Introduction to Reading IELTS

In reading IELTS, you have to deal with three reading passages with some questions as a companion. These reading passages are given based on its level of difficulty. These passages show increasing difficulty.

For each reading passage, there will be about 500-900 words existed. You have total 60 minutes to answer all questions about those three passages. The passages might involve information in form of tables, diagrams, charts, etc. Therefore, you need to have enough practice to understand on how to read those forms. Don’t be afraid of a topic that is unfamiliar for you. You will not be accessed about the knowledge of any particular subjects. You will be access merely on your skill to answer questions which are based on the reading passages. You may give marks on the question paper, but you should write down the answers directly to the answer sheet. Different from listening section, this section does not give you extra time for copying your answers to the answer sheet.

In reading sections, you could find several types of questions as follows.

• Short answer
• Multiple choice
• Matching
• Classification
• Completing sentences
• Completing notes
• Completing a summary
• Completing a table
• Completing a form
• Completing a flow chart or diagram
• Selecting headings for paragraphs and sections
• Recognizing a writer’s views or claims

The same as listening section, you cannot predict which type of question you will have to answer. Reading IELTS might give you some combination of the listed types of questions to answer.

In this section your skills in the following aspects will be tested.

• Identifying the gist of a passage
• Finding detailed factual information in a passage
• Identifying relationships between ideas or information items such as cause and effects, order of events, and comparison
• Making inferences
• Distinguishing between fact, assumption, or opinion
• Understanding text organization
• Summarizing information

Source: IELTS to Success Preparation Tips and Practice Test by Eric van Bemmel and Janina Tucker (Melbourne: 1997)

Getting 9 in Listening IELTS: Is it possible?

The highest score in IELTS is 9. To achieve this score will not be so easy to do. But still, there is an opportunity for you to get it. There are some important things that you may not forget when you are dealing with this section.

IELTS Test Day Advices

You have to feel nervous on this day. If you don't, I guess you aren't really normal then :) So here we go. Nervousness will not ever ruin your IELTS score, as long as you can control it. Here are some advices that will make your test day a little bit - maybe much- better.

1. Breakfast. What?? You said you do not feel hungry even tough you haven't have your breakfast? Believe me that your nervousness has made you forget your stomach's sound. Make sure that you EAT YOUR BREAKFAST properly so you will have the strength you need to take almost-4-hours IELTS test. Remember that your test needs your focus and stamina so without eat a good food and drink, how could you do well on your test?

2. Arrive early, so you will have all the time you need. To prepare, and also to take a deep, long breath :) You should arrive early for your IELTS test in order to allow time for you to register and be seated for the test. Please refer to your booking confirmation for details. If you arrive late, you may not be allowed to take the test.

3. Bring your ID. It can be your passport or national ID according to identification that you provided in IELTS application form. If you do not have the correct identification document, you will not be able to take the test.

4. Bring stationery. Pens ? Pencils ? Eraser ? Take the stationery you need to stay comfort on test but not too much.

5. Check-in your personal items. No personal items to be taken into the test room. Test day staff will collect and safely store your personal belongings. Items which are forbidden from the test room include: mobile phones, hand-held computers, cameras, hats, scarves, wallets, books or notes.

6. Listen to test's supervisor carefully. If you have anything to ask, raise your hand.

7. If you have problems during your test, do not hesitate and raise your hand. Remember that your test's supervisor is there to support and assist you.

8. Stay calm. Everybody has their own way to keep calm, there are people that walking around and around to make themselves calm. Some may have to listen to the music for calming down. Do whatever make you calm, but do not disturb the others.

Reference: http://www.ieltsessentials.com 

Need an IELTS teacher? contact me 0813.1033.6583 / 0813.1818.6060 or see me here English Studio Indonesia

Guessing Strategy in IELTS

Unlike other standardized tests, in IELTS, there is no penalty given for getting a wrong answer. When you have no idea about the answer, you can keep trying to answer as it will give you 20 until 25% chance of getting right answer. So, guessing is a thing that could give positive contribution for you as well. However, it should be noted that guessing in IELTS may not be done carelessly. There should be some considerations that are taken to have a meaningful guessing. 

There are some specific guessing techniques that you can apply.

1. Slang

It is better for you to choose an answer which sounds scientific than slang ones. For example,

A. To evaluate the outcomes of the two different kinds of treatment.

B. Because some objects insisted on getting one or the other of the treatments.

As choice A sounds more scientific compared to B whenever you should guess, pick A as the answer.

