TIPS FOR LISTENING, READING, WRITING AND SPEAKINGi) LISTENING TIPS:1. 2. Read before you listen predict the answer3. Read as you listen focus on the whole question 4. Look at 2 questions at once5. Dont leave the writing to the end6. Practice your shorthand7. Numbers and names check your spelling8. Dont write the answer too quickly9. Dont leave any blank answers: 10. Listen for repeated information11. Look for clues in the question:

A. listening for numbers: Dont spell, write figures Identify whichquestions need number answers It may not be the first number you hear Know what numbers you will need to write down 18 and 80

B. Listening to directions on a map compass pointsI. Reading the map looking for landmarksYou need to: 1. Identify landmarks.2. Be ready to listen out for directions such as to the North. Look for major landmarks. 3. You may also look for other details that may help you find your way. i. various labeled buildingsii. roadsiii. some treesII. Reading the map -seeing the compassYou should be ready for slightly more advanced compass point phrases such as:i. to the north ofii. slightly west ofiii. n the south west Telephone numbers Addresses: House numbers The spelling of names Dates

There are a number of different ways to say and write down dates. The most common type is: the 25th of October speaking 25 October/25th October writingii) READING TIPS:1. Skimming/reading for general meaning: 2. Scanning/finding words: look for key words in the question3. Close reading for detail: learning to read closely for meaning which needs high vocabulary

Scanning Skills:1. Dont read from left to right2. Dont start at the beginningThe skill of scanning includes:The skill of reading right to left and up and down, the skill of starting in the middle.

Question Types:1. Multiple choicesThere are 2 types of question: 1) FACT 2) OPINION Ask you for the writers opinion- According to the author.. ask you to find factual information-So, Sadly, ThereforeTip: dont stop reading too soon. An answer may seem right but if the next word is something like but the meaning changes completely.2. True /False / Not GivenThere are 2 types of question: 1) FACT 2) OPINION True/False/Not given: fact based Yes/No/Not given: opinion basedYes/No/Not given questions -look for the writers opinions rather than facts. The key skills: Interpret the text and the question. Readthe text and the questionclosely and decide what the writer means. A difficulty Not GivenNot given does not mean Not mentioned. They simply dont answer the question.Mark the True answers first and then go back to the False and Not given later.Some practical tips: Read the whole question. Do NOT focus on key words. Think about the meaning of the question. Be especially careful with words such as often and some. Be careful with questions beginning The writer says. The questions will follow the order of the text Do not spend too long on any one question. One possibility is to mark all the True answers and all the False answers and then guess Not Given for the others. Read the instructions carefully and note whether you are being asked to look for facts or opinions. Look at all the questions and see what topics they ask about. You may note key words here, but only to identify the correct part of the text to read. Skim the text to identify which paragraphs you need to read more closely. Mark on the question paper which paragraphs relate to which question. Refocus on the question and read the whole question, be careful with tricky words like usually. Underline the words in the text that give you the answer. 3. Matching Headings And Paragraphs The task:There are always more headings than paragraphs. You may need to read the whole text or only a part of it. The reading skill skimmingThe main skill tested here is your ability to read quickly and get the main meaning of a paragraph. If you find a word you dont understand: ignore it Dont simply match a word in the question with a word in the text Concentrate on the openings and closings of paragraphsSome problems and their solutions:i. Dothis task firstii. Think meaning, not words.iii. Try every heading with every paragraph.iv. Dont stop reading too quickly and read the whole paragraph.v. Dont guess immediately. Do the task twice.THE PROCEDURE:1. Look at the headings first. Dont spend too much time on this, as at least some of them will be wrong.2. Look at the first paragraph. Try to ignore the detail and look for the main point. If it could be heading a) or b) write down a) or b). Dont guess yet. Come back at the end.3. Make sure you underline the words in the text that best match the heading. 4. Move onto the next paragraph and repeat the process. 5. Go back at the end and make a decision about the paragraphs you didnt do first time. 6. If you are uncertain, it sometimes makes sense to use the same heading for 2 paragraphs. You will get one wrong and one right. If you guess, you may get two wrong (or two right)4. Text CompletionThe task: To complete a text with words from the passage. The text you need to complete can vary; it is a series of sentences, or a table or a short summary. Read the question: Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer. Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer. Answer the question below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.Tip: You need to use words from the passage. You cannot change the form or order of those words. You must write them down as they appear in the passage. A test of grammarThe words you use to complete the text must fit grammatically.Tip: Even if you cant predict the correct word form before you read, you must check afterwards that what you have written is good grammar. Recognise synonyms The words used in the text you have to complete will not exactly match the words from the passage. Read for meaning and simply look for the same words in the passage.6.Matching FeaturesFind elements in the text that match a list of people/placesThe traps Read the context dont word match Read for synonyms dont match words Look for similar words in every question The questions do not follow the order of the text You may use more than one name onceTHE PROCEDURE:1. Focus on the names/dates/places2. Scan the text for those names and underline them in the text every time they occur3. Look at all the questions for all the names4. Read carefully and look for synonyms in the text5. Underline/highlight parts of the passage that give the answer 6. Mark them ?4 if you are uncertainMark them 4 if you are certain and cross out that question on the question paper7. Matching information and paragraphs How it works: You need to look for varies a fact an example a reason a summary a definition

