© 2015 www.ieltsexchange.com

IELTS

IELTS Exchange & Academic IELTS

2015

The IELTS Guide FAQs, Tips and Advice

W W W . I E L T S E X C H A N G E . C O M

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Table of Contents Section 1: Frequently asked questions ....................................................................................... 5

Is the Academic version of the test harder than the General? ..................................................... 6

How often can I take the exam? ................................................................................................... 6

How long do I need to prepare? ................................................................................................... 6

How long will it take to raise my band score by a point? .............................................................. 6

I am partially sighted. Can I still take IELTS? .............................................................................. 6

What if I am sick on the test day? ................................................................................................. 6

What time is the test? ................................................................................................................... 7

What if I arrive late? ...................................................................................................................... 7

Are all the test centres the same? ................................................................................................ 7

When can I sit the exam? ............................................................................................................. 7

What if I change my mind? Can I get my money back? .............................................................. 7

How long is the test? .................................................................................................................... 7

What happens if I need the bathroom during the exam? ............................................................. 7

What can I bring into the exam room? ......................................................................................... 8

What happens if there is an emergency and I need my phone? .................................................. 8

Where can I find out my nearest test centre? ............................................................................... 8

How do I apply for the test? .......................................................................................................... 8

I‘ve heard people have been refused entry to the exam. Why? .................................................. 8

What security do I have to go through? ........................................................................................ 8

Is there a computer-based version of the exam? ......................................................................... 9

I do fine on practice tests, and terribly in the exam. What can I do? ........................................... 9

How long will it be before I get my results? .................................................................................. 9

How many copies of my certificate can I get? .............................................................................. 9

How long does my certificate last? ............................................................................................... 9

My score is low. I‘m sure I did better. Can I get a re-mark? ..................................................... 10

I have taken three exams and my score keeps changing. Why? .............................................. 10

I do fine on Reading, but Listening is a problem. Why? ............................................................. 10

My speaking is fine, but I get low marks in writing. Why? ......................................................... 11

I need to raise my score quickly. What can I do? ...................................................................... 11

I‘m not near a school. Where can I get help? ............................................................................ 11

Section 2: Listening .................................................................................................................... 12

I heard that listening isn‘t always the first part of the exam. Why? ........................................... 13

I‘m slightly deaf; can I sit at the front? ........................................................................................ 13

IELTS is an English exam. Will the speakers be native speakers? .......................................... 13

How long is the listening exam? ................................................................................................. 13

What kinds of things will I have to listen to? ............................................................................... 13

How often do I listen? ................................................................................................................. 14

How many question types are there? ......................................................................................... 14

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What happens if I lose track? ..................................................................................................... 14

Are there any breaks in the exam? ............................................................................................ 14

Do I write in pen or pencil?......................................................................................................... 14

What if I make a mistake? .......................................................................................................... 14

Can I write all my answers in capitals? ...................................................................................... 15

Why are multiple choice questions (MCQs) so hard? ................................................................ 15

Does spelling matter? ................................................................................................................ 15

I heard IELTS deliberately choose difficult numbers. Is that true? ........................................... 15

What happens if I use too many words in the answer? ............................................................. 16

Why doesn‘t the question say the same as the recording? ....................................................... 16

Do I need to write symbols like $, £ or %? ................................................................................. 16

I have trouble with maps and diagrams in listening. What can I do? ........................................ 16

How can I transfer all my answers in 10 minutes? .................................................................... 16

Where can I find listening materials? ......................................................................................... 17

How can I practice? .................................................................................................................... 17

Which vocabulary do I need to learn? ........................................................................................ 17

Section 3: Reading ...................................................................................................................... 19

How long is the Reading test? ................................................................................................... 20

Is it true that the passages get harder? ..................................................................................... 20

I always run out of time. What can I do? ................................................................................... 20

How many question types are there? ........................................................................................ 20

Which question types are most common? ................................................................................. 21

I mess up with TRUE-FALSE-NOT GIVEN questions. What can I do? .................................... 21

Do the reading passages use a lot of academic vocabulary? ................................................... 22

Are the answers in order of the text, like listening? ................................................................... 22

How can I practice Reading? ..................................................................................................... 22

Section 4: Writing ........................................................................................................................ 23

How long is the writing exam? ................................................................................................... 24

Can I write in pen? ..................................................................................................................... 24

What kind of visuals can I expect in Task 1? ............................................................................. 24

How much do I have to write for Task 1? ................................................................................... 24

I always write more than 150 words. Will I be penalised? ........................................................ 24

How many paragraphs should I write for Task 1? ..................................................................... 25

Should I write a conclusion in Task 1? ....................................................................................... 25

How do I write numbers in Task 1? ............................................................................................ 25

When do I use percent and when do I use percentage? ........................................................... 25

How do I describe graphs? ........................................................................................................ 25

Can I talk about trends with bar charts? .................................................................................... 25

Which tenses do I use? .............................................................................................................. 26

I always use the same vocabulary in Task 1. How can I change it?......................................... 26

How formal is Task 1? ................................................................................................................ 27

Do I interpret the data in Task 1? ............................................................................................... 27

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What are the most common task types in Task 1? .................................................................... 27

How is Task 1 marked? .............................................................................................................. 27

Can I start with Task 2 in case I run out of time? ....................................................................... 27

What kind of questions can I expect in Task 2? ......................................................................... 28

What‘s the best way to answer Task 2? ..................................................................................... 28

How can I support my answer with examples? .......................................................................... 28

What if I don‘t understand the question? .................................................................................... 28

How much should I write? .......................................................................................................... 29

How can I get ideas for essays? ................................................................................................. 29

How do I start? ............................................................................................................................ 29

Is it worth reading model essays? I can‘t write like that. ........................................................... 29

What does ‗less common vocabulary‘ mean? ............................................................................ 29

Where can I get my essays checked? ........................................................................................ 30

May hand-writing is terrible. What can I do? ............................................................................. 30

Can I write in capital letters? ...................................................................................................... 30

I heard that questions repeat and students can memorize essays. Is that true? ....................... 30

How should I make corrections? ................................................................................................ 30

What happens if I run out of time?.............................................................................................. 30

Section 5: Speaking .................................................................................................................... 31

When is the Speaking exam? ..................................................................................................... 32

How many parts are there? ........................................................................................................ 32

How long should my answers be in Part 1? ............................................................................... 32

I get a dry mouth when I‘m nervous. What if I can‘t speak? ...................................................... 33

What happens in Part 2? ............................................................................................................ 33

What kind of topics come up in Part 2? ...................................................................................... 33

What if I don‘t understand the cue card? .................................................................................... 34

What if I run out of things to say? ............................................................................................... 34

I did a speaking exam and the examiner stopped me in Part 2. Why? ..................................... 34

Are topics repeated? .................................................................................................................. 34

How can I prepare for Part 2? .................................................................................................... 34

What is Part 3 about? ................................................................................................................. 35

I‘ve seen questions in Part 1 that look like Part 3. What‘s going on?........................................ 35

Will the examiner mind if I ask him to repeat a question? .......................................................... 35

I have nobody to practice with. What can I do? ......................................................................... 35

What if I go off topic? .................................................................................................................. 35

What about vocabulary? ............................................................................................................. 36

I know I have an accent. Will I be penalised? ........................................................................... 36

How can I learn the errors I am making? ................................................................................... 36

How is speaking marked? .......................................................................................................... 36

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Section 1: Frequently asked questions

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1.

