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IELTSIELTS
International English Testing SystemInternational English Testing System
Familiarisation WorkshopsFamiliarisation Workshops
English Language CentreEnglish Language Centre
Hong Kong PolytechnicHong Kong PolytechnicUniversityUniversity
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Workshop FormatWorkshop Format
OverviewOverview
-- StructureStructure
-- ScoringScoring-- HelpHelp
-- Q & AQ & A
Speaking and ListeningSpeaking and ListeningWritingWriting
ReadingReading
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The TestThe Test
All Candidates are tested in listening,All Candidates are tested in listening,reading, writing and speaking.reading, writing and speaking.
Listening 30 minsListening 30 mins
Reading 60 minsReading 60 mins
Writing 60 minsWriting 60 mins
Speaking 11Speaking 11 14 mins14 mins
Total test time 2 hours 45 minutesTotal test time 2 hours 45 minutesexcluding breaks.excluding breaks.
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ListeningListening
Time: 30 minutesTime: 30 minutes 4 sections, 404 sections, 40questionsquestions
RealReal--world listening situationsworld listening situations
DifficultyDifficulty
Range of topics and tasksRange of topics and tasks
-- listening for specific informationlistening for specific information
e.g.dates, place namese.g.dates, place names-- understanding gistunderstanding gist
-- understanding speaker attitude/opinionunderstanding speaker attitude/opinion
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Listening Test FormatListening Test Format
Section 1: conversationSection 1: conversation 2 speakers2 speakers
Section 2: monologueSection 2: monologue
Section 3: conversationSection 3: conversation 4 speakers4 speakersSection 4: lectureSection 4: lecture
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General listening strategiesGeneral listening strategies
Recording is played onceRecording is played once
Read question CAREFULLY BEFORERead question CAREFULLY BEFORElisteninglistening
Familiarise yourself with question typesFamiliarise yourself with question types
-- completing a chartcompleting a chart
-- selecting picturesselecting pictures
-- notenote--taking exercisestaking exercises
--MC questionsMC questions
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ReadingReading
Time: 60 minutesTime: 60 minutes 3 reading3 readingpassages, totally 40 questionspassages, totally 40 questions
Texts are taken from books,Texts are taken from books,magazines, journals and newspapersmagazines, journals and newspapers
Question typesQuestion types
-- find detailed informationfind detailed information
-- identify attitudes and viewsidentify attitudes and views
-- complete a diagramcomplete a diagram
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General Reading StrategiesGeneral Reading Strategies
Identify reading skills being testedIdentify reading skills being tested
Practise these skillsPractise these skills
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WritingWriting
Time: 60 minutesTime: 60 minutes 2 tasks2 tasks
Task 1(20mins): descriptive report ofTask 1(20mins): descriptive report of
a table or diagram, 150 wordsa table or diagram, 150 wordsTask 2(40 mins):250 word essay inTask 2(40 mins):250 word essay inresponse to an opinion or a problem.response to an opinion or a problem.
Discuss issues, construct anDiscuss issues, construct anargument and use the appropriateargument and use the appropriatetone and register.tone and register.
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General Writing StrategiesGeneral Writing Strategies
Read the question carefullyRead the question carefully
Familiarise yourself with descriptionsFamiliarise yourself with descriptionsof dataof data in newspapers, textbooksin newspapers, textbooks
Practise formulating your own ideasPractise formulating your own ideason topicson topics
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SpeakingSpeaking
Time: 10Time: 10 15 minutes15 minutes
Face to face interview between oneFace to face interview between onecandidate and one examiner.candidate and one examiner.
Part 1(4Part 1(4--5mins): Introduction and5mins): Introduction andinterviewinterview
Part 2(1Part 2(1--3 mins incl. prep): Individual talk3 mins incl. prep): Individual talk
Part 3(4Part 3(4--5 mins): Discussion topics5 mins): Discussion topics
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SpeakingSpeaking
Speak fluently and link ideasSpeak fluently and link ideascoherentlycoherently
Demonstrate a range of appropriateDemonstrate a range of appropriatevocabularyvocabulary
Use accurate grammar andUse accurate grammar andappropriate registerappropriate register
Speak so that a listener canSpeak so that a listener canunderstandunderstand
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Speaking strategiesSpeaking strategies
Part 1Part 1
Take the initiative if possibleTake the initiative if possible
Always say more than yes or noAlways say more than yes or no
Try to overcome nervesTry to overcome nerves
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Speaking StrategiesSpeaking Strategies
Part 2Part 2
-- Take the 1 min preparation timeTake the 1 min preparation time
-- Jot down some main ideasJot down some main ideas
-- Sound interested in the talkSound interested in the talk
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Speaking StrategiesSpeaking Strategies
Part 3Part 3
-- Give informed responsesGive informed responses
-- Demonstrate your control of theDemonstrate your control of thelanguagelanguage
-- Attempt to express abstract ideasAttempt to express abstract ideas
-- Support your opinionsSupport your opinions
-- Show that you are willing to provideShow that you are willing to provideextended repliesextended replies
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ScoringScoring
IELTS provides a profile of aIELTS provides a profile of acandidatecandidates ability to use Englishs ability to use English
Candidates receive a score on a BandCandidates receive a score on a BandScale from 1Scale from 1--99
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Scores on the IELTS test are graded into nineScores on the IELTS test are graded into nine
bands as follows:bands as follows:
Band 0Band 0--Did not attempt the testDid not attempt the test
Band 1Band 1--Non UserNon User
Band 2Band 2--Intermittent UserIntermittent UserBand 3Band 3--Extremely Limited UserExtremely Limited User
Band 4Band 4--Limited UserLimited User
Band 5Band 5--Modest UserModest User
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Band 6Band 6--Competent UserCompetent User
Has generally effective command ofHas generally effective command of
the language despite somethe language despite someinaccuracies, inappropriacies andinaccuracies, inappropriacies andmisunderstandings. Can use andmisunderstandings. Can use andunderstand fairly complex language,understand fairly complex language,
particularly in familiar situationsparticularly in familiar situations..
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Band 7Band 7--Good UserGood User
Band 8Band 8--Very Good UserVery Good User
Band 9Band 9 --Expert UserExpert User
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General StrategiesGeneral Strategies
Familiarise yourself with the test.Familiarise yourself with the test.
PractisePractise
Time ManagementTime Management
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HelpHelp
CILLCILL Centre for Independent LanguageCentre for Independent LanguageLearning, Core A 3/FLearning, Core A 3/F
SAPSAP Speaking Assistance ProgrammeSpeaking Assistance ProgrammeCore A 3/FCore A 3/F
WAPWAP Writing Assistance ProgrammeWriting Assistance ProgrammeCore A 3/FCore A 3/F
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Useful booksUseful books
Cambridge IELTS 3 with answersCambridge IELTS 3 with answers
Insight into IELTSInsight into IELTS VanessaVanessa
Jakeman & Clare McDowell (CUP)Jakeman & Clare McDowell (CUP)
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Useful websitesUseful websites
UGC Introductory siteUGC Introductory sitehttp://www.ugccepa.comhttp://www.ugccepa.com
IELTS homepageIELTS homepagehttp://www.ielts.org/index.htmhttp://www.ielts.org/index.htm
ELC homepageELC homepagehttp://elc.polyu.edu.hkhttp://elc.polyu.edu.hk
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