IELTS: Overview, Tips and Strategies

TESOL New Orleans 2011

March 18, 2011
Ozgur Pala
David Bartsch
Intended audience
New to IELTS
General information


Overview
General information about IELTS
General information for each test section
Tips and strategies



So many tips!
Moving quickly
Write down what you can
Available at www.slideshare.net/bartsch
So many tips!
Mr. Osborne, may I
be excused? My brain
is full.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_naHgYc2uwFc/S_AxvAnd7fI/AAAAAAABSNw/JAcQVf5qggk/farside-cartoon.jpg
GENERAL INFORMATION
IELTS
IELTS (International English Language Testing
System) tests English proficiency across the
globe
Managed by British Council, IDP: IELTS
Australia and the University of Cambridge
ESOL Examinations

IELTS
IELTS tests all four language skills listening,
reading, writing and speaking
Two versions: Academic and General
IELTS

Academic Test General Test
For academic purposes
such as entry into
universities
For visa purposes or for
entry into overseas high
schools
Writing and reading
sections are simplified
Why Take IELTS
Reliable 9-band scoring system
Predictively valid
Consistent test administration
Quality-controlled system of examiners
Recruitment, training, benchmarking, certification
and monitoring
Why Take IELTS
Accessible
More than 800 test centers world-wide
51 cities in the US
Recognized
More than 6000 institutions and programs
3000 in the US




Why Take IELTS
Free IELTS Test Report Form Verification
Service
For some, preferable to TOEFL iBT
No typing
No integration tasks
Face-to-face speaking tasks



Details
Exams offered at each testing center roughly 4
times a month
Again: check for academic vs. general
Roughly US$180-200
Results recommended as valid for two years
Procedure
Register online at www.ielts.org
Register early
Pay the fee
Bring passport-sized photo (without glasses)
Procedure
Bring a photocopy of passport picture page
Copy of national identity card is okay
Test results are announced in about 2 weeks
Individual centers: picked up in-person or sent via
mail
No results over the phone or by fax or email.
Scores
There is no pass or fail in IELTS.
The score needed depends on requirements of
the accepting institution
Scores from 1 to 9 for each test area
Scores listed as whole or half bands
6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0

Scores
Band 9: Expert user
Band 5: Modest user
Band 3: Extremely limited user
Band 1: Non-user
Testing order
Listening
Reading
Writing
Speaking
Note: might be on a different day
No magic bullets
Good English + good test-taking skills =
success
No secret recipes
No magic bullets
Ive gotten
over my fear of
tests, but now I
seem to have
developed
studying
anxiety.
No magic bullets
Practiceand practice well
Exam can be taken multiple times
General test tips and strategies
Every test
Every time
General test tips and strategies
Read the directions carefully
Skim/scan
Only give required number of answers
Spell answers correctly, particularly when
already given in the question or passage
Use exact wording from passage
General test tips and strategies
Questions appear in passage order
Answers from life experience vs. answers from
the passage
Underline key words in Qs
Use prediction skills
Numbers, amounts, parts of speech, etc.

General test tips and strategies
Focus on IELTS-specific information
Common topics throughout the test
There are always texts related to these topics
on IELTS exams
Check the topics on the official IELTS website
or your preparation book
Some of these topics are:
Technology
Consumerism
Health
Natural world


SECTION INFORMATION: LISTENING
Listening overview
Sections

Content/Duration

Number
of Qs
4 sections 30 minutes for the test
10 minutes for transferring
answers
40 Qs
Section 1 A conversation between two
speakers in a social or semi-
social context /10 minutes
10 Qs
Section 2 A talk by a single speaker based
on a non-academic situation /10
minutes
10 Qs
Listening overview
Sections

Content/Duration

Number
of Qs
Section 3 A conversation with up to four
speakers based on academic
topics or course-related
situations /10 minutes
10 Qs
Section 4 A university-style lecture or talk
/10 minutes
10 Qs
Listening overview
Section Skills Question Types


