hey guys...i just signed up the ielts course in british council...mainly because of the university that i am currently applying for...british council gave me a 30hours online course for free...i am not sure whether its enough to prepare me for the test? well...i just want to know...how hard is ielts? how if compare to muet? what kind of preparation should i do in order to score well in it? at least a 6.5...need advice pleaseee...

This post has been edited by Jjdesu: Oct 15 2011, 11:02 PM

how difficult...or easy it is depends on you level of english proficiency, obviously....it is after all a test of proficiency.......you certainly cannot improve your english with a few hours of teaching, although it is useful to have an idea of the format and reduce the chance of a lower band from unfamiliarity with the format.....

ielts is actually not that hard if your standard of english is normally good. that 30 hours course is just to familiarize you with the format and what they require especially the essay and listening part.

Yup it really depends on the proficiency of your english, for some people it can be easy for others it can be difficult. It varries of course, if you normally do well in high school... A all the way maybe it wont be a big problem to score. All the best, mate

As long as you're calm enough during the test, use you language skills rightfully, and give your best, you'll pass with no worries. Yes its down to how strong you master the language itself. Use the 30 hours practise, it gets you familiar with how the test is done.

again, this shows a failure to understand what ielts tests...

there is NO pass or fail.....you get a band grading, which indicates your proficiency in english....

the respective requesting bodies (ie, unis, immigration etc) will set a proficiency level, depending on the situation....eg, many unis want band 6 minimum, critical courses need band 7, and to get enough points for independent skilled migration application you need band 8......

btw, this is one test you cannot improve your score by repeating....in fact, many people gets a lower band on repeat test......the score can only improve if your level of english proficiency improves significantly......

30 hours? You shouldn't need 30 seconds to get a 6.5. But getting an 8.5 or 9 is tricky because this is a mean test.

Easy.

again, another misconception.....there is nothing easy or hard about the test....it's a test of proficiency....how hard (or easy) to an individual, depends on his level of english, and the requirement expected of him....someone may find it easy to satisfy the band 6.5 (academic) requirement to get into uni......but may find it very hard to get the band 8(general) to be eligible to apply for aussie pr.....

How hard IELTS is depending on your English proficiency (as what some of the posters have commented). It might be easy for some, and it might be a killer for some. There's no way we can tell you that as we don't really know your proficiency in English.

Comparing it to MUET, I would have to say IELTS is on a slightly challenging level. (To me, personally) It depends on the content on that day too (correct me if I'm wrong) but you will get a different set of questions compared to me right? E.g. I might get a less challenging reading test and you might get a more challenging one. But in the end, it's up to your own proficiency.

In terms of preparation, I can only advice to practice on the weak aspect in your English proficiency. E.g. You're weak in speaking - practice more on speaking then. Practice more not just practice only on speaking.

Not on a serious note, please clean your ears so you won't mishear during the listening test

Good luck.

Proficiency is nearly everything in this.

To skim and scam the keywords is not easy..i have practiced a couple of tests and it seems really hard to get answer right only provide 1hr for reading and writing..haih

It's not hard nor easy, IELTS is an English proficiency test, which means it tests your English language ability.

That's a difficult question to ask. It's like asking whether I can pass the ACCA or piano exam without knowing my skills. First, you should take a test by one of the English centres to determine your level and then go for their IELTS preparatory class. From the little that you write, your command of English seems alright but it is best to take a mock test to see what your level is.

A band of 6.5 is not easy for most Malaysians to obtain so you better work hard at it to make sure that you are able to join the university on time.

Good luck!

i dont think so..how come i did easily get band higher than this (8 to be precise)?

p/s: my English is bad u know

does ielts test all the 4 language skills?

Yes..speaking writing listening and reading

If the deadline for UK universities are on January and February, when is the latest can I sit for the IELTS.

I was told that the test is structured, even the speaking session (common interview questions), so do we need to have to attend classes for it or some books itself would be sufficient?

They test four things : Speaking, writing, reading and listening. They then give individual bands for each and you also get an overall band based on an average of the four.

