1. IELTS Preparation
Phyo Wai Thaung

2. Overall Band Score – 8.0
Individual Band Score Listening 8.0 Reading 9.0 Writing 7.0 Speaking 7.0

3. If you are considering to take the IELTS exam,…..
How Long?
Self-assessment
Requirements for particular study/ university/ country
How?
Self-study or Tuition
Determination & Motivation

4. Test Duration Listening (30 min) Reading (60 min) Writing (60 min)
About 3 hours
Speaking test may be on the same day or later
Should practice mock tests to be ready before the exam
Totally in your hands
Should be more informative

5. Listening and Reading Marking Schemes
Band Score
Correct Number 9
39-40
8.5
37-38 8
35-36
7.5
32-34 7
30-31
6.5
26-29 6
23-25
Band Score
Correct Number
5.5
18-22 5
16-17
4.5
13-15 4
10-12
3.5
8-10 3
6-7
2.5
4-5

6. Listening Preparation
*The more you listen, the more familiar you will be with different accent.
Listen regularly to news channel (BBC World News, CNN,…..) and watch documentaries
Know yourself and stress on the specific area you are weak in (Monologue, Dialogue, social talk, academic talk)
Don’t use earpiece

7. Listening Tips!!! (During the test)
Fully concentrate but don’t be anxious
Reading time (Pause) is the golden opportunity for Prediction
Never miss the introductory sentence which can give important clues
What is it about?
Who are the ones to speak?
Never think about the missing words while the recording goes on

8. Reading Preparation Newsweek, Reader’s Digest, Time
How to speed up the reading???
Question First, then Passage
Read under time pressure
Newsweek, Reader’s Digest, Time
IELTS Practice books
Install a good dictionary into your mobile phone or tablet
Practice like a real exam (3 passages within an hour without a break)

9. Reading Tips!!! (During the test)
Time Management
Vital
Less time in 1st two passages
Order of Difficulty
More time in final passage
Complete Answer Sheet
Time management is vital
Take less time in the first 2 passages (Passages are arranged in order of increasing difficulty)
Don’t leave anything blank

10. Practice Makes Perfect
Writing Preparation
Academic Writing
Task 1 => Report Writing
Task 2 => Essay Writing
Practice Makes Perfect
Be prepared to fulfil all 4 components of marking scheme
Task response (Argumentative/ Thesis-led/ Problem-Solution essays)
Cohesion and Coherence
Grammar
Lexical resources (Vocabulary)
General knowledge and Rational/Critical thinking
Someone to check and give advice

11. Writing Tips!!! (During the test)
Review
Write
Plan
Introduction and conclusion should be structured in advance
Give sufficient time to body paragraphs

12. Speaking Preparation Speaking Test Part-1 (Social Talk)
Part-2 (Card Talk)
Part-3 (Discussion)
Try to balance in all 4 assessed areas:
Fluency and Coherence
Lexical Resource
Grammatical range and accuracy
Pronunciation
Practice with a friend or Practice with IELTS Speaking App
For Part-2, use a timer for practice and make a gist of talking points for possible topics (Person, Place, Thing, Event, Activity) but not by heart
Learn from IELTS Speaking videos from YouTube

13. Speaking Tips!!! (During the test)
Be relaxed
Emphasize on Part-1 and Part-2 and present your skills since the beginning
Don’t give very short answers and reply as completely as possible
Don’t make repetition on the same phrase or clause
In case of unfamiliar topic, try to answer to the best of your knowledge
Use fluency markers wherever appropriate

14. Avoid unnecessary mistakes
Word limit
Spelling
Longer essay doesn’t mean better mark
Obvious grammar mistakes
Memorized answers in speaking

15. Useful IELTS Preparation Aids on Google Play Store
IELTS World Power
IELTS Speaking

16. Cambridge IELTS (5-11) >>> IELTS Trainer >>>
Reference Books
Cambridge IELTS (5-11) >>>
Borrow from British Council library
IELTS Trainer >>>
<<< Barron’s IELTS

17. Free Online Courses Road to IELTS (Preparation and Practice)
edX IELTS (The University of Queensland)

18. Useful websites www.ielts-blog.com
(If subscribed, you will receive updated questions on Writing and Speaking from other test centers around the world)

19. Thank you for your kind attention!
Good Luck !!!
Phyo Wai Thaung
Facebook: Phyo Wai Thaung