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Anyone done the IELTS academic test? Any advice?

I will be taking the IELTS academic test.

All I need is:
Stationary.
Passport.
Confirmation letter.

Is this right?

And do you have any advice or learning resources?
"E.g. don't spend too much time on the first part or don't rush the second part etc.".

Thank you.

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Reply 1
Find some past papers and do them. A certain technique is required to get a good score and the easiest way to achieve that is to simply do some mock tests. For me, writing was the hardest part, the rest were fairly ok. I have heard the same from others.

About the listening test, don't dwell on words you missed because it might make you lose concentration and miss the next few words in addition. Also try to read ahead in the small breaks in between the voice on the tape so that you know exactly which words to listen for in the following sequence.

The speaking test is a bit artificial. They don't care about your opinion or knowledge about the topics you are to talk about, they just want to hear you speak English. So if you have no opinion or knowledge about a subject, just make something up.
Reply 2
Original post by Studentdk
Find some past papers and do them. A certain technique is required to get a good score and the easiest way to achieve that is to simply do some mock tests. For me, writing was the hardest part, the rest were fairly ok. I have heard the same from others.

About the listening test, don't dwell on words you missed because it might make you lose concentration and miss the next few words in addition. Also try to read ahead in the small breaks in between the voice on the tape so that you know exactly which words to listen for in the following sequence.

The speaking test is a bit artificial. They don't care about your opinion or knowledge about the topics you are to talk about, they just want to hear you speak English. So if you have no opinion or knowledge about a subject, just make something up.


Thanks, really appreciate it and as far as you remember, was all you need were (below)?
* Stationary
* Passport
* Letter (printed and signed)

Also, the confirmation letter they sent me said they wanted my fingerprint. Did they do the same to you?

They sent me so many PDF documents and information. How long is the test? They informed me that I get no breaks between the writing and reading tests.
Reply 3
I brought stationary, passport, letter and they took fingerprints digitally yes. I think they also took a picture of each person. There is a lot of fraud going on with these tests.

The three first tests are done back to back. The oral test will be scheduled to later in the day. You can see the time when you are done with the first three tests.
Reply 4
Original post by Studentdk
I brought stationary, passport, letter and they took fingerprints digitally yes. I think they also took a picture of each person. There is a lot of fraud going on with these tests.

The three first tests are done back to back. The oral test will be scheduled to later in the day. You can see the time when you are done with the first three tests.


Thank you. The multi-choice test looks pretty easy. I am just a little annoyed that I have to register at 8:30am but the test starts at 10AM while the test centre is an hour away from my home.

I found a site containing past-papers, but the listening test doesn't state whether it's academic or oral?
http://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/prepare-your-test/free-ielts-practice-tests/listening-practice-test-1

There aren't many past papers there, did you do these past papers or did you just go for it (without preparation). Do you know the structure of the IELTs academic exam?
Reply 5
I did the past papers I could find online (which wasn't much at the time) and in addition I bought their booklet. If your English is fairly ok it is no problem to get a good grade, but you should allocated a few days to do past papers to get a good flow in your work. Which band score do you need?

I also had to register at 08:30, then wait until 10am and then wait again as my oral test was scheduled for 17:00. It's a full day.
In the listening test, there are four sections. The first section starts off with plenty of time for you to read the questions and answers. But as you move onto the next question, you get progressively shorter amounts of time to read the questions and answers for each section. So as Studentdk said, its quite crucial to read ahead during any of the small breaks that they give you.

For the writing part, it's best that you read some sample IELTs essays (with its band score achieved) so you get an idea of what level of writing is necessary for a certain band score. These are available on some IELTs help websites but I don't remember the name.
Reply 7
Original post by Studentdk
I did the past papers I could find online (which wasn't much at the time) and in addition I bought their booklet. If your English is fairly ok it is no problem to get a good grade, but you should allocated a few days to do past papers to get a good flow in your work. Which band score do you need?

I also had to register at 08:30, then wait until 10am and then wait again as my oral test was scheduled for 17:00. It's a full day.

An overall score of 6.5, with 6 in the Writing and Speaking modules.


Original post by agingerrail
In the listening test, there are four sections. The first section starts off with plenty of time for you to read the questions and answers. But as you move onto the next question, you get progressively shorter amounts of time to read the questions and answers for each section. So as Studentdk said, its quite crucial to read ahead during any of the small breaks that they give you.

For the writing part, it's best that you read some sample IELTs essays (with its band score achieved) so you get an idea of what level of writing is necessary for a certain band score. These are available on some IELTs help websites but I don't remember the name.

Thanks you two.

What do you mean small breaks? How can you read ahead during your breaks? Do they allow you to read the test papers during break time? Doesn't that mean people can talk to each other during break which would be unfair practice? Or do they mean a small toilet break where no-one is allowed to talk?