The skills you need: Skimming/Understanding general meaning Helps you to identify which paragraphs you should start reading to find the answers. Understand the whole text before looking for the answers. Looking for synonyms Not to look for the same words in the text as you find in the questions. Look for words or phrases in the text that are similar in meaning to words in the questions. Need to understand that this information in a question

iii) WRITING TIPS:Task 1 will ask you to respond to: some situation or problem to complain about something to request information, ask for help To make arrangements and/or explain a situation. Criteria on which your marks are based:1. Task Achievement2. Coherence and Cohesion 3. Lexical Resource4. Grammatical Range and AccuracyPoints to Consider: 1. Make sure you answer the whole question2. Think about whom you are writing to-aim for a relatively neutral style and dont try to be too formal or too informal.3. Think about the purpose(s) of the letter1. 2. complaint3. request4. explanation5. apology6. application7. suggestion

4. Dont forget to use varied grammar.5. Learn how to start a letter-Formal Letter-I am writing to.Informal letter- I was so pleased to hear from you again. Its been ages since weve seen one another6. Learn how to end a letter: in a more formal letter where you have asked for some information, you might write:I look forward to hearing from you soon. in (informal letter)a letter to a friend who is coming to visit you, you might try:I cant wait to see you. And dont forget to give my love to all your family.7. Plan your letter: how many paragraphs you are going to use what the main points to include are what details you need to add what vocabulary you need8. Make sure you writeat least150 words. You will be penalised if you write less than 150 words. 9. Check your spelling and punctuation 10. Practise using standard letter writing phrasesPOINTS TO CONSIDER:1. Answering the question. Write at least 150 words.Fully do all the things that the question asks you. In this case it asks you to do 3 main things:1. explain the situation2. apologize for the inconvenience3. say what you are going to do2. The Opening Greeting of the LetterA friendly letter will open with Dear followed by a name which should then be followed by a comma, eg: Dear John,A semi-formal letter will also open with Dear and then be followed by a name, (if you decide that in the situation you would know the name) or by Sir (if it's a man), Madam (if it's a woman) or Sir/Madam if you don't know, eg: Dear Mr. Phillips, Dear Mrs. Phillips, Dear Sir, Dear Madam,Dear Sir/Madam,3The Opening Paragraph of the Letter: I am writing to ask/ tell//inform you that I am writing to ask/inquire I am writing with regard to I am writing with reference to I am writing in connection with I am writing in response to In reply to your letter, I am writing to...(if the question indicates that you have had a letter)4The Substance of the Letter:i. Asking for Help I would like you to I would be grateful if you could I need to ask your advice about I'd like to ask for information about What I'm looking for is...

ii. Complaining I'm writing to express my dissatisfaction/annoyance/ about I'm writing to express my anger at I am not happy about ... is not what I expected/was expecting. I want to know what you are going to do about this situation.iii. Thanking I'm very grateful for... I'd like to thank you very much for... I very much appreciated...iv. Apologizing I'm very sorry that/about... Please forgive me for... I'd like to apologize about... Please accept my apologies

5. Ending your Letteri. For a formal letter, you could use:If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thanking you in advance for your help, I look forward to hearing from you soon.Yours faithfully, or yours sincerely,ii. For a more informal letter you could use:If you need to know anything else, just get in touch with me as soon as you can. Thanks a lot for your help and I hope to hear from you soon.For an informal letter, love is not always appropriate though English speakers use it a lot. Better would be to use: Regards, Yours, Best wishes, DOs and DONTs: Dos: If you are weak at English grammar, try to use short sentences Think about the tenses of your verbs. If you want to improve, there's no secret. Practice. Practice. Practice. DONTs: Don't be irrelevantand waste time. DON'T copy any part of the question in your answer. Don't repeat yourself or the same ideas.

