IELTS

International English Language Testing System

IELTS - The Essential Information

Number of Parts

Listening Speaking Reading Writing

IELTS Listening


Time:

Around 30 minutes. 40 questions. 4 sections.

Questions: Sections:

The Listening Module is recorded on a CD. Each conversation is played ONCE only. Accents: A range of English accents and dialects are used.

IELTS Listening

A variety of questions are used, chosen from the following:

y multiple choice y short-answer questions y sentence completion y notes/summary/diagram/flow-chart/ table completion y labelling a diagram which has numbered parts

y matching

IELTS Listening


Marking and Assessment

One mark for each correct answer in the 40 question test. Scores are translated out of 40 into the IELTS 9-band scale. Scores are reported as a whole band or a half band.

6 = 23 points 6.5 = 26 points 7 = 29 points

Be careful ! Poor spelling and grammar are penalised !

IELTS Listening
Where shall we go this evening?
A) B) C) D) cafe karaoke cinema The British Council
Useful hints

IELTS Listening
Useful hints Predict likely answers e.g., Manchester United 2 Arsenal ____

Predict key words

e.g., To improve your reading, buy a good ______ .

Your answer must be grammatically correct

e.g., His hobby was taking ___________ .
A) photo B) photography C) photoes D) photos

IELTS Listening

Dont Panic !!!!!

Question 1 Question 2 Question 3 Question 4 C C C ?

IELTS Listening
Avoiding common mistakes  90 / ninety pounds NOT 90 or 90 (in) 2 weeks (time) NOT 2 week Useful information TRUE / T NOT informations NOT

IELTS Reading


Time: Questions: Number of passages:

60 minutes 40 questions

Number of words: 2,000 to 2,750 words

y multiple choice

IELTS Reading Task Types

y fill the gap in sentence / table y choosing from a heading bank for identified paragraphs/sections of the text y identification of writers views/claims - yes, no or not given y identification of information in the text - yes, no or not given/ - true, false or not given

IELTS Reading: YES, NO, NOT GIVEN



YES questions agree with the writer; good knowledge of synonyms is very helpful. NO questions state the opposite of what is stated in the passage. In NOT GIVEN questions, you cannot find any information in the passage that is related to the question.

IELTS Reading
Useful hints
Read the question first. Read the question carefully. Look for specific evidence. Look for synonyms of key words. Dont worry about unknown words.

Yes, No, Not Given...

Computers are becoming more popular, despite their cost.

Yes, No, Not Given...

Computers are becoming more popular, despite their cost.
A Computers are getting cheaper B Computers are expensive NOT GIVEN YES

C Computers used to be more popular NO than they are now

IELTS Writing


Time: Number of Tasks:

60 minutes. 2. Task 1 20 mins. Task 1 at least 150 words. Task 2 at least 250 words.

Task Time for each task: 2 40 mins.

Word Limit:

IELTS Writing Task 1

The graph shows profits for three companies in 2002. Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information below.
In $1,000s

90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1s Q r 2nd Q r 3rd Q r 4th Qtr C C C p ny A p ny B p ny C

IELTS Writing Task 1

The graph shows profits for three companies in 2002. Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information below.
In $1,000s

90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1st Qtr 2 Qtr 3r Qtr 4th Qtr y yB y

IELTS Writing Task 1

Planning Task 1 essays



 

Arrange the information, from general to specific e.g paragraph 1: general trends paragraph 2: striking features Think of synonyms for the introduction Think of a conclusion

IELTS - Writing
Useful hints

Planning

Dont start writing immediately !

Linking & signposting Firstly, I will discuss .. Timing Checking

Allow enough time for Part 2. Look for common errors (e.g., articles)

Scaffolding (Gin gio) (Gi gi

 There

are many reasons why

In addition, we mustnt forget that

Firstly, and perhaps most However, it is also true to say that importantly,.
All in all, it is my firm belief that

IELTS - TaskWeDescribing Graphs 1- cant just say.. 1It went down !

It went up !

Expand your vocabulary. Remember the past form fall ?

rise ? Remember to use the correct form. e.g., verb = improve. noun = ?

IELTS Writing Task 1

Examples of the information descriptions
Intro: The bar chart illustrates how much profit three firms made over the four quarters of 2002.

Para 1: Generally company A made the lowest profits, slightly above $20,000 in quarters 1 and 2. Firm C always made profits of around $45,000, and usually had the highest profits of the three companies. Firm B was always between the other two firms, with profits of almost always just over $30,000.

IELTS Writing Task 2

Private cars are a huge source of pollution and are involved in many accidents. How can people be encouraged to use their cars less frequently? What can governments do to improve and promote public transport ?

IELTS Writing Task 2

Private cars are a huge source of pollution and are involved in many accidents. How can people be encouraged to use their cars less frequently? What can governments do to improve and promote public transport ?

