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Your IELTS Guide Newsletter

In this edition:

1. Introduction
2. Computer-based IELTS
3. The Writing Test: What the IELTS Handbook says about the different tasks

Introduction

Welcome to the second edition of the Your IELTS Guide newsletter!

Yes, Your IELTS Guide is still very new. We are keen to help you by providing information, news, hints and tips about IELTS both on our website and by delivering direct to your email box. As we get more subscribers we will make the newsletter (and website) bigger and better. You can help us by telling your friends and asking them to subscribe.

You can also help us to improve both the newsletter and the website by telling us what you want from Your IELTS Guide. Please feel free to contact us with your feedback.

In this issue we introduce the new computer-based IELTS test (CB IELTS) and continue our series of articles using what's in the IELTS Handbook to help you improve your IELTS score. The IELTS Handbook has a lot of very useful information that would help you increase your scores - if only it was more understandable. What does "an information-transfer task which relates narrowly to the factual content of an input diagram and not to speculated explanations that lie outside the given data" really mean, for example? Not easy for us to understand, let alone someone trying to decipher it in a second language... Read on for an explanation.

If you haven't already seen it, find the April 2005 Newsletter here. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to your friends!

Computer-based IELTS

This month IELTS introduced a computer-based version of the IELTS test (CB IELTS) at certain centres. The computer-based test is offered on different days to the paper-based version and, so far, only at the following centres:

• Bangladesh, Dhaka - British Council
• Egypt, Alexandria - British Council
• Egypt, Cairo Agouza - British Council
• India, New Delhi - British Council
• India, New Delhi - IDP Education Australia
• Italy, Milan - British Council
• Jordan, Amman - British Council
• Kenya, Nairobi - Australian University Studies Institute
• UAE, Abu Dhabi - British Council
• UAE, Dubai - British Council
• Vietnam, Hanoi - British Council

Further information can be found on the official IELTS site. You can use these links: main article and further FAQs.

We haven't seen the computer-based test ourselves but we can give you an idea of the most important differences to the paper-based test - contact one of the test centres above for more information.

The computer-based test is currently only available for the Academic module. We would expect it to become available for the General module if it is successful. Likewise, expect it to become available at other centres in the future.

Only the listening, reading and writing tests will be computer based. The speaking test will continue to be face to face.

To apply for the computer-based test contact one of the centres listed above. IELTS say that places will be limited so you should apply as early as possible.

Otherwise, the main difference is fairly obvious - you will be typing into a computer, not writing on paper. The listening and reading will be marked by computer (using the same marking system as is used for the paper-based test) but the writing and speaking will be marked by examiners. Just about everything else will be the same. Same cost, same system of bandscores, same certificate (there will be nothing to say whether the paper or computer-based test was taken). If you wish to resit the test you will still have to wait 3 months. The test will be just as difficult. You will receive your results within 2 weeks - don't expect them to be quicker just because the test is computer based!

So, what are the benefits? Without seeing the test we can only surmise that the main benefits will accrue to IELTS themselves i.e. administration tasks will be simplified. As far as candidates are concerned, those that are more comfortable typing into a computer might prefer the computer-based test while those who are happier writing should stick with the paper-based version. Right now we can't really see what advantages there are for candidates.

For further information use the links we gave you above or contact one of the listed test centres.

Finally, if any of you decide to take the computer-based IELTS test please let us know how you get on so that we can share the information with other prospective candidates.

The Writing Test: What the IELTS Handbook says about the different tasks.

Many candidates fail to use the information readily available in the IELTS Handbook to help them achieve the score they need. What does the IELTS Handbook say about the different tasks for General and Academic Writing?

"Scripts under the required minimum word limit will be penalised."

Candidates should realise that the Handbook does not say that longer scripts will gain a better score. Candidates who write much more than is required for one or both of the tasks are not using their time effectively. There is a suggested time limit for each task, namely, 20 minutes for Task 1 and 40 minutes for Task 2. If you go over the suggested time limit for one task, the other task will suffer. Many candidates fail to leave time to check their work through and this is as much a part of the test to make sure the best score is achieved as thinking about what to write at the beginning of the test.

"Marking and Assessment
Each task is assessed independently. The assessment of Task 2 carries more weight in marking than Task 1."

This means that it is best to keep to the suggested time limit for each task. It is inefficient spending more time on Task 1 at the expense of Task 2 as the latter carries more weight in the final band score for writing.

We will look at what is required for Task 1.

"Academic Writing
In Task 1 candidates are asked to describe some information (graph/table/chart/diagram), and to present the description in their own words."

There may be a lot of information on the graph, table, chart or diagram and you will have to choose which are the most important facts to describe in the limited number of 150 words.

The answer has "a largely predictable output. It is basically an information-transfer task which relates narrowly to the factual content of an input diagram and not to speculated explanations that lie outside the given data."

This means you need to understand the difference between a fact and an opinion as everything that is needed to answer the question can be found in the diagram. If you add information from your general knowledge, even if it is true, if it is not shown on the graph or diagram, you are likely to lose marks and you certainly won't gain a better band score.

Only line graphs show trends and the language for trends is not suitable to describe any other type of graph, table, chart or diagram.

"General Training Writing
In Task 1 candidates are asked to respond to a given problem with a letter requesting information or explaining a situation." In addition the "task sets out the context and purpose of the letter and the functions the candidate should cover in order to achieve this purpose".

This means that the "General Training Writing Task 1 is also a writing task with a largely predictable output". You will be given information to include in the letter and it is necessary to include all the information stated in order to achieve the best possible score. Writing the letter in the appropriate style is also very important. Consider the differences in style in writing to a relative compared with writing to a manager of a company where you hope to get a job, for example.

Finally, for both the Academic and General writing papers, practise writing beforehand so that you can do a Task 1 in 20 minutes, including time to check your work. Get into the habit of using your own words in your introduction, rather than copying out the question almost word for word, as using a range of vocabulary is expected in this test.

Reference: IELTS Handbook 2005

For more information on the speaking test check out our IELTS Writing Module, IELTS Writing Tips and IELTS Writing Preparation pages.

You can download the IELTS Handbook from our online IELTS resources page.