If you want to have your IELTS results before sending in your application then take it in December or January. You will get your IELTS results 13 days after you finish the test so it doesn't take that long. If your not confident that you'll get good enough results than do it earlier so you'll have time to retake.

I spent an hour or so familiarising myself with the format of the test the day before the test and I got a band 8.0 so there's no need really to attend classes. There's a lot of free examples on the internet, you just need to google them.

Wow, you mean you just took an hour to understand the test and then just took it the next day? I heard it's easy but it can't be that easy right? That being said, my friend scored 6.5 with IMO a very poor standard of English, but I need to score a 7.5 though.

I'm actually afraid of the listening part. They would just read the passage to us and we are supposed to write them down after hearing just once?

They wouldn't read to us..unless the radio or sound system spoiled already..u will only be given 30secs to look through the questions..and u will only hear the recording once..don't expect they will play twice or more for u..so have to listen and catch the words really quickly and carefully

Since it's a proficiency test, meaning even if you spend days or weeks to understand or familiarize yourself with the test, it won't help if your level of proficiency in English is not good enough.

If I remember correctly, you listen, then you answer the questions from what you've listened. 40 questions or 50 (don't really remember) - something like that. You don't have to write back the passage as that would be considered as listening and memory test instead?

it's a test of your language proficiency so it's not easy or hard.

It's not like you need specific knowledge to take the test, so taking some time to familiarize yourself with the structure is enough. The average Malaysian who lives in the city or the surrounding suburbs should be at least the level of 6.5 in my opinion.

They don't read it to you, they play a radio etc. You get a short time to read the questions before hand. It's quite easy to follow what they play, it's not like a passage or anything. It'll be like a phone call, an interview etc.

I dont think is easier to get band 8 each components easily like what your say.

Could you teach me your way please. i need it seriously.

there's no shortcut or way, IETLS test your english ability and if you want a higher band you'll have to improve your english.

I guess writing in English in this forum helps. Lol

Normally, if a person gets band 5 or 6 in MUET, how will they fare with IELTS? Will they be able to get 7 and above in IELTS easily? Anyone has opinion on this?

It helps me me until I join /K ....

TBH, I want to give u the 9gag "b**** please photo" when you mentioned u needed a 6.5. I recently scored alls 8s and 9s. But I have to be entirely honest, easy as some people say it is, it really isn't. Prep well!! I reckon the killer parts would be the essay and the speaking. The only way to prepare is to talk with a mate.

Another tricky part is the listening. There are usually 4 large Qs there. First and second are pretty easy! Don't fall prey to the third one though. We usually listen for a bit before getting the answer but the third question contains information right at the beginning of the dialogue.

Lastly, I used this blog http://www.ielts-blog.com/. It has all the shits from previous exams, for example say last week's essay paper and sort. I was a bit skeptical and didn't believe the essays Qs that were in the paper for India the week before, and the hell it came out in Australia the following. =.=!

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Added on November 29, 2011, 4:53 amTips for speaking, ensure fluency. When moving from one point to another don't time shift. Use words like 'in addition', 'moreover', etc. Most people will say things like. 'and then', 'and then'. Or even worse, the simply mention another point without formally introducing it.


This post has been edited by Versalius: Nov 29 2011, 04:53 AM

lol, very true. /k/ destroyed my english.... I think ever since then, my english has slowly becoming rojak already.

not that hard la bro..my ching chong english also can get 7..just be prepared,take your time especially listening and speaking..read more books and try to practise with your friends..

essay writing and speaking is the killer parts in ielts. listening and reading is the easiest. so i think its better for u to learn how to write and speak good english tbh.

IELTS is a standard english language proficiency test. However, don't make the mistake of not preparing or studying because you can speak and write english well. It's best to do some practice tests before sitting for the exam. One good resource is http://www.ielts-blog.com/.

