IELTS Handbook 2014

The test for study, work and life abroad

Take IELTS with the British Council

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What is IELTS? IELTS: International English Language Testing System is the world’s most popular English language test for education and emigration.

IELTS scores are accepted by over 7,000 organisations worldwide including universities, employers, immigration authorities and professional bodies in over 110 countries such as the UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, China and the United Arab Emirates to name a few.

IELTS will help you enter the best colleges/universities, get membership in prestigious professional associations and find career opportunities overseas.

Think Success with IELTS!

Preparing for IELTS A good score at the IELTS test is needed to study or work abroad. Achieving this score is not always easy. It is better to evaluate your language skills before entering for the test. Then you will be able to go for classes and study from the various resources available (both online and face-toface courses) until you reach the desired standard.

Tip: Know desired score and category of test The score you need depends on the university, place of work, type of visa category and country you are applying to. It is good to verify what score you require from the relevant authority – be it your chosen university/college or immigration control authority, professional association that you wish to apply to, before you start preparing for IELTS. This way you have your end goal set, helping you and teacher develop a study plan which is suitable for you.

There are four modules (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking) and two categories (Academic & General) of testing.

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IELTS Structure

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What does IELTS assess?

The test does not assess your knowledge on a specific topic. Rather it is a test of your ability to respond to and interact in English in a variety of contexts, such as to describe or explain a sequence, to express your opinions substantiated with evidence either from a document given or from your own experience and to sustain an argument while at the same time presenting a balanced point of view.

Tip: There are no quick fixes!

Plan ahead. Depending on your current language ability you may need two weeks to brush up or a year and more! If you feel your language skills are not enough for you to get the band score you need you must make sure you go for classes or develop your own self-study plan that prepares you in the correct way for this exam. A good IELTS teacher is able to assess your language level and advise you on a realistic plan.

Remember, you cannot go from a band 4 to a band 6 in a week! Anyone who promises to get you there so quickly is misleading you.

Language is a skill that cannot be improved to desired levels in a week. You need constant practice and a wide range of reading to attain the higher levels.

What can I do on my own to prepare better?

• Read widely to improve your vocabulary and become familiar with a variety of styles of writing.

• Study the test format closely and be aware of the band score you need.

• Do a wide range of practice tests and check your scores. Correct grammar is very important so allow yourself time to check your answers for grammar mistakes.

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What can I do on test day to score better?

• Remember there is no negative marking for this test so answer every question even if you are not quite sure of the right answer.

• Focus very clearly on what you are required to do and make sure you follow instructions carefully. Address all the bullet points in the question. If you are asked whether you agree or disagree on a given topic try to present both points of view and then state your preference.

What are the mistakes to avoid on the day of the test?

• Don’t use words you are not sure of just because you think they sound grand and impressive. It is far better to express yourself in simple and accurate language.

• Arrive in time for your test. Come early and spend a few minutes gathering yourself together before you enter the examination room.

What should I do if I don’t get the desired score?

• This means you are not ready to achieve the level required. You will need more practice with the English language.

• Therefore, do not keep sitting the test many times over in the hope of getting your desired score.

It is far better to go for classes, improve your language skills and re-sit when you feel you are more confident and ready.

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What can I do to improve my performance at the Speaking test?

1. Be relaxed and try to be friendly. Remember the examiner is trying to find out what you know, not what you don’t know.

2. You can ask the examiner to repeat the question if you did not understand it the first time.

3. Record yourself or practice speaking on a variety of topics for 1 – 2 minutes. This will help you gain confidence and practice time management.

4. Vocabulary - don’t use unfamiliar, long words if you are not sure of their meaning.

5. If you cannot remember the exact word you want, paraphrase and try to express your idea using similar words.

6. Practice making notes, spider-grams, and mind maps which will help you to talk on various topics in one minute.

7. Try to develop your answers instead of answering in just one word. Speak loudly and clearly into the recorder.

8. Avoid using slang and abbreviations.

9. Please do not tell the examiner what grade you require or ask how well you have done. This will only cause embarrassment.

10. Do not use memorised chunks of language. Examiners are trained to recognise this. Further more, what you have memorised may not be relevant to the topic being discussed.

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What can I do to improve my performance at the Reading test?

1. Make sure you answer the questions asked. It might help to read the questions before you read the passage.

2. Manage your time. Do not spend too much time on a question you find difficult. Answer the others and then come back to it.

3. Look at visuals and subtitles to get a general idea of what the passage is about.

4. Identify the topic sentence in each paragraph. This will give you a clue to the answers.

5. Use reading strategies such as skimming and scanning to help you find the answers. Don’t worry if you do not know the meaning of every single word in the text. Try to guess the meaning of the words you don’t know from the context.

