IELTS

IELTS International English Language Testing System BetterThink Learning Systems

What you know about IELTS BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems Giving the exam at a particular IELTS testing centre gets you a better band. IELTS can be taken 3 times only. Getting a good score is a proof of my ability anytime in the future. Choosing the module could be according to my wish. If the score is unexpected, nothing can be done about it. There is only one type of test which is for students intending to study abroad. IELTS test is a difficult one to crack. BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems What is ILTES for? IELTS, the International English Language Testing System, is designed to assess the language ability of candidates Who need to study or work where English is the language Of communication. BetterThink Learning Systems

What are purposes for taking ILTES? HIGHER STUDIES NATURALISATION & IMMIGRATION PROFESSIONAL JOBS WHO CAN TAKE IELTS? ONE WITH AGE 16 YEARS OR ABOVE. ONE WITH A VALID PASSPORT BetterThink Learning Systems

COUNTRIES WHICH RECOGNISE IELTS AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND UNITED KINGDOM CANADA Various other commonwealth countries USA BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems WHO ADMINISTERS IELTS? BetterThink Learning Systems

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BetterThink Learning Systems IELTS Band scores has fully operational command of the language, appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding. Expert user: 9. Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentations well. Very good user: 8. has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning. Good user: 7. Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstanding can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations. Competent user: 6. BetterThink Learning Systems

Extremely limited user: has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes should be able to handle basic communications in our field. Modest user: 5. basic competence is limited to familiar situation has frequent problems in understanding and expression is not able to use complex language. Limited user: 4. conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent break downs in communications occur Extremely limited user: 3. No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or short formulate in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English. Intermittent user: 2. essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words. Non user: 1. no assessable information provided Did not attempt the test: 0. BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems TEST TYPES GENERAL TRAINING FOR IMMIGRATION ACADEMIC FOR HIGHER STUDIES FOR PROFESSIONAL WORK VISAS BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems TEST STRUCTURE BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems LISTENING TIME ALLOWED 30 MIN. + 10 MIN. PROCEDURE FIRST MODULE OF THE TEST CASSETTE IS PLAYED INDIVIDUAL HEAD PHONES ARE PROVIDED ATTEMPTING QUESTIONS FROM THE BOOKLET TRANSFERING ANSWERS (USING PENCIL ONLY) NUMBER OF QUESTIONS 40 QUESTIONS DISTRIBUTED OVER 4 SECTIONS STRUCTURE SECTION 1 – Conversation on a social/ semi-official topic SECTION 2 – A monologue about a social topic SECTION 3 – Conversation on between 2-4 speakers about an academic topic SECTION 4 – A university-style presentation of an academic topic by one speaker BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems What do you think? The listening section includes only one accent. The recording is heard only once Time of listening and writing answers is limited. BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems

Possible ListeningTopics travel arrangements decisions on a night out a speech about student services on a university campus arrangements for meals during conference. a conversation between a tutor and a student about an assignment or between three students Planning a research project a lecture or talk of general academic interest. BetterThink Learning Systems

Types of Listening Questions • Multiple choices • short-answer questions • Sentence completion • Note/summary/flow • chart/table Completion • labeling a diagram • Classification • matching BetterThink Learning Systems

Listening – common challenges Each recording played only once . Must write and listen simultaneously. Range of accents used. Must follow line of argument or thought. Unfamiliar vocabulary. Correct spelling required. BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems READING TIME ALLOWED 60 MIN. PROCEDURE SECOND MODULE OF THE TEST ATTEMPTING QUESTIONS FROM THE BOOKLET AFTER READING THE UNSEEN PASSAGES TRANSFERING ANSWERS (No extra time provided) ONLY PENCIL IS ALLOWED NUMBER OF QUESTIONS 40 QUESTIONS DISTRIBUTED OVER 3 SECTIONS QUESTION TYPES T/F/NG, HEADINGS, MCQs, SENTENCE COMPLETION, MATCHING etc. BetterThink Learning Systems

ACADEMIC READING VS GENERAL TRAINING READING PASSAGES THREE PASSAGES FORM MAGAZINES, JOURNALS OR NEWSPAPERS PASSAGES FOCUSED ON ACADEMIC ISSUES THREE PASSAGES FROM NOTICES, ADS, MAGAZINES & BOOKS PASSAGES FOCUSED ON SOCIAL ISSUES DIFFICULTY LEVEL COMPARATIVELY DIFFICULT EASIER TIME ALLOWED 60 MIN. NUMBER OF QUESTIONS 40 BetterThink Learning Systems