Is the Academic version of the test harder than the General? Yes. It is designed to test if you are ready to study at an English college or university. The Reading passages are longer and more difficult; the Writing is more academic. Listening and Speaking are the same. However, some countries require a higher band score in General than for Academic if the purpose is for work or work experience. Check exactly what scores you need.

2. How often can I take the exam? There is no limit. You can take the exam as many times as you like to get the band score you need. However, each exam costs the equivalent in your currency of £145 or $205 (correct in November 2015). Spending a similar amount on an IELTS trainer may be a better or faster way to raise your band score.

3. How long do I need to prepare? That depends on your level of English and the band score you need. If you are an advanced student or a native English speaker and need band score 6.00, you just need to be familiar with the test format. If you are an intermediate student and you need band score 7.5, you will need time to prepare.

4. How long will it take to raise my band score by a point? IELTS used to say you need three months to raise your band score by one point, but they recognise that every student is different. With intensive study you could do it in one month. If you are only weak in one skill, you could do it in a couple of weeks. You need to know all the tips and strategies, and it may be worth spending money on getting an IELTS trainer.

5. I am partially sighted. Can I still take IELTS? Yes. If you have any disability, such as being partly deaf, blind, or less mobile, talk to your local test centre. Give them plenty of notice because they may need up to 3 months to arrange the right papers or facilities.

6. What if I am sick on the test day? If you have a minor illness (a cold, sore throat and so on) tell the examiner that you are not feeling well and that it might affect your performance. If you have a major medical emergency (like being in hospital!) provide a medical certificate for the test centre within 5 days of the test. They will refund the majority of your exam fee. They keep some for administration costs. If you do not turn up to the exam and do not send a certificate, you will lose your money.

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7. What time is the test? The written part of the exam usually starts at 9 am local time. The test centre will tell you when to arrive. They usually expect you at least 45 minutes before the exam to complete security arrangements. The spoken part of the exam may be on the same day, in the afternoon, or on a different day. Your test centre will tell you when to arrive, but once you do, you may have to wait for over an hour before the exam. Practice staying calm and relaxed while you wait!

8. What if I arrive late? If you overslept or missed the bus, you will have to pay again. If you are late because of extreme circumstances beyond your control, such as a transport strike, a fire on the underground and so on, inform the test centre as soon as you can. They should offer you the next available test date.

9. Are all the test centres the same? They should be, but the reality is that every examiner is different. They have to take exams and their work is checked to ensure the same standard across the world, but it is not always possible. On average, however, the grade you get in one place would be the same in another.

10. When can I sit the exam? Exams are on three Saturdays and one Thursday every month, but each test centre can only take a certain amount of candidates and may not run every test. You need to book early if you want to guarantee a place.

11. What if I change my mind? Can I get my money back? If you tell the test centre at least 5 weeks before, they will refund most of your money. They keep some for administration costs.

12. How long is the test? The written exam (Listening/Reading/Writing) is just over three hours, from 9.00-12.15. There are no breaks. The spoken part of the exam will be after a lunch break. Each candidate will be given their own time-slot for the test. If you are at the end of the list, your exam may be late in the afternoon.

13. What happens if I need the bathroom during the exam? You will need the permission of the examiner, and you will need to be escorted to the bathroom by a member of the test centre‘s staff. Go before the test starts. There is a break after the written paper before the speaking test where you can use the bathroom.

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14. What can I bring into the exam room? Water in a clear plastic bottle with no label. Pen(s), pencil(s) and an eraser. You can write your essays in pen, but you must use pencil for Listening and Reading. If you start writing in pen by mistake, tell the examiner immediately.

15. What happens if there is an emergency and I need my phone? You cannot bring a phone into the exam room and even in the test centre it must be switched off. If you don‘t do comply, your will be disqualified. If you have a family emergency and may need to withdraw from the exam, give the test centre‘s number to those who may need to contact you and explain the situation.

16. Where can I find out my nearest test centre? At http://www.ielts.org/test_centre_search/search_results.aspx you can find your country and a list of test centres will be displayed. In some cases, private schools and colleges far from a main test centre may run IELTS exams. An examiner is sent from the main site. Check with your school.

17. How do I apply for the test? At http://www.ielts.org/pdf/IELTS%20application%20form-2015.pdf you can find the application form. You need to register with an ID card or a passport. If you take IELTS in your own country, you can use a national identity card. If you take the exam anywhere else, you must use your passport. You can take your completed form, two passport photographs and the fee to your local test centre, post it, or register online.

18. I’ve heard people have been refused entry to the exam. Why? IELTS refuses entry to candidates who bring a different form of identity to the one they registered with (such as registering with an ID card, and bringing a passport), or if they refuse any of the security checks.

19. What security do I have to go through? Your identity will be checked when you register, and when you arrive at the test centre. If you are normally veiled, you will have to show your face to a female member of staff to check against your ID photograph. All candidates must be prepared to have their photograph taken: it appears on your test certificate, so if you refuse, you will not be allowed to take the exam. You may also be asked to verify your signature, or have your fingerprints scanned. This is a common procedure, so do not feel threatened or discriminated against if the test centre asks you to do this.

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20. Is there a computer-based version of the exam? Computer-based IELTS has been trialled but is not in operation. There are no computer-based IELTS tests anywhere in the world. (Neil Roberts, Enquiries Advisor, November 2015.)

21. I do fine on practice tests, and terribly in the exam. What can I do? Some people do get nervous during exams. Make sure you prepare well, and then rest on the Wednesday or Friday before your exam. Get a good night‘s sleep, and eat breakfast. Your brain is like your car: it doesn‘t work without fuel.

Some students find it helps to dress comfortably, while others feel more confident if they dress up. Do whatever makes you feel better.

Arrange to arrive early at the test centre so you have time to relax before the exam. When the exam starts, take a few deep breaths while the examiner is explaining the procedure – after all, you‘re sitting on a chair in a test centre, not the electric chair on death row. In a few hours it will all be over, and if you have prepared, all you can do is your best.

Some students find the test less nerve-wracking when they take the exam a second time, because everything is more familiar and less scary.

22. How long will it be before I get my results? It usually takes 13 days. Your test centre may mail the results or send them electronically. The schools you listed in question 22 (Recognising Organisations like schools, colleges or employers) may get the results before you do. The British Council runs a ‗Results Preview‘ service where you can look at your results online before the official report is sent. In exceptional circumstances, test results may be delayed. For example, if your test centre‘s results are much higher or lower than any others, IELTS may want to investigate. You may be asked to provide a writing or speaking sample, or even take part of the exam again.