1
Orienting yourself to
the text
Form filling,
note-completion

Listening for specific
information
Table completion,
sentence completion


2
Identifying detail Labeling a diagram,
multiple choice
Following a
description on a map,
diagram, plan
Labeling a map or plan,
summary completion
Listening overview
Section Skills Question Types

3
Identifying main
ideas
Short-answer
questions,
multiple choice
questions,
matching

4
Following signposts Completing a flowchart
Following a talk Note-completion
Tips for Listening Test
I find the easiest
way to expand my
vocabulary is to
make up words.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iVF377b8kY0/S741gQW0fhI/AAAAAAAAEDs/KwLtXDhBpyw/s1600/7697_english_cartoon.gif
Tips for Listening Test
Important: spelling is assessed, even in the
Listening exam!

Tips for Listening Exam
http://myexpatgermany.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/foreign-language-school-cartoon2-300x297.jpg
Both British and American variants are accepted.

Tips for Listening Test
Tip: transfer answers carefully
10-minutes allotted

Tips for Listening Test
No opportunity to re-listen
Tip: take notes
Only around 30 seconds pre-listening time
Tip: use time wiselyread next question; dont
transfer answers
Tip: use required number of words
Complete the sentences below.
Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

Hotel Novena Guest Registration form
Example

Name of guest:

Room:

Wake-up call at:

Type of breakfast:

Payment by:
Answer

Matthews

1 ..

2 ..

3

4 ..
Section 4: different
No assigned time for reading questions in
section 4 during the recording
Tip: read through all the questions first
Tip: test answers follow Q order

Q types
Important: significantly different than TOEFL
Tip: be familiar with Q types
Question types: labeling a map or plan
Label the plan.

Write the correct letter A-H next
to the questions 1-4.

1 Car Park ..

2 Domestic Terminal

3 Lifts

4 Regional Terminal .

Question types: labeling a diagram
Mixed question types: fill in the
blanks
The Study of Child Language Acquisition
Fascinating because people have an 1 . in
childrens learning

2 .

because it leads to greater understanding of
language

3 . because of the differences encountered

Mixed question types: fill in the
flowchart blanks
Complete the flowchart below

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each of answer.
Discussion of includes the use of diaries, recordings, tests




Children become aware that they can speak



Linguistic analysis become possible

4 .
Speech in children 6 . years
Speech in infants 5 .. of life
Mixed question types: complete
the table
Complete the table below.
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each of
answer.

Animal Brought by Reason
1 Settlers For food
Fox Settlers 2
Cane toad 3 To kill beetles
Mixed question types: complete
the flowchart
Beetle lay eggs
Eggs become grubs
Grubs eat the 4 ..
Sugar cane 5 ..
Mixed question types: multiple
choice
Choose the correct letter A, B, or C.

6. The cane toad originated in

A Central America
B Hawaii
C Australia


8. The farmers plan failed because

A There were too many beetles
B Their own research was faulty
C they believed the reports they read
7. In Australia, the toads

A grew extremely large
B multiplied in number
C ate the cane beetles

9. The sugar cane industry

A thrives today
B has died out in some areas
C survives alongside the beetle
SECTION INFORMATION: READING
Reading overview
Passages

Content/Duration

Number of Qs

3 Academic passages /
60 minutes
40 Qs in total
Passage 1 More descriptive
passage
13 to 14 Qs for
each passage

Passage 2 More discursive and
argumentative
13 to 14 Qs for
each passage

Reading overview
Passages

Content/Duration

Number of Qs

Passage 3 More discursive and
argumentative
13 to 14 Qs for
each passage
Reading overview
Skills Question Types
Using titles and
subheadings
Using paragraphs and
main ideas
Finding information in
paragraphs
Choosing headings for
paragraphs
Skimming
Scanning
Following referencing
Short-answer questions
Completing a flowchart,
diagram, table
Reading overview
Skills Question Types
Understanding paragraph
structure
Extracting key information
Multiple choice,
True / False / Not Given
Note Completion
Paraphrasing the main
ideas
Getting gap-fill answers
right
Choosing headings for
paragraphs
Sentence completion
Understanding summaries Summary completion (with
a box)