WRITING TASK 1 ACADEMICACADEMIC

Task 1Minimum 150 wordsInterpreting, describing, or comparing information presented in graphic form a diagram, bar chart, line graph, pie chart or table

Task 2Minimum 250 wordsWriting an essay on a general academic topic formal style

Your score is based on three fundamental criteria: Content: How well do you r present your arguments, ideas and evidence? Quality: How effectively are you able to communicate your ideas and thoughts? TechnicalAspects: How correct is your grammar? How rich is your vocabulary? How varied are your sentences? Grammar and vocabulary will also be assessed. Check your writing forverb tense agreement, prepositions, word order, sentence patterns, sentence structure, and range of vocabulary. Avoid using the same verbs, nouns, or adjectives more than once.Do not use slang at all. Criteria on which your marks are based:1. Task Achievement: covers all requirements of the task sufficiently and whether you presented, highlighted and illustrate the key points appropriately2. Coherence and Cohesion: Cohesion is how your writing fits together. Coherence is how you are making yourself understood and whether the reader of your writing understands what you are saying. 3. Lexical Resource: check if right words are used at the right time in the right place and in the right way.4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy: appropriate, flexible and accurate use of grammatical structures.

TASK 1: is a report based on pictorial information. you may need to describe a graph, chart, or diagram. Bar chart, pie chart, line graph, or some other graphic representation. You might also be asked to describe the process illustrated by the diagram. This involves describing the data accurately, pointing out trends and relevant information, and using appropriate vocabulary.To understand how best to answer this type of task: Score based on your ability : to group relevant information, link ideas in complex sentences, and use appropriate vocabulary to describe trends. IELTS Writing - Academic Task 1 -Types of ChartsIt shows you can intelligently and clearly interpret and describe data presented in charts, tables, graphs and diagrams. 5 STEPS TO MASTERING ACADEMIC TASK 11. Learn to recognize and identify different graphic forms, such as line graphs, bar charts, pie charts, etc.2. Know what key information, comparisons and trends to look out for.3. Practice using the specific vocabulary required to describe those trends.4. Learn how to follow a plan to start, complete and finish your answer. 5. Know what NOT to include in your response.

STEPS 1 & 2 IDENTIFY TYPES OF CHARTS, LOOK FOR TRENDSa) BAR CHARTSA bar chart consists of rectangular bars arranged horizontally or vertically from the x or y axis.The length of a bar shows the values it represents. The values are listed on one axis and each bar shows what is being measured on the other axis. Bar charts are useful for comparing data. Look for the following information: Which is the tallest bar? Which is the shortest bar? Have the bars changed over time? How? How do the bars compare to each other?b) PIE CHART Pie charts is a circular chart divided into sectors or pie slices. It presents information in segments of a circle or pie, which together add up to 100%. Ask yourself: Which is the largest segment? Which is the smallest segment? How do the segments compare with each other?LINE GRAPHA line graph plots the changes in data over time:Ask yourself: What is the highest level / point? What is the lowest level / point? Is there a point till when the trend was increasing or decreasing? When did the trend change?TABLES:A table presents information in different categories, making it easy to compare. The sample table below shows the percentage of students who came to college on foot, by car, bicycle or public transportation Method of Student Travel to College by Percentage Look out for the following: What is the highest figure? What is the lowest figure? What is second highest, etc.? STEP 3 VOCABULARY OF TRENDS use a range of vocabulary to describe and interpret visual information. use the appropriate verbs, nouns, adjectives and adverbs to provide precise descriptions.STEP 4 WRITE YOUR ANSWER ACCORDING TO A PLANFollow the plan: Write one sentence to introduce the subject and graphic. Write one or two sentences to show the relationship between the data or to comment on the main trend. Write an in-depth description of the information given. Include details from the most important to the least important, depending on time. Write one sentence to conclude your answer.STEP 5 - WHAT NOT TO WRITE Only describe the data. Don not give your interpretation of it. TASK 2: you need to write an academic style essay on the single topic given. You have no choices here you must write only about the one topic. Need to offer : a solution to a problem, express an opinion or comment on ideas or arguments presented.Your essay should be about : four or five paragraphs in length, with an introduction, body and conclusion. It should not be a list of bullet points, but a properly organized essay, written in full sentences. need to state your thesis, provide evidence or reasons to support your argument and write a strong conclusion. Use topic sentences to clearly identify the main theme in each paragraph. Paragraph 1IntroductionRestate the topic, indicate your position

Paragraph 2BodyMain idea, supporting idea, examples

Paragraph 3BodyMain idea, supporting idea, examples

Paragraph 4ConclusionSummarize ideas, restate position

iv) SPEAKING TIPS:a. Listen to and answer the questionb. Key advice extend your answer appropriately. Give a full answer.c. Make eye contactd. Do not learn answers. Don't try to memorize answers to sample subjects.e. If you dont understand the question askf. Give yourself time to think repeat/reformulate the questiong. Correct yourself if you can do it immediately

h. Do not relax too much its not a conversationi. Speak clearly and don't worry about your accent.j. Use descriptive words.Don't use boring words like good, bad, nice, or okay. Use exciting words that covey emotion. k. Don't use slang.l. Keep a steady pacem. Practice speaking with a watch. n. Stay on topic.o. Have daily discussions with friends.