23. How many copies of my certificate can I get? One, unless you can prove you are applying to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) or to United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI) when you get two. If you lose or damage your certificate you cannot get another.

24. How long does my certificate last? It is valid for two years. If you take more than one exam, each certificate is valid for two years from the date of issue: the latest certificate does not invalidate the previous ones.

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25. My score is low. I’m sure I did better. Can I get a re-mark? In most cases, the mark you are given will stand. In a very few cases, you may get a higher mark, but you may also be given a lower one. If you are sure there is a mistake, apply within 6 weeks saying which part(s) you want re-marked. The cost of re-marking is high (often 50% of the exam fee) and it can take up to two months. In the meantime, you cannot apply for university courses etc. Usually, it is less stressful and far quicker to take another exam.

26. I have taken three exams and my score keeps changing. Why? It depends what is happening to your scores.

If they are all going up, then you are gradually improving. Keep practising all the skills.

If they are going up and down, then it may be that you are at the limit if your level of English and are being affected by the content of a particular exam. For example, if the reading passages were on subjects you don‘t like or you couldn‘t think of ideas for the essay. You need to improve your general level of English.

If some are staying the same (or going down) and others are improving, you are probably concentrating on that skill and failing to practise the others. Practice all the skills.

If all are improving and one is staying the same, then you need help with that skill. Writing is often the skill most people need help with.

27. I do fine on Reading, but Listening is a problem. Why? Reading and Listening are both receptive (input) skills, but English is orthographically weak and a stressed language. That means that the letters you see on a page, don‘t look like the word you hear. For example, the word /ˈθʌrəli / is spelled thoroughly and when you hear /ˈeɪnʃənt/ you wouldn‘t necessarily know the spelling was ancient. Similarly, a word which looks the same on the page can have two different meanings depending on the word stress. ―I think we should reform the band” could mean that the speaker thinks the band needs improvement (/rɪˈfɔːm/) or that the group should get back together (/riːˈfɔːm/). Because of this, you may do well on reading because you recognise written words, but less well on Listening because you aren‘t as familiar to the way the words sound. Practice listening to English as you read. There are lots of resources available but to read a story as you listen, try this. https://www.gutenberg.org/ offers free e-books you can download and print, and https://www.librivox.org has free recordings of them.

An example of a story with a British reader: https://librivox.org/lost-mans-lane-by-anna-katharine-green/ (Audio) https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/33305 (e-book) An example of a story with an American reader: https://librivox.org/the-harbor-of-doubt-by-frank-williams/ (Audio) https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29817/29817-h/29817-h.htm (e-book)

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28. My speaking is fine, but I get low marks in writing. Why? Usually candidates who get high marks in speaking have good vocabulary and grammar, so if they do poorly in writing they may have one of the following issues:

They are poor at spelling. o Make sure you learn the correct spellings of common IELTS

vocabulary, such as accommodation, environment or consumption.

They cannot write legibly, by hand, fast enough to complete the two writing tasks. o Practise writing by hand. It is not usual to write anything by hand

these days: we text on phones or use keyboards on computers, so writing quickly and clearly is an art you have to learn.

They are not used to the strict requirements of Task 1 and Task 2 writing, so they lose marks for Task Achievement and cohesion. Both tasks require very different skill sets. To improve you need to thoroughly understand the question types, how answers are marked and what questions mean. o Practise writing and have your writing assessed. If you can get

free help on forums, from a teacher or at your school, take it. If not, you should consider getting a writing tutor. Some will charge a fee for just assessing your work (such as giving an idea of band score); others will give an idea of band score and make corrections; a few will assess your work, make corrections and give feedback on how you can improve.

29. I need to raise my score quickly. What can I do? If you have a limited time to get the result you need, then consider taking a course with a local school, an online class, or work one-to-one with a tutor. Talk to the teacher first. You need to get an idea of whether you can work with him/her. Ask if you can contact any of the tutor‘s previous students directly: they should have no problem with you doing that.

30. I’m not near a school. Where can I get help? There are lots of resources online nowadays (see the sections which follow for each skill) and you can also find online tutors. Some will deal with you my email, or offer Skype lessons for speaking. Reliable teachers will be able to talk to you about your needs before you commit to buying anything.

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Section 2: Listening

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1. I heard that listening isn’t always the first part of the exam. Why? It is usually the first part, but if there are technical issues at your particular test centre, the order of the exam may need to be changed. Listening, Reading and Writing will still be held together without a break.

2. I’m slightly deaf; can I sit at the front? If you have a hearing difficulty, you need to tell the test centre when you book the exam. Some centres give each candidate individual headphones. Others can adjust seating arrangements so that you have a fair chance of hearing as much as other candidates.

3. IELTS is an English exam. Will the speakers be native speakers? Not always. There will be a range of accents from English-speaking countries such as Australia, the UK, Canada, Ireland, the USA, New Zealand and South Africa, but also other accents representing learners.

Try to listen to a variety of accents to practise listening. To compare different accents, go to http://www.dialectsarchive.com/globalmap and click on a place. You will hear English being spoken by someone from that place. There are also many videos on U-Tube where you can listen to different varieties of spoken English.

A good way to practice is to watch British, Australia and American films and documentaries as they will often have other accents, too, such as New Zealand, Canadian or Irish. This is also useful because native speakers tend to speak very fast and the words run into each other. If you enjoy what you listen to, like a movie or a song, it will be easier for you to make sense of the words and phrases.

4. How long is the listening exam? It takes around 30 minutes and there are four sections. There is an extra 10 minutes at the end to write your answers on the answer sheet.

5. What kinds of things will I have to listen to? Sections 1 and 2 are common social situations. Section 1 is a dialogue (conversation), such as arranging to join a gym or making a complaint. Section 2 is a monologue (talk), such as a tour guide explaining a route or a radio show host explaining an event. Sections 3 and 4 are common work or academic situations. Section 3 is a conversation two speakers, like two undergraduates talking about a project, or a tutor running through assignment options with a student. Section 4 is a monologue, such as a lecturer giving a talk, or someone making a presentation on an academic topic.

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6. How often do I listen? You only listen ONCE. There is time to read the questions before the recording begins and there is an example at the start of the first section, but there is only one chance to listen, so write notes on the question paper as you go along. You can write in your native language – the question paper is collected back by the examiner, but it is destroyed, not used for marking. Also use the time between sections to read ahead. There is no point checking your previous answers as the recording has gone. Instead, read the questions which are coming and try to predict the type of answer – a name, a place, a thing, and so on.