I sat for IELTS last year and I got an average band of 8.5 (Listening = 9.0, Reading = 8.5, Writing = 8.0, Speaking = 8.0)
Here are some tips for the each of the 4 components in the IELTS Test (Academic Module).

Listening:
1. Ensure that you are familiar with British and/or Australian accents. The recordings that were played in my test had strong British accents.
2. Make sure that you can hear clearly when the instructors play the sample recordings.
3. Recordings are only played once, therefore it's good to record down any information at all, even if the question does not ask for it.
4. Sometimes the recording voice says something, but moments later corrects himself/herself. Be careful when this happens as you do not want to record the wrong answer.
5. Make sure your answer is written clearly on the answer sheet. Your 1's may look like 7's and so on.
6. Don't waste your time to perfect your answers on the answer sheet when the recording is being played. You will have time to transfer your answers.
7. Sometimes the recording speaks fast. This is where point 3. comes in handy.
8. Some questions at the back require you to think as the answer is not said by the recording voice. Therefore it's crucial that you write down important points and consolidate them later.

Reading:
1. Time is very important here. Ensure that you have ample time to read the passages and answer the questions.
2. Important to underline keywords.
3. Should spend only 20 mins on each passage.
4. There are some questions that have very close choices as answers. Just beware as it can cost you your band.
5. Budget your time wisely here. Do not later regret that you could not finish the reading exam due to insufficient time.


Writing:
1. There are 2 essays to write here.
2. People suggest that 20 mins should be spent on Task 1 and 40 mins should be spent on Task 2.
3. I did both using 30 mins each.
4. For Task 1, it is sufficient for you to describe the data and graphs given.
5. Use 'depicts', 'portrays', 'illustrates' to describe data in Task 1. Works like a charm.
6. Watch Bloomberg/CNBC and observe how the newsreader describe trends and data. Weather forecasts are good too.
5. For Task 2, it is important that you plan out your essay to avoid hiccups and unnecessary time wastages when writing your essays.
6. Some topics can be extremely awkward and tricky. As of consequence, be extremely careful when tackling tough essays.
7. Eg: My topic was to write about "Is it better to have shops that are situated at the outskirts of the city, compared to shops that are conveniently located in the heart of the city?"

Speaking:
1. Golden Rule : Be calm and DON"T PANIC!
2. Always greet the examiner politely and smile.
3. When the examiner gives you 1 minute to prepare, use it to the fullest. Don't rush your speech as this will guarantee that you make severe blunders when you deliver your speech.
4. Be prepared when the examiner probes you. Be ready to illustrate your points with valid arguments.
5. Avoid using all the lahs and mahs. Also, be careful when you say 'market', and 'never mind'
6. Use conjunctions and rich vocabulary. However don't use them out of context.
7. For example, the examiner asked me about how different were hobbies in the past compared to the hobbies that people like in the 21st Century. I answered that in the past, people loved to play in the outdoors, and this involved jumping into rivers and playing in jungles. However, this has changed now as the only jungle available is the 'concrete jungle'.

That's my 2 cents about sitting for the exams. Well, good luck and remember to practise for the exam!

This post has been edited by darkhorse_86: Nov 29 2011, 09:12 PM

This is helpful, thanks~!

I plan to take it in near future, hope my rusty English didn't kill me.

I taken Australian HSC in the pass, i'm really phobia of Australian accent.

Good luck.

This post has been edited by goldfish8888: Dec 1 2011, 12:06 AM

time duration for each section is very limited.
pls ensure to manage your time especially in reading n writing.

This post has been edited by ssmuhd84: Dec 16 2011, 02:50 PM

aww this is tricky...i did fairly bad in my speaking yesterday...i had examiner repeats the question twice...i cant really get used to his british accent...haih...

Hi guys, is it compulsory to take this ielts test right after my foundation/ pre-U studies ? Thanks

No it's not. You don't need to take it if you don't need it.

Moreover the validity of the ielts test is 2 years. Therefore, don't take it if you do not need it.