2. Extreme statements

You should avoid choosing a controversial choice as your answer. Pick an answer which is calm and rational. For example,

A. Abortion should be banned completely.

B. Though it has a lot of benefit, many doctors have suggested their patients not to take abortion as a merely way out for the unwanted pregnancy.

Choice B is better to take than A because it is less controversial. There is another consideration stated in this option as well.

3. Similar answer choices

When you find two answers which are almost the same, there is a big tendency that one of those answers is the right one. For example,

A. Use polyunsaturated cooking oil instead of other cooking oil.

B. Use polyunsaturated cooking oil is not even better than other cooking oil.

These two choices are almost the same, so there is a big opportunity that one of it is the correct answer.

4. Hedging

If you are dealing with a question about the conclusion, you can look for critical ‘hedge’ phrases such as likely, may, can, will, often, generally, mostly sometimes, etc. You could pick the answer which uses one of the above phrases. It will be better for you to avoid answer with phrases such as exactly, and always.

Still, you need to remember that being sure for the answer is always better than putting your selves in a “grey area” by guessing for the answer. But if you really need to guess, then guess in a smart way of guessing.

What Lies Beyond the First Part of Speaking IELTS

The first part of speaking test is about introduction and interview. Introduction here means that examiner introduces his or herself to the test taker. Then, he or she asks about test taker’s full name and other general data of the test taker. Test taker needs to answer some basic questions about his or herself.

Face to Face with Writing IELTS

There are two tasks that test taker can find in writing test. In the first task, test taker has to write for about 150 words; meanwhile it takes about 250 words in the second task. So, what is the difference?

In the first task, test taker has to show his or her ability in describing some visual information. It can be in the form of graph, table, chart, or diagram. The time given to complete this task is 20 minutes.

A Big NO in Writing IELTS

In writing IELTS, there are some ‘other’ things that must be considered by the test taker. Test taker has to realize that those some small things has a great possibility in reducing IELTS score itself. Therefore, it is better for test taker to avoid things as follows.

The Importance of Text Analyzis in Reading IELTS

One form of questions in reading IELTS is multiple choice. The kinds of questions that are given can be various as well. Purpose of the text can also be the question in this part. Have a look at the following example: 

Question 1

Choose the appropriate letter (A-D) and write it in box 1 on your answer sheet.

Sharpen your skills on IELTS listening test | Part 2

This article is part of the “Sharpen your skills on IELTS listening test” series. In the previous series we have talked about teach yourself the words, instruction, and divide and concur. In this series we will talk about distraction, listen for specific, answer as you listen, and keep moving forward.

4.     Distractions. Some points you need to know is that: 

The audio selection uses several different voices and accents. 

The background noise also varies, start from airport, café shop, street, university, lecture hall.. you name it.   

Don't get confused by all the different voices you are going to hear. Ignore the noises and listen for the answers.

5.     Listen for specific things. The specific things we mean here are descriptions and details (dates, places, phone numbers, opening hours, years, transportation). When you are listening, look for them. If you hear them, but do not know where to place them yet – write them on anywhere on your paper. Later you will have some time to check your answers. Going over the questions that you could not answer during the Listening passage, you might see that what you have written about details and descriptions fits to be the answer.

6.     Answer as you listen ! Why? People tend to immediately forget the sentences after they have heard them due to constant flow of information. The best option is to answer as you listen. After hearing the last sentence, you will not have a chance to hear the first question. It means that when any part of Listening is over – you won‘t be able to remember any of the answers. So write them as you hear them, leave nothing for later.

7.     Keep moving forward ! If you miss one answer, you tend to miss the other answer as the audio listening is still playing. This “losing the sequence of answers” scenario can happen if you could not control your focus during listening test due to nervousness, stress, and other problems. Here are some tips to prevent it to happen:  

Always look one or two questions ahead. It may be hard, but with regular practice, it will be natural for you and can help a lot.  

If you miss one answer, admit it and keep moving forward.

Reference: Ace the IELTS (Simon Braverman)


- Read Sharpen your skills on IELTS listening test | Part 1 Here

How Popular IELTS Test Is

It cannot be denied that IELTS is one of the most popular English assessment test. Even TOEFL uses similar 4 section in its new test model, the TOEFL-iBT  that is also considering 4 important skills in English.