7. How many question types are there? There are six, but this includes two types of multiple choice question. You can see and listen to examples at http://www.ielts.org/test_takers_information/test_sample/listening_sample.aspx http://www.ieltsexchange.com/#!listening/cjup

8. What happens if I lose track? The answers and the recording are in order. There are 10 questions in each section, and each section is divided into two parts. (For example, Section 1 may have one type of question for numbers 1-4, and another type for questions 5-10.) The announcer will say ‗turn to section 2‘ if the recording is about to move to a new section, or you will hear ‗now you have time to read questions 6-10‘ if you are on the second half of the first section. Each batch of questions is on a new page, so you will hear other students turning their pages as a new part begins. Because questions are in order, if you hear the answer to number 8 and have missed number 7, forget it for now. At the end, you can guess, but do not waste time during the recording looking for previous answers.

9. Are there any breaks in the exam? No. The only reason the examiner would stop the listening was if there was a technical error (such as a CD skipping or a power failure). One the recording starts, it will continue until you hear ‗That is the end of the listening test. You now have ten minutes to transfer your answers to an answer sheet.’

10. Do I write in pen or pencil? You must write in pencil. If you make a mistake, tell the invigilator.

11. What if I make a mistake? You can erase it, or put a line through it. Never put arrows to switch answers, such as answer 23 is in line 24 and answer 24 is in line 23. The examiner will mark them both wrong.

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12. Can I write all my answers in capitals? Yes. IELTS specifically says that you can write answers in capitals and there is a good reason to. For example, maybe the text is about newspapers, and one answer is The Times, a British paper. If you wrote ‗the Times‘ it would be wrong. If you wrote ‗The Times‘ or ‗THE TIMES‘ it would be correct. Maybe another question is about what confused a student who was late to class because they misunderstood a timetable. If the answer is ‗the times‘ then writing ‗The Times‘ would be incorrect, whereas writing ‗the times‘ or ‗THE TIMES‘ would be correct. If you have any doubts about where to capitalise, then write everything in capitals.

13. Why are multiple choice questions (MCQs) so hard? Because the distractors – the wrong answers – often contain words you hear on the recording. In Section 1, for example, it is common for one of the speakers to change their mind about something. Maybe they arrange for a trip on Tuesday, and then change their mind to Friday, but the other speaker says Friday isn‘t possible to they settle on Thursday. Pay attention to corrections like this: the answer choices may include Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, but only Thursday is correct. Also pay attention to works which are repeated, or those that are emphasises. Often they will be correct answers, too.

14. Does spelling matter? Yes! If you spell a word incorrectly, even if you have identified the correct information, you will not get the mark. You are allowed to use British or American spellings, so for a recording about passenger overcrowding on trains, the answer may be ‗travellers‘ or ‗travelers‘. Difficult words and names may be spelled out, so practice alphabet sounds. For example, you may have to complete a form by writing an address you hear. A well-known city, like Sydney or Vancouver will not be spelled, but a lesser-known one will be. The speaker may say: /ˈwʊstər/ ‗that‘s w-o-r-c-e-s-t-e-r‘ and you would write ‗Worcester‘ on your answer sheet. Remember to add capital letters for proper names.

15. I heard IELTS deliberately choose difficult numbers. Is that true? Yes, they tend to choose numbers and words which are challenging. For example, they may have a question about days or months. The answer is often one that is hard to hear (September/December) or hard to spell (Wednesday, February). Similarly, they tend to choose numbers, or parts of addresses you have to listen carefully for, such as 30b or 16e which could be confused for 13p or 68. Also be aware of the differences in saying ‗0‘ as ‗oh‘ (Br.Eng) and ‗zero‘ (Am.Eng.)

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16. What happens if I use too many words in the answer? It will be marked wrong. If the question paper says, for example, ‗She can collect the keys on ....................... morning‘ and the answer is Saturday, you must only write ‗Saturday‘ on the answer sheet. If you write ‗Saturday morning‘ you will not get a mark. Always read the instructions very carefully. If your answer is three words and the instruction allows 1 or 2, then your answer is probably wrong. Check whether the instructions say, for example ONE WORD OR NUMBER or ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER. Contractions such as ‗won‘t, I‘ll, it‘s‘ are never answers. Hyphenated words such as ‗part-time‘ or ‗brother-in-law‘ count as ONE word.

17. Why doesn’t the question say the same as the recording? Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn‘t. For question types 3 and 4

(graphics and outlines) IELTS says you do not have to change the words in

the recording in any way‖. For question types 1, 2, 5 and 6 what you hear and what you see on the question paper are usually paraphrases.

18. Do I need to write symbols like $, £ or %? Check the question paper. If the answer to a question is 17 kilometres and the question paper says ..... km, then write 17 on your answer sheet. If the answer to a question is $13 and the question paper says ......., then you must write BOTH dollars AND thirteen or $13 on the answer sheet.

19. I have trouble with maps and diagrams in listening. What can I do? Make sure you understand directions such as left, right, across, between and so on, and compass points north, south east and west. You can learn these using a mnemonic such as No Education Seems Wasted which tells you the correct (clockwise) order of the points. The starting point on the map or plan will always be marked.

For maps, diagrams and tables, always draw a line from question number to question number so that you don‘t lose your place and you know where to look for the next answer. Numbers do not always go top to bottom of left to right. If the first question is 16, draw a line taking your eye to where 17 is, then 18 and so on.

20. How can I transfer all my answers in 10 minutes? You need to practice. You can also help yourself, by putting a faint pencil mark under the last number of each part. For example, If Section 3 has questions 21-26, then questions 27-30, put a faint mark under 26, as this will help you keep your answers in order. If you have a gap because you missed a question, try to guess. You should easily be able to write your answers in 2 or 3 minutes, leaving enough time to check that you have them in the right order, that your spelling is correct, that you are in word limit and that you have written something for every space.

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21. Where can I find listening materials? There are many sources on the Internet such as

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/listening-skills-practice http://ielts.allearsenglish.com/ielts-preparation/ http://www.esl-lab.com/ http://learningenglish.voanews.com/ http://www.esolcourses.com/content/topicsmenu/listening.html https://www.youtube.com/user/EnglishRyan

22. How can I practice?

Make recordings of songs or movie clips and play them over and over until you understand the patterns of speech and the way words sound. You can watch Australian, American and British movies to help with accents. The first time you may not understand every word, but if you listen again and again, the gobbledegook will resolve itself into words and phrases.

Actively listen for ONE HOUR a day. That means making notes on what you hear, getting the gist and main ideas, recognising vocabulary and sentence structures and understanding intonation.

Do Cambridge Practice IELTS tests. Do them under test conditions. Make a note of questions you get wrong. Check whether your mistakes are of one type or different ones. If one, then practise that question type. If more than one, you need more active listening practice.

Get to know the question types. Make sure you know what the question wants and how many word or numbers you can use.

Underline key words or phrases. Pay attention to

Question words—who, what, when, where, why, how many/far ...

Modifiers—not, most, usually, least ...

Check your spelling is correct and your handwriting legible.

Repeat practice tests until you consistently get more marks than you need for your required band score. Under the pressure of the exam you may make a few mistakes, so you need to have some points spare.