This post has been edited by darkhorse_86: Dec 28 2011, 04:07 PM

depends though..

band 5, one could obtain 7,7.5, 8 of ielts.

muet band 6, 8 to 9...
(roughly)

based on my exp, band 8 could be translated to upper band 5 or lower band 6 of muet..as i said, it depends

This post has been edited by realnumber: Dec 28 2011, 07:57 PM

I took IELTS and believe me its easy if you have good English. I, for one, is not 'that' good in English (see all my grammar mistakes...), but I still achieve a ~8 though.

Try googling for the IELTS books etc., it help me a LOT with english essay especially after A-level.

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Added on December 28, 2011, 9:01 pmAgreed. My friend get band 5 on MUET and obtain 7.5. Not high but its sufficient to enter almost all university in UK....unless you want to take journalism which requires >8 if I'm not mistaken.

This post has been edited by Crypt: Dec 28 2011, 09:01 PM

Does taking ielts and achieve good level (say more than band 7) helps in career? Thinking of taking it but don't know worth the trouble or not.

TS, How was the exam? and how's your score?

No.

it's just spm english..no positive correlation with your command of english

all the universities in uk and oz must be pretty stupid then, in depending on the ielts results for quantification of english ability......

it's just loads of formats to be followed, just like 1119. You know, rpg games. Just finish the quests and you win...

very good then, go follow all the formats and practise like your computer games, and come back and tell us what you get.....

Are you sure it was ielts you sat for?

Are you sure?

They should have just taken our SPM results and not waste more time and money!

I thought they do? EL1119 with C6 or above? Like NUS.

i already did it that's why I have the right to comment here...and u can bet my score was pretty damn above average.

point is, i have friends who can speak very fluently and write with a natural flair but just ain't able to get the hang of writing like what the ielts format dictate...she got 8. Another friend of mine, can tell she's not that english-educated yet she can write like SPM english.. u know..very robotic...'Firstly...blabla..Secondly..blabla..Conclusion is..blabla" ..and she got 8 too.

based on your logic, since you have it all sussed up, i presume you got band 9 then for all sections?....

just because 2 different persons with different component flair gets the same overall band does not make the test invalid....

6699 can be 8, 7788 can be 8, 8888 also 8.....which is why one of the conditions for many unis is eg, 'NO COMPONENT BELOW 7'....

it's totally possible to get band 9 for Listening and Reading. Well of course the test isn't invalid...neither is SPM english..

therefore of course you did get band 9 with all components 9, and all these universities are stupid.....

the usual requirements are just a band 6.5...and why do you have to relate the level of stupidity of universities with the test? My whole point from the beginning is just even english professors can screw up the test if he doesn't know the format at all.

because of this.....

because not everyone can finish ALL the quests

eh.....so that means that not everyone can train themselves to get band 9.......and maybe, just maybe, there is some validity in the test?.......

I didn't know that English professors are that bad. Obviously they need good "format" training. Your invaluable guidance will do them a whole world of good.

Sigh..lazy to explain further

read this
http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...post&p=47088095

Btw, just to let you know i aint bullshitting, i got a band of 8.5. Yupe i screwed up speaking(7.5) because you cant really train that aspect unless you speak alot of english with your peers

The grading system is flawed in the sense that they round the overall scores up. My friend had the exact same scores as me for the rest(9,8.5,8 except for speaking 8.5), we still ended up with the same overall band. See? One whole band difference yet we still get the same band score.

This post has been edited by C-Note: Jan 5 2012, 08:53 AM

ielts results are given in a range of 17 bands....which means, generally, each band may include 6% of a student cohort (it does not, based on the gaussian curve, but let's assume linear results).....therefore, the bottom student and top student of a band, say 7.5, will have results that varies little bit.....it is after all. an averaging of the individual bands....

that makes it rubbish?.....

well, the a levels result comes in 6 bands.....assuming the same linear result, each band may include 14% of students, more than double that of an ielts band......therefore, the range of results within a band, say b grade, must be quite large.....

therefore, based on said argument, the a-levels is absolute and utterly double rubbish test.....

ditto for stpm....they have 13 bands.....still less than ielts.....

nice one.

