IELTS Reading: Improving Reading Score | Part 1

When we talk about IELTS, it will be also about reading section. This section gives you a big opportunity to increase your overall band score as long as you can manage everything properly. One form of managements itself can be translated as using skimming and scanning techniques. If you have got the basic ideas of these two techniques pretty well, you can ask whether you have got the idea to improve your skimming and scanning ability or not.

Important Things in Listening IELTS Part 2

In the previous article, we discussed some important things that should be paid attention on listening IELTS such as main ideas, voice changes, and specific information. Now, we will discuss more about other important things such as interpretation toward the recording, hidden meaning of the sentences and memory enhancers.

Having a Smarter Practice of IELTS

Being closer to the test day, you might feel more worried on your test. Some of you might also take the chance to postpone the test itself. Well, IELTS does not only test on your academic skills in English but also your mentality towards the test. You might feel some series of fears starting from fear of the questions, the time, and also the strategy. This test stresses on test taker’s ability to cope these fears. A successful test taker will be able to manage his or her mentality in order to perform his or her best on the day of the test.

Important Things in Listening IELTS Part 1

In listening section, you will face 40 questions which are divided into four sections. The first and second section is about social needs. In the first section, you will listen to conversation between two speakers while in the second section you will hear speech by a speaker. The next two sessions will be about educational or training. It covers conversation between up to four speakers and speech by a speaker.

In order to answer forty questions in IELTS well, there are some things that you need to highlight. The first is main idea. Frequently, important words and main idea are ones that are come up again and again in the recording. You need to listen carefully then try to catch the main idea to get the big picture on the topic that is discussed in the recording. For example in a conversation about drama musical performance, the term of ‘drama musical performance’ will be mentioned several times.

The second thing is about voice changes. In this test, you should be able to recognize and interpret nuances of speech. Understanding the nuances means that you get a supportive idea on the thing which is mainly discussed in the listening. There will be some clues that you will get when you are able to analyze the intonation and pitch used in the recording. For example, when you hear someone who speaks in a normal monotone voice suddenly raises her voice in a high pitch, it means that there is something critical which is being stated. For example,

• Man: Let’s go to Riska house to see her condition.
• Woman: Is something bad happened to her?

The third thing that you should pay attention on is specific pieces of information. In IELTS, adjective is commonly asked. So, you can try to memorize main adjective mentioned in the recording. The adjective can be in form of number, color, or size. For example,

• Man: I am starving. Let’s buy some cakes in supermarket.
• Woman: I don’t have any money.
• Man: Don’t worry I am going to let you pick five cakes that you like and pay for it.

The question that follows this recording might ask about the number of cakes that the man gives to the woman.

Reference: IELTS Secrets, copyright 2002 by MO Media

A Good IELTS Essay

How test taker knows that he or she has written a good IELTS essay is a common come up-question after test taker finishes his or her essay. In order to anticipate this, test taker has to master the points that are used to score the essay.

The first point is “task response”. What is meant by task response here is the ability of test taker’s essay to show his or her understanding about the topic. It covers all aspects of the topic. The example is “Homework: helping students to study regularly or merely giving more burdens for students?” In this topic for example, test taker who explains about homework’s role in helping students to study regularly looses his or her score. Another test taker who explains only the point of view of homework in giving students’ additional burden losses his or her score as well. On the contrary, test taker who explains both sides, gains a score.

The next point is “coherence and cohesion”. In order to make a coherence and cohesive essay, test taker has to be able to relate paragraphs and sentences in the paragraphs itself. Whenever test taker needs to explain a discussion essay that requires two points of view about a topic, he or she should put the right connective to avoid the effect of jumping paragraph. The choice of some words such as “on the other hand, on the contrary, in spite of, and some other contradictory connectives” is a must item to use to begin a new paragraph. The same case must be applied in the sentences in the paragraph. Every sentence in a paragraph should lead to the next sentence so that all sentences are logic.