Reading overview
Skills Question Types
Recognizing arguments /
views in texts
Choosing from a list
Classification
Matching
Interacting with /
analyzing passage
Matching sentence endings
Yes / No / Not given
Reading
A difficult question carries the same number
of points as an easy question
Tip: answer the easy questions first
Guessing
When can I
stop making
wild guesses
and start
making
educated
guesses?
http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/jha/lowres/jhan289l.jpg
Reading
No penalty for guessing
Tip: answer every question
Reading
Note: no extra time to transfer answers
No specialist knowledge required
Copy passage answers correctly: spelling!
Tip: beware of singular/plural
No title or subheading?
A question may test understanding of the
theme or purpose of the passage
Match the headings with paragraphs
List of headings
i. Increasing customer confidence
ii. A benefit to retailers
iii. The dangers for retailers
iv. Changing the face of the shop
v. Encouraging online feedback

1. Paragraph ..
2. Paragraph ..
3. Paragraph ..
4. Paragraph ..
5. Paragraph ..
Matching
Headings may have similar/identical words as
a paragraph, but that does not mean that
heading goes with that paragraph.
Tip: match ideas not words
Problem: speed
Passages are too long
Tip: work on speed
How? Extensive reading
How? Read chunks, not words, etc.
Gaps
There may be two gaps, worth one or two marks. Tip:
the word both in a sentence or summary signals that
two answers may be required.

Complete the sentences below
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A
NUMBER for each answer.
1. Esperance used to rely on .
2. About of Esperances energy needs
are met by wind.
3. & 4. Wind farms should not be built near barriers to
the wind, such as . or .
Paraphrasing
IELTS questions often use different words or
phrases from those used in the passage
Tip: practice paraphrasing skillsessential!

Paraphrasing: London tours
Q: On this tour you can see where an
artificial watercourse used to end.
A: We passthe original termination of the
New River, constructed to bring water to
London from springs over 30km away.
Paraphrasing: London tours
Q: This tour includes a functioning market.
A: then (we) continue to Borough Market,
where youll find it hard to choose among all
the fine food and other goods on sale.
(excerpts from Objective IELTS Intermediate)
Keywords
Tip: dont be fooled by appearance of
keywords
Q: This tour includes a functioning market.
Keywords
A: For more than 250 years Mayfair has been
the most upmarket district in London
A: We walk along to St. John Street, where
animals used to be driven on their way to
Smithfield Market.
A: then (we) continue to Borough Market
No partial marks for partial answers

Choose THREE letters. A-G.

Which THREE of the arguments below are stated in the passage?

A Penguins are not afraid of people.
B Penguins are becoming an endangered species.
C Tourists are not a threat their existence.
D Penguins are hard to research.
E Penguins dont leave their nest.
F A penguins behavior depends on its species.
G Penguin stress may result from being with other penguins.
SECTION INFORMATION: WRITING
Writing overview
Tasks

Content/Duration

2 Tasks 60 minutes

Task 1
Write a summary of the graphic/pictorial
information provided
150 words
20 minutes suggested

Task 2
Write an academic-style essay
250 words long
40 minutes suggested
Writing overview
Skills
Interpreting visual
information
Bar charts
Line graphs
Tables
Diagrams
Pie charts

