IELTS Preparation – Academic

Welcome to the IELTS academic preparation course. Over the next few weeks, we'll be going over the different sections of the test and discussing strategies to reach that band 9.

In the listening section of the IELTS preparation course, we'll be looking at 3 main strategies to help you get through and achieve that high band.

The IELTS listening section focuses on 3 main skills. these include identifying keywords, recognising paraphrasing, and listening for specific information.

In this section, we'll be strengthening these skills and becoming familiar with the test format.

These resources are helpful reading for anyone preparing to take the IELTS test.

Keywords are so important in the IELTS listening section. Developing skills to recognise keywords and synonyms are crucial for success.

Being able to identify keywords quickly and easily is essential to performing well in the listening section of the IELTS exam. Many students think they can listen for information in the audio and the right answer will be clear; this is rarely the case. The test will try to trick you with false information and digressions, so it’s important to have a good understanding of conversational language, not just vocabulary.

This quiz will test your ability to distinguish keywords and phrases. You can use it as a starting point to assess how much you already know and what you should focus on as we move through the lesson.

A list of the key terms and definitions used in this module.

This list contains important words and phrases you should be familiar with in order to understand speakers in the listening section, as well as to recognise in the reading section of the test.

Paraphrasing is used throughout the IELTS test. This lesson will show you how to recognise it in conversations.

Paraphrasing means to restate something in a different way. It will be used often in the test and is a necessary skill to practice.

Practice listening for keywords and paraphrasing.

Listening to collect data in the IELTS listening section is an important skill, not just for getting a high band on the test, but for your future studies as well.

It’s common in the listening section to find a visual element such as a flow chart or table. You’ll have to listen carefully to get the right answers. 

A few quick tips to help you get through the listening section.

Listen to the audio about a library and label the diagram.

This concludes the IELTS listening section of the academic preparation course. You should be prepared to move on to the reading section.

Welcome to IELTS reading. This module is the largest in the course because we’ve packed it with all the information you need to get through the section

Most students assume that because they can read English fine they’ll do well, but this section of the test isn’t checking your reading proficiency. It’s designed to see how well you can find information in technical texts, whether you can identify the difference between opinion and fact, and accuracy in understanding.

Like the listening section, the reading section's focus is to test your ability to locate relevant information quickly. 

This list of key terms is important to know and recognise. You'll see them come up in many different kinds of study materials. Therefore, understanding these terms means you're on your way to performing well on the test.

Visual tasks are common in the reading section. Filling in tables is one of these tasks

You’ll be given a text and a partially completed chart to fill in.

Your first step will be to look at the missing information and decide what keywords you should be looking for.

Tables and charts are an important part of the IELTS test. You’ll be tested on how well you can recognise information and report what you see. This lesson will share some tips on how to do that effectively.

Practice filling in a table by locating keywords in a text.

Like tables, flow charts use the same techniques of skimming and scanning to find the missing information

Your first step should always be to look at the questions. Find out what information is missing in the flow chart and take note of things you’re looking for.

Like table completion, flow charts will have you go through the text and find the information that completes the chart. This information will appear in order instead of being scattered throughout the text. 

Check your knowledge of flow chart completion with this quick quiz.

Matching headings is one of the more difficult tasks to complete

Although you will have to spend more time reading, you still don’t want to read the text from beginning to end.

Again, read the questions first. It’s important to know what information you should be looking for

Sentence completion tasks are like heading match tasks, but they do require less reading.

This task requires you to match two parts of a sentence, and like the heading task, there are more options than are needed

The matching sentence ending task is like the matching heading task. You’ll be given an incomplete sentence on one side and your task is to find and match the sentence ends. Sounds simple? This is also one of the more difficult tasks on the exam; they’ll often try to trick you with subtle differences. Like the matching heading task, however, there are some simple strategies you can use to complete it quickly and successfully.

This task is common on the IELTS test, and it’s designed to check your ability to find accurate information

The text for these questions is usually pretty short but the information can be difficult to find.

It’s often tempting to assume true or false answers, don’t do this. 

The academic IELTS is testing your ability to perform in an academic setting and therefore tests your ability to locate and understand information.

Try the True/False/Not Given tasks for yourself.

Summary completion tasks come in 2 forms matching words and phrases from a given list or finding them in the text

When you read your questions, you should have a good idea of the kind of information you’re going to look for.

There're two kinds of summary completion tasks. In one, you fill in the missing words from a list. In the other, you find the words in the text

Use what you've learned in these summary completion tasks

Use what you've learned to fill in the gaps on this summary completion task.

Multiple choice questions are often some of the easiest tasks to complete

There are 2 types, one where you have to choose one answer from many, and one where you will choose multiple answers from a list

When it comes to multiple-choice questions, they’re usually the easiest task. The answer is there in front of you, you just must choose the right one. You can get through these quickly -often with reading extraordinarily little of the text- which just a few quick tricks.

Use the strategies from the last lesson to complete the multiple choice task

Now try to find the two correct answers. Use the skills you've learned so far.

Let’s summarise the last module. I’m sure you’ve noticed a common element throughout the listening and reading sections, and that’s recognising keywords. This is the best way to locate information quickly, which is important when you’re under a time constraint.

