Archive for category Language Test
10 Top Tips to Improve Your IELTS Score
Posted by admin in Language Test on June 18, 2011
So you’re thinking of taking the IELTS test and want to maximise your score? Here are my top ten tips based on my many years of teaching IELTS to a variety of students in different countries. They are presented in no particular order.
Top Tip One
Prepare, prepare, prepare….yes, I know it sounds obvious, but I have known many “over confident” candidates take the test with little or no preparation. One candidate told me that they had lived and studied in America for over 4 years and so considered their English level to that of a native speaker. He was expecting to score at least an 8.0 – unfortunately he only scored 6.5 because he didn’t understand the way the test works. A good preparation course will prepare you for the test and enable you to achieve a score based on your true English level. Look for reputable schools or online courses.
Top Tip Two
Speed! One of the criticisms of the IELTS test is that it asks the candidates to do too much in too little time. Many candidates find that they do not have enough time particularly in the reading and writing sections. So what can you do?.
Start by doing a search on the internet for speed reading techniques – there are many good sites with some excellent tips. Once you are confident that you have mastered the techniques read some IELTS practice papers and time yourself. Is it taking too long? If so, why? Maybe your vocabulary needs improving or perhaps you need more practice with the speed reading techniques. In general try to read as much as possible in the lead up to your test.
Speeding up your writing can be just as daunting, especially when you have to come up with your own ideas during the test to answer the question. To help speed up your writing practice writing out paragraphs from a book and time yourself – make sure that you are not squeezing the pen too tightly, but use a relaxed grip with a fluid motion. Read the rest of this entry »
Preparing for the TOEFL – An Introduction
Posted by admin in Language Test on June 18, 2011
TOEFL preparation is the reason many students study English before going to university. The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is accepted by 7,500 institutions in 130 countries around the world. It is the most recognized – and often required – proof of English ability for entering university in an English-speaking country.
How can you get a good TOEFL score? Future articles will detail the best ways to prepare for each of the four sections of the test: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. To get started, here are a few of the first steps you should take if the TOEFL is in your future:
* Practice typing in English. Most test centers now give the TOEFL iBT, or Internet-based test. All of your written responses will be typed; there is no option to write your responses by hand.
* Make a schedule. If you have specific universities in mind that you want to apply to, find out when TOEFL scores are due. It’s a good idea to give yourself enough time to take the test more than once to get your best possible score. Read the rest of this entry »