IELTS exam this sat - any tips!?
Oct 30th 2014, 8:53 pm
#1
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 37
IELTS exam this sat - any tips!?
I have my IELTS exam this Saturday, just wondering if anyone has any tips??
Oct 30th 2014, 9:13 pm
#3
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 14,284
Re: IELTS exam this sat - any tips!?
Main thing is to not worry about it or blow it out of proportion. It is a test of your literacy skills, it is not an English A level or even GCSE.
Be familiar with the format of the test and be prepared to hang around for most of the day if you are last up for the speaking test.
Try not to carry a lot of personal belongings with you as everything will be taken off you bar a pencil or two and locked away. If you are bringing a drink, make is plain water, I had a coloured drink, Ribena I think, and it was confiscated.
My tips for each test:
Reading:
Read the whole passage a couple of times before you even start. You might see tips to skim read and highlight key points, but that is for people working in a foreign language. For you, it is easy to just read it and really get a feel for the text. Once you have done that, then look at the questions. You will have plenty of time, remember other people are doing this in their second or third language and the time is set for that.
Writing:
If you don't know anything on the subject, don't worry, just make stuff up. This is not a test of your debating skills or general knowledge. Leave every other line blank for corrections later if required. Don't try to show off by using fancy words that you are not sure of, better to use plain English.
Listening:
Extremely easy part of the test for a native speaker. But it is no time dor daydreaming! So just concentrate. You will hear no more than a couple of sentences and then be asked very easy questions on what was just said.
Speaking:
If you can hold a conversation at the bus stop with someone you have nothing to worry about on this one. Just make sure you speak and don't overthink it, again it is not a general knowledge test. I was asked about gardening and what book I read last.
Be familiar with the format of the test and be prepared to hang around for most of the day if you are last up for the speaking test.
Try not to carry a lot of personal belongings with you as everything will be taken off you bar a pencil or two and locked away. If you are bringing a drink, make is plain water, I had a coloured drink, Ribena I think, and it was confiscated.
My tips for each test:
Reading:
Read the whole passage a couple of times before you even start. You might see tips to skim read and highlight key points, but that is for people working in a foreign language. For you, it is easy to just read it and really get a feel for the text. Once you have done that, then look at the questions. You will have plenty of time, remember other people are doing this in their second or third language and the time is set for that.
Writing:
If you don't know anything on the subject, don't worry, just make stuff up. This is not a test of your debating skills or general knowledge. Leave every other line blank for corrections later if required. Don't try to show off by using fancy words that you are not sure of, better to use plain English.
Listening:
Extremely easy part of the test for a native speaker. But it is no time dor daydreaming! So just concentrate. You will hear no more than a couple of sentences and then be asked very easy questions on what was just said.
Speaking:
If you can hold a conversation at the bus stop with someone you have nothing to worry about on this one. Just make sure you speak and don't overthink it, again it is not a general knowledge test. I was asked about gardening and what book I read last.
Oct 30th 2014, 9:16 pm
#4
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 37
Re: IELTS exam this sat - any tips!?
thank you very much, great advice
Oct 31st 2014, 9:51 am
#5
Concierge
Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 21,137
Re: IELTS exam this sat - any tips!?
Main thing is to not worry about it or blow it out of proportion. It is a test of your literacy skills, it is not an English A level or even GCSE.
Be familiar with the format of the test and be prepared to hang around for most of the day if you are last up for the speaking test.
Try not to carry a lot of personal belongings with you as everything will be taken off you bar a pencil or two and locked away. If you are bringing a drink, make is plain water, I had a coloured drink, Ribena I think, and it was confiscated.
My tips for each test:
Reading:
Read the whole passage a couple of times before you even start. You might see tips to skim read and highlight key points, but that is for people working in a foreign language. For you, it is easy to just read it and really get a feel for the text. Once you have done that, then look at the questions. You will have plenty of time, remember other people are doing this in their second or third language and the time is set for that.
Writing:
If you don't know anything on the subject, don't worry, just make stuff up. This is not a test of your debating skills or general knowledge. Leave every other line blank for corrections later if required. Don't try to show off by using fancy words that you are not sure of, better to use plain English.
Listening:
Extremely easy part of the test for a native speaker. But it is no time dor daydreaming! So just concentrate. You will hear no more than a couple of sentences and then be asked very easy questions on what was just said.
Speaking:
If you can hold a conversation at the bus stop with someone you have nothing to worry about on this one. Just make sure you speak and don't overthink it, again it is not a general knowledge test. I was asked about gardening and what book I read last.
Be familiar with the format of the test and be prepared to hang around for most of the day if you are last up for the speaking test.
Try not to carry a lot of personal belongings with you as everything will be taken off you bar a pencil or two and locked away. If you are bringing a drink, make is plain water, I had a coloured drink, Ribena I think, and it was confiscated.
My tips for each test:
Reading:
Read the whole passage a couple of times before you even start. You might see tips to skim read and highlight key points, but that is for people working in a foreign language. For you, it is easy to just read it and really get a feel for the text. Once you have done that, then look at the questions. You will have plenty of time, remember other people are doing this in their second or third language and the time is set for that.
Writing:
If you don't know anything on the subject, don't worry, just make stuff up. This is not a test of your debating skills or general knowledge. Leave every other line blank for corrections later if required. Don't try to show off by using fancy words that you are not sure of, better to use plain English.
Listening:
Extremely easy part of the test for a native speaker. But it is no time dor daydreaming! So just concentrate. You will hear no more than a couple of sentences and then be asked very easy questions on what was just said.
Speaking:
If you can hold a conversation at the bus stop with someone you have nothing to worry about on this one. Just make sure you speak and don't overthink it, again it is not a general knowledge test. I was asked about gardening and what book I read last.
Nov 3rd 2014, 7:50 pm
#7
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 37
Re: IELTS exam this sat - any tips!?
I sat the exam on Saturday and all was fine.
I have just however realised that I sat the general exam and need to sit the academic, as my skills assessing authority require academic :-(
I have just however realised that I sat the general exam and need to sit the academic, as my skills assessing authority require academic :-(
Nov 3rd 2014, 8:29 pm
#8
Banned
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,348
Re: IELTS exam this sat - any tips!?
Nov 3rd 2014, 9:05 pm
#9
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 14,284
Re: IELTS exam this sat - any tips!?
Oh dear. Well if you get lower points in the academic, maybe this one will come in useful for your points score.
