VN - Intro to IELTS presentation CUT.pptx

Intro pre

1. An introduction to IELTS [Month Year]

2. Today’s Objectives Understand the four skills tested Understand how IELTS is delivered and marked Have learned some strategies to help you Know other ways the British Council can help you

3. What is IELTS? … designed to assess the English language ability of people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication. Listening Reading Writing Speaking

4. Global recognition Over 10,000 organisations in over 140 countries All universities in the UK, Australia and New Zealand and most universities in Canada Immigration Authorities in Australia, Canada, NZ & the UK Many employers and professional registration bodies

5. IELTS helps achieve life goals Higher Education Career Immigration Employability Career Progress Local University University abroad

6. Which IELTS test is best for me? Academic Entry to university/college/professional registration/recruitment Assesses ability to study or train at undergraduate or postgraduate level General Training Immigration, vocational, secondary education, language training and work experience Assesses survival skills in a broad social and educational context Please always check with the receiving organisation which test you need .

7. Modes of delivery Test on paper This is the main mode of delivery at the moment. Listening, Reading and Writing test answers are all hand-written on IELTS answer sheets Test on computer Answers to Listening, Reading and Writing tests are all typed directly onto the computer The Speaking Test is the same for both tests on paper and tests on computer: face-to-face, one-to-one with a trained examiner IELTS Online Coming soon…

8. “For motivated adult learners, they typically need between 100 and 200 hours of guided learning to get from one CEFR level to the next.  As you go up the levels, you need more hours to get to the next one.  To get from A1 to A2, it typically requires 100-150 hours of guided learning, but it can take 180-260 hours to get from B1 to B2.” “How Long Does It Take to Learn a Foreign Language?” https://www.cambridge.org/elt/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/How-long-does-it-take-to-learn-a-foreign-language.pdf

9. Test format Listening 30 minutes, 4 sections, 40 items Speaking 11-14 minutes, 3 parts Academic Writing 60 minutes, 2 tasks Academic Reading 60 minutes, 3 sections, 40 items General Training Writing 60 minutes, 2 tasks General Training Reading 60 minutes, 3 sections, 40 items

10. The Listening test

11. QUIZ How many questions are there? How many sections are there? How many times can candidates listen to each part? How many minutes is the complete listening module? Do the candidates listen straight through or are there any breaks? Up to how many people can be talking in part 3? How many people are speaking in part 4? Can candidates write on the test paper? Where are candidate’s final answers written? Should you check your answers after each section? What different types of questions can be asked? Are grammar and spelling important in the listening test? Are points deducted for wrong answers? 40 4 Once only About 30 mins + 10 30 sec breaks for each section 2 – 4 1 Yes, but transfer Answer sheet No. Several types Yes No

12. IELTS Listening 30 minutes + 10 minutes transfer time (on paper test) 40 questions 4 parts (10 questions per part) Each recording will only be played ONCE Part 1: conversation between 2 people in an everyday social/transactional context Part 2: a monologue set in an everyday social context Part 3: a conversation between 2 and 4 people set in an educational or training context Part 4: a monologue on an academic subject Dialogue – monologue – dialogue - monologue

13. IELTS Listening task types Multiple-choice Matching Plan/map/diagram labelling Form/note/table/flow-chart/summary completion Sentence completion Short-answer questions The questions are designed so that the answers appear in the order they are heard on the audio.

14. Top Tips IELTS Listening  Use the instructions to familiarize yourself  Listen and follow instructions   Never stop listening – you only hear the audio once  Questions in order they appear  Identify "signpost" words that give structure to the audio  Understand question types  Transfer correctly (for paper based) www.britishcouncil.org 14

15. The Academic Reading test

16. How many questions are there? How many sections are there? How long is the reading test? How long should be spent on each section? What topics are common? Do candidates need specialized knowledge about the topic? Do candidates write their answers on the test paper? Is there any transfer time? Are grammar and spelling important? Do answers always come in the same order as questions? 40 3 60 minutes ~20 minutes Social sciences No No No Yes No. QUIZ

17. IELTS Academic Reading 60 minutes (inclusive of transfer time) 3 sections (2150-2750 words) 40 questions Academic 3 sections - all long texts Books, journals, magazines and newspapers Relevant to study

18. IELTS Academic Reading Question Types 1. Short-answer questions 2. Multiple choice 3. Sentence completion 4. Diagram/flow chart/table completion 5. Choosing a heading for a paragraph 6. Identification of writer's views – yes, no, not given 7. Identification of information – true, false, not given

19. Reading Skills & Subskills Sub-skills Definition Predicting Skimming Scanning Guessing Inferring is reading something quickly to get the main idea is using the words around a word you don’t know to try and understand what it means. is looking at titles, images or questions first to get an idea of what you will be reading is looking at words or phrases the writer uses to understand their opinion or position is reading something quickly to find specific pieces of information

