Introduction to IELTS

Introduction to IELTS

• How many skills are there in IELTS test?

• ​How long does the test last?

• ​What is the test for?

​What do you know about IELTS test?​​

Test Format

Listening

30 minutes - 40 questions​

Overview

1. You will listen ONCE only

2. You have​ 10 minutes at the end to transfer your answer to answer sheets

3. ​You will listen to 4 recordings

Listening recordings

​real-life (adj), academic (adj), monologue (n)

Level of Difficulty

​Recording 1

​Recording 2

​Recording 3

​Recording 4

Difficulty = how hard it is

4. ​Sentence completion

5. Short-answer ​questions

6. Form, note, table, flow-chart, summary completion​

1. Multiple Choice​

2. Matching

3. ​Plan, map, diagram labelling

Task Types

Diagram (n), labelling (n), flow-chart (n), summary (n)​

Task focus:  required to have a detailed understanding of specific points or an overall understanding of the main points of the listening text

overall (adj), multiple choice questions = MCQs

​Multiple Choice

​

Task focus: understand information in an everyday conversation, able to follow a conversation between two people, identify relationships and connections between facts

identify (v), relationship (n), connection (n)

Matching

Task focus: able to understand a description of a place, and to relate this to a visual representation; follow language of spatial relationships and directions

visual respesentation (n), spatial (adj)

​Plan, Map, Diagram Labeling

Task focus: on the main points which a listener would naturally record in this type of situation.

naturally (adv), record (v)

Form, note, table, flow-chart, summary completion​

​​Form Completion

​

Note Completion

​Examples

​​Table Completion

​

​​Flow-chart Completion

​Examples

Task focus: able to identify the key information ang understand functional relationships such as cause and effect.

functional relationship (n), cause and effect (n)

​Sentence Completion

​

Task focus: able to listen for concrete facts, such as places, prices or times.

concrete facts (n)

Short-answer questions

Reading

60 minutes - 40 questions

Overview

1. ​It has 3 reading passages

2. No extra time is allowed for transfer

3. All the topics are of general interest (e.g. environment, tourism, medical care)​

passage (n), medical care (n)

Reading​ Sources

• Books

• Journals

• Magazine

• Newspaper​

Journal (n), audience (n), professionals (n), narrative (adj), argumentative (adj)

• Suitable for non-specialist audience

• Suitable for university students or professionals​

• Various style​s (e.g. narrative, descriptive or argumentative)

7. Matching sentence endings

8. Sentence completion​

9. Summary, note, table, flow-chart completion

10. Diagram label completion​

11. Short-answer questions​

1. Multiple choice questions

2. ​Identify information

3. Identify writer's views/claims

4. Matching information

5. Matching headings

6. Matching features​

Task types

view/claim (n), feature (n), labelling (n), idea (n), theme (n)

​Task focus: understanding of specific or main points, ability to identify opinions, ideas, or theme, skimming and scanning for specific information and identidy/locate it

​Writing

60 minutes - 2 tasks

Overview

1. Answers must be given on the answer sheet and must be written in full sentences.

2. Task 2 is worth 2/3 as much compare to Task 1.

3. Writing under word limi​t will be penalised.

4. Topics are of general interest.

​penalise (v)

Task focus

• Task 1 assesses the ability to identify the most important and relevant information and trends in a graph, chart, table or diagram, and to give a well-organised overview of it using academic language. ​

• Task 2 assesses the ability to present a clear, relevant, well-organised argument, giving evidence or examples to support ideas and use language accurately

Note: you may get minus points if the response is off-topic or is not written as full, connected text -> NO writing in bullet points or note form

well-organised (adj), academic (adj), support (v)

​Task 1. You will summarise information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparison where relevant.

You should write in your own words.

​

You should spend about 20 minutes and write at least 150 words.​

Writing Task 1

summarise (v), report (v)

Types of Graphs/Charts

​Task 1 Writing Structure

1. Introduction Statement (an overall description of graphs/charts)

2. Overview paragraph (a description of main features, i.e. trends, highest points, lowest points)

3. Body paragraphs (2 - 3 paragraphs describing more detailed information and making comparisons where relevant)

trend (n), comparison (n), relevant (adj)

​Task 1 Marking Criteria

​​​Task achievement​

(25%)​

​​​Coherence and cohesion​

(25%)​

​​Grammar

(25%)​

Vocabulary​

(25%)​

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

Responses must be in a formal style.

