Overview workshop of Introduction to IELTS

Overview of the introduction to IELTS

1. IELTS IELTS
International English Testing SystemInternational English Testing System
Familiarisation WorkshopsFamiliarisation Workshops
English Language CentreEnglish Language Centre
Hong Kong Polytechnic Hong Kong Polytechnic
UniversityUniversity

2. Workshop FormatWorkshop Format
OverviewOverview
- Structure - Structure
- Scoring- Scoring
- Help- Help
- Q & A- Q & A
Speaking and ListeningSpeaking and Listening
WritingWriting
ReadingReading

3. The TestThe Test
All Candidates are tested in listening, readiAll Candidates are tested in listening, readi
ng, writing and speaking. ng, writing and speaking.
Listening 30 minsListening 30 mins
Reading 60 minsReading 60 mins
Writing 60 minsWriting 60 mins
Speaking 11 – 14 minsSpeaking 11 – 14 mins
Total test time 2 hours 45 minutes excludiTotal test time 2 hours 45 minutes excludi
ng breaks.ng breaks.

4. ListeningListening
Time: 30 minutesTime: 30 minutes 4 sections, 40 questio 4 sections, 40 questio
nsns
Real-world listening situationsReal-world listening situations
DifficultyDifficulty
Range of topics and tasksRange of topics and tasks
- listening for specific information e.g.dat- listening for specific information e.g.dat
es, place nameses, place names
- understanding gist- understanding gist
- understanding speaker attitude/opinion- understanding speaker attitude/opinion

5. Listening Test FormatListening Test Format
Section 1: conversation – 2 speakersSection 1: conversation – 2 speakers
Section 2: monologueSection 2: monologue
Section 3: conversation – 4 speakersSection 3: conversation – 4 speakers
Section 4: lectureSection 4: lecture

6. General listening strategiesGeneral listening strategies
Recording is played onceRecording is played once
Read question CAREFULLY BEFORE listeninRead question CAREFULLY BEFORE listenin
gg
Familiarise yourself with question typesFamiliarise yourself with question types
- completing a chart- completing a chart
- selecting pictures- selecting pictures
- note-taking exercises- note-taking exercises
-MC questions-MC questions

7. ReadingReading
Time: 60 minutesTime: 60 minutes 3 reading 3 reading
passages, totally 40 questionspassages, totally 40 questions
Texts are taken from books, Texts are taken from books,
magazines, journals and newspapersmagazines, journals and newspapers
Question typesQuestion types
- find detailed information - find detailed information
- identify attitudes and views- identify attitudes and views
- complete a diagram- complete a diagram

8. General Reading StrategiesGeneral Reading Strategies
Identify reading skills being testedIdentify reading skills being tested
Practise these skillsPractise these skills

9. WritingWriting
Time: 60 minutesTime: 60 minutes 2 tasks 2 tasks
Task 1(20mins): descriptive report of Task 1(20mins): descriptive report of
a table or diagram, 150 words a table or diagram, 150 words
Task 2(40 mins):250 word essay in Task 2(40 mins):250 word essay in
response to an opinion or a problem. response to an opinion or a problem.
Discuss issues, construct an Discuss issues, construct an
argument and use the appropriate argument and use the appropriate
tone and register.tone and register.

10. General Writing StrategiesGeneral Writing Strategies
Read the question carefullyRead the question carefully
Familiarise yourself with descriptions Familiarise yourself with descriptions
of data – in newspapers, textbooksof data – in newspapers, textbooks
Practise formulating your own ideas Practise formulating your own ideas
on topicson topics

11. SpeakingSpeaking
Time: 10 – 15 minutesTime: 10 – 15 minutes
Face to face interview between one candidFace to face interview between one candid
ate and one examiner. ate and one examiner.
Part 1(4-5mins): Introduction and interviePart 1(4-5mins): Introduction and intervie
ww
Part 2(1-3 mins incl. prep): Individual talkPart 2(1-3 mins incl. prep): Individual talk
Part 3(4-5 mins): Discussion topics Part 3(4-5 mins): Discussion topics

