1. Year 13 – IELTS Prep These lessons will focus solely on IELTS exam strategies and preparation. In Year 12 you covered a range of topics, it is your responsibility to continue reading up on different areas to increase your vocabulary.

2. This year… You will only be focussing on IELTS work You will have 1 x 2 hour lesson per week Each lesson will focus on a particular area of the IELTS exam – Have a look at the timetable so you can see what is coming up With less class work you will have more homework and more studying to do

3. Discussion In Pairs, answer the following questions about the IELTS exam and EFL: When is your next IELTS exam? What scores do you need to get for University acceptance? What were your biggest problems with English last year (e.g. Reading Multiple choice; Writing task 2; pronunciation etc.) How much EFL studying should you do each week? How do you try to improve your work? What strategies work best for you when studying?

4. Conversation Questions In small groups/pairs, discuss the questions you have been given about your summer holidays

5. Self-Study for EFL In pairs, discuss what ways you can study for EFL at home. Practice past papers – time yourself or do it ‘open book’. Give writing papers to Heather for marking. Read a variety of articles – not just from newspapers, but also The Economist, The National Geographic, The New Scientist and other specialist publications like online journals (British Medical Association, Oxford journals)

6. Time yourself when reading an article – try to give yourself less time with each practice. Work on skimming and scanning. Record ALL new vocabulary – the wider your vocabulary, the easier you will understand IELTS Reading. Write new words/phrases down and understand when to use them, to help with your own writing and speaking. Time yourself speaking for 2 minutes – learn to understand how much you will be able to say.

7. Watch as much TV and movies as you can in English, without subtitles – this will improve your listening skills. Look online for quizzes about TV shows episodes or movies and try answer the questions as you watch. http://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/television/fri ends/friends_seasons_and_episodes.html http://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/television/fri ends/friends_seasons_and_episodes.html http://www.paulsquiz.com/free_quiz_questions /television_and_movies_quizzes http://www.paulsquiz.com/free_quiz_questions /television_and_movies_quizzes

8. Pick a topic and write! Too many students ‘practise’ by answering essay questions they have already done or are comfortable with. Go online and pick a topic at random and get writing. Here are a list of 40 sample essay questions for Task 2: http://www.rxpgonline.com/article1320.html

9. Use MOODLE! It has a lot of EXTRA resources for you to practise all aspects of the IELTS exam. There are website links and downloadable documents. Contact the teacher – via email (heather.lyle@bilborough.ac.uk ) or on the Facebook page for Bilborough students (Heather Lyle)heather.lyle@bilborough.ac.uk If you have any questions or resource querys. Maybe you want to share a resource you have found?

10. You have 10 weeks of EFL lessons before your IELTS exam on December 8 th That means 20 hours of class time You will have to work very hard at home and in class REMEMBER! You are welcome to come to Drop-In on Wednesdays at 11.15-13.20 with Heather

11. Stop the Bus! Get into teams You are going to play the Stop the Bus game. Here are your categories… Verb AdjectiveEnvironmental theme Famous figureFoodCountry