I thought it was an absolute doddle, but then I was always academic and I use my reading, writing skills every day with my work in an office environment.

If your grammar and spelling is not up to scratch you will find it hard. You cannot confuse words like "no" and "know" for example as you just did. I would focus on reading and writing (listening and speaking are easy) and practice, practice. Try to find someone like a friend or relative with good literacy skills to mark your practice writing. I would give yourself a couple of months to prepare if you are not comfortable with using these skills.

Same hear I am coming of a night shift on tue to do it for 12 o'clock wed. But going to do a mock test first. Cost is £25 and £145 sit the exam.

Based on your posts you're going to have to do more than one mock test. Your mistakes in red and my corrections in blue

Agreed. That is also why I suggested you need a couple of months to prepare billybophead.

Thanks for that looks like I am going for a 487 visa then :-(

Why? You do realise that the 487 visa is now closed to new applicants, right? You'll now need the 489 and still need to be sponsored by either a state or eligible family member.

You really need to sit down with a very good read of booklet 6 from the DIBP website. If you can't understand from that what you need to do then make an appointment to sit down with a reputable MARA registered agent and speak to them about your options.

Can you do the ielts online .or do you have to do a sit down test.

It's a sit down test. http://www.ielts.org/test_takers_inf..._the_test.aspx

HTH.