​

Write at least 250 words in about 40 minutes.​

Writing Task 2

a point of view (n) = opinion, argument (n), problem (n), formal (adj)​ >< informal (adj)

​Task 2 Writing Structure

1. Introduction (a paraphrase of essay questions and present your main ideas/opinions)

   ​

2. ​Body (2 - 3 paragraphs discussing in detail your main ideas/opinions)

   ​

3. Conclusion (a summary of your main ideas/opinions)

trend (n), comparison (n), relevant (adj)

​Task 2 Writing Structure

Introduction contains at least 2 sentences:

1. A paraphrase of essay questions and

2. Your thesis statement (presenting your main ideas/opinions or answering the essay questions)

trend (n), comparison (n), relevant (adj)

​Task 2 Writing Structure

​Body (2 - 3 paragraphs discussing in detail your main ideas/opinions)

Each paragraph should contain:

1. Topic sentence/argument (the main idea of the paragraph and/or the main point the writer) &

2. Supporting sentences (can be scientific facts/ results/ researches or your own personal experience/ examples)

trend (n), comparison (n), relevant (adj)

​Task 2 Writing Structure

Conclusion should :

1. Summarise the points covered and rephrase your thesis statement

2. Not contradict with your introduction

trend (n), comparison (n), relevant (adj)

Types of Essay

health care (n), agree (v) >< disagree (v), allow (v)

Some people think there should be free health care for all people, but others disagree. Discuss both sides.

Discussion Essay

Some people think that only electric cars should be allowed on the road by 2040. To what extent do you agree?/What is your opinion?/Do you agree or disagree?

Opinion Essay

​Examples

eventually (adv) = finally, global (adj), outweigh (v),

More and more people are moving to cities to look for work.

What problem does this cause? What are the possible solutions?

Causes & Solution

Some people think the world will eventually have only one language. Do you think the advantage of having one global language outweigh the diadvantages?

Advantage & Disadvantage

​Examples

development (n), positive (adj) >< negative (adj), internationally (adj), local (adj)

​More and more people are choosing to work from home. Is this a positive or negative development?​

​

Pollution around the world is becoming a serious problem. Do you think this is a problem that should be solved internationally or on a local level?​

Direct Questions

​Examples

NOTE

Always remember to plan your essays!

​Task 2 Marking Criteria

​​​Task response​

(25%)​

​​​Coherence and cohesion​

(25%)​

​​Grammar

(25%)​

Vocabulary​

(25%)​

Speaking

approx 14 minutes - 3 parts

Overview

1. ​You will speak face-to-face with an examiner in a room

2. It is an informal speaking test

3. ​All speaking test will be recorded

Part 1: you will answer the examiner general questions on some familiar topics such as home, family, work, studies and interests.

​

Part 2: you will be given a card asking to talk about a particular topic​. You have 1 minute to prepare and make note. Then you have 2 minutes to talks.

​

Part 3: You and the examiner will discuss issues related to the topic in Part 2 in a more general and abstract way and in greater depth​.

​

Speaking Marking Criteria

​​​Fluency & Coherence​

(25%)​

​​​Vocabulary​

(25%)​

​​Pronunciation

(25%)​

Grammar​

(25%)​

Pop Quiz

Multiple Choice

How many sections in Listening?

How many sections in Reading?

• Listening: 4 parts - Reading: 3 parts

• Listening: 3 parts - Reading: 3 parts

• Listening: 2 parts - Reading: 3 parts

• Listening: 3 parts - Reading: 2 parts

Multiple Choice

Which Speaking part is it you need to speak by yourself (a monologue)?

• Part 1

• Part 2

• Part 3

Multiple Choice

What graph/chart is this in Writing Task 1?

• Line Graph

• Bar Chart

• Pie Chart

Multiple Choice

What graph/chart is this in Writing Task 1?

• Pie Chart

• Diagram or Process

• Map

Multiple Choice

What essay type is this in Writing Task 2?

Some people think that only electric cars should be allowed on the road by 2040. To what extent do you agree?

• Discussion Essay

• Advantages & Disadvantages Essay

• Opinion Essay