English Skills Training
Introduction to IELTS
About the IELTS
• The International English Language Testing
System (IELTS) is an internationally recognised
proficiency test for non-native speakers.
• There are two versions, the Academic Version
and the General Training Version.
• Candidates are scored from Band 1 (‘non user’)
to Band 9 (‘expert user’) in all four skills.
• Scores are generally valid for two years.
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Band descriptions
• In Speaking and Writing, your proficiency will be
assessed (from Band 0 to Band 9) on four
separate criteria.
• Writing: a) Task achievement; b) Coherence
and Cohesion; c) Grammatical range and
accuracy; d) Lexical resource
• Speaking: a) Fluency and coherence;
b) Lexical resource ; c) Grammatical range and
accuracy; d) Pronunciation
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What is lexical resource?
IELTS assessors judge candidates on their
‘lexical resource’. This is basically:
• Use of a wide range of vocabulary
• Use of idiomatic expressions
• Use of paraphrasing
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IELTS Band 5
11 manages to talk about familiar and unfamiliar topics
but uses vocabulary with limited flexibility
7 attempts to paraphrase but with mixed success
IELTS Band 6
3 has a wide enough vocabulary to discuss topics at length and
make meaning clear in spite of inappropriacies
2 generally paraphrases successfully
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IELTS Band 7
9 uses vocabulary resource flexibly to discuss a variety
of topics
1 uses some less common idiomatic vocabulary and
shows some awareness os style and collocation, with
some inappropriate choices
4 uses paraphrases effectively
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IELTS Band 8
uses a wide vocabulary resource readily and flexibly
8
to convey precise meaning
uses less common idiomatic vocabulary skilfully,
12
with occasional inaccuracies
10 uses paraphrases effectively as required
IELTS Band 9
6 uses vocabulary with full flexibility and precision in all topics
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IELTS Listening test format
IELTS listening consists of 40 questions with a
duration of 30 minutes. There are 4 sections, and
each is treated separately and played once only.
• There are many types of IELTS listening question
tasks:
• matching tasks • multiple choice tasks • short-
answer question tasks
• true/false tasks • sentence completion tasks •
chart / table completion tasks
• Gap fill tasks • diagram labelling tasks
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IELTS Listening test format
• You need to be able to:
• read the instructions and questions
• listen for general information & instructions
• listen for specific information which is answer to a
question
• write down the answers on the test paper as you need
to continue to listen for the answers to the questions
that follow.
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Activity to prepare for listening test
Reading the questions to predict what you will
hear to find the answers in sequence. If you have
missed one answer, pay attention to listen for the
next answer to the next question.
Write faster by using shorthand in listening test to
jot down first 3 letters of an answer, so you have
sufficient time to listen to the next answer.
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IELTS Reading test format
IELTS academic reading consists of three long
passages. There are a total of 40 questions in
the IELTS academic reading test. The passages
are sourced from books, newspapers, journals,
magazines. with a duration of 60 minutes. The
total text length of the passages ranges from
2,170 to 2,750. The passages are written for a
non-specialist audience and are mostly
academic ones with a general interest.
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Activity to prepare for reading test :
Reading faster & knowing what to look for
Instead of reading the whole passage first, read faster with
the intention to search for answers to the test questions
from the passage. Look for the main idea of each paragraph
by identifying it’s topic sentence, to make it easy to locate
the answers.
Instead of reading word by word, search & read noun
phrases & verb phrases, topic content key words that form
logical unit of thoughts which answer a WH question for
each group. The answers will always be paraphrases of
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Academic
Types of question Types of task
Writing Part 1
Describe 1 or more Test how well factual
Write at least information shown in
table(s), chart(s),
150 words graph(s), diagram ofa a diagram is
within 20 process or how summarized in a
minutes something works, or report, the content of
changes in 2 maps over which is to describe,
time shown in interpret & compare
diagram(s). Make key features displayed.