23. Which vocabulary do I need to learn? At least 90% of listening answers are from the first 3,000 words in English from the BNC-COCA. Answers which are not on the wordlists usually fall into categories, such as education or travelling abroad and then will probably be familiar.

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24. I am ready for the exam. How is it marked? Each correct answer is worth one mark. The highest possible mark is 40, which is 100%. Each exam is slightly different, so the number of correction questions out of 40 for a particular band score may change by one or two. Generally speaking, band scores are as follows:

Correct answers

Band Score

23 6

27 6.5

30 7.0

33 7.5

35 8.0

37 8.5

39 9.0

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Section 3: Reading

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1. How long is the Reading test? It takes one hour and is usually after the listening. There are three passages with 40 questions in total. There is no extra time for writing your answers on the answer sheet.

2. Is it true that the passages get harder? No, it isn‘t. In GT, the passages get harder, but in AT they are just different. One will require analytical skills because you have to follow a logical argument, but they are all texts from books, magazines, Internet articles and so on, and they are all written for a non-specialist reader. That means that a text on, say, archaeology, is not written at a level that only archaeology students can understand. All the topics are supposed to be of interest to students – whether undergraduate or postgraduate ones – but how well you do often depends on the subject matter. If you get topics you are interested in, you will probably do better than if you get topics you dislike. The best approach is to look at the readings and do the one that seem easiest first.

3. I always run out of time. What can I do? Time is your biggest enemy in IELTS. Practice by speed reading. The link below is for some practice speed-reading texts. They are not as complex as IELTS, but they will help you with reading and understanding quickly. http://www.victoria.ac.nz/lals/about/staff/publications/paul-nation/Speed-reading-whole.pdf You are reading for a purpose (to find answers) so you are NOT expected to read the whole of each text. Briefly look at the topics of the articles, decide which you like best and then read the questions related to that passage. Read them carefully, underlining key words as you go. Skim over the text looking out for the key words you have underlined, then read those parts more carefully. There are always some hard and some easy questions. Do the easy questions first. If there are questions you can‘t answer, guess: you won‘t lose marks and you may be lucky and guess correctly. Some IELTS books suggest splitting the time (1 hour) into 15 + 20 + 25 minute blocks. That may work for GT, but it won‘t work for Academic. Spend roughly the same amount of time on each passage, but leave time for checking your answers at the end.

4. How many question types are there? There are eleven question types in Reading. Many are similar to those in listening. You can see samples and practice the questions at: http://www.ielts.org/test_takers_information/test_sample/academic_reading_sample.aspx http://www.ieltsexchange.com/#!reading/c1ps

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5. Which question types are most common? In terms of frequency, True/False/Not Given and Yes/No/Not Given are the most common question types. 20-30% of all questions fall into this category. Summary Completion, Multiple Choice, Matching Headings and Matching Information account for around 10% of answers each, with the other question types making up the balance.

Check which questions cause difficulty, go back to the text, work out why the given answer is correct, and then practice again.

6. I mess up with TRUE-FALSE-NOT GIVEN questions. What can I do? These, and the related YES-NO-NOT GIVEN questions, are often the hardest for students to get right. Think about the ideas in the passage – not about any prior knowledge you may have on the topic.

T/F/NG questions give a statement. The statement will paraphrase some fact(s) in the text. You must decide whether it means the same as the text or not. If it does, it is TRUE. If it doesn‘t, it is FALSE. Work out these first, then go back and think about the other statement(s). If it is impossible to tell from the text whether the information is true or not, then you should write NOT GIVEN. Pay attention to words in the statement which modify the meaning, such as ‗all‘, ‗most‘ ‗nearly‘ and so on. Remember that it is the meaning you need to check, not the words. Write TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN in your answer book.

Y/N/NG questions also give a statement, but it is about an opinion or idea, rather than a fact. It will be a paraphrase of any words in the text, but again, make sure you look for qualifying words in the statement, like ‗some‘, ‗the majority‘ and so on. If the statement agrees with the text, write YES. If it disagrees, write NO. If it is impossible to tell, then write NOT GIVEN. Write YES, NO or NOT GIVEN on your answer sheet.

IELTS is not like TOEFL: there are no inference questions. The text will either agree or disagree with the statement. For NOT GIVEN statements there is an absence of information, so don‘t waste time looking for something that isn‘t there: elimination is the fastest way to answer these questions. If, at the end, you still don‘t know, guess. Every section of YES/NO/NOT GIVEN or TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN will have at least one NOT GIVEN answer. If you have answered all the other questions Y/N or TF, the chances are that your missing answer will be NG.

Be VERY careful about writing your answers. Some students lose marks because they write FALSE instead or NO, or YES instead of TRUE.

7. Is spelling important for the Reading test? Yes, but if you have to write an answer, then you simply copy the word you need from the reading passage. Do not change the spelling or the form. If you need to change the form, for example, from ‗education‘ to ‗educational‘ then your answer is wrong.

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8. Do the reading passages use a lot of academic vocabulary? Generally, no. If there are any particularly specialised or scientific words, they will be explained at the bottom of the page or the end of the text. The majority of words (at least 90%) are from the BNC-COCA K1-K3 word lists. The rest are specific to the topic. You can get the wordlists here: http://www.ieltsexchange.com/#!resources/d1wm2

9. Are the answers in order of the text, like listening? MCQs, T/F/NH, Y/N/NG, and sentence completion questions are always in the order of the text. For matching sentence endings questions, the beginning of each sentence is in the order of the text. For completing outlines (notes, tables, summaries and forms) or graphics (diagrams, flowcharts etc) they are not always in order, but they can be. For matching questions - matching headings, features, and so on, the answers are NOT in the order of the text.

10. How can I practice Reading? By reading! Read as much as you can in English. Practise writing one or two words to sum up each paragraph. Try to think of headings. You can also use a technique called text-mapping. Exam-writers often do this when they write questions. Read a text quickly, then, without looking, jot down anything you can remember. These are often used for easy questions. Now read the text again, more carefully, and again, without looking, make notes about what you can remember. These often form middle-range questions. Lastly, read the text as you make notes of the main ideas and important details. These are usually where the difficult questions come from. The more often you do this, the more easily you will be able to identify main ideas, logical arguments and examples in a text. This is what IELTS wants you to do in the Reading test.

You can also practice using different websites including http://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/prepare-test/practice-tests/reading-practice-test-1-academic http://idpielts.me/prepare-ielts/free-ielts-practice-tests/ http://www.ieltsexchange.com/

11. How is the Reading exam marked? Each correct answer is worth one mark, just like Listening. Again, exams vary, but approximate values are:

Correct answers Band Score

23 6

27 6.5

30 7.0

33 7.5

35 8.0

37 8.5

39 9.0

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Section 4: Writing

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1. How long is the writing exam? Overall, the writing exam is one hour. You should spend no more than 20 minutes on Task 1. Task 1 is a report based on a diagram, graph, table or chart. You should spend 40 minutes on Task 2. Task 2 is an essay.

