Showing posts with label Tips & Techniques. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tips & Techniques. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 5, 2021

IELTS EXAMS TIPS: Time Management || AMAN IELTS || 2021-22

October 05, 2021    No comments

 

In technical passages, do not waste according to the technical requirements. Jumping on them and
On the move. Do you want a general understanding of what is happening, and not the domain
For passage.
When faced with the material in the selection that seems difficult to understand,
In many cases, it may not be necessary and may be omitted. Spend some time trying to
I understand that if they are to be relevant to the issue. Understanding the difficult
Phrases only as a last resort.
Identify each question type. In general, the formulation of a question will tell
What if you can find the answer by referring directly to the passage or use of
Their powers of reasoning. You speak of any kind of question that usually
Dealing with ease and giving you problems and require more time ....In technical passages, do not waste according to the technical requirements. Jumping on them and
On the move. Do you want a general understanding of what is happening, and not the domain
For passage.
When faced with the material in the selection that seems difficult to understand,
In many cases, it may not be necessary and may be omitted. Spend some time trying to
I understand that if they are to be relevant to the issue. Understanding the difficult
Phrases only as a last resort.
Identify each question type. In general, the formulation of a question will tell
What if you can find the answer by referring directly to the passage or use of
Their powers of reasoning. You speak of any kind of question that usually
Dealing with ease and giving you problems and require more time ....

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Friday, October 1, 2021

Free and Latest TIPS AND STRATEGIES FOR THE IELTS TEST || AMAN IELTS ||

October 01, 2021    No comments



 Introduction


IELTS has become big business. Every week, all around the world, tens of thousands of nervous people take identical tests, each with a particular educational or migratory goal up for grabs. It is not surprising, therefore, that courses aimed at preparing students for this test have sprung up everywhere. While the quality of these courses varies wildly from school-to-school, there are a number of simple strategies which are included in even the most basic of preparation courses. While it would be impossible to highlight all of the tips and strategies for the test here (some preparation courses run for 100 hours), this article aims to outline the general strategies every candidate should be aware of before attempting the test.

The IELTS test consists of four components; listening (30 minutes), reading (1 hour), writing (1 hour) and speaking (12-15 minutes). The entire test, therefore, lasts for around 3 hours.

There are two varieties (modules) of the IELTS test. The general training (GT) module of the test is used primarily for visa purposes or for entry into overseas high schools. The Academic module is accepted byuniversities. The listening and speaking tests for each module are identical, while the writing and reading sections are simplified in the the GT module. For the purposes of this article, the more widely taken Academic module of the IELTS test will be discussed.

First, some strategies common to all sections of the test.

General Strategies

Read or listen to instructions carefully. Many candidates are school or university graduates and, having recently sat a variety of examinations, feel that the reading of instructions in exams represents a waste of time. A big mistake in IELTS. Put simply, candidates who do not follow instructions invariably get answers wrong. There is a variety of instructions in the four test components, including ‘answer in not more that 3 words’ or ‘answer using a short phase’. With the former a 4-word answer, however accurate, is wrong. With the latter a complete sentence, however accurate, would also be wrong.

Manage you time. Be aware of the time, and be aware of where you are up to in the test. In the reading test, you have one hour to complete 3 sections, so never spend more than twenty minutes on each section. Simple. In the writing test, ensure you spend no more than twenty minutes on the first task, leaving 40 minutes for the longer, more important second task.

Don’t panic. If it seems like it’s a difficult test section, the chances are that tens of thousands of people taking the same test on the same day find it difficult. The band scores are only calculated after all of the world’s results are collated, and for a difficult test the number of correct answers needed for a particular band score is lower. If you think you had a particularly bad section in your test, learn to forget about it and focus on the next section. The chances are you did better than expected, and there is simply no point worrying about your poor listening test while you are answering the reading questions.

There follows one or two further tips and strategies to help you prepare for each component of the test.

The Listening Test

People are often most worried about the listening test because, unlike reading and writing, it’s a one-shot deal. There’s no opportunity to re-listen to the recording so if you miss it, it’s gone forever. This is why pre-listening preparation is the key to success here.

Use your time wisely. You are given around 30 seconds to read each section before listening, and the same length of time to check answers to each section after listening. Don’t waste this time. Use the time before listening to read instructions and questions and, very importantly, predict. Predict what you are going to hear, who will be talking, where they are talking and why. Predict the answers. Predict the part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverb) or try to guess the answer based on your general knowledge and clues given in the questions themselves. At the end of each section, use the ‘checking time’ to see if your predictions were correct, guess answers left blank (never leave blank answers in IELTS), and check your spelling, capital letters and grammar.