The third point is “lexical resource”. Lexical resource is vocabulary and different types of sentences, simple and complex. It is expected that test taker is able to use words and know their synonyms.

The last point is “grammatical range and accuracy”. This point covers spelling and grammar of sentences. Test taker has to keep constant in using the right spelling, punctuation, articles, part of speech, and other things related to grammar.

It should be remembered as well that these four points have the same weigh in the essay score. Therefore, none of these points is less important compared to others.

References: http://www.ielts-blog.com/ielts-preparation-tips/writing-tips/ielts-writing-2-task-explained/, http://ielts-simon.com/ielts-help-and-english-pr/ielts-writing-task-2/.

Easy to Apply Strategies for Getting Higher Writing Score in IELTS!

The key point of getting high score in writing IELTS is having more practices. Test taker may not forget to use time limitation for creating a test-like situation. It is okay if test taker gives more practices on one of the tasks which is more difficult for the test taker. However, it is important for the test taker to have both kinds of writing before taking the real test. Remember that practice makes perfect!

Reading IELTS: Is it True, False, or Not Given?

Another form of True/ False/ Not Given is Yes/ No/ Not Given. The difference is on the basic of these options. True/ False/ Not Given is based on fact. Meanwhile, Yes/ No/ Not Given is based on opinion.

In this kind of question, test taker has to pay attention on how to interpret the passage and the question. Usually, test taker finds it difficult to differentiate the use of ‘not given’ and ‘false’.

5 Common Myths in IELTS

There are much false information given about IELTS, or we simply called it myths. Here are some of them.

Artikel IELTS Kampung Inggris Pare: Discursive Writing

From Kampung Inggris Pare...

When dealing with the IELTS writing, I use the type of Discursive Writing, etymologically: "back and forth", to deal with. Here is the Importance of Discursive Writing:
· research and learn more about issues or subjects
· learn more about the different views that other people have on these issues and subjects
· learn why people hold the views and opinions they do
· discover our own view on these issues and subjects
· learn to distinguish between valid and false arguments
· learn to express our own views in a reasoned and reasonable way
· learn how to construct an argument that is well argued and which draws on appropriate and relevant evidence.


Although those bullets have covered organizations in your IELTS writing, there is more likely to take a closer look.
Good luck :)

IELTS is the Key to Unlock the World

IELTS, International English Language Testing System, consists of four modules: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing and takes two hours and 45 minutes to complete. Here are IELTS details:

Fourth Strategy in Reading IELTS: Eliminate Choices and Look at the Opposites

The way to apply eliminating choice in IELTS is not so complicated. First, you need to have a look at the choices then eliminate it quickly. For example, in one of the choice, it is stated “Ary Prihayati studied there”. Make sure that you check whether Ary Prihayati is mentioned in the passage or not. If not, quickly eliminate it.

Third Strategy in Reading IELTS: Contextual Clues

What is contextual clue? Context clues are words or phrases in sentences that can help you to find the meaning of an unfamiliar word. More than likely, you can figure out the meaning of new or unfamiliar vocabulary by looking at the surrounding language.

Second Strategy in Reading IELTS: Paragraph Focus

The second strategy that you can apply in reading section is having “paragraph focus”. What is meant by paragraph focus here is that you are expected to get the right paragraph to get the answer. You will be able to save your time if you jump straight to the paragraph. So, what you need to do are as follow.

First Strategy in Reading IELTS: The Application of “Skimming”

In reading IELTS, you deal with 40 questions which follow three different passages, with a total of 2,000 until 2,750 words. To answer those questions, we can use ‘skimming’ appropriately. So, what should we do to use it appropriately?

What We Should Know about Reading IELTS

Reading is the second skill tested in IELTS series of test. After finishing listening section, test taker gets 60 minutes to finish three sections in reading IELTS with 13 until 14 questions for each section. A total question in this section is 40. The detail time arrangement for reading IELTS is:

• 17 minutes on section
• 20 minutes on section 
• 23 minutes in section 

In IELTS, test taker has to realize that he or she is going to deal with a three long passages. The passages are taken from academic sources. These passages can be categorized as an advanced text.  These three passages will be given started from the easiest until the most difficult one.

