My score: (General Training)
L:8.5 R:8.5 W:8.5 S:8.0 O:8.5
I got an overall 8.5 on the academic module a few years ago. I have taken the
test numerous times so I am not a gifted candidate. The score is the result
of heavenly blessings and hard work, which means everyone is capable of
obtaining it. I was born and raised in Taiwan. My English had been very poor
before I went to college. I almost failed in English several times in senior
high school, which by the way was a vocation-training, rather than a regular
academic school. Before I start, allow me to thank those who have helped me
and Simon. I have benefited tremendously from his website,
http://ielts-simon.com/
Here are the most important steps in my method.
Listening:
I have got 9 on this skill many times.
*Read “every” word and underline key words along the way. It is the best
way to orient yourself in the exam. Read ahead and read Section 4 at least
twice before this section starts. Utilize the breaks and pauses. Reading
ahead is especially important when dealing with multiple choice questions.
*Predict the answer according to the text. The first thing you can do is
guess the part of speech. Sometimes you can actually put down the correct
answer without listening. Try this a few times at home. Most answers are
really simple words such as temperature, handouts, weight, etc. If you can
get one or two right, you will stay way ahead of the speakers. Some answers
for multiple choice questions, especially when only one correct answer is
needed, are particularly predictable because the context can be clear and
common sense is applicable.
*Try to paraphrase the words you read because it is likely that you will not
hear identical words in the recording (even if you do, these identical words
can be traps). If you have a large vocabulary, take it a step further:
reverse the sequence of words and try to make a grammatical sentence (do this
at home. in the exam, there is not enough time). For difficult questions, the
speakers tend to say the answer before the words on paper. By the time you
realize this, it is too late.
*Write down all figures and dates even though in most cases it is not
necessary.
Case 1: A, June. B, July. A(and/or)B, June OK.
Case 2: A, June. B, July. A(and/or)B, July OK.
Case 3: A, June. B, July. A(and/or)B, June not OK.
Case 4: A, June. B, July. A(and/or)B, July not OK. (This is a difficult one.
The correct answer is not mentioned again. If you did not jot down the first
number or date, you are in trouble.)
*Pay more attention to unfamiliar question types, especially in the exam. I
did not get 9 this time because of the diagram questions. I should have spent
more time surveying the graphs.
*While you are doing all these, you are being an active listener. It enhances
your concentration.
*Every answer appears in the order of the question. That means if you miss
one, forget about it. Also, have a big picture (the topic) in mind and pay
attention to the next question.
*Rehearse possible phrases if you see a map. What words will be used? Is
there a compass? If not, how do you describe directions? Where is the
starting point and where will the speaker direct you to first? (Every answer
appears in the order of the question.)
Reading:
*Vocabulary, vocabulary, vocabulary! Folks, you probably do not have a
sufficient vocabulary. The first reaction of most learners, confronted by new
words, is denial: These words are not important and rarely used! A person
should at least be able to read everyday news without hindrance. I am talking
about neither articles in TIME nor stories of pulp fiction. Take out a
newspaper and see how many words you do not know.
*Answers for TFNG and YNNG questions must have a clear order. If the answer
for 6 is not found between 5 and 7, it is NOT GIVEN. Do not mistake YES for
TRUE, NO for FALSE, and vice versa.
*Pay attention to the NB note. It means at least one letter should be used
twice. Without NB, every letter can only be used once.
*If you see an exact word in the choice of list of headings, it is possibly
wrong. Paraphrasing is the key so find words that have been paraphrased.
Also, the chosen heading should be more inclusive. When you read koala, roo,
and wombat in one paragraph, the correct answer should contain words like
animals or fauna.
*As Simon said, read to the end and come back later for difficult questions.
Difficult summary completion questions sometimes do not have a clear order in
the text. Don’t get stuck there. Once you finish reading, the structure of
the passage should be clearer.
*Sometimes, you are very confident about the answer. That is because you have
found the paraphrased words for the question and the passage. They are your
paramount guidelines. Your intuition or background information should be the
last resort. Find out and match paraphrased words when training.
Writing and Speaking:
According to Simon, the key to high speaking and writing scores is good
vocabulary. I agree. Look at the marking scheme. There is not much you can do
about your pronunciation in the exam. Coherence and cohesion? Yeah, you can
use signal words and arrange content in the right order to improve your
score, but the most difference you can make is the vocab. Look at the words
Simon has underlined in his examples. Most readers would say the words are
easy but do they appear in your writing or speech? Most people know these
words but do not use them. Try to use more of them in your practice. You must
use high-level words to receive the marks otherwise the examiner can only
assume you do not know.
Make sure you use a wide variety of sentence structures and grammar. Force
yourself to use a regular set of good sentence structures in your practice.
They will come naturally in the exam.
Often, you do not have good ideas for a topic, so do some research. After
that, try to relate what you have found to your real life experience. This
will make your recollection vivid. Or invent crazy stories to have some fun.
(Btw, Simon’s e-book provides many excellent ideas for the essay task.)
Writing (long essay):
*As you write, keep the topic in mind. In my opinion, addressing the topic is
very difficult. You have to address every part of the topic. Every! When you
write a paragraph, your points and examples must corroborate not only the
reason in the paragraph, but the topic as well. Many people provide too many
details related only to the reason in the paragraph and digress from the main
topic. Try put in synonyms of the topic in your reason or example to a
greater extent.
*The structure suggested by Simon works. Use one sentence to introduce the
topic and the other to state your opinion. Write one sentence and start with
“in conclusion” for the concluding paragraph. The body paragraphs are of
your paramount concern.
*Leave a few minutes for proofreading. Most, if not all, test takers make
several grammar and/or spelling mistakes.
Speaking:
Use a voice recorder and correct yourself. Listening to your own answer is
understandably excruciating. Find some good ideas, use them in your speech,
and start over until it sounds ok. If speaking for two minutes is too
difficult, type your answer in a Word file first. Of course you do not read
from the script but this exercise can clarify your thoughts. Distribute the
time evenly to each point. Star over until you think the answer is
acceptable. The longest I have spent on one recording is around 6 or 7 hours
(I did nothing else on that day. I was like a maniac talking to myself, the
same thing over and over). Extremely tedious but effective. When you have
used the same words or phrases over a hundred times in a correct way, it is
difficult to make a mistake. You must go through this process in order to
achieve fluency without mistakes. You are able to correct your mistakes by
yourself to a large extent without an instructor. That should bring your
speaking to your reading or listening level, which are usually higher.
Correcting simple mistakes actually has a far-reaching effect, even if they
are simple grammar. Also, prepare for the worst. I have done the first slot
at 12.30, so bring a snack, although most test venues start the afternoon
session at 1 pm.
*I often made use of small blocks of time to talk to myself. When I was
riding a scooter and waiting for the traffic light, I would repeat difficult
sentences or phrases. People often gave me a perplexed look.
*The most effective way is hiring an experienced examiner. I did not have the
financial resources but it is highly recommended.
*Final point: In the exam, think about nothing but English. Your brain power
is limited. Don’t waste it on thoughts of possible success, failure, or even
your goal. These thoughts can motivate you in the preparation but will only
distract you in the exam.
Best of luck to every reader and those who are still working hard. You are
not alone. When you pass the exam, you will be truly able to appreciate the
phrase “a new lease of life.”
Yours faithfully, yours sincerely, best regards, best wishes,