Tips and tricks for the ielts exam

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR THE IELTS EXAM

Bruna Caltabiano

Listening

30 minutes

40 questions

Section 1A conversation between two people set in an everyday social context.

Section 2A monologue set in an everyday social context e.g. a speech about local facilities.

Section 3A conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context, e.g. a university tutor and a student discussing an assignment.

Section 4A monologue on an academic subject e.g. a university lecture.

LISTENINGo First of all, read all the questions. Try to

imagine from reading all of them what the listening will be about.o Read the instructions to each task very

carefully. Only do what the instructions say.o Write your (rough) answers on your question

paper. You will be given ½ minute to check your answers at the end of each question.

o At the end of the test, transfer your rough answers from the question paper to the answer sheet. You will be given 10 minutes.

o Answer all the questions.

Table completion tasks•Check the grammar, spelling and the number of words in your answer.•Always read the table from left to right, not down each column.•Some candidates worry so much about the answer to one question•that they don’t pay attention to the information to the next question.

Don’t do this! Move on!

TIPS - LISTENING

Here are some words often spelled wrongly in IELTS

ACCOMMODATIONGOVERNMENTBEAUTIFULNIGHTRESTAURANT

ADVERTISEMENTWHICHDIFFERENTPASSENGERS

- Spelling rule (usually)Words ending in –y, we usually change the –y to –i

Worry – worriedBaby – babiesUnhappy – unhappilyEarly – earlier

- Before adding an ending (e.g. – er/-ed/-est/-y/-able/-ing)

Sit – sittingSun – sunnyMad – madderDrop – droppingBig – biggestSlim – slimmingRob - robbed

Reading

60 minutes 40 questions

IELTS AcademicThe Academic version includes three long texts which range from the descriptive and factual to the discursive and analytical. The texts are authentic and are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers. These have been selected for a non-specialist audience but are appropriate for candidates entering university courses or seeking professional registration.

IELTS General TrainingThe General Training version requires candidates to read extracts from books, magazines, newspapers, notices, advertisements, company handbooks and guidelines. These are materials you are likely to encounter on a daily basis in an English speaking environment.

READING KINDS OF QUESTIONS

INFORMATION TASKSTrueFalse Not Given

MATCHINGoFor these tasks you may needto read for specific information or read in detail.oAlways look for key words in the questionsand scan the the passage to find them.

FLOW CHARToThe answer does not always occur in the same order as in the passage.oScan the passage to find the words you need to complete the chart.oAlways proofread the charge to be sure it makes sense.

MULTIPLE CHOICERead before choosing the option. Don’t choose one optionjust because it has the same key words as the question.

MATCHING HEADINGSo When you do these tasks, always read each paragraph for the main idea, not for detail.o You will lose precious time if you read the whole text for detail, so

don’t!o There are always more headings than paragraphso Be careful about word spots. Sometimes these indicate that this is

the right paragraph, but not always.o Make sure the heading matches the meaning of the whole

paragraph, not just part of it.

TIPS - READING

o Use the text’s title, any photos and the questions to predic the topic and key words.

TIMEYou have less than 90 seconds for each

questions, so you DON’T have timeTo read all the texts carefully.

o Never answer more than the stated number of words.

o Only pay attention to difficult words if they are key words.

o Divide your time equally between the sections.

o Read as much as you can!o Store vocabulary in a meaningful way.o Try to read academic and authentic tests.o Pick up magazines and newspapers and

predict their content from the o titles, pictures and headlines.o Skim magazine articles just to see what

they are about.o Read texts that really interest you for

detail.o Use reading strategies: predicting, reading

for gist, reading for detail,o Reading for main ideas, scanning.

TIPS - READING

WRITING

60 minutes 2 tasks

IELTS AcademicThe Writing component of IELTS Academic includes two tasks. Topics are of general interest to, and suitable for candidates entering undergraduate and postgraduate studies or seeking professional registration.  Task 1You will be presented with a graph, table, chart or diagram and asked to describe, summarise or explain the information in your own words. You may be asked to describe and explain data, describe the stages of a process, how something works or describe an object or event.

Task 2You will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. Responses to both tasks must be in a formal style.

ELTS General TrainingThe Writing component of IELTS General Training includes two tasks which are based on topics of general interest. Task 1You will be presented with a situation and asked to write a letter requesting information, or explaining the situation. The letter may be personal, semi-formal or formal in style. Task 2You will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. The essay can be slightly more personal in style than the Academic Writing Task 2 essay. 

WRITING – PART 1o Draft a short four-part plan

o Use20 minutes on Task 140 minutes on Task 2

o You will lose marks if you do not keep to the question.

o Report what the data in teh table/chart shows. DO NOT speculate about knowledge you might have about the data.

o Look at the visual information carefully. Consider: What information is the most important What general trends it shows How the data is organized Rephrase the words from the question Make time to proofread

WRITING – PART 2

- Underline the key part of a sentence.- Avoid beginning with I. Try to use

impersonal language.e.g. It seems to me- Make a short plan. - Make sure that you use a logical

structure:Situation – problem – solution –

conclusionIntroduction – development – conclusion- Make sure that you give examples

and offer evidence to support what you are saying. - In task 2, you will be marked onTask responseCoherence and cohesionLexical resourceGrammatical range and accuracy- It counts twice as many marks as

Task 1

WRITING - TIPS

o Use websites such as www.statistics.gov.uk to find useful languageo Keep useful language and expressions in mind

SPEAKING

11-14 minutes 3 parts

 Part 1The Examiner will ask you general questions about yourself and a range of familiar topics, such as home, family, work, studies and interests. This part lasts between four and five minutes. Part 2You will be given a card which asks you to talk about a particular topic. You will have one minute to prepare before speaking for up to two minutes. The examiner will then ask one or two questions on the same topic to finish this part of the test. Part 3You will be asked further questions connected to the topic in Part 2. These questions will give you the opportunity to discuss more abstract ideas and issue. The part of the test lasts between four and five minutes. 

SPEAKING – PARTS 1&3

o Give relevant information and expand on your answers with details.

o Ask for clarification.o Use the short answer – expand strategy.o Do not worry or panic if you cannot

remember a particular word.o Avoid repeating the language of the quesion

at the beginning of your answer.o Give answers you would in an interview.

SPEAKING – PART 2

o Make good use of the note-making time you are given. Think and plan

using effective note-making strategies.o Your notes should be based on the task card you are given. Use

the sub-points on the card as headings, then write one or two-word promts as

notes.o Expand on the things you say: explain, compare, give

examples, etc.o Keep to the topic.o Use your preparation time.

TIPS – SPEAKING PARTS 1&3

o Check pronunciationo Practice with other candidateso Listen to the radio, podcastso Record yoursefl answering questionso Revise vocabulary on everyday topicso Chat in English

SPEAKING PART 2 - TIPSo Practice making effective notes on sample

questions and practice

oSpeak to yourself for 1 to 2 minutes using sample cards and notes you’ve made. Make sure your notes give you enough to say.

oListen to programs and interviews

oRecord yoursefl doing a Part 2 for two minutes. When you listen to the recording,ask yourself: Am I using a range of grammar and

vocabulary? Am I using it accurately? Is my pronunciation clear? Do I speak at a normal speed? Do I develop and extend ideas well?

SPANISHCUSTOME-MADEBUSINESS ENGLISH

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