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IELTS Preparation Test Format:

(Everything you need to know for IELTS)

Listening Test Format:

Takes around 30 minutes There are 40 questions The first two sections are concerned with social needs The final two sections are concerned with situations related more closely to educational or

training contexts

The text is recorded on a tape and is heard once only.Some Hints:

1. Read instructions carefully, dontjust glance at them. They are not always the same as inpractise or previous tests.

2. Often the speaker will give you an answer and then correct themselves-watch out for this. Itsa common trick.

3. Try and anticipate what the speaker will say. This requires concentration-easy in your ownlanguage, but more difficult in English.

4. Remember if you want a high score you should aim to get all questions in parts one and twocorrect. Dont make any careless mistakes in the easier sections.

5. Although there are not that many IELTS books on the market other Cambridge exampreparation materials can provide valuable practise such as FCE and CAE preparation books.

6. Small errors can lead to low score such as spelling, omittings or incomplete times.7. Dont panic if you thinkthe topic is too difficult or the speaker is too fast. Relax and tune in.8. Read, write and listen at the same time. Tricky but practise!!9. Dont leave blanks, you might as well guess you wont be penalised.

Reading Test Format:

Takes 60 minutes There are 40 questions There are three sections of increasing difficulty with a total of 2,000 to 2,750 words Texts are taken from magazines, journals, books and newspapers

Some Hints:

1. Leave a question if you cant answer. To spend a long time on one answer is disastrous. Goback later if you have time and guess if you have too.

2. Dont panic if you dont know anything about the passage. All the answers are in the passageand you dont need any specialist knowledge.

3. Remember you have no extra time to transfer your answers, many candidates think becausethey have extra time in listening they are able to do this in reading too. You cant.

4. Before the exam read as widely as possible e.g. Newspapers, magazines, journals. Dont limityourself to one type of text and read articles with an academic style where possible.

5. Look at ways paragraphs are organised.6. Try and predict content of paragraph from the opening sentence.7. Give a paragraph you read an imaginary heading.

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8. Dont concentrate on words you dont know. It is fatal and wastes valuable time.9. Careless mistakes cost many marks. Copy the answer correctly if it is in the passage.10.Check spelling.11.Only give one answer if that is all thats needed.12.Be careful with singular/plural.

Writing Test Format:

Takes 60 minutes Task one requires at least 150 words and should take about 20 minutes. Task two requires at least 250 words and should take about 40 minutes.

Some Hints:

1. Highlight/circle key words.2. Clearly divide paragraphs.3. Dont repeat ideas in a different way.4. Stick to the topic.5. Careful with timing-dont rush Task 2, its longer and carries more weight.6. Paragraph simply with one idea in each paragraph.7. Avoid informal language.8. Learn to recognise how long 150 words is in your handwriting. You dont really have time to

count.

9. Get used to always spending several minutes re-reading and correcting your essays.10.Dont memorise model answers, they wont fit the question and you will make more careless

mistakes.

Speaking Test Format:

Takes 12 to 15 minutes Part one focuses on the exchange of everyday information Part two requires that candidates give a small speech Part three is a discussion of global issues

Some Hints:

1. It tests your ability to communicate effectively not just your grammatical accuracy.2. Dont learn chunks of answers. The examiner is trained to spot this and will change the

question.3. Develop your answers as much as possible.4. Speak more than the examiner.5. Ask for clarification if necessary.6. Remember it is not a test of knowledge and there is no single answer, but ensure that you give

your opinion. Dont worry if you feel it is not sophisticated enough.7. The areas covered are fairly predictable and not infinite so practise at home recording ideas

onto a tape recorder.