Passages in IELTS reading section are followed by some different kinds of question. There are 11 types of question that test taker meets in completing this section. The lists are:

1. Multiple choice
2. Multiple matching
3. Short-answer
4. Sentence completion
5. Tables, diagrams, flow charts
6. Summary completion
7. Paragraph headings
8. Locating information
9. Identifying writer’s views or claims
10. Classification
11. Matching

As test taker can see, there are many kinds of questions that test taker should deal with. Therefore, test taker needs to try each type of question to find out the most difficult type for him or her. Focus exercise on the most difficult type of question will contribute a lot in improving reading IELTS score.

Test taker can also apply another strategy in finishing this section by giving mark on the difficult question, moving from that question then coming back later when he or she has completed all questions. Test taker also needs to prepare some time for correcting his or her works.

In saving more time in doing this section, test taker should do three reading techniques, which should be matched with kind of question test taker are dealing with. The techniques are:

• Skimming
• Scanning
• Reading for detail

Besides applying the techniques above, test taker could also do some other efforts such as adding his or her bank of vocabulary by reading newspaper, books, and magazines. Test taker could improve his or her skill and speed in reading as well by taking more reading resources, especially from authentic materials.

Ref. http://www.aippg.com/ielts/reading-tips-ielts.html, http://www.examenglish.com/IELTS/cbIELTS_reading.htm, http://www.goodluckielts.com/2-1-1-IELTS_reading_overview.html

Grab the Skills in Listening IELTS

In IELTS, recording in listening section will only be played once. Therefore, you must apply some strategies to nail it. First, it is important for you to understand well main skills of this section.

Those main skills are:

IELTS Writing Task 1: Understand the Importance of Vocabulary

One of the most important points in execution of IELTS writing task 1 is to mastery so many vocabularies. There are some aspects which include in scope like correct spelling, words duplication, and vocabulary utilizing in the broad sense. A reliable resource said that the participants of IELTS prohibited to do vocabulary writing excessive for maximizing the score. The structure of grammar and vocabulary will determine the score. There some types of vocabulary test that will be explained below:

1. IELTS Vocabulary for Conditional Purpose
In this section, you’ll find some sentences that show a requirement to do something. Usually, the writing of these sentences use “if” as the marker of a condition.
Examples:

• You can borrow my book if you return it before you go home.

If can be replaced by providing that. From the sentence above we can see that the first person want to do something for the second one if the second person do something wanted by the first one.

• You can’t go abroad if you don’t have any passport.

We can replace the word under the red circle with unless. In this sentence, the person can’t do something because he or she doesn’t fulfill something required.
The word “if” can also be replaced by another words or phrases like no matter how, as long as, on condition that, however many, and wherever which all of these, have the different condition.              

2. IELTS Vocabulary for Changes
In addition of explaining a condition, a word may has more than one meaning at the different context of sentences. Let’s take a look for some examples below:

• We need some batteries to adapt this flashlight. adapt means recharge
• The Palestine societies have to adapt the politic condition of their country. adapt means conform or fit in.

3. IELTS Vocabulary for How Something Works
We can explain the use of an object with a phrase or vocabulary. For example, there are some steps of making tea with no hot water available:

• Fill the kettle with water.
• Heat up the water on the stove.
• While waiting for boiling water, prepare a glass fill with tea and some sugar.
• After the boiling water is ready, lift the kettle from the stove.
• Pour some boiling water to the glass prepared.

4. IELTS Vocabulary for Writing Letter
There are some phrases that commonly used in writing a letter like the example below:

• Dear Sir/ Madam explain greetings to somebody who sent the letter.
• I would like to….. explain the intention of letter.
• As you requested, I enclose…… explain eligibility which has been asked before.
• I look forward to hearing from you soon explain a response to wait a reply of letter.
• Thank you for your attention saying thanks to mail receiver.                                                            

5. IELTS Vocabulary for Presenting an Argument
For example, there are some sentences that being randomized. These sentences explain about somebody who is confusing to choose whether going to university or spending a year travelling around the world after school. Arrange these paragraphs to understand the arguments.