He didn't say it was rubbish, just flawed. It doesn't mean the grading system is totally stupid or useless, just not very accurate (hence, flawed) because it takes the average score. Just like your markah purata for your school exams.

by the same token, the a levels must then be an extremely flawed exam, as it is so inaccurate, averaging everybody's score into just 6 bands.....

spore and hk must be mad to use the same a-levels format.....and uk and oz unis must be really stupid to depend on a flawed exam for selection of students......

A-Level is different because the average results are taken from 3 or 4 completely different subjects. IELTS, on the other hand, takes 4 components and gets an average result of a same subject - English. When you submit your A-Level result, they generally look at the overall performance and the subjects that are needed for the course you want, whereas for IELTS that won't look at each components and they'll only look at the overall grade, but of course some universities would want you to reach a certain grade for each components, but yet overall grade takes the priority. This is not the same for A-Level because sometimes for some courses they look at the subjects that are needed only, which means an additional subject may be ignored. This is not the same as IELTS because you can't ignore any component.

There's no need to be so harsh and called these uni stupid. Everything has flaws, and exams too have flaws. It's quite hard to find a flawless thing in this world.

This post has been edited by justarandomboy: Jan 5 2012, 11:41 PM

you obviously will not get a 9, as you have problems with sarcasm, which is the hall mark of the english language......

you are wrong.....there is NO a level result that is the 'the average results are taken from 3 or 4 completely different subjects'.....

'This is not the same for A-Level because sometimes for some courses they look at the subjects that are needed only, which means an additional subject may be ignored. This is not the same as IELTS because you can't ignore any component. '.......how does this make ielts more flawed than a levels?......the logic escapes me.....

Sorry, I should change it to STPM instead of A-Level. It would be clearer if I wrote STPM. My apologies. Even so, they are still different because three or four subjects are there in A-Level while IELTS is about a language with its components.

No sarcasm was intended. Don't have to be cynical though, no one is trying to patronise you, just voicing out some opinions.

I did not say IELTS is more flawed, I simply said they are different.

This post has been edited by justarandomboy: Jan 6 2012, 12:05 AM

nobody used the word 'flawed' except you, so yes, you indeed did say a levels is flawed.........

again, you failed to understand subtleties of the english language.....not only did i never say you were sarcastic......you failed to detect my sarcasm when i called the universities stupid.......

and seriously....how can one confuse the a levels with stpm?......

what r the fees do u guys take the IELTS?

that would be a band 4 or so.....

spoon feeding appears necessary here....so there http://www.britishcouncil.org/malaysia-exa...yment-terms.htm .........mum mum.....

I thought there will has a small difference if from different places ?

This post has been edited by AP.L: Jan 6 2012, 12:21 AM

you are right.....it is different.....

http://www.malaysia.idp.com/ielts/how_to_register_.aspx

rm10.....

I think you have failed to understand me completely. So instead of flogging a dead horse here I'll just leave a final reply.

Yes, I did use the word 'flawed' by telling you what C-Note was saying. IELTS grading system is somehow flawed. As for the other one I was answering your question about 'how IELTS is more flawed than A-Level'. I was simply telling you A-Level and IELTS are different. I thought you misunderstood me by thinking I was saying IELTS is more flawed than A-Level, which I didn't. I merely stated that A-Level is different from IELTS.

I did not actually get confused with A-Level and STPM. Again, you've failed to understand me. Using STPM would simply give a clearer picture about what I was telling you about the relevant subjects and ignored subject because STPM has a grading system that is similar to IELTS - CGPA. But yet my point should be clear, A-Level and STPM have 3/4 different subjects while IELTS is only one subject and though IELTS is somehow flawed, it's quite wrong to say A-Level is too flawed in the same way because they are not exactly similar.

so a levels and ielts are different.....how does that make ielts 'flawed'........?

you clearly said 'a levels'......and you expect people to know you mean stpm?.....