mark will be refunded kapag positibo ang resulta. Sobrang saya ko sa naging outcome

I'm posting this narin para in a way makatulong sa iba na tulad kong nag-aalinlangan din noon. Not many people kasi in this forum explored this option at nahirapan din akong mag-decide dati dahil kaunti lang success cases na nakikita ko.

I would like to take this opportunity narin to thank the contributors ng thread na ito. Each one na nagbahagi ng kanilang mga opinyon. Marami akong natutunan sa mga topics na dini-discuss at reviewers na inyo pong binabahagi. Lahat po dito nagtutulungan. I wish success sa mga magte-take ng IELTS in the coming weeks!