The other day, I received a phone call from Cambodian Mekong University asking me to take the IELTS test. I got the call 12
hours before I took the exam. The night before the test, I had to teach a new
class in another school. I've got no time to prepare for the IELTS test.
However, before I went to bed that night, I tried to surf on the web what IELTS
exam is about. I've got some ideas what it is but no time to prepare. Because
I've been speaking English for the last 20 years, I am confident that I would
do well on the test.
Yesterday, I took the test with confidence along with two other
nationalities. While the test was not as difficult as I thought it would be,
the allotted time given was pretty limited. I think I did pretty well on the Listening
and Writing parts, but I probably did not do well on the Reading. Although, I
read tons of books and articles in the last 20 years, I read them for pleasure,
information, etc. The IELTS reading test is different because there are
questions to answer and the allotted time is limited. The reading is not just
for comprehension alone; your comprehension is not the only thing being tested
but also your reading speed. If you read fast enough to find the right answer
to the questions, you will do well. Even if you understand the the text well,
but if you cannot find the right answers fast enough, you will not get a high
score.
On the listening module, you have to listen carefully and answer
the question at the same time. Pay attention because you will hear it once. Once
you missed it, it’s gone; it won't be repeated!
As I was cramming, trying to find the answers, the examiner
announced, "Time is up"! Up to now, I am curious what the result
would be!
The funny thing about IELTS is I've never heard the word not
until 3 months ago when Mr. Norng Sokha, the director of Mekong School of English, have asked me to teach an IELTS Foundation course at Cambodian Mekong University. I declined due to my busy schedule. What is IELTS by the way, it is
an acronym for International English Language Testing System. Depending
on your purpose for taking the IELTS, you have a choice either to take Academic
or General Training.
I-E-L-T-S TIPS PREPARATION
To those who are preparing to take IELTS test, here are some
I-E-L-T-S tips for you....
I-Interview others who
have already taken the IELTS test. Get as many information as you can from them
to help you on your preparation.
E-Expect the unexpected
and the expected. On your preparation, it is important to prepare what to
expect. Never take things for granted. Don't assume, for example, that graph or
chart will not come up on the test. When I took the writing part of the test,
there are two parts to it. One is to write a report by summarizing and
contrasting a given chart about something (150 words), and the other one is to
write 250 words on a given topic. Prior to the test, I didn't know there are
two sets of the writing task on the test.
L-Listen to English
speakers on TV, radio, internet, or in person. Try to listen mostly to British
or Australian accent. The IELTS test is administered by British and Australian
organizations, thus the English accent on the listening part of the test is
'pretty British' I'd say.
T-Test yourself before
the actual test. Do some practice exam. There are available tests on the
internet; try some of them. I wish I had time to do this before the exam.
Furthermore, try to learn the mechanics of the test from online resources.
There is tons of information on the web about IELTS. YouTube alone has more
than enough videos about IELTS. Use them for your preparation. As part of your
preparation, spend time on reading difficult articles.
S-Speak English often.
As you probably already know, there are four modules of the IELTS test:
Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking. This is why fluency is
important to get a high band score. However, don't worry about the speaking
part of the test if you are already fluent in English. Fluency and grammatical
accuracy is the key in getting a high mark on the speaking part.
This is enough as there is more important information out there
you need to read. I've given this tips not because I've done it myself but
because I didn't do it due to time constraint.
For a concluding thought, nothing can take the place of
preparation, and to have a high mark, preparation is not done overnight.
Preparation is a process-done in a long time!