1. Not only getting a job immediately, but also getting a good job with a good salary. (4)
2. After that, if I have spare time, maybe I can follow a trip around the world. (5)
3. I have to decide should I go to university or spend a year travelling around the world? (1)
4. But, there are many advances of going to university. (2)
5. Because I will get my qualifications immediately and I can find a job early. (3)

• I have to decide should I go to university or spend a year travelling around the world?
• But, there are many advances of going to university.
• Because I will get my qualifications immediately and I can find a job early.
• Not only getting a job immediately, but also getting a good job with a good salary.
• After that, if I have spare time, maybe I can follow a trip around the world.

I hope this article can help you to learn about IELTS writing task 1 especially for understanding the use of vocabulary. Good luck.

Sumber: www.ielts-exam.net
http://www.world-english.org/ielts_writing.pdf

IELTS Writing Task 1: Explaining a Diagram Process

Usually a diagram explains the performance of an object. To catch up the meaning of a diagram, we should be focus to understand all of it components. There are some common step which is used to view diagram model like finding the primary part of it, relationship between its components, then command of a step that shown in diagram, and terminated by some buttons that might help you to understand the meaning of the process. For example, we have a base operation diagram of hydraulic lift as reported on: 

http://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/IELTS%20writing%20lesson%20plan%205.pdf.

Illustration:





1.     Lift carriage (F)              
2.     Control button (A)                    
3.     Piston (G)                                   
4.     Electric wires (C)                       
5.     Hydraulic fluid (B)
6.     Piston housing (I)
7.     Pump (H)
8.     Valve (E)
9.     Fluid tank (D)

We can finish this task by the solution below:

In outline, the diagram illustrates the performance of a hydraulic lift. The system also consists of some parts like the lift carriage where the passengers stand on it, a piston that cause rise and fall the load and a pipes track that carry hydraulic fluid.

The passenger could raise or lowering the lift by pressing the “up” control button that causes fluid movement from the tank into the bottom of the fluid tank. We will see that the piston get pressed up. When the fluid fills up the piston, its position will be rise. The lift carriage that related to the top of piston will be forced up to. As we can see at the diagram, the flow of hydraulic fluid represent by the blue arrows. The process when the passengers want to get down almost the same with the previous case. The differences are located on the control button that should be pressed, followed by process flow of fluid and the piston. An electric signal is sent so the pump will be switch off when the “down” control button pressed. Simultaneously, a signal also sent to a valve in front of the pump to cut the fluid’s flow from the piston back to the fluid tank. The reversing flow shown in the diagram represent by the red arrows. The piston and lift would be brought back down caused by the gravity. 

From the discussion above we can see that there are three main parts of describing a process like:

• Process
• In this part we have to describe the performance of an object. We need to watch this stage carefully.
• Object
• We should describe something or someone that related to the diagram.
• Data
• We should describe the changes and trends of the data.

These are tips and tricks about IELTS Writing Task 1: Explaining a Diagram Process, good luck.

IELTS Writing Task 1 How To Answering a Question Containing Graph or Diagram?

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) has a purpose to examine somebody’s ability in studying or working with English as the part of those things. IELTS is held under the command of a group that consist of University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL), British Council and IDP, and IELTS Australia. IELTS has a highest international standard of language assessment. There are some steps that had to be followed by the participants of  IELTS, for example IELTS Writing Task I.

IELTS Writing Task 2: General Writing Hints

Writing in English follows some basic principles:

• The basic pattern of an English sentence is: Subject/Verb/Object.
• The connecting and reference words generally come at the beginning of sentences and/or clauses: words like moreover/he/they/such/this/these/another measure is, etc.