6 Tips to Improve Your IELTS Academic Writing Score

by Roshan Patroo

For many students, the writing section of the IELTS test can be one of the most challenging. The good news is that careful preparation will go a long way in helping to get the band score you need. Use the six tips below to maximize your chances of success in the writing section of your upcoming IELTS test.

1. Plan your time effectively.

Since the number of words you need to write for part two of IELTS (250 words) is longer than part one (150 words), make sure you plan your time to reflect this. This is particularly important because approximately two-thirds of your mark is given to task two. Therefore, you want to spend about two-thirds of your time (approximately 40 minutes) in this section.

2. Read the question carefully.

Many test-takers rush into answering the writing question without reading it carefully. Do not do this! For part one, the task usually asks you to summarize, select, and make comparisons. If you see these words, underline them—they are important! When you are completing the task, go through your work and make sure you have summarized the information, selected key points and made comparisons.

For task two, cover all parts of the task.  For example, if the task asks you to give advantages and disadvantages, ensure that you have given both. Similarly, if you are asked to give your opinion, make sure you have done so and that it is clear.

3. Include an “overview” in part one.

An overview is a summary of information that doesn’t include every single detail. For part one of the academic writing section, you are usually required to write an overview (that is, summarize the information). This is an important part of the task and can be included at the beginning or end.

4. Keep it simple in the part two essay.

Grammar and vocabulary are important factors in assessing your writing band, but some students believe they must write extremely long sentences or use very complicated vocabulary in order to get a higher band. This is not true! The important thing is that your ideas are easy to understand.

Don’t try to use complicated words that you may spell incorrectly; replace these words with ones that you are more confident using.

Also, remember that the quality of your English is what is being assessed. Don’t spend too long thinking about whether your ideas are “smart” or “intellectual” enough. Think of ideas that are easy to explain; then concentrate on the grammatical forms and vocabulary you need to express these ideas on paper.

5. Be realistic.

Becoming proficient at any language takes effort and time. If you score a band or two lower than you would like (for example you need a band 7, but you get a 5 or 6), it is not advisable to take the test again immediately because you will most likely score a similar band. Take the time to practice your writing skills before you take the test again.

You can even take a practice test (for a small fee), which will be marked by an official IELTS examiner. Your practice test will include a band score and detailed feedback. This exercise will help you know how ready you are to take the test and get the band score you need. This service is called IELTS Progress Check.

6. Help is available.

In preparation for your IELTS academic writing, you need to have a plan. There are a host of free online practice materials to help you practice. If you need more help, invest in a teacher who will be able to tell you where you may be going wrong and what to improve on.

Practice for the test as much as you can. You can never be too overprepared.

For information on IELTS practice materials and courses, visit the British Council IELTS Canada prepare page. Good luck with your IELTS preparation!

Source: WES.org

Finding Canadian Education Programs and Scholarships

by Kevin Kamal

Contrary to some perceptions, Canada is not equal to the winter season! Actually, all Canadian cities experience four seasons throughout the year. With its vast, beautiful geography, rich history of indigenous people, and a national policy for multiculturalism, Canada is a gem for prospective international students.

Canada has a formalized immigration policy and annually welcomes approximately 250,000 immigrants. Canada is one of the few countries with a well-established pathway from being an international student to becoming a permanent resident and a Canadian citizen.

Canadian international student tuition fees and living expenses are one of the lowest among popular English-speaking countries. Additionally, the country has many internationally renowned universities. According to one report, a total of 26 Canadian universities ranked within the top 800 universities worldwide. Of these, three top universities in Canada are ranked within the global top 50, and a further 10 in the top 300.

These numbers must be looked at based on the total number of universities in Canada. With about 36 million in total population and 13 provinces and territories, there are about 100 universities and over 125 publicly funded colleges to choose from.

If you are considering studying in Canada, you should familiarize yourself with the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) and its Student Centre. You will find CBIE’s Search Canadian Programs and Scholarships tool very handy for gathering essential information on universities and colleges in Canada.

This online tool allows you to search Canadian universities and colleges by name, the program of study, undergraduate- and graduate-level programs, and, yes, available scholarships. Just like the country itself, the tool is bilingual and it is available in French and English.