6. Correct grammar and spelling are important.

7. Make sure you go through your answers to check if they are relevant to the questions asked and if the language used is correct.

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What can I do to improve my performance at the Writing test?

1. Make sure you answer everything that is asked in the question, and that you have written the number of words required. Remember you do not lose marks for writing more but you do lose for writing fewer words than required.

2. This is not a test of your knowledge. You can state your opinions, provided you are able to give evidence to support them.

3. Don’t go off topic. Underline key words in the questions to help you know exactly what is required in the answers.

4. Support the points you make with examples (from your own experiences if possible) or data.

5. Write neatly and clearly and check for mistakes before you submit your answers.

6. Write in complete sentences. Do not use bullet points and do not use short forms of words.

7. Do not repeat the same ideas just to reach the word count needed.

8. Task 2 - Make sure you present a balanced point of view giving both the pros and cons of the statement you are asked to discuss.

9. Spend more time on Task 2 – you have to write at least 250 words for this. Plan your answer, giving an introduction, conclusion and writing each new idea in a new paragraph. You may want to do a brief rough draft before you begin your answer.

10. Do not use memorised answers. They probably won’t be relevant to the question asked and examiners can recognise them easily.

11. Do not begin by copying the questions – especially in Task1 where you may have the description of data or bullet points for your letter. This is a waste of time as these parts are not included in your word count.

12. Make sure the tone you adopt is consistent and relevant to the task.

13. Use linking words to ensure that your ideas flow smoothly.

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Tip: Avoid common mistakes 1. Spelling (English is often not written the same way it is spoken) 2. Punctuation.(eg. basic errors with using capital letters and full stops) 3. Not using enough paragraphs and not clearly dividing them.

How can I improve my Listening scores?

1. Use the time you have before the speaker begins, to look at the questions and try to predict what sorts of answers are required. (e.g. Do you need a number, date or a name?)

2. There is no negative marking so you should not leave blanks. Answer all the questions.

3. Try to anticipate what the speaker will say next. This will help you to focus on the answers.

4. Underline key words in the questions to help you when listening.

5. Don’t worry if you miss a question while the passage is going on. Answer the next and go back to the one you missed later.

6. Check your spelling and grammar carefully.

7. Be careful to transfer your answers accurately, in the time given at the end of the test to do this.

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What books will help me study at home?

There are many books available to prepare you for the IELTS. Make sure you get books which are suitable for self study rather than course books which require a teacher.

Useful websites/online resources: There are many websites available to help you prepare for the IELTS. Here is a selection: • British Council site about IELTS, including practice test, information and advice about the test: www.takeielts.org • British Council learn website. Information and resources for IELTS candidates. http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/ielts • Road to IELTS 10 hour preparation course http://www.roadtoielts.com/testdrive/ • IELTS official web site. Very detailed official information on the IELTS test. This also includes sample tests which could help you prepare better. http://www.ielts.org/test_takers_information/test_sample.aspx?utm_source=HomePage&utm_ medium=web&utm_campaign=HomePage

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Useful software: Study Skills Success provides practice in listening, reading, writing, research, grammar and vocabulary. The program is extremely interactive. http://www.clarityenglish.com/program/ studyskills.htm Road to IELTS This is an online preparation course designed for students taking the IELTS test. Access to the thirty hour online preparation course is available free of charge to British Council registered candidates.

Useful sources of broadcasted and published materials: These resources can help you build a good vocabulary as well as help you be familiar with different accents used by English speakers around the world. We recommend you pick a few you like, and regularly visit them. Try to include English in your daily life by watching English language TV, films reading books, magazines, newspapers and the internet.

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/ (listen to the news, podcasts and read articles email your comments on current issues) • http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish • The Economist www.economist.com • Financial Times www.financialtimes.com • The Independent www.independent.co.uk • The Guardian www.guardian.co.uk • New Internationalist www.newint.org • New Scientist www.newscientist.com • New Statesman www.newstatesman.co.uk • http://www.abc.net.au/news/ (Listen to the Australian version of the news – important for getting used to Australian accents)

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How do I register for IELTS with the British Council?

All the best with your IELTS test. You can register for your test as far as three months ahead.

Please register early with the British Council to get access to more free resources that can help you practice: • Road to IELTS : 30 hour online preparation course • A practice workbook • A reference library membership • IELTS Top Tips Seminar Remember the three rules!

1. Practise 2. Practise 3. Practise For registration details please visit: www.britishcouncil.lk

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