Introduction to the IELTS course

Rick Zepeda

Objectives of courseImproving language skills and subskills Getting students familiar with the structure

of the examSignificantly aiding in an increase of points

on the IELTS examFocusing on weak areas and improving them

before the exam

What is the Purpose of the IELTS Exam?IELTS number one English language test2 million people international exam used by a selection of committees of governments,

universities and multinational companies.four language skills: reading, writing, speaking and

listening. It is accepted by most Australian, British, Canadian,

Irish, New Zealand and South African universities, over 3,000 academic institutions in the United States accept the IELTS including all Ivy League schools.

 

Why study the IELTS?to study abroad to meet English language entry requirements

for university or visa processing will need to take IELTS.

to open doors to international education and employment all over the globe.

candidates with high scores are particularly sought after by universities and employers in English-speaking countries.

WHAT TYPES OF IELTS CAN I CHOOSE FROM?Academic: if you intend to study at

undergraduate or postgraduate degree level General Training: if you plan to go to English

speaking countries to complete your secondary education, to undertake work experience or training programs, or for immigration purposes to Australia, New Zealand, Canada or the UK

How is the IELTS graded?A nine band systemMost universities require a band between 6-

8.

Bands 9 Expert User. Has full operational command of the language: appropriate,

accurate and fluent with complete understanding. 8 Very Good User. Has full operational command of the language with only

occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well.

7 Good User. Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriateness and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning.

6 Competent User. Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.

5 Modest user. Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own information provided at all.

Where will I take the exam?The exam will be taken in International

House. A date will be organized through your school.

What is the exam structure?ListeningReadingWritingSpeaking

Listening Listening 30 minutes

You will listen to four recorded texts, monologues and conversations by a range of native speakers, and write your answers to a series of questions.

These include questions which test your ability to understand main ideas and detailed factual information, ability to understand the opinions and attitudes of speakers, ability to understand the purpose of an utterance and the ablity to follow the development of ideas.

A variety of voices and native-speaker accents are used and each section is heard only once.

Section 1A conversation between two people set in an everyday social context.

Section 2A monologue set in an everyday social context e.g. a speech about local facilities.

Section 3

A conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context, e.g. a university tutor and a student discussing an assignment.

Section 4A monologue on an academic subject e.g. a university lecture

Reading Reading 60 minutes

The Reading section consists of 40 questions. A variety of question types is used in order to test a broad range of reading skills. IELTS AcademicThe Academic version includes three long texts which range from the descriptive and factual to the discursive and analytical. The texts are authentic. These have been selected for a non-specialist audience but are appropriate for candidates entering university courses or seeking professional registration.

IELTS General Training

The General Training version requires candidates to read extracts from books, magazines, newspapers, notices, advertisements, company handbooks and guidelines. These are materials you are likely to encounter on a daily basis in an English speaking environment.

Academic Writing Writing

60 minutes

IELTS Academic The Writing component of IELTS Academic includes two tasks. Topics are of

general interest to, and suitable for candidates entering undergraduate and postgraduate studies or seeking professional registration.

Task 1You will be presented with a graph, table, chart or diagram and asked to describe, summarize or explain the information in your own words. You may be asked to describe and explain data, describe the stages of a process, how something works or describe an object or event.

Task 2You will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. Responses to both tasks must be in a formal style.

General WritingIELTS General TrainingThe Writing component of IELTS General Training

includes two tasks which are based on topics of general interest.

Task 1You will be presented with a situation and asked to

write a letter requesting information, or explaining the situation. The letter may be personal, semi-formal or formal in style.

Task 2You will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem.

Speaking Speaking 11 to 14 minutes

The Speaking component assesses your use of spoken English, and takes between 11 and 14 minutes to complete. Every test is recorded. You will be speaking to a real person.

Part 1You will answer general questions about yourself and a range of familiar topics. This part lasts between four and five minutes.

Part 2You will be given a card which asks you to talk about a particular topic. You will have one minute to prepare before speaking for up to two minutes. The examiner will then ask one or two questions on the same topic to finish this part of the test.

Part 3 You will be asked further questions connected to the topic in Part 2. These

questions will give you the opportunity to discuss more abstract ideas and issue. The part of the test lasts between four and five minutes.

How long is the testing session?The testing session is about 2 hours and 45

minutes.

May I take notes?Yes, and you should take notes. These notes

will be taken from you after the exam.

How often can I take the IELTS?You can take the test as many times as you

would like.

For how long is the IELTS valid?It is valid for two years

What happens if I cheat on the exam?Do not cheat. Cheating on the IELTS is very

serious. If caught your exam will be canceled and you may be liable for prosecution.

If I am proficient in English do I need to take this course?Yes, learning strategies on how to take this

course can make a huge difference in the results.

Which part do I take first?

You do the Listening test first followed by the Reading and Writing sections of the test. The Speaking test may be taken up to 7 days either before or after the test date.

Study HabitsAccept responsibilityGet organizedSet realistic goalsEstablish prioritiesManage timeStay motivatedChoose to be positive

Required Material IELTS preparation bookNotebook

Grading Criteria25% Classwork15% Participation10% Quizes50% Exam

Class workStudents are expected to take their work

seriously and produce everyday. Students will be given a grade for the work they do in class.

If you do not have your material in class points will be deducted off your grade. As this is a workshop very little homework will be given. So doing work in class is a must.

Participation

In this class participation will be vital, not only for your own success but also for that of the group. Your participation grade will include class discussions, student-teacher conferences, class activities and in-class group work. All students should be prepared and willing to participate in class. Being prepared includes having the necessary material in class.

Explanation of Class Participation 

Every few weeks you will be asked to self-evaluate your class participation. While completing the rubric, please take into consideration the following points

YOU MAY POSITIVELY AFFECT YOUR PARTICIPATION GRADE BY:1. Becoming more active and/or making more

effective comments that raise overall level of discussion and set examples for others.

2. Asking thoughtful questions that will enhance discussion and engage peers.

3. Listening carefully to, supporting, and engaging your peers in discussion. This will essentially improve others’ learning experience.

YOU MAY NEGATIVELY AFFECT YOUR PARTICIPATION GRADE BY:1. Not attending class regularly, even though you meet

attendance requirements. Even though you may have submitted assigned work, your contribution will not have added to class discussion.

2. Dominating class discussions, thereby restricting others’ participation.

3. Disrupting others’ opportunity to listen and/or participate.4. Making negative, offensive, and/or disrespectful comments

during discussions.5. Using electronic devices such as but not limited to a cell

phone, iPod, or computer for personal or other coursework reasons during class unless instructed to do so. Each violation reduces the final course grade by .2 of a point. There are no exceptions.

QuizzesIn the course you will periodically be given

quizzes on subject matter related to the IELTS. Most quizzes will be given on Aula. Students who miss the quiz will not be able to make them up.