12. Speaking Speaking
Speak fluently and link ideas Speak fluently and link ideas
coherentlycoherently
Demonstrate a range of appropriate Demonstrate a range of appropriate
vocabularyvocabulary
Use accurate grammar and Use accurate grammar and
appropriate registerappropriate register
Speak so that a listener can Speak so that a listener can
understandunderstand

13. Speaking strategiesSpeaking strategies
Part 1Part 1
–Take the initiative if possibleTake the initiative if possible
–Always say more than yes or noAlways say more than yes or no
–Try to overcome nervesTry to overcome nerves

14. Speaking StrategiesSpeaking Strategies
Part 2Part 2
- Take the 1 min preparation time- Take the 1 min preparation time
- Jot down some main ideas- Jot down some main ideas
- Sound interested in the talk- Sound interested in the talk

15. Speaking StrategiesSpeaking Strategies
Part 3Part 3
- Give informed responses- Give informed responses
- Demonstrate your control of the - Demonstrate your control of the
languagelanguage
- Attempt to express abstract ideas- Attempt to express abstract ideas
- Support your opinions- Support your opinions
- Show that you are willing to provide - Show that you are willing to provide
extended repliesextended replies

16. ScoringScoring
IELTS provides a profile of a IELTS provides a profile of a
candidate’s ability to use Englishcandidate’s ability to use English
Candidates receive a score on a Band Candidates receive a score on a Band
Scale from 1-9Scale from 1-9

17. Scores on the IELTS test are graded into nine Scores on the IELTS test are graded into nine
bands as follows:bands as follows:
Band 0-Did not attempt the Band 0-Did not attempt the
testtest 
 
 
 
Band 1Band 1--Non UserNon User 
 
 
 
  Band 2Band 2--Intermittent UserIntermittent User 
 
 
 
Band 3Band 3--Extremely Limited UserExtremely Limited User  
Band 4Band 4--Limited UserLimited User 
 
 
 
Band 5Band 5--Modest UserModest User 
 
 
 

18. Band 6Band 6--Competent UserCompetent User 
 
 
 
Has generally effective command of tHas generally effective command of t
he language despite some inaccuracihe language despite some inaccuraci
es, inappropriacies and misunderstanes, inappropriacies and misunderstan
dings. Can use and understand fairly dings. Can use and understand fairly
complex language, particularly in facomplex language, particularly in fa
miliar situationsmiliar situations..

19. Band 7Band 7--Good UserGood User 
 
 
 
Band 8Band 8--Very Good UserVery Good User 
 
 
 
Band 9 Band 9 --Expert UserExpert User 
 
 
 

20. General StrategiesGeneral Strategies
Familiarise yourself with the test.Familiarise yourself with the test.
PractisePractise
Time ManagementTime Management

21. HelpHelp
CILL – CILL – Centre for Independent Language Centre for Independent Language
Learning, Core A 3/FLearning, Core A 3/F
SAP – Speaking Assistance Programme CoSAP – Speaking Assistance Programme Co
re A 3/Fre A 3/F
WAP – Writing Assistance Programme CorWAP – Writing Assistance Programme Cor
e A 3/Fe A 3/F

22. Useful booksUseful books
Cambridge IELTS 3 with answersCambridge IELTS 3 with answers
Insight into IELTS – Vanessa JakemaInsight into IELTS – Vanessa Jakema
n & Clare McDowell (CUP)n & Clare McDowell (CUP)

23. Useful websitesUseful websites
UGC Introductory site UGC Introductory site http://http://
www.ugccepa.comwww.ugccepa.com
IELTS homepage IELTS homepage
http://www.ielts.org/index.htmhttp://www.ielts.org/index.htm
ELC homepage ELC homepage
http://elc.polyu.edu.hkhttp://elc.polyu.edu.hk