Underlining. It’s a very good idea to underline the key words in questions. The process of underlining helps you to listen for these keywords and prepares you, perhaps on a subconscious level, to identify these words in rapidly spoken dialogue.

Transfer answers carefully. At the end of the listening test you will be given ten minutes to transfer your answers to an answer sheet. Do this very carefully. Use the opportunity to check spelling and grammar, and guess unknown answers.

The Reading Test

A difficult question carries the same number of points as an easy question, so don’t waste time on one tricky question. Leave it, do the easier ones, then come back to it later.

Read the instructions and questions first. As you read the questions, again underline keywords and try to think of similes (different word, same meaning). The words in the text itself are usually a paraphrase of the question words.

Depending on the type of question, use scan reading and skim reading techniques. Scanning involves running your eyes up, down, left and right over the text (not reading each line) to search for a word or phase or specific piece of information. Imagine the way in which we find a number in a telephone directory. Skim reading involves reading every line quickly, ignoring ‘grammar words’ and unknown words. Using this method we can quickly develop a general understanding of the text, which is useful for summary-type questions, or questions which require an understanding of the entire text or the writer’s point of view.

The Writing test

In part one, you are expected to spend 20 minutes writing a description of a graph, table, process or combination of the three. In the second part, you have 40 minutes to write a 250-word academic style essay. Stick to the times.  Part two is longer and more important, and requires a full 40 minutes, so make sure you move on at the right time.

Part one is all about description of data, and comparison of data. Suggesting causes or reasons for the data or trends is a waste of time. Always try to compare data you see, rather than simply listing the information in front of you. Be especially careful to take note of the dates and times in the data, and use the correct tense.

In part two, analyse the question carefully, brainstorm your ideas first, then decide how to structure the paragraphs before you begin writing. Stick to the topic, and try to leave at least five minutes at the end to check your work. Having an awareness of the weaknesses in your writing enables you to use this checking time more effectively, as you can check for the kind of mistakes you have made in the past.

The examiner is looking for four things when he or she grades your writing: The content (did you answer the question?), the grammar (is the grammar correct, and is there a wide range of grammatical structures?), vocabulary (is the vocabulary appropriate, correctly spelled, and is there a wide range of words?) and cohesion (is the essay well structured, and have you used a variety of linking words effectively?)

Success in the writing test requires practice. Practice writing tests are essential, as is the need to learn from mistakes you make. If you are lucky enough to have a teacher helping you prepare, make sure you analyse corrections they make in your practice essays, and try not to make the same kind of mistake in your next attempt.

In the second part of the test, try to present a balanced argument. Show both sides of the story. If you are asked for your opinion, try to show both points of view before making your opinion clear in the conclusion.

Finally, write neatly and clearly, and make corrections using a single line through the error, as opposed to a scribble. There is no score for legibility or tidiness, but poor handwriting may put the examiner in a ‘bad mood’, making him or her more likely to give a lower score for a borderline essay!

The Speaking Test

Success in speaking tests comes through practice and confidence. Confidence is the key, but often confidence only comes after a considerable amount of practice. Remember that it is a speaking test, so speak as much as possible and never give one-word answers to questions. In part 2 you are expected to talk on a given topic for one to two minutes, after one minute of preparation time. Prepare wisely by writing as many notes as possible (keywords to remind you what to say), thus minimizing the risk of ‘going blank’ during the speech. Try to talk for the full two minutes until the examiner asks you to stop, thus demonstrating you ability to ‘keep going’ and improving your score for fluency. Part three contains more abstract questions, while the first two parts are all about you, and familiar topics. Listen very carefully to the questions, especially in part three, and respond appropriately. Don’t talk about yourself in part three.

The examiner is grading you on four aspects of your spoken English: your fluency (ability to keep going), your grammar (range and accuracy), vocabulary (range and appropriacy) and pronunciation. Prepare by studying grammar and vocabulary but try not to worry about grammar too much in the test itself, as thinking about the correct grammatical form will almost invariably result in a decrease in fluency.

The day of the test: last-minute preparation

IELTS is a long, tiring test. So, make sure you sleep well the night before and have a good, hearty breakfast. Research has shown that protein rich breakfasts are good before an exam, and carbohydrates should be avoided. Don’t drink too much coffee! Never do last-minute revision on the test day, as you may find something new and panic; last-minute revision is almost always counter-productive. The best things you can do in the hours before the test are speak English to family and friends, or re-read your old, corrected essays. Nothing more.

