IELTS Band 7 and CAE comparable?

After I did take the CAE exam and in fact was totally happy after having achieved Grade A, what I had never expected, I was pretty sure that there would not be any problem with the english requirements of the british universities. However although most universities accept the CAE my two favourite unis Warwick and SOAS do not do so, why I will have to take the IELTS exam soon. My question now is, whether achieving band 7 is comparable with the CAE and whether you think that it is necessary to really prepare for the test besides doing one or two mock exames as that was everyting I did for the CAE.

My second question would be whether or whether not it would be a disadvantage to first send my application through UCAS in September and than having taken the test in October or maybe later sending a copy of the exam certificate to the 5 universities per mail afterwards. In fact the admission officer of SOAS said that I could take the test at any time but that they would prefer to get if before christmas....so I am afraid of having a disadvantage if the IELTS score is missing when submitting the UCAS application why i think it might be better waiting till the end of october when I have everything ready to submit my application through UCAS.

Thanks for your answers

Reply 1

hunter0405

From my personal experience, if you can get an A in CAE, you can get 7 in IELTS. Not long ago, i did the FCE, which i got a C. Then I did the IELTS, which i narrowly missed 8 (i.e 7.5). It is good to get a bit of practice before attempting the IELTS since the format differs considerably

Reply 2

shi

I applied to SOAS as well. They require 7 overall and 7 in all sub scores. Unfortunately, I got 6.0 at writing, but 7.5 overall. They advised me to take another exam, for instance TOEFL. I did it and I got the required score. So probably it would be good for you to do the same. I found TOEFL a little bit easier. However, since you had A on CAE, I'm pretty sure, you'll get 7 on IELTS. Still, I advise you to look at some model answers for writing... it's not that easy.

Reply 3

La Trampa

if you got an A in CAE,then you'll be more than ok in the IELTS exam. i got an A in my CAE but still had to do the IELTS because my college at the time were doing it for everyone, i got 8.5 (narrowly missed the 9) without much effort. just practice and you'll be ok and give them what the question wants in the exam. :smile:

Reply 4

shi

January Victim,
are you a native speaker? Because it's almost impossible to get 8.5 overall! :smile:

Do you have any tip for writing? Apart from: practise :smile:

Reply 5

La Trampa

yeh i'm a native speaker but was made to do both exams. but still i got a 7.5 in my writing. but i have friends who aren't native speakers,got A/B's in their CAE and came out with at least a 7 in their IELTS.
i can't remember most of it (did it 2 years ago), but if they've asked you to compare something, give both pros and cons of each thing,say which one is better, give your own little small opinion and make possible suggestions of improvements.

Reply 6

username51312

Hi does anyone know which test student have to do “Academic” or “General Training”

Reply 7

hobnob

UAG

Hi does anyone know which test student have to do “Academic” or “General Training”

Academic. General Training is for people planning to emigrate to/work in the UK.

Reply 8

La Trampa

academic IELTS is the one to do. :smile:

Reply 9

username51312

It is good academic seem to be easier. Thanks.

Reply 10

La Trampa

academic is harder actually.

Reply 11

Kennychan222

I used to have IELTS in academic version twice last year..but I both got 6.0 in overall band. I intended to take IELTS in November again in order to get over 7.5 - 8.0...

Trust me....I would like to use English as much as possible...As if Goku attempts to transform to Super Saiyan 4 and he is success....I can't give up to boost my academic English skills

Reply 12

username51312

January Victim

academic is harder actually.

Why do you think so? For example today in writing part they asked us to discuss whether students should study in uni for free what can be easier :biggrin:

Reply 13

La Trampa

in general ielts they ask you to write stories. i think that's easier than debating whether uni should be free,trying to cram the to's and fro's of free/subsided/over subsided education into about 1500 words,don't you agree?