2. Can I write in pen? You may write in pen or pencil. Pencil is easier to correct.

3. What kind of visuals can I expect in Task 1? You may get one or more

Pie charts

Bar charts

Line graphs

Tables or a mixture, such as pie charts and a bar chart, or a line graph and a table. You may also get one or more

Maps or plans

Process diagrams Each type requires different language and requires slightly different skills. You can see some official examples here: http://www.ielts.org/test_takers_information/test_sample/academic_writing_sample.aspx An explanation of the language and skills and model answers for each type: http://www.ieltsexchange.com/#!writing-task-1/cihc Tips, advice and lessons here: http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/ielts-writing-task-1/ http://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-1-lessons-and-tips/ There are many other resources, but the ones listed are both clear and accurate.

4. How much do I have to write for Task 1? At least 150 words. Remember that if you copy any of the wording from the question or the charts, the examiner will deduct it from the total number of words written, so if you have to written just 150 words with a copied title, you will lose marks.

5. I always write more than 150 words. Will I be penalised? Not just for having more than 150 words, but you will be penalised if you don‘t follow the instructions, if you repeat yourself or your report lacks coherence. The instructions usually say ‘summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant’. Part of the skill is to decide what the main features are, and what needs to be compared.

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6. How many paragraphs should I write for Task 1? Three or four. One introduction, a body paragraph about the information, a second body paragraph if you have more than one chart/set of charts, and one paragraph for the conclusion.

7. Should I write a conclusion in Task 1? Yes. Sum up the purpose of the graphic(s) in one or two sentences. Some people suggest writing an introduction, then an overview, then the data, but this often leaves the examiner thinking ‗so what?‘ If you start with an introduction, explain the data and finish with an overview, your writing shows ‗progression‘ and leaves the examiner with a good impression.

8. How do I write numbers in Task 1? For Task 1, you can write numerals with percentages, such as 6% or 33%, unless you are starting a sentence, where you must write in full.

Six percent of the population ... Thirty-three percent of students ...

For numbers less than one hundred you may write in numerals or words (1/one, 16/sixteen, 97/ninety-seven, 100/a hundred): larger numbers should be written as numerals (1,430 or 643). Never mix words and numerals, such as 200 thousand. Write 200,000 or two hundred thousand.

9. When do I use percent and when do I use percentage? Use percent with a number:

10% of the people ... Less than fifteen percent of users ...

Use percentage without a number: The percentage of countries ... A greater percentage chose to ...

10. How do I describe graphs? Line graphs have their own language showing the movement of a line over time – up or down, constant, fluctuating – and how quickly or slowly. Avoid sensationalist terms like ‗rocketed‘ and try to point out the overall trend – upward or downward. There is an explanation at http://www.ieltsexchange.com/#!graphs/c24qk

11. Can I talk about trends with bar charts? Yes, if there is a clear trend and the x axis is time. If a pencil from the top of the first bar to the top of the last bar is up or down, you can say the trend was upwards or downwards.

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12. Which tenses do I use? For pie charts, graphs and tables

If there is no date, then use the present.

If the dates are historical, use the past.

If some of the data is a prediction, then use a future form and a qualifying statement, such as ‗In 2050 the figure will be ...‘ or ‗By 2050, it is likely that population will have reached‘.

For maps and plans

Use past if you have to explain how something was before, and present if you need to explain how it looks now.

Use future if the map or plan is a proposal. For process diagrams

Use present simple passive. If you do not know the V3 (past participle) form of a verb on the diagram, then use present simple and refer to it as a stage. For example, if the picture shows how cotton is produced and one step says ‗spinning‘ you could write ‗The next stage is spinning‘ or ‗Next, the cotton is spun‘.

See http://www.ieltsexchange.com/#!task-1-writing-tips/ckog for more details.

13. I always use the same vocabulary in Task 1. How can I change it? Read model Task 1 reports to find ways to vary your language. Make sure you understand what the graphic is showing so that you can interpret the data correctly and choose the right subject for each sentence.

The chart shows the number of students achieving different band scores between March and May.

In March, the figure for Band 9 stood at two. In April, the number for Band 8 students was four. In May, 13 students achieved Band 7. The greatest numbers of students at Band 7 were in March and April at 15

and 16 respectively. The months with the most Band 8 students were March and May. The

former had 6 students and the latter had 7. Use ‗amount‘ with uncountable subjects and ‗numbers‘ with countable ones.

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14. How formal is Task 1? It is formal, academic and factual. Do not use contractions or casual phrases such as ‗at a glance‘.

15. Do I interpret the data in Task 1? Never. Say what you can see. You should write an overview as a conclusion, but never say why. For example, in one exam there were two charts. One showed the increased cost of living and accommodation expenses for students. The other showed where students were living. There was a correlation between the increasing cost of housing and the number of students choosing to live at home. Common sense might suggest that students chose to stay at home because their families charged them no rent, or at least charged less, but you cannot make than assumption. All you should do is point out the relationship: housing costs going up – more students living at home.

16. What are the most common task types in Task 1? Until recently, it was bar charts, however, while bar charts and mixed chart types (like a pie chart and a table) are still the most common, maps and plans and process diagrams have become much more common. They now appear somewhere at least once a month. Since you cannot predict which task you will get, make sure you practise all the types. Example Task 1 answers, written by students, frequently appear on http://www.ieltsnetwork.com/viewforum.php?f=5 and are corrected by other students and teachers. New Task 1 questions and model answers are available on http://ieltsexchange.freeforums.net/

17. How is Task 1 marked? It is marked on four criteria, as is Task 2, but Task 1 is worth half as much as Task 2. The criteria are task achievement (how well you answered the question), coherence and cohesion (if your writing makes sense, and flows from start to finish) lexical range (the use of appropriate vocabulary and spelling) and grammatical range and accuracy (correct grammar, a range of structures and correct punctuation). The public version of the marking criteria can be found at http://www.ielts.org/PDF/Writing%20Band%20descriptors%20Task%201.pdf

18. Can I start with Task 2 in case I run out of time? Some students find Task 1 easier and faster, so they do it first. Some do Task 2 first because it is worth more marks. You need to do both Task 1 and Task 2 to achieve a high band score, but which way you answer them is up to you. Make sure you practice analysing questions and writing Task 1 reports within 20 minutes so you are prepared for the exam.

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19. What kind of questions can I expect in Task 2? Questions may be worded as advantages and disadvantages, positive or negative developments, agree or disagree, reasons or causes, possible solutions, main factors, or any variation. In each case, you must make your position (your view or opinion) clear. See http://www.ielts.org/pdf/Writing%20Band%20descriptors%20Task%202.pdf

20. What’s the best way to answer Task 2? There is no right or wrong point of view for an IELTS essay, providing to answer the question. As the marking criteria says, it is about your position and it doesn‘t even matter if what you write is true – the examiner is interested in how well you structure your arguments.