Arrive early at the test centre, allowing time for unexpected traffic delays. Get to know your surroundings so that you feel comfortable, and sneak a peek in the exam room so you know what to expect. While waiting, speak English to the other candidates in order to keep your brain switched onto ‘English mode’.

Remember that the IELTS test isn’t such a huge deal. If you don’t get the score you need, you can take it again and again (until your money runs out, anyway). Prepare thoroughly, practice as much as possible  and take the test day step-by-step, and you’ll have that band score you need in no time

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Thursday, September 30, 2021

CELPIP Strategies for Success || AMAN CELPIP Education Portal ||

September 30, 2021  ,  No comments

 





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Thursday, September 23, 2021

Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? ||www.Amanielts.in ||

September 23, 2021    No comments


Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

www.Amanielts.in

“Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?” is a common IELTS essay question in writing task 2 which many students struggle with. Below is an sample essay question to practice this type of essay and also some tips to help you.

Essay Question Sample

In recent years, more and more people are choosing to read e-books rather than paper books.

Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

Tips for Outweigh Essay Questions

To answer this type of IELTS essay question you must:

  1. brainstorm ideas supporting both sides first

  2. this question is asking for your opinion

  3. answer the question – do you think the advantages or the disadvantages are most important? Which one?

  4. put your answer to the question in the thesis statement in your introduction

  5. have one body paragraph which gives details about the opposite side to your opinion

  6. have either one or two body paragraphs which give details of the side you chose to support

  7. re-state your opinion in the conclusion using different language

Be Careful

Post your essay in the comments box below for other students to comment on and so you can compare with others.



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IELTS Writing Tips: 10 Sentences to Avoid || www.Amanielts.com ||

September 23, 2021    No comments


Phrases to Avoid in your IELTS Essay

1.

This essay will discuss both sides and give an opinion at the end.

This sentence is poor because it is used for the thesis statement but contains no main points. It is a memorised sentence of 15 words. It only repeats the instructions but adds no information to the essay. Try to avoid using such sentences and just present your answer clearly. Another similar sentence is “I shall put forth my arguments to support my views in the following paragraphs” which should also be avoided. Don’t forget that while these sentences might be fine for a usual academic essay, they are not appropriate for an English language test.

2.

With the development of science and modern technology…

Many students use this expression to start their essay. It is only suitable to use if the essay is about science and technology. It is overused and confusing for the reader if the topic is not science or technology. You don’t need any expression to start your introduction, just paraphrase the essay question directly.

3.

In the modern era, … / Since the dawn of time ….

This is overused in introductions. Most essay questions are about current issues so you don’t need to put in a time frame unless it is about an issue in the past compared to the present. “Since the dawn of time…” is not a relevant statement for most IELTS issues and should be avoided. Some students also use “Nowadays” to start their essay. Again this is overused. Try to avoid these phrases and just paraphrase the information given by IELTS.

4.

This is a highly controversial issue. 

Most essay questions in IELTS are not controversial. Controversial means that it is deeply debated and causes strong feeling, for example “the death penalty” which results in a person’s death is controversial but “watching sport on TV or playing it” is not controversial. 99% of all essay questions in IELTS will not be controversial so don’t use this phrase. Also be careful writing “highly debatable” as this is also overused.

5.

The crux of the discussion is …

This is a sentence which is used too often. It would be better to write “The most important aspect…” or “One of the key issues is…” as they are more natural to use in writing.

6.

For example, a recent study from the IMF showed that… / Research indicates that…

The examples you give in IELTS writing task 2 do not need to come from published sources or known research. They can just be an example of a situation: “For instance, the majority of working people do not …” Avoid learning opening phrases to common sentences.

7.

It can broaden a person’s horizons. 

I have seen this written in so many essays and so have examiners. It would be better to write about “learning more”, “opening their mind to something” or “developing deeper understanding of something”. Don’t learn sentences, just write naturally.

8.

There are good grounds to argue in favour of… / It cannot be denied that…

This is another example of a learned phrase to avoid. It would be better to write more naturally “One reason that X is important / crucial …”. Using more natural language avoids the examiner thinking you are memorising phrases. Also the phrase “it cannot be denied” is very much overused and mostly used incorrectly. “It cannot be denied” means it is 100% fact but most essay contain opinions which are not fact. Therefore, avoid this phrase.

9.

In a nutshell, …

Many students use this idiom to start their conclusion. It is informal and not appriopriate to use in IELTS essay writing. 

10.

… the aforementioned arguments offer insights into vindications for the impression that…


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