Archive for the ‘IELTS’ Category
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8
Dec
2009
English Writing Skills
Writing in English
In order to begin writing in English there are a few basic things you will need to understand. One of these is how to structure a sentence in English. A basic sentence must have a subject, a verb and an object. The subject is who is performing the action, the verb is the action being performed (what) and the object is what is receiving the action (to whom). More complex sentences then add relative clauses to give extra information. For example
- Basic sentence: I stepped on the cat. (I = subject, stepped = verb, cat= object).
- Complex sentence: While eating a sandwich, I stepped on the cat, who was sitting in the middle of the kitchen. (Relative clauses in bold)
Writing in Exams
English Exams such as TOEFL or the IELTS will typically have a writing test section, along with sections testing reading, listening and speaking skills. Some of they key things to keep in mind when preparing for the written section of an English exam include punctuation and structure.
One of the most important things when writing a formal piece of text is to structure it logically and clearly. This includes the overall structure of your essay, article or report, such as the introduction, body and conclusion, as well as the structure of your paragraphs and sentences. For example, a paragraph will usually have one main point, expressed with a:
- Topic sentence: express the main idea
- Supporting sentence: expand the details of the main idea
- Concluding sentence: summarise the paragraph or draw a conclusion from it
Paragraphs are useful because the separate the main ideas of the text, signalling to the reader when you are about to introduce a new idea or argument.
Punctuation is highly important when writing a great piece of text. Without punctuation, not only will it be very difficult and confusing to read, but you may not actually convey what you are trying to say. The position of punctuation marks change the meaning of the sentence.
8
Dec
2009
English Reading Skills
Reading Skills
There are four main types of reading skills. When you read something in your native language, you usually don’t read every word or even have to understand every word. When reading a document with words you don’t understand, it is possible to guess the meaning of a word from what the sentence is saying, what the paragraph is about, and what the topic of the document is overall. The same goes for reading in English. The four reading skills are skimming, scanning, extensive reading and intensive reading.
Skimming is when a reader only reads key sentences or words to grasp what the main ideas of the text is. It is used to understand current events quickly or understand the main outline of a business situation. People will often skim newspaper articles and business brochures.
Scanning is used to find a specific piece of information. Your eyes glance over the text to pick out the specific facts or information you need. People will typically scan bus timetables, TV guides, travel guides, web sites and so on. Extensive reading on the other hand is used to obtain a general understanding of a subject, and is usually used for longer texts. These could be textbooks, business procedures, manuals or even novels.
Intensive reading is used with shorter texts to extract specific and detailed information. When reading a text intensively it is important to understand every word in order to grasp all the relevant details accurately. Examples of occasions when people read documents intensively can include accounting records, contracts, or an article in a comprehension exam.
English Exams
Reading is usually one aspect of English exams, whether the Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). These English exams demonstrate English proficiency for entrance into tertiary institutions, whether a university or a TAFE college, gaining employment and applying for permanent residency in English-speaking nations.
The reading sections of these exams test your understanding across different types of texts, requiring you to answer questions on them. This could be in regard to vocabulary, grammar or overall understanding of the content.
8
Dec
2009
IELTS Exam Preparation
The IELTS
IELTS stands for the International English Language Testing System. It is a globally recognised English exam that tests a candidate’s ability to communicate and understand across all four language skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening. It is managed by the British Council, IDP:IELTS Australia and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, and administered in over 120 countries. IELTS scores are used as an indicator of English skills by universities, colleges, businesses and government departments.
There are two versions of the test- the Academic test and General Training test. The Academic test is for those wanting to study at an English-speaking tertiary level institution, such as a college or university. The General Training test is more suitable for those who want to do work experience or a training program (such as an apprenticeship) in English, attend a secondary school or gain Permanent Residency in an English-speaking country. It’s best to contact the organisation or institution that you wish to attend when deciding which test you should take.
Exam Preparation
An IELTS exam preparation course, such as offered by GEOS English language courses, will help students prepare for all parts of the exam, both the Academic version and the General Training version. The IELTS has four parts:
- Listening (30 minutes)
- Reading (60 minutes)
- Writing (60 minutes)
- Speaking (11-14 minutes)
The test goes for a total of 2 hours and 45 minutes, with the first three sections taken in one sitting. The speaking test may be on the same day, or up to 7 days before or after the other tests. The test is a conversation with a certified IELTS examiner.
If considering to undertake an exam preparation course with an English college, a typical program will probably run for 10 weeks and focuses specifically on the IELTS exam. To benefit from such a course though, students will need a minimum of intermediate level English. GEOS English colleges also offer a range of other services and courses, from conversation groups to social activities.