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February 2013

Student success: how Alicia got IELTS Band 7 after just one day of preparation

Alicia is a young lady whose first language is Indonesian (as you can see from the photo, she’s a musician!). She had to take the IELTS test, and was short of time – but still managed to get an Overall Band 7. This is what she wrote to us about her exam preparation:

Band 8 in IELTS“Greetings. My name is Alicia Nevriana from Indonesia. I would like to express my gratitude to you through this e-mail. I read your book ‘Target Band 7 – How to Maximize Your Score’ while preparing for my IELTS test. I admit that I was late in preparing my IELTS and I just got to know your book the day before I took the test. I didn’t join any preparation course and my only source of study was your book (and a Barron’s book, which I couldn’t manage to study at all). However, I just got my results today and I was so surprised I could achieve overall band score 7.0! If it weren’t because of you and your book, I might not be able to achieve it.”

Not only did Alicia succeed in her IELTS test, but she also won our monthly IELTS results competition! In her own words, this victory “is the proof that the book had helped me achieve what I thought to be nearly impossible before”. Following our tradition of many years share her advice for other test takers:

“I think my best advice for those who are preparing their IELTS is to ‘allocate some time‘. Really, it was my mistake that I prepared it all in a rush (I only spared one day to study).

Follow the study plan that’s attached in the book, it really is helpful. The author always knew that there would be some candidates who didn’t have lots of time preparing it so he usually had tips for those kind of people (like me).

More importantly, do every task thoroughly. If you’re asked to record your voice as a part of listening exercise, do it!

Read and re-read the pocket tips, have them in your pocket, anytime, anywhere.

However, you shouldn’t push yourself too far, know your capacity and take a break.

Last but not least, pray. It worked for me, at least :)”

IELTS test in Ireland – February 2013 (Academic Module)

The IELTS test taker A from Ireland shared this exam update:

Listening test

Section 1. A woman was checking what were the sports club entry requirements for her son.

Section 2. A talk about accidental domestic fires, reasons and possible rescue plans.

Section 3. Students were talking about their interest in business study and social science.

Section 4. Scientific research about kangaroos, mice and other rodents, their feeding habits and interactions, carried out in Auckland.

Reading test

Passage 1. About farming and alternative use of pesticides by Neem trees (evergreen trees growing in some parts of India).

Passage 2. About play and science, how and why they are related to each other, author’s views about scientists’ behavior.

Passage 3. About cinemas in England.

Writing test

Writing task 1 (a report)

We were given a chart showing the percentage of free time spent by adults on different activities in England in 2006.

Writing task 2 (an essay)

Nowadays there is no need for museums and art galleries any more. Since everything is accessible through internet, people can find any historic facts there. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons and examples from your personal knowledge.

Speaking test

Interview

– What do you enjoy the most in your studies?
– Do people take more photographs these days?
– How often do you take pictures?
– When did you last take a picture?
– Do you like cold climate or hot?
– What are the seasons in your country?
– Did the weather change in the recent years?

Cue card

Describe a product that you bought and were disappointed with. Please say

– What was the product?
– Where did you buy it?
– Why was it unsatisfactory?

Discussion

– What do you think about people’s materialistic attitude?
– What do people look for when they buy a product?
– Is environment getting affected by people’s activities?
– What considerations are to be taken by manufacturers in order to protect the environment?
– What is more important, to keep the environment intact or to satisfy our consumerist needs?