21. How can I support my answer with examples? Use your own experience, and if necessary, make up some ‗statistics‘. They don‘t have to be real, just plausible. The examiner is checking your English, not the details. For example, if you read somewhere that most AT candidates take IELTS three times before getting the band score they need, you could write ‗72% of IELTS candidates take the Academic test three times before achieving the band score they require.‘ It doesn‘t matter whether that‘s true or not, but it seems plausible.

22. What if I don’t understand the question? Read it carefully and underline keywords. IELTS don‘t use words in an essay question that are hard to understand. If you really don‘t know what the words mean, then you are not ready to take IELTS.

If you understand the words, but aren‘t sure what to write, that‘s different. Practice analysing essay questions to make sure you are answering the real question and not being side-tracked by background information. Answering the question is imperative. Many students fail to get the band score they need because they don‘t read the question carefully enough and write off topic. If you fully answer the question, develop and extend your ideas, you can get 8 or 9 in Task Response.

For example: The tourism industry has grown enormously over the last fifty years, and there are few places which are unaffected by it. However, tourism rarely benefits the countries where tourists visit. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

The first sentence is background information. This question is really about how far you agree with the statement that ‗tourism rarely benefits the countries where tourists visit‘.

Look out for student essays and corrections at http://ieltsexchange.freeforums.net/ http://www.ieltsnetwork.com/viewforum.php?f=5 and for lessons on Task 2 essays from http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/ielts-writing-task-2/ http://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-2/

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23. How much should I write? At least 250 words. You will NOT be penalised for writing more, providing you do not repeat yourself and your writing is coherent.

24. How can I get ideas for essays? By brainstorming. There are several techniques you can use. Some techniques are listed here: http://www.ieltsexchange.com/#!brainstorming/c250s There are also lots of ideas in these video tutorials from Ryan Higgins https://www.youtube.com/user/englishryan

25. How do I start? With a paraphrase of the question. Then state your position and provide a thesis statement or ‗roadmap‘ of what will be in the essay.

AVOID

sweeping statements or over-generalisations such as Everybody agrees that ... It is undoubtedly true that ... These can usually be challenged.

archaic or pompous language such as Indubitably... the aforementioned ... Nobody writes like that nowadays and it won‘t impress an examiner.

weak openings such as In this essay I will discuss ... The issues will be analysed. The examiner already knows what will be discussed or analysed from the question.

26. Is it worth reading model essays? I can’t write like that. It is still worth reading as many model essays as you can – preferably ones written by IELTS teachers, examiners and native-speakers. Some examples on the Internet are full of mistakes, so be careful. Good essays can help you understand topic vocabulary, useful phrases, cohesive devises and structures you can follow in your own essays.

27. What does ‘less common vocabulary’ mean? It means words that are less well-used. They show the examiner that you have a wide range of vocabulary if you use them appropriately. For example, look at these sentences: In some parts of the world there is a lack of qualified, skilled labour. In some parts of the world there is a scarcity of qualified, skilled labour. In some parts of the world there is a dearth of qualified, skilled labour. All mean exactly the same. ‗Lack‘ is a K2 word – very common. ‗Scarcity‘ is a K4 word and is more academic. ‗Dearth‘ is a K10 word and qualifies as ‗less common‘.

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28. Where can I get my essays checked? There are forums (see point 15) where you can ask for your writing to be checked, but most will not give a band score or feedback on how to improve. There are also many online teachers who will correct your essays. Some will just give an approximate band score. Some will make corrections. Some will give feedback on how to improve your writing. If writing is holding you back, then consider a one-to-one tutor for writing. You don‘t have to have a British tutor as IELTS is a text of international English, but these sites both offer writing tuition. www.ieltsexchange.com (British) https://ieltsintaiwan.wordpress.com (British)

29. May hand-writing is terrible. What can I do? The only thing to do is practise. Most of us are not in the habit of writing by hand for an hour – we get cramp or our writing becomes difficult to read. However, the examiner can‘t mark what he can‘t read, and although they are good at interpreting words on a page, if your work is illegible, they cannot mark it.

30. Can I write in capital letters? Yes, but make the whole essay capitals – don‘t switch from lower case to capitals part way through. IELTS allows this because it is often easier for examiners to read capitals than cursive script.

31. I heard that questions repeat and students can memorise essays. Is that true? Questions do repeat (with variations) at different times and in different places, but you would need to memorise thousands of potential answers. It is better to put that energy into practising writing. In addition, a memorised answer often won‘t exactly match the question so you would lose marks for TR, even if the examiner didn‘t notice it was a memorised essay. They are trained to look out for them and you would be disqualified.

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How should I make corrections? You can either erase or cross out mistakes. Use ∫ to insert a missing word. Use * to add a sentence. Make sure that the examiner knows where any additions should go. Always leave plenty of space between paragraphs so paragraphing is clear. If you have to squeeze in extra words, make sure they are legible.

33. What happens if I run out of time? If you run out of time it means you are not prepared. You need to be able to analyse the question, brainstorm ideas, plan your essay, write it legibly and have time to check your work, all in under 40 minutes. The only way to do this is to practise, practise, practise.

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Section 5: Speaking

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1. When is the Speaking exam? Often is in the afternoon of the same day, but it may be on a different day before or after the written exam.

2. How many parts are there? There are three parts. Part 1 is an interview, where the examiner checks your identity and asks questions on familiar topics such as you, your home and family. Part 2 is called the ‗long turn‘ where you are given a topic on a cue card and have to speak on the subject for about 2 minutes. Part 3 is the discussion when the examiner asks questions related to the topic in Part 2.

3. How long should my answers be in Part 1? Try to answer each question fully. The examiner has around ten questions to ask. He may not ask all of them if you give complete answers. Be prepared to talk about anything connected with you, your home and your family and friends.

For example, he may ask where you are from. Poor answer:

Salalah in Oman. Good answer:

I‘m from Salalah in Oman. It‘s in the south of the country, between the mountains and the sea. It‘s the second largest city in the Sultanate, so it‘s quite a busy place.

He may ask what people do there. Poor answer:

Lots of things. Good answer:

A lot of people work in tourism because although Oman is mostly desert, Salalah gets the khareef or monsoon, which means it‘s very green in summer and the weather is beautiful. It also means that agricultural work is quite common, as people fish, keep cows, goats and camels and grow coconuts, bananas and papaya. There is also a huge container port and an international airport, so there are a lot of different jobs people can do around the city.

You can find examples here http://www.ielts.org/test_takers_information/test_sample/speaking_sample.aspx http://www.ieltsexchange.com/#!speaking/cl4b Also pay attention to the questions which come up in exams. You can find recent questions here: http://www.ielts-blog.com/category/recent-ielts-exams/ http://ieltsliz.com/recent-ielts-questions-and-topics/ http://ieltsexchange.freeforums.net/

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4. I get a dry mouth when I’m nervous. What if I can’t speak? The examiner is used to nervous candidates. He will try and put you at ease. When you are called to the speaking room, take one or two deep breaths to calm yourself. It‘s an exam – not an execution. Take a drink of water to moisten your throat. If you dry up in the exam, or start coughing, just say to the examiner: ‗Sorry, I have a very dry throat because I‘m nervous.‘ The examiner will understand and ask you to continue when you‘re ready.