Reading common challenges Time is short Unfamiliar topics Unusual question type such a labeling a flowchart Incorrect spelling and grammar are penalized Writing more than is necessary is penalized BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems WRITING TIME ALLOWED 60 MIN. PROCEDURE THIRD MODULE OF THE TEST TWO WRITING TASKS OF SPECIFIED WORD LIMITS TO BE COMPLETED OPTION OF USING A PEN OR A PENCIL BetterThink Learning Systems

ACADEMIC WRITING VS GENERAL TRAINING WRITING FORMAT OF QUESTIONS INTERPRETING AND DESCRIBING A GRAPH/CHART GIVING AN OPINION OR SUGGESTING A SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM WRITING A LETTER DIFFICULTY LEVEL MORE DIFFICULT EASIER TIME ALLOWED 60 MIN. WORD LIMIT 150 WORDS FOR GRAPH/CHART 250 WORDS FOR ESSAY BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems Test Format Writing Module lasts 60 minutes. Two tasks:- Task 1 – 20 minutes, 150 words. Task 2 – 40 minutes, 250 words. Words are counted by the examiners Tip – Ss should learn how many words they usually write on a line, and how many lines = 150 and 250 words, so they don’t waste time counting words in the test. BetterThink Learning Systems

money people spend on different forms of entertainment Organize , present and possibly compare data money people spend on different forms of entertainment Describe stages of a procedure or process the stages of human evolution Interpret a diagram or table How the water cycle works Describe on object or event or series of events How a car engine works BetterThink Learning Systems

On what basis are candidates assessed? In Task 1 candidates are asked to describe some information (graph/table/chart/diagram), and to present the description in their own words. Depending on the type of input and the task suggested. The ability to :discuss-compare- describe-justify- give solutions BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems Assessment Criteria General Points candidates must respond appropriately in terms of: Register – formality and politeness; e.g. no short forms Organisation – clear and logical Style – academic; e.g. no rhetorical questions, no exclamations, no extreme opinions, use tentative expressions such as ‘this appears to be…’ ‘this is probably due to…’ Content – relevant and complete BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems Guidelines for a good answer Does the report have a suitable structure? ¨ Does it have an introduction, body and conclusion? ¨ Does it include connective words to make the writing cohesive within sentences and paragraphs? Does the report use suitable grammar and vocabulary? ¨ Does it include a variety of sentence structures? ¨ Does it include a range of appropriate vocabulary? Does the report meet the requirements of the task? ¨ Does it meet the word limit requirements? ¨ Does it describe the whole graph adequately? ¨ Does it focus on the important trends presented in the graphic information? BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems Answers Answers Must be written on the answer sheet. Must be written in full. Notes are not acceptable as answers. Notes may be made on the question paper, but cannot be taken from the test room. BetterThink Learning Systems

Academic Writing - Writing Task 1 You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The graph below shows the different modes of transport used to travel to and from work in one European city in 1950, 1970 and 1990. Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information shown. You should write at least 150 words. BetterThink Learning Systems

Possible Answer for Task 1 Full Answer The graph shows the percentage of travellers in a European city who used bus, car, bike and foot to commute to and from work in the years 1950, 1970 and 1990. The amount of people using cars grew considerably, rising from just over 5% in 1950 to 25% in 1970, and then climbing to almost 40% by 1990. However, the amount of people using bikes decreased. Over 25% of commuters cycled in 1950, but this had fallen to less than 10% by 1990. Similarly, the amount of people who walked to work fell from more than a third in 1950 to about 10% in 1990. The amount of people using buses initially rose in 1970 to about 30%, but had dropped to about 17% by 1990. The graph indicates the growing use of cars for commuting and the corresponding fall in the popularity of other modes of transport since 1950. BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems

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BetterThink Learning Systems Sample task 1 You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information in the graph below. You should write at least 150 words. Cases of disease X 500 400 300 200 100 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems Sample answer The graph shows the number of cases of X disease in Some land between the years 1960 and 1995. As an overall trend, it is clear that the number of cases of the disease increased fairly rapidly until the eighties, remained constant for a while before dropping to zero in the late 90s At this point the number of cases stayed steady till 1995 and Some land was free of the disease. In conclusion, the graph shows that the disease was Increasingly spreading between the 60s and 80s. BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems Task 2 (40 minutes, 250 words) presented with a point of view or argument or problem. Present and justify an opinion e.g. Do you think trial by jury should be used in all criminal cases? Compare and contrast evidence, opinions and implications e.g. How effective is it to reward good work with extra money? Evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence or an argument e.g. ‘Failure shows desire wasn’t strong enough’. To what extent do you agree? BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems Writing common challenges In task – 1 Analyze, select and order data See general trends Identify key chunks of information and exceptions to general trends Use complex sentences structure In Task 2 Unfamiliar topic Take a stand and argue it effectively BetterThink Learning Systems