20. One way to approach a text

21. Top Tips IELTS Reading Follow instructions Answers are always in the text Practice speed reading Predict, infer and guess meaning where you have to Identify the linking words as these often carry important meaning

22. The Academic Writing test

23. QUIZ: WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT IELTS WRITING? How many tasks on the writing test? How long is the test? What do you write for each task? What are the word limits for each task? How long should you spend on each part? Should you write more than the minimum number of words? Can I use my own knowledge in either task? What 4 criteria are you assessed on? Two tasks 60 minutes Task 1: describe a piece of visual info; Task 2: write a discursive essay Task 1: 150 words minimum; Task 2: 250 words minimum Task 1: ~20 minutes; Task 2: ~40 minutes Yes, but not too many. Task 1: No; Task 2: Yes Task achievement/response; Grammatical range and accuracy; Coherence and cohesion; lexical resources IELTS WRITING TASK 1 23

24. IELTS Academic Writing Task one – describing a graph, pie chart, table or process – at least 150 words Task Two – a short essay – developing an argument – at least 250 words Total time : 60 mins

25. What are you marked on? Task achievement/ Task response Grammatical Range and Accuracy Coherence and Cohesion Lexical Resource

26. IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 The chart below shows the value of Internet downloads in the UK from 1999-2008. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. £bn Years

27. Top Tips Academic Task 1 - Make sure you write 150 words - Don't spend more than 20 minutes on this task - Ensure that you have an overview, this is very important - Do not write a conclusion - Don't give opinions, only report what you see in the chart or graph - Select the important facts and figures - Use phrases such as 'increase significantly, a gradual decrease' - Check your spelling

28. IELTS Academic Writing Task 2 An essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. Children who are brought up in families that do not have large amounts of money are better prepared to deal with the problems of adult life than children brought up by wealthy parents. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

29. Top Tips Academic Task 2 Practice – try answering sample questions before the test Analyse the question, underline the important parts and look back at them as you write Study sample essays online Organise your essay: plan your answer (10 mins), write essay (25 mins), review (5 mins) Manage your time Spend no longer than 40 minutes on Task 2

30. The Speaking test

31. QUIZ How many parts are there? How long is Part 1? Can you ask examiner to clarify a word in Part 1? What kind of topics are discussed? How long does the candidate speak in Part 2? How long can the candidate prepare in Part 2? How does the candidate prepare in Part 2? Can the candidate clarify a word in Part 2? Will the examiner ask any questions about Part 2? How long is Part 3? What is the topic in Part 3? What if the candidate doesn’t understand the question? Will the candidate lose points for incorrect information? 3 4-5 minutes Yes Familiar topics 1-2 minutes 1 minute Notes Yes Yes, 1 or 2 at the end 4-5 minutes Same as Part 2 Ask to clarify No

32. IELTS Speaking Question and answer on personal topics Two-way discussion on more abstract issues Unassisted short talk on a given topic

33. What are you marked on? Fluency and coherence  Pronunciation Lexical resource Grammatical range and accuracy

34. IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Introduction and interview: basic questions about familiar topics (4-5 mins) Let’s talk about accommodation. What kind of accommodation do you live in? How long have you lived there? What do you like about living there? What sort of accommodation would you most like to live in

35. IELTS Speaking Part 2 – Long turn: 1 minute preparation time followed by a 1 to 2-minute talk on a topic chosen by the examiner (3-4 mins) Describe a film that you enjoyed watching You should say: What kind of film it was What it was about Where you watched it Why you liked it so much

36. IELTS Speaking Part 3 – Discussion: abstract/general questions loosely related to the topic in Part 2 How have films in your country changed over the last 20 years? Do you think film stars are good role models? Do you think people will stop going to cinemas in the future?

37. Top Tips IELTS Speaking Think of it as an interview not a test. Talk about your life, give your opinions. Practice speaking on a specific topic for two minutes at home and record yourself Listen to the examiner’s questions, don’t try to make prepared speeches If you don’t know a word in English, describe it In Parts 1 and 2, give examples about you or your family and friends when possible

38. Any questions? ?

39. Resources 1 Visit IELTS website takeielts.org for various support materials including free practice tests Free familiarisation tests for test on computer and on paper Free weekly webinars and self-study packs https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/prepare/free-webinars Take IELTS Official Facebook page – IELTS experts https:// www.facebook.com / TakeIELTSOfficial Road to IELTS – downloadable practice tests, interactive activities, hints and tips on question types https://www.roadtoielts.com IELTS online preparation course – 3 week course Understanding IELTS https://www.futurelearn.com/experttracks/ielts-preparation IELTS Prep App – gives you instant access to free practice tests, grammar tips, exercises, quizzes and more. 

40. Useful Websites www.britishcouncil.vn/en/exam/ielts/courses-resources ielts .org dcielts.com ielts-simon.com ielts-academic.com ieltsbuddy.com ielts-blog.com

41. Thank you!