comparison where
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Writing 1 : Describe data shown in different types of diagram
A pie chart A line chart A bar chart or bar graph
A table A diagram, maps, flowchart An organization chart
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Academic
Types of question Types of task
Writing Part 2
Test how well an
opinion stated in the
Write a descriptive or introduction of an
Write at least argumentative essay essay is backed by the
250 words to defend an opinion content of the essay
within 40 backed by evidence & which describe and
minutes personal experience. support the opinion
with valid evidence,
reasons, arguments
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Writing Part 2 : Write an essay on a range of topics
+ Agriculture + Language, linguistics
+ Art + Lifestyles
+ Building and engineering + Media and Advertising
+ Business and Money + Reading
+ Communication & Personality + Society
+ Crime and Punishment + Space Exploration & Planets
+ Education + Sports and Exercise
+ Environment + Time and history
+ Family and Children + Tourism & travel
+ Food and Diet + Technology
+ Government + Transportation
+ Health + Work and employment
+ Information technology
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Speaking Part 1 Types of question Types of task
Examiner and Test how well a
candidate introduce candidate answer
Answer 3 to 4 themselves, and general questions on
questions for candidate answers familiar topics relating
about 4 to 5 questions on familiar to personal matters.
minutes topics such as family,
job, studies, free-time
activities etc.
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Tasks
IELTSaccomplishment
Writing test criteria – How it isLexical
gradedresource
Content
Vocabulary
Answer accurate, relevant & appropriate :
Choose appropriate words & phrases to use :
Part 1 : Is an overview included? Have you
Have you used some less common idioms or
select key features to describe? Have you used
less common expressions?
information to illustrate the points?
Have you avoided repeating the same words?
Part 2 : Are your main ideas clear?
Are your ideas well supported with personal
experience? Is there a relevant conclusion?
Organization Grammar
Answer organized clearly & logically : Use grammar accurately :
Is the development of the whole essay logical? Have you used a range of accurate sentences,
Are sentences well linked? Are the links and sentence structures?
between ideas clear? Have you use paragraphs Have you used words in the correct forms and
appropriately? positions?
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SPEAKING TOPICS :
General Topics about life and experience
• About you, your friends & family • Reading
• Your home town • Sports, hobbies, music and games
• Your neighbor • Shopping
• Food and drink • Work, study & future plans
• Free time activities • Weather
• Holidays, travel and transport
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Speaking Part 2 Types of question Types of task
A candidate will be Test how well a
One minute of given a topic specified candidate organize and
preparation on a task or topic card deliver a speech at
time and speak given by the examiner, length about the topic
for one to two typically with 4 which answer all the
minutes specific questions. questions given in the
task card.
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Speaking Part 3 Types of question Types of task
Test how well a
Answer 3 to 4 Discussion on more candidate answer
questions for abstract issues related general questions on
about 4 to 5 to the chosen topic in familiar topics relating
minutes part 2 of the test. to general matters.
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Speaking 2 & 3 : Discussion topics (not exhaustive)
• Problems that affect your country • The relevance of school examinations
• Financial success and how to achieve it • Materialism and the consumer
• Poverty and hunger in the Thirld World • Space travel
• Crime and punishment • Modern medicine
• Fashion and design • Censorship and the Internet
• Public transport • Types of governments in the world today
• Youth and the problems they face • Women in the workplace
• The role of television and radio in society • The qualities and skills of a good company manager
• The influence of the print media • The necessity of a strong defence force
• Current affairs • The advantages of an international language
• The changing nature of family life • The design of modern cities
• Nuclear energy • The influence of sport in society
• World economic solutions • Street protests and individual rights
• Diet, health and exercise • Religion and the church in the modern world
• The consequences of global warming • The pros and cons of living in a foreign country
• Recreational facilities in modern cities • The meaning of happiness
• Future energy resources • Living together, marriage and divorce
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Be prepared
Do your homework: Familiarise yourself with lexis
about topics that frequently come up:
e.g. holidays & travel / studying & education / work /
relationships / sport / food / health / books and films /
music / accommodation / clothes and fashion / people
– personality & character, physical appearance.
Remember: think of phrases, not just individual words.
Spoken English is less formal and different from
Academic English in writing, which is more formal.
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Familiarisation, Personalisation and
Practice
Familiarisation: Make a list of common topics.
At home, make a list of phrases and expressions
you can use for each topic.
Personalisation: Use words and phrases that
are true for you, not just that you found in a
book. They will be easier to remember and you
are more likely to use them.
Practice: Practice saying phrases until they are
‘second nature’ – then you will be able to use
them without thinking.
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Thank you!
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