IELTS Writing Task 2 A possible paragraph

Topic sentence Supporting idea Supporting evidence Concluding sentence Firstly, governments could construct new services. Monorails are one possibility. An example of this is the monorail that was opened in Bangkok recently. It has been very successful in helping people to get around the city much faster. It is also more environmentally friendly, as electricity is cleaner than petrol. Clearly, good government planning can have great benefits for commuters and people living in cities.

IELTS Writing Task 2

The Marking Criteria
Task 1:

Task Fulfilment Coherence & Cohesion Vocabulary & Sentence Structure Arguments, Ideas & Evidence Communicative Quality Vocabulary & Sentence Structure

Task 2:

IELTS Writing Task 2

Things to remember:
Highlight the key words in the question Decide what you think - your opinion Plan carefully - ideas, examples and organisation Remember the structure of the essay Write enough and check for simple mistakes

IELTS Writing


To score a irrelevant / inaccurate in KEY areas. 5

Message can generally be followed. Errors are quite intrusive.

To score a 6

irrelevant / inaccurate in MINOR details. Message can be followed throughout. Errors are only slightly intrusive. Writing is relevant, appropriate & accurate. Message can generally be followed with ease. Only occasional, non-intrusive errors.

To score a 7

IELTS Speaking


Interview length:

11 - 14 minutes. 3

Number of sections: Part 1

- Introduction / Familiar Topics (4 - 5 mins)

Part 2

- Your Talk

(4 mins)

Part 3

- Extended Discussion

(3 - 5 mins)

IELTS Speaking
 What

does the interviewer want to

hear?

- Fluency & Coherence - Lexical Resource - Grammatical range and accuracy - Pronunciation

IELTS Speaking


To score a 5
Relies on repetition, self-correction and / or slow speech. Limited flexibility. Basic sentences accurate. Complex sentences have errors.

To score a 6 Willing to produce long turns. Vocabulary may be inappropriate but meaning is clear. Can be understood with occasional strain. To score a 7 Produces long turns without noticeable effort. Uses less common and idiomatic terms. Uses a range of stress / intonation to convey meaning.

IELTS Speaking
Part 1 3-4 minutes

General Topics

What is your job? What do you study and why? Tell me about your family What is your hometown like?

Keep talking!

Not rehearsed!

IELTS Speaking


Part 2 3-4 minutes Short presentation

1minute to read the card and make notes 2 minutes to talk about the topic Use the note taking time to think of vocabulary, grammar, organise your thoughts Use your notes in the presentation to help remember vocabulary, grammar, content

IELTS Speaking
Part 2 3-4 minutes Short Presentation
Describe a memorable event in your life You should say: when the event took place where the event took place what happened exactly and explain why this event was memorable for you

Keep talking!

Show what you know!

IELTS Speaking
Part 2 3-4 minutes Short Presentation

Demonstration

IELTS Speaking


You are now going to practise part 2 of the speaking: 1. Find one partner, the person next to you. 2. One person is A, one person is B. A is speaking first. 3. Planning/preparation practice, A and B do this. 4. B listen to A speak for two minutes. 5. B give A some feedback on fluency, vocabulary, any silence.

IELTS Speaking
Part 2 3-4 minutes Short Presentation
Describe a book which has made a strong impression on you You should say: what kind of book it was when you read it what the book was about and explain why this book made such an impression on you Show what you
know!

IELTS Speaking


Now B is going to practise part 2 of the speaking: 1. Planning/preparation practice, A and B do this. 2. A listen to B speak for two minutes 3. A give B some feedback on fluency, vocabulary, any silence.

IELTS Speaking
Part 2 3-4 minutes Short Presentation
Describe a very important period in your life so far You should say: when this was what happened in that period what other people were involved and explain why you think it was so important for you
Show what you know!

IELTS Speaking
Part 3 3-4 Extended Discussion minutes What is an important festival in your country?
What type of national events do Vietnamese papers report on? How do you think festivals will change in the future?

Keep calm!

Keep going!

How to prepare for IELTS

- Take a course at the British Council - Take an IELTS Pre-test with the British Council, reading and listening (not writing or speaking). - Check useful websites: http://www.ielts.org/ - Listen to English everyday (a short piece of news, a reader plus cassette/CD)

How to prepare for IELTS

- Read English everyday (a short newspaper article, a story) - Speak English everyday (at an English class 100% English think in English!) - Write English everyday (a diary, describe a graph in a newspaper, your opinion on a current topic - health, war, technology)

Why the British Council?

-

Take the IELTS test with the British Council: Professional organisation with years of IELTS experience Free access to our resources and facilities Free tips and techniques for IELTS Free loan of IELTS specimens Free issue of 5 TRFs and registered mailing

IELTS