What specific questions do they ask you during the speaking test? Thank you.
(edited 10 years ago)
I took the IELTS in May in British Council. All of the candidates registered got access to 40 hours or so of 'Road to IELTS' materials - these provide a lot of videos in which teachers give advice about how to pass the test with a good grade. There are also some interactive exercices. It gave my a lot, particularly concerning listening and reading sections. :smile: So read your e-mails, maybe you also have an access to that.

I brought just my passport and a bottle of water. We were given stationary (a pen and a pencil with a rubber on one end) and we were told to use the pencil to fill in answer sheets for listening and reading. As for writing, you could write either in pencil or in pen. If you wanted to sharpen the pencil you could ask one of the invigilators for a pencil sharpener, they also had additional sheets for writing tasks. You don't need to know your candidate's number etc. as everything like that was provided on a sticker on your desk. The invigilators were very nice and told us how to put your name and all the codes on the answer sheets, so don't worry about that.

There were no real breaks between parts - only when they went round and collected the answers after each part, but we were asked to stay in our seats and not to speak with anyone. You can go to the toilet during the test - I wouldn't advice that, though, as there is really little time, especially during the writing part!

Speaking was fairy relaxed. First I came to the registration room, they took a photo and checked my passport, then I waited for a couple of minutes and finally I was told which room I'm supposed to go to. The test starts with a few casual questions, maybe something about your school, your hometown, your family etc. Then it moves on to a kind of a presentation - you are given a topic and a set of questions and you need to talk about it for about 2 minutes, trying to cover all the bullet points. You will be given a piece of paper and a pencil to make some notes (you have 1 min preparation time). Then the conversation moves on and is linked to the topic you presented. :smile: The most important thing is to keep speaking (although as correctly and coherently as possible :biggrin: ). But, as it was already pointed out, you don't have to tell the truth - for example if they ask you about a film you didn't like and you can't think of anything just use your imagination. :wink:

.
(edited 10 years ago)
Reply 9
Original post by ounce
I took the IELTS in May in British Council. All of the candidates registered got access to 40 hours or so of 'Road to IELTS' materials - these provide a lot of videos in which teachers give advice about how to pass the test with a good grade. There are also some interactive exercices. It gave my a lot, particularly concerning listening and reading sections. :smile: So read your e-mails, maybe you also have an access to that.

I brought just my passport and a bottle of water. We were given stationary (a pen and a pencil with a rubber on one end) and we were told to use the pencil to fill in answer sheets for listening and reading. As for writing, you could write either in pencil or in pen. If you wanted to sharpen the pencil you could ask one of the invigilators for a pencil sharpener, they also had additional sheets for writing tasks. You don't need to know your candidate's number etc. as everything like that was provided on a sticker on your desk. The invigilators were very nice and told us how to put your name and all the codes on the answer sheets, so don't worry about that.

There were no real breaks between parts - only when they went round and collected the answers after each part, but we were asked to stay in our seats and not to speak with anyone. You can go to the toilet during the test - I wouldn't advice that, though, as there is really little time, especially during the writing part!

Speaking was fairy relaxed. First I came to the registration room, they took a photo and checked my passport, then I waited for a couple of minutes and finally I was told which room I'm supposed to go to. The test starts with a few casual questions, maybe something about your school, your hometown, your family etc. Then it moves on to a kind of a presentation - you are given a topic and a set of questions and you need to talk about it for about 2 minutes, trying to cover all the bullet points. You will be given a piece of paper and a pencil to make some notes (you have 1 min preparation time). Then the conversation moves on and is linked to the topic you presented. :smile: The most important thing is to keep speaking (although as correctly and coherently as possible :biggrin: ). But, as it was already pointed out, you don't have to tell the truth - for example if they ask you about a film you didn't like and you can't think of anything just use your imagination. :wink:

.

Thanks, that was extremely helpful!

So, in the speaking test, you aren't allowed to pick a topic? I was going to prepare my speech on a topic.

edit: Wow, thanks, I didn't spot the Road To IELTs thing. Thanks again, it was in my email. Hopefully 6 hours of preparation will allow me to meet Imperial's requirements!
(edited 10 years ago)
Original post by Sayonara
Thanks, that was extremely helpful!

So, in the speaking test, you aren't allowed to pick a topic? I was going to prepare my speech on a topic.


No, you are given a topic by the examiner. There are a lot of them, two of my friends had the exam on the same day and we all got different questions and topics. :wink:
But they mostly concern your personal experiences: things you have, places you have been to, films you have seen and so on, so you shouldn't have trouble speaking about it. :smile:
Reply 11
Only 60 minutes for 40 questions in the reading test?

