IELTS EXAM !!!

         The very first step before you register to be a student in university, you have to pass the qualification test that university requires and of course you need an IELTS score. As we are Thai students, English is not our native language so we have to take an IELTS exam to show that we are able to study in English.  

 

 

First, get to know IELTS?

IELTS exam or The International English Language Testing System helps measure student's ability listening, reading, writing, and speaking. People who want to study or work overseas need to get the score first before they apply. I am the one who need a high score on IELTS exam for university that I want to apply. There are six IELTS center; IDP Education Service Bangkok, British Council Bangkok, British Council Chiangmai, IDP chiangmai, IDP Khon Kaen, and IDP Songkla.The exam costs 6,300. I got the overall score of 6 for the first time and 6.5 for the second time but I want to get an overall score of 7 so I decided to study hard for the third time. I took exam at British Council because it is the nearest centre. First when you arrive the center, you have to queue to get to room. You have to deposit your bag and you are not allowed to bring anything to the exam room. The exam will start at 9am. Please arrive the center around 8.30am. You can test that does your handset is not brok Ien. The handset is for your listening exam. (IDP does not provide you a handset). This makes British Council different from IDP. You can concentrate more on listening exam. You can go to toilet anytime that you want but that’s mean you will lose your time for the exam. 

 

In the listening part, a listening test is 30 minutes long and extra 10 minutes to transfer you answer to the answer sheet. You will hear four recorded monologues and conversations with 40 questions. Each monologues and conversion will increase speed of speech consecutively. Try to catch up what the record said and try not to miss it. You must write your answer on your answer sheet because the answer in the question paper will not be count. The best way to answer is to write capital letter because sometimes you cannot sure that word capital which letter. In the reading part, an academic reading test is 60 minutes long. It has three sections with 40 questions. I hate this part the most because I have never get good score on it. You have to practice reading as much as you can. First take glance on the question and find the key words that you need then look into the text and highlight the key words that you have found. Don’t forget that time is limited so don’t waste your time by reading word by word.  In the writing part, an academic writing part test is 60 minutes long. It has two writing task of 150 words and 250 words. This is the hardest part to get higher score. This part depends on your basic grammar and vocabulary. You need to use different word if you use the same word over and over again, you will not get high score. Try to use simple sentence and keep it short to express idea more. The most important thing is to keep practice in writing and get used to the structure and pattern of the exam.  

 

In the speaking part, you have a conversation with certified Examiner. This part can help increase your score a lot. It is close to your real-life situation. You need to speak right to the point when you get the topic. Answer the question that you are asked. When they give time to prepare you need to use it efficiently. You will get 5 minutes to prepare the answer. Write in bullet point about what you want to say. Ask your friend who had done the exam before about the topic and practice with that topic. Speak as normal as you can, like when you talk to your friends or family. Don’t be nervous! Nervous will make your speaking even worse. Therefore, relax as much as you can while you are speaking.

  

Let's check IELTS exam timetable....

                                

I hope that this can be useful for you when you are preparing on IELTS exam.

REMEMBER, practicing is the best way to achieve higher score.

GOOD LUCK :)