5. What happens in Part 2? The examiner gives you a ‗cue card‘ or piece of paper with a main topic and some prompts on it. You can use these to help plan what to say. You have one minute to prepare and you can write on the paper and make notes to help you. The examiner will tell you when to start. You have to speak for up to 2 minutes.

E

6. What kind of topics come up in Part 2? The topic could be anything, but the following categories come up all the time.

people e.g. your best friend, someone who can cook, someone who speaks a foreign language, someone you admire, an old person, a famous person, someone you‘d like to work with.

things e.g. a gift it took a long time to choose, a favourite possession, something old your family has had for years, your dream house/car, something you want to buy in future, an app on your phone, a toy you had as a child...

events e.g. a wedding, a festival, a concert, a celebration, a party, a meeting, a trip, a journey, a family event you remember, a school trip you went on...

activities e.g. your favourite pastime, a hobby, a sport, how you keep fit, how you relax...

places an interesting building, a colourful place, a relaxing place, somewhere you went on holiday, an historic place, a place you go to read, your favourite restaurant...

the media something you saw on the Internet, your favourite film, a TV show you enjoy, a history book you read, an article your saw about health..., a song you remember from childhood...

experiences an ambition, a time you were late, something that made you laugh, some teamwork you enjoyed, something you want to learn, a subject you hates at school but are interested in now...

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7. What if I don’t understand the cue card? Words on the cue card will be ordinary vocabulary, so you should be able to understand what the topic is. The prompts on the card will also give you ideas.

8. What if I run out of things to say? The examiner will ask you another question. If you feel you haven‘t given a full answer, you can paraphrase and explain more fully. For example:

What I mean by that is ... What I should have added is ... I also meant to say that ...

You actually get good marks for clever paraphrasing, so practise re-stating questions in your own words, as you may occasionally need to do that to gain thinking time. For example, if the examiner asks: Do you get a lot of visitors in Halstadt? You could paraphrase by saying Is Halstadt popular with tourists? While your form your answer.

9. I did a speaking exam and the examiner stopped me in Part 2. Why? The examiner will stop you if it is time to move on to Part 3. This is normal, so you shouldn‘t worry about it if the examiner interrupts you.

10. Are topics repeated? Yes, very frequently. There are only a certain number of topics IELTS can use that everyone has a chance of answering, so they can‘t choose anything too strange or specialized. Remember that GT candidates have the same speaking exams, so the tasks won‘t be academic.

Recent speaking topics and repeated topics can be seen here: http://www.ieltsexchange.com/#!part-2/cn1m

11. How can I prepare for Part 2? Practise by building stories of people, events, places and so on that you could talk about. Many ideas can be used for more than one cue card. Learn to adapt cue cards to stories you have practised. You can see how to do this here: http://ieltsexchange.freeforums.net/board/7/speaking http://www.ieltsexchange.com/#!part-2/cn1m There are also good lessons and tips about speaking here: http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/ielts-speaking/ http://ieltsliz.com/ielts-speaking-free-lessons-essential-tips/ You should also use the time (one minute) you are given to prepare to jot down a few notes to help you. Think ‗who-what-where-when-why-how‘.

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12. What is Part 3 about? Part three is a discussion which IELTS says is related to Part 2; however some of the questions may seem tangential! For example: Your Part 2 cue card is about a street you know well. The discussion may be about traffic or city pollution. Your Part 2 cue card is about an event that made you happy. The discussion may be about what makes old people happy or whether you were happy at school.

13. I’ve seen questions in Part 1 that look like Part 3. What’s going on? Although there is a structure to IELTS Speaking, questions can come up in any of the three parts, but not together. For example, a Part 1 question might ask about what you do with your friends. A Part 2 question might be to describe your best friend. A Part 3 question may be to explain the importance of having friends. They are all on the same theme, but you wouldn‘t get all on them in a single exam. You can download sample questions at the bottom of this page. http://www.ieltsexchange.com/#!part-1/c1g62 There are also hundreds of speaking question for practice (by topic) at http://iteslj.org/questions/

14. Will the examiner mind if I ask him to repeat a question? No, but be careful how you ask him/her. If you don‘t understand the question, you could ask him to repeat it or rephrase it. If you simple didn‘t hear, then say ‗I didn‘t hear that, could you say it a little louder?‘. That way he will realise that you simply didn‘t catch what he said, not that you didn‘t understand.

15. I have nobody to practice with. What can I do?

Practise by recording yourself on your phone, playing it back and seeing if you can correct any mistakes or improve your answers.

Join an IELTS forum and find a speaking partner.

Sign up for some speaking practice with an IELTS tutor via Skype

Get the Google IELTS Speaking App https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dmc.iespeaking2&hl=en.freeforums.net/

16. What if I go off topic? In speaking, you should answer the question the examiner gives you, but you can add other, related information as well. In Speaking there is no mark for Task Achievement or Task Response, so you cannot lose marks for being off topic.

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17. What about vocabulary? Your vocabulary should sound as natural as possible. Spoken English is informal, so adding some common expressions or idioms will help. There are a few very common British/American ones here: http://www.fluentu.com/english/blog/essential-english-idioms/

18. I know I have an accent. Will I be penalised? No. Native speakers have accents, too. An accent is fine, but you need to pronounce your words so that the examiner can understand them. Remember to speak slowly and clearly. Check the pronunciation of difficult words with a teacher or by using an online dictionary. This version says the word you type in both British and American English: http://www.howjsay.com/index.php Try typing in the word advertisement as an example.

19. How can I learn the errors I am making? You need someone to listen to you and tell you. You may have a friend with good English who can help, or you may know a native speaker or have a teacher. Ask them to point out any repeated mistakes. You may need to have your speaking assessed by a teacher. You can do mock speaking exams and get feedback from www.ieltsexchange.com www.ielts-simon.com They will be able to point out things you may not be aware of, such as speaking too fast, pronouncing a V as W, or incorrectly using sentence tags, such as ‗I don‘t think people have enough time these days, isn’t it?‘ instead of ‘do they?’

20. How is speaking marked? There are four categories and they carry equal weight: Fluency and coherence: speaking without too many pauses and making sense. Lexical resource range of vocabulary, idioms and so on Grammatical range and accuracy how correct your English is and the range of structures you use Pronunciation how easy you are to understand Remember that there is no mark for answering the question, so answer as fully as you can! You can download the public version of the marking criteria here: http://www.ielts.org/pdf/Speaking%20Band%20descriptors_2014.pdf

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The IELTS Guide Answers to frequently asked questions about Academic IELTS, tips about the exam and advice on practise materials and resources. © November 2015 www.ieltsexchange.com