Some people may be incredible reading prodigies but cannot read information very quickly.

I just looked at the text and some of the reading articles are far too ambiguous and could have two correct answers instead of one.
This question was on so many times before, why does not someone make an official thread?

OP, my advice for you would be : do not rely on Road To IELTS online tests, they`re not that good.
Use Cambridge IELTS 1-9 books (Past Papers) and you`ll be perfectly fine. I got them on SCRIBD, but there are a number of places you can find them on.

Listening is the easiest part, just make sure you pay attention and READ the questions before you hear the voice.
Reading is considered to be the hardest by most, but it`s really not if your English is decent (and from your posts I`d say it is), just make sure you do not make some silly mistake, for example on F/NG part.
Writing can be tricky, it`s important to think and write fast (it`s unbelievable how time passes quickly there!), practise a lot for this.
As for Speaking, it`s ridiculous : you`ll be asked questions like : Do you like going to the zoo ? Do you like watching animals? Why? Why are historical buildings important? You get the idea, it does not matter what you say (although I would not recommend expressing some controversial ideas) nor what`s your accent like, but how accurate you can talk.
Reply 13
Original post by anthemofjo
This question was on so many times before, why does not someone make an official thread?

OP, my advice for you would be : do not rely on Road To IELTS online tests, they`re not that good.
Use Cambridge IELTS 1-9 books (Past Papers) and you`ll be perfectly fine. I got them on SCRIBD, but there are a number of places you can find them on.

Listening is the easiest part, just make sure you pay attention and READ the questions before you hear the voice.
Reading is considered to be the hardest by most, but it`s really not if your English is decent (and from your posts I`d say it is), just make sure you do not make some silly mistake, for example on F/NG part.
Writing can be tricky, it`s important to think and write fast (it`s unbelievable how time passes quickly there!), practise a lot for this.
As for Speaking, it`s ridiculous : you`ll be asked questions like : Do you like going to the zoo ? Do you like watching animals? Why? Why are historical buildings important? You get the idea, it does not matter what you say (although I would not recommend expressing some controversial ideas) nor what`s your accent like, but how accurate you can talk.


Thank you, and yes, somebody should make an official thread.

I guess I'll do all the past papers as doing past papers has worked perfectly with my A-levels.

Below (shown in the quotation box), what sentence shows that Picasso's work may surprise us?



Original post by Sayonara
Thank you, and yes, somebody should make an official thread.

I guess I'll do all the past papers as doing past papers has worked perfectly with my A-levels.

Below (shown in the quotation box), what sentence shows that Picasso's work may surprise us?


The sentence close to the end :
"In a Picasso, you can never take anything for granted."
Reply 15
Is it just me or are there two possible answers?

In each drop down, you can select "If", "Unless" or "Provided".

For #3, the sentence can be filled with "if" or "provided"?



By % of raw marks, these IELTs tests are harder than any of my A2 subjects (Maths, Further Maths, Physics).
Time is so constraint on the reading part. :frown:

Also, I have a sore throat. So tomorrow, I will have to do the speaking test with a sore throat.
I also have a mild cough. I hope I don't disturb anyone in the listening test.

I wonder if water is allowed. I wish the test was similar to the DSA theory test (shown one question, one answer from 4 possible answers).
(edited 10 years ago)
Original post by Sayonara
I wonder if water is allowed. I wish the test was similar to the DSA theory test (shown one question, one answer from 4 possible answers).

Yes, water is allowed.
Reply 17
6.5 is a bit of a high requirement. I hope I pass. :frown:

I reckon I could get close to full marks in the reading part if only I were to have 3 hours to do the reading part.
I think I will just get 50-60% on the reading since there is so much to read, and simply scanning it could cause me to misunderstand or misinterpret information.
(edited 10 years ago)
Reply 18
Original post by Sayonara
6.5 is a bit of a high requirement. I hope I pass. :frown:


It isn't from the standard of your written English :smile: I'm sure you'll be fine!

Also, last piece of advice: always expand your answers! When the examiner ask "how are you doing?" Don't just reply with "I'm fine" (too basic). Find synonyms. It's often the first question, so you have to make a good first impression! :wink: They are not testing your knowledge on a specific subject nor interesting in what you're saying, they just want to see if you can hold a conversation in English. I'm pretty sure that's how I got 7.5 overall.
(edited 10 years ago)
Original post by Sayonara
6.5 is a bit of a high requirement. I hope I pass. :frown:

I reckon I could get close to full marks in the reading part if only I were to have 3 hours to do the reading part.
I think I will just get 50-60% on the reading since there is so much to read, and simply scanning it could cause me to misunderstand or misinterpret information.


Are you serious? From the way you write it is obvious that your English level is far above 6.5.
Water is allowed in a transparent bottle.

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