Writing an overview Picking out significant trends
Selecting / illustrating
main points
Highlighting main stages of a
process
Writing overview
Skills
Comparing information Describing how something
works
Grouping information
Task 1
Description of a graph, table, process or a
combination of the three
Purpose: describe and compare data
Tip: dont suggest causes or reasons for the data
Tip: dont simply list the information
Note dates and times in the data
Tip: use the appropriate tense
Task 2
Description: academic-style essay
Purpose: write a well-organized essay with
appropriate support of opinion
Guidelines
Approach Reason
Before
writing
Note key points and
decide on an
overview (T1)
Misinterpreting the
data or diagram
will result in lost
points
Guidelines

http://www.cloverbar.ca/article_images/40/math%20exam%20cartoon.jpg
Guidelines

Guidelines
Approach Reason
Before
writing
Read the task
carefully and decide
number of parts,
and position to
support (T2)
Answers should
relevantly address
all parts of the
question
Guidelines
Approach Reason
While
writing
Introduce the
information in an
overview, using your
own words (T1)
Summarize the key
points and use data
to illustrate those
key points (T1)
Copying the
question will not
count toward word
total
Lost marks for
missing key points
or failing to
illustrate them
Guidelines
Approach Reason
While
writing
Introduce, present
and support ideas
clearly
Copied material will
not count as part of
word total
Logical conclusion
and a consistent
position must be
present (T2)
Guidelines
Approach Reason
While
writing
Include a general
observation
summarizing the
main points/trends
(T1)
(Diagrams) Use the
key words in the
labels; divide
description around
main stages or
processes (T1)

Marks lost if no
overview
Guidelines
Approach Reason
Good
writing
Use own words
wherever possible
Divide answer into
paragraphs and use
linking words to
connect ideas
Doing this will earn
more points
More marks for
well-organized
answer using a
range of linking
and reference
words
Guidelines
Approach Reason
Good
writing
Present a balanced
argument. If asked
for an opinion, show
both sides before
showing preferred
choice in the
conclusion (T2)

If no clear position
with relevant
support, lower
grade
Guidelines
Approach Reason
After
writing
Count words
quickly!to make
sure that word
count is met
Check grammar,
spelling and
punctuation
Short answers lose
marks. (There are
no extra marks for
long answers.)
Mistakes reduce
score
Can you believe I
got a C in
English? And I was
doing so good!
http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/jlv/lowres/jlvn494l.jpg
Range of structures: important
Verbs Phrases
To rise
To fall
To peak
Five out of ten
Fifty per cent of
A third of the students
Adjectives and Adverbs
Sharp(ly)
Dramatic(ally)
Significant(ly)
Considerable(ably)
Slight(ly)
Gentle(ly)
Writing strategies
Paragraphs
Have one idea per paragraph
Content
Avoid informal language
Dont memorize model answers
Opinion: no correct answer, just a clear position
and good support

Writing strategies
Procedure
Be careful with timing - don't rush
Task Two is longer and is worth more points
Leave time to edit
Writing strategies
Yes well, legibility and correct punctuation might
not be streetbut thats how I roll, dude.
http://bigeyedeer.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/graf.gif?w=500&h=402
Writing assessment: 4 key issues
Content
Grammar
Vocabulary
Cohesion
Ways to affect a score

Mobiles phones have changed the way many people
communicate. Nowadays people cannot live without them if
they want to be a part of society.

To what extent do you think this is true?

Why do you think some people have not adapted to this type of
communication?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant
examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Ways to affect a score
For a two-part answer, both parts must be
addressed; otherwise, no more than Band 5
for content
If main ideas are related but off-topic, no
more than Band 5

SECTION INFORMATION: SPEAKING
Note
Listening, Reading and Writing=same day
Speaking=same dayor up to a week before
or after
Speaking overview
Parts

What?

Content Duration
3
Parts
Speaking 11-14
minutes
Part 1 Introduction
& Interview
Talk about self and
familiar topics with
the examiner. Answer
examiners questions
neither too short nor
too long.
4-5
minutes
Speaking overview
Parts

What?