Source: WES.org

The IELTS Test Day Experience

by IDP

In the final installment of our three-part series we will share what to expect on the day of the test.

Following the International Education Language Testing System (IELTS) overview and IELTS preparation information we shared in parts one and two, we want to make sure you are ready for the big day. Keep in mind that the purpose of IELTS is to measure your English language level. If you have gone through the necessary steps to prepare for the test, then your experience should go smoothly with the support of the professional test day staff and examiners.

What can I expect when I arrive to take the test?

IELTS is a high stakes test and the staff who administer it take it very seriously. The test day staff have been trained to make your IELTS experience as comfortable as possible. Because the results are highly regarded by so many institutions and organizations, it needs to be very secure. There are many security protocols to follow which includes:

• Personnel have been specifically trained in facial feature recognition, so they will carefully examine your face with your identification photo.
• Finger scans will be taken at the entrance of the test room and will be matched each time you leave and return.
• Your photograph will be taken by IELTS test day personnel and it will be shown with your test report form to receiving organizations

The reason for such high-security measures is to maintain the validity and integrity of the test scores by ensuring against fraud and cheating. Images of the finger scans are not stored and photographs will be used only for the purpose of the IELTS test. You can be assured that the security procedures are in place for your benefit as they allow for test results to be highly regarded by the receiving organization.

What do I need to bring on test day?

• The exact same valid ID you used to book the test—your passport or permanent resident card
• Your confirmation email
• 2 HB or #2 pencils
• Clear bottle of water with the label removed (optional)

What items are not allowed into the test room?

• Any electronic device—watch, calculator, etc.
• Your cell phone—even if it is turned off!
• Additional pieces of paper
• Food
• Any item that is not on the approved list

Am I allowed to leave the test area?

Yes. You will be allowed to go to the restroom during the test. You will also have a break before the speaking part of the test. The length of the break will vary depending on the scheduled time of your speaking exam.

Who will be with me during the test?

• The test-day personnel are there to support you if you have any questions on test day.
• The listening, reading, and writing portions of the test are conducted in a group setting.
• The invigilation staff (those staff members who are there to watch those taking the exam) will give you instructions and lead you through these sections.
• The speaking portion of the test is done one-on-one with a professional speaking examiner (the speaking examiner will give you instructions and ask you questions during this portion of the test).

What can I expect during the speaking portion of the test?

• Professionalism—speaking examiners have undergone a rigorous training process.
• Friendliness—speaking examiners will be neutral, but will be polite and friendly.
• Your speaking interview will be recorded for monitoring purposes.
• The speaking section is 11-14 minutes long—examiners are required to adhere to the time limits for each of the three sections.
  • In part one, you will be asked questions about yourself.
  • In part two, you will be required to speak for two minutes on a topic chosen by the examiner.
  • In part three, you will have a conversation with the examiner.
• Examiners will remain neutral about your performance and cannot give you feedback about how you did.

How will I get my results?

• Unofficial results are available online 13 days after the test.
• Centres will also mail your results 13 days after the test.
• Test results may also be picked up in person with your passport or permanent resident card.
• If someone is picking up the results on your behalf, they must have your original identification and a letter from you specifying that they are authorized to pick up the test results.
• Results are listed on a Test Report Form (TRF).
• TRFs list sub-scores for listening, reading, writing, and speaking as well as an overall score which is the average from the four sections.
• You will receive one TRF, but you may request a second copy if you are using the results for immigration purposes.
• For tests that have taken place within the last 30 days, up to five additional TRFs may be sent to recognizing organizations at no cost.
• A fee may be charged for additional TRFs to be sent out if the test occurred outside of the 30-day limitation.
• TRFs may be sent by courier at an additional cost (contact your centre for more info).
• You may request a review of your scores within six weeks of the test date at an additional cost.

The IELTS test is exactly the same around the world. There should be no surprises as long as you have a good grasp of the English language, prepare well in advance, and follow the instructions for test day.

Reading this blog post series, checking the links, and visiting the preparation section of ieltscanadatest.com indicates that you have a great attitude toward success.

Good luck on test day!

Source: WES.org

Vernon, British Columbia launches Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot

North Bay is finally in the immigration game.