1. Always make a paragraph
plan before writing. In Task 1, each paragraph should deal with one
aspect of the data. In Task 2, each paragraph should contain one main
idea.
2. Avoid repeating the same words too many times.
Paraphrase the questions and vary vocabulary as much as possible in both
IELTS writing tasks.
3. In Task 1, do not attempt to explain or present reasons for the data. You should only describe what it shows.
4.
In Task 2, remember that you can write about other people’s ideas as
well. Practice using reporting verbs and passive structures to give your
writing a more academic style.
5. Mistakes are much more obvious
in writing than in speaking. You should be continuously working to
improve your English grammar while preparing for IELTS.
Five exam techniques for IELTS Writing
General IELTS - Speaking
The speaking sections in both General and Academic IELTS exam are the same. IELTS speaking test will take between 11-14 minutes and had three sections.
Part 1:
Informal interview questions about yourself, family, work, study or hobbies.
Part 2:
You will be provided a topic card with three points to talk about.To prepare your speech, you have one minute and you will need to speak for 1-2 minutes continuously, addressing all parts of the task.You will also be asked questions on the topic you speek
Part 3:
In this section, you will be asked more questions on the topic that you discussed in Part 2.
Following will be assessed in the IELTS speaking test,
- Your oral fluency and response to the questions
- Your coherence
- Your vocabulary
- Your grammar
General IELTS - Writing
Task 1
- Write a minimum of 150 words
- Time: 20 minute
You are required to write a letter requesting information or explaining the situation in relation to a specific provided issue or inquiry.
The letter must be in one of the following styles as it fits the situation:
- Formal – to someone you don’t know.
- Informal – to a friend or close family member.
There are 7 common Task 1 letter topics:
- An Apology
- Letter of Complaint
- A Request
- Letter of Explanation
- Letters of Application & Resignation
- Letters to Make an Arrangement
- An Invitation
Your letter will assess your ability to engage in personal correspondence and be assessed in relation to one or more of these skills:
- Elicit and provide general factual information
- Express needs, wants, likes and dislikes
- Express opinions (e.g. views, complaints)
Task 2
- Write a minimum of 250 words
- Time: 40 minute
Total Time – 60 minutes
Task 2 contributes twice as many marks to your overall score as Task 1.
You will be asked to write an essay on a topic of general interest. Your essay will be a response to a specific point of view, problem or argument that will be stated in the question.
You may use a more personal style than would be required in the Academic Writing Task 2 essay.
There are 5 types of Task 2 essay:
- Opinion Essays
- Discussion Essays
- Problem Solution Essays
- Advantages & Disadvantages Essays
- Double Question Essays
Your essay will be assessed in relation to one or more of the following:
- Outline a problem and present a solution
- Present and justify an opinion
- Evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence or an argument
The IELTS General Writing test is marked according to four marking criteria.
These are:
- Task Achievement – appropriate response to the task
- Coherence & Cohesion – the ability to present a well-structured essay
- Lexical Resource – the ability to use appropriate vocabulary and to use it correctly
- Grammatical Range & Accuracy – the ability to use grammar correctly
Each carries 25% of the marks.
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR EXAMS!
General IELTS - Listening
The
Listening module is the same in both the academic and general versions
of IELTS. The Listening module takes about 35 minutes and is the first
part of the test.
IELTS Listening module consists of four sections. In each section of the exam, you will hear a recording of a dialog or conversation. Each recording is about five minutes long. More information on all four sections can be found below.
When listening to the conversation that is played in the exam, you need to answer ten questions, which can be multiple choice, short answer, or filling in the gaps in a sentence, diagram, or data table. At the end of the test additional time will be provided to add your final answers on the answer sheet.
IELTS Listening Section 1: General conversation
Time: About 5 mins . Questions: 10
Examples:
- A telephone conversation about buying travel tickets
- A student asking about accommodation.
IELTS Listening Section 2: General talk
Time: About 5 mins . Questions: 10
Examples:
- A radio programme about local history
- A short talk about healthy eating
- A presentation about student services.
IELTS Listening Section 3: Academic conversation
Time: About 5 mins. Questions: 10
Examples:
- A discussion between a student and a tutor about an assignment
- A seminar discussion about a research project
IELTS Listening Section 4: Academic lecture
Time: About 5 mins. Questions: 10
Examples:
- A lecture on the history of photography
- A lecture on volcanoes
- A lecture on animal behaviour. (You do not need any knowledge of these topics to answer the questions.)
After listening
You then have 10 minutes to transfer your 40 answers from the question paper to the answer sheet. You must use a pencil and any spelling errors will be penalised.
How IELTS Listening answers are scored
A human examiner marks your answers. You get one point for each correct answer, giving you a ‘raw score’ out of 40. This is converted into a ‘band score’ from 0 to 9. For example, you need 30 correct answers to get a band score of 7.0.