Content Duration
Part 2 Short talk Talk for 1-2 minutes
on a topic chosen by
the examiner. 1
minute for
preparation and
around 2 minutes for
a non-stop talk.
3-4
minutes
Speaking overview
Parts

What?

Content Duration
Part 3 Two-way
discussion
Answer more abstract
questions related to
the topic in part 2.
Demonstrate control
of language, ability to
express abstract ideas
and support opinions
appropriately
4-5
minutes
Speaking overview
Skills Parts
Answering questions on familiar topics
Expanding answers
1
Linking and expanding ideas using linking
vocabulary
1
Speaking overview
Skills Parts
Understanding the topic
Checking notes

2
Using notes
Using rhythm and timing to talk fluently

2
Speaking overview
Skills Parts
Making ideas clear 3
Giving two sides of an argument
Speculating
Extending a conversation

3
Part 1
Very short answers=lost points
Tip: aim for two to four spoken sentences for each
answer.

Part 1
I didnt feel
answers were
necessary. All
the questions
seemed
rhetorical.
http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/mba/lowres/mban839l.jpg
Part 1 examples

What is the best way to stay healthy?
I think walking is good for you, as well as watching what
you eat. So I try to take some exercise every day and on
top of that I eat lots of fruit and vegetables.

What kind of music are you interested in?
Well I really enjoy listening to songs, particularly
songs from my country. And I like to have music playing
when Im studying. In fact, I cant study without music.
Part 2
Take notes on key points asked in the
question.
Tip: dont write full sentences
No credit for repeating words in the task
Practice speaking for at least a minute
harder than it sounds
Tip: using a watch during the exam is permitted
Part 2 prompts
Describe a place you have lived in that you particularly
liked.

You should say:
when you lived there
who you lived with
what was most memorable about this place
and explain why you liked it so much.

Part 2 prompts
Describe a family member who is the most successful.

You should say:
who this person is
how often you see each other
what this person does
and explain why he/she is successful.
Part 3 samples
How important is it to enjoy your work? Why?
Does tourism bring mainly positive or negative things to
a country?
Having somewhere to live is a basic right. So should the
state provide cheap housing for people who dont earn
a lot of money? Why?
To what extent do you think the climate of a country
affects the kind of houses or homes that are built?
Part 3 samples
Well in my view, climate probably has to do a lot with
the way we design our houses. So for instance, in
countries where it snows a lot, you find houses with
something like a steep roof so that the snow cant
settle there, and you know damage the roof. But in
warm climates, I think the houses are often built to
keep the sun out.
Part 3
Goal: a well-reasoned, smoothly-connect,
justified answer
No wrong answers: quality and content of
speech are graded, not opinions
No knowledge of topic? Too bad!
Tip: specifically practice speaking about obscure
topics (fake it!)
Part 3
Rephrase the question in your own words to
help you explore the issues raised
Think about desired action: explain, compare,
describe, speculate, etc.
Quickly develop ideas and jot them down
Speaking strategies
Desired: effective communication, not
perfect answers
Tip: don't memorize answers
Develop answers as much as possible
Tip: never give one-word answers to questions
Carefully consider appropriate tense and
vocabulary

Appropriate vocabulary!
http://myexpatgermany.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/foreign-language-school-pig-cartoon.jpg
Due to his
grammar
mistake, Wilbur
found a
position. It just
wasnt the one
he wanted.
Speaking strategies
Examiners may repeat questions
Tip: dont be afraid to ask
Speaking clearly and using stress and
intonation will help communicate ideas


Speaking assessment: 4 aspects
Fluency
Grammar
Vocabulary
Pronunciation
Sources
New Insights into IELTS by Jakeman and
McDowell
Objective IELTS Intermediate by Black and
Sharp
Many otherssee the vendors in the exhibit
hall
Contacting us
Ozgur Pala
ozgur.pala@qu.edu.qa
David Bartsch
david.bartsch@qu.edu.qa
Available at www.slideshare.net/bartsch