Welcome to the speaking module. Here, you’ll learn key tricks to sound more natural and prepared for the interview portion of the test.

This is a short section of the test, the interview lasts about 10-15 mins and you’re given a cue card to look at.

In this module you’ll learn techniques to sounding more natural when you speak, phrases to incorporate into the conversation, ways to speak more clearly and more.

We’ll also be breaking down the rubric so you know exactly what the interviewer is listening for.

This is a short module. But it is packed with a lot of tips.

The speaking section is the shortest in the exam. It lasts between 11 and 16 minutes and consists of greetings and introductions, question and answer and short explanations.

It’s hard to show how fluent you are in speaking when you’re nervous. Don’t worry, the examiners know this. Let’s look at a few quick techniques to seem more confident

The first thing you want to do is sit up straight with your hands on the table. This makes you look confident, as well as sound confident. Speak with your head up and feet flat on the floor. It doesn’t seem like much, but it makes a huge difference. Try it.

Conversational vocabulary can make people anxious about the interview portion of the exam. Speaking can be stressful, but with a little practice, this can be the best section to bring your overall band score up. 

match the tier 2 words to their simple meaning

The interview is the shortest section of the test. Usually around 10-15 minutes.

Like public speaking though, nerves can make you speak too quickly and end early, you’ll want to avoid that, and know what to expect will help you present yourself well

The interview will begin with general greetings. Remember that this is a formal interview, so avoid using any slang and clearly enunciate your words.

The interview portion of the test can be nerve-racking; it’s important to be prepared so you can remain calm and speak naturally. Easier said than done right? Well, let’s look at a few tips that will help you keep your cool and sound as clear and natural as possible.

It’s important to sound comfortable using English. You could sound great while you practice and speak with your peers, but if nerves take over in the interview it can really mess things up.

There are a few tricks you can remember to get through this though. We’ve already talked about a few of them, but it’s helpful to reiterate.

The first thing you want to do is make a good impression on the interviewer. You can do this by showing you’re confident in communicating with people. These next few tips will help you show confidence, whether you feel it or not.

The speaking section of the IELTS test is a good opportunity to increase your overall band score if you can sound confident and clear.

The writing section can be the hardest for a lot of students. There’s a lot to consider when writing your essays. The time limit and word count can cause a lot of stress. We’re going to be addressing some ways you can easily achieve a high band on these tasks.

The writing section can be the hardest for a lot of students.There’s a lot to consider when writing your essays, and the time limit and word count can cause a lot of stress. We’re going to be addressing some ways you can easily achieve a high band on these tasks. 

It’s so important to make sure your writing is well structured. This will make sure the examiner can easily read and understand what you’ve written.

The basic structure for most essays is paragraphs. This simple framework will make sure your essay is cohesive and easily meets the word count requirement.

This structure can be used for both essay tasks. When we look at each individual task, I’ll tell you how you can adjust it fit the task better. But the basics remain the same.

Essays are an important part of the IELTS test, especially the academic test. There is a lot the examiners are checking here. There’s an easy way to make sure you’re meeting the criteria laid out in the rubric, and with a little practice, you’ll be writing essays that don’t just get a high band score, but also help you when writing essays in your college or university courses.

Cohesive devices are words that help you transition from one idea to the next.

They make your writing clear and easy to read and it’s something the examiners are looking for in your essays.

We’re going to look at a few simple words that will enhance your writing and make it sound natural

Knowing what kinds of words, you want to use ahead of time will make it easier to structure your essay. Choose some words that are easy to remember and incorporate into your writing, that way you can be prepared before you even get started.

These words are used to keep your writing need and orderly. They give your writing direction and make it clear for the examiner to understand your ideas.

Most students think grammar and vocabulary are the most important part of the essays. While it’s true it pays a role, it isn’t a large as you think.

Examiners are looking for specific things in each of the tasks. In task 1, they want to see how well you can assess information and express the data in writing.

 Part of that is your grammar and vocabulary, but most of it is clarity.

That said, what you should be focusing on is not difficult grammar rules, but simple grammar structures. 

Many people focus on grammar and vocabulary when it comes to writing essays. They think they must have a large, academic vocabulary to do well in the IELTS writing section; that’s not the case. While you shouldn’t be using simple vocabulary, you don’t have to learn complicated vocabulary to do well.

Examiners are looking for how well you can express yourself through writing. Large, technical words can make your essays hard to read and there’s a higher risk of using these words incorrectly, which will hurt your band score.

Match the “very” and “really” words to their more interesting synonyms. Make sure to take note of the ones you like best to use in your essays.

In the task 1 essay, you’ll be asked to look at a visual element and describe the data. This could be a graph, a chart or a table. It’s up to you to decide what you feel is the most important information and communicate it in writing. 

The task 2 essay is easier for some students, even though it’s a longer essay. You’ll be asked to write 250 words on a general topic. It’s usually structured as an opinion or argumentative essay. You’ll read a statement and then be asked either if you agree or disagree and to what extent, or to discuss both sides and then state your opinion. 

Congratulations on reaching the end of the course. I hope the information you’ve learned here has helped you understand the IELTS exam better and given you confidence in your ability to successfully complete the test.