Can we overcome the challenges? BetterThink Learning Systems

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BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems Example of Task 2 Read the question carefully and read it several times. Decide what the focus of the task is? The first sentence is sometimes background information, the focus of the essay and the question come after. For example: ‘Some businesses now say that no one can smoke cigarettes in any of their offices. Some governments have banned smoking in all public places. This is a good idea though it takes away some of our freedom. Do you agree or disagree?’ Decide what the task requires you do. BetterThink Learning Systems

Task 2 is assessed on: Quality of Arguments Ideas and Evidence Logical-well considered Ideas and Evidence support your points Vocabulary and Sentence Structure BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Present a written argument to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the following topic: Television has had a significant influence on the culture of many societies. To what extent would you say that television has positively or negatively affected the cultural development of your society? You should write at least 250 words Use your own knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence. BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems SPEAKING TIME ALLOWED 10 TO 15 MIN. PROCEDURE ONE TO ONE INTERVIEW ENTIRE CONVERSATION IS RECORDED STRUCTURE INTRODUCTION AND INTERVIEW TOPIC CARD EXTENDED QUESTIONS ON TOPIC CARD / DISCUSSION WHAT IS ASSESSED GRAMMAR FLUENCY PRONUNCIATION VOCABULARY BODY LANGUAGE BetterThink Learning Systems

Part Nature of interaction Timing Introduction and interview Examiner introduces him/herself and confirms candidate’s identity. Examiner interviews candidate using verbal questions selected from familiar topic frames 4–5 minutes Part 2 Individual long turn Examiner asks candidate to speak for 1–2 minutes on a particular topic based on written input in the form of a candidate task card and content focused prompts. Examiner asks one or two questions to round off the long 3–4 minutes (including 1 minute Preparation time Part 3 Two-way discussion Examiner invites candidate to participate in discussion of a more abstract nature, based on verbal questions thematically linked to part 2 topic BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems Part 1(A) Let’s talk about your home town or village. What kind of place is it? What’s the most interesting part of your home area? What kind of jobs do the people in your town/village do? Is your home town changing? Would you say it is a good place to live? Why? What changes would you like to make to your home town? BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems Part1(B) Let’s talk about what you do. Do you work or are you a student? Work What’s your job? Why did you choose that kind of work? How long have you been doing it? What is a typical day like at your work? Are there things your don’t like about it? What are they? Study What subjects are you studying? Why did you choose those subjects? How long have you been studying them? Do you enjoy them? Why? Are there many job opportunities for you? What is the best thing about studying? BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems Part 1© Now, let’s talk about modern life. Is life in your country today very different from when your grandparents were your age? What things are changing in your country at the moment? Do you think modern life is healthy? Now, let’s talk about hotels. Do people often go to hotels where you live? What do you think is the most important quality in a hotel? Do you think it is more fun to stay in a hotel or to go camping? Why? BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems Part 2 In Part 2, you have to speak for 1-2 minutes by yourself, without stopping, on a topic the examiner will give you. You have one minute to get ready and make some notes. Describe a holiday you have had: You should say: how you travelled what activities you did on holiday who you went with and say if you would recommend that holiday to a friend BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems Part 3(A) Let’s move on to talk about the environment. What kind of threats are there to the environment in your country? Do you think your country is protecting the environment enough? Is the environment very important to you? Why/why not? BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems Part3 (B) Let’s talk about libraries. Do you have public libraries in your countries? Do you think libraries will be different in the future? In what ways? Should children be allowed in libraries? Why/why not? BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems speaking – common challenges:- Talking extensively Vocabulary Abstract topic in 3rd section BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems Further Help - WAP More information at http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/wap/ http://www.ielts.school.nz/ http://www.activeielts.com http://www.1-language.com/ http://www.ielts.org/ BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems UGC Introductory site http://www.ugccepa.com IELTS homepage http://www.ielts.org/index.htm ELC homepage http://elc.polyu.edu.hk BetterThink Learning Systems

BetterThink Learning Systems