Have you appeared for IELTS?

straight6 · 22nd December 2008, 12:17

Hi,

I'm planning to give the IELTS test and wanted to know if any of you have given it before and the scores you got. How difficult or easy you found it and any tips or suggestions you might have. Thanks.

amit · 22nd December 2008, 12:24

I appeared for IELTS sometime in 2003-04. It's pretty easy. You are tested on your listening, writing and speaking skills. Since this was required as a pre-requisite for immigrating to Canada, my immigration agent gave me a book containing the sample questions and audio tapes to simulate the exam environment. I was tested on listening first and then writing. After that you have to wait till you are called for the speaking test. It starts off as conversation between you and your tester and later you are given a topic to speak on. You get a couple of minutes to think of what to say and are even allowed to jot down the main points on which you want to talk about.

I think the minimum score required back then was 6 and I scored 7.5.

straight6 · 22nd December 2008, 12:59

Thanks. 7.5 is good. Did you find the time enough to complete the exam? Did you have to write with a pencil or pen? A pencil will need to be sharpened which means wasting time.

I'm going to get a CD for this from someone I know. I already have a book from a friend who went to New Zealand. How long do you think I would need to prepare?

iceman91 · 22nd December 2008, 14:54

it is easy. dont stress. I did it in 03 got 8.0 and then in 07 and got 8.5
The speech test especially be calm and tlk clearly. no point in trying to use big words.

Sha · 22nd December 2008, 15:02

With two days preparation you can easily get 6.5. I have given three times.

abhi1309 · 22nd December 2008, 15:03

I appeared in 2004 at Mumbai. I scored 7.5 which I did fairly easily. Just listen to what they say on those headphones and fill up your sheet carefully. That is where your listening skills come into play and you might just miss something. I found only this a bit tricky. Rest all was good. The score I believe is valid for 2 more years.

pawan · 22nd December 2008, 15:05

hey i just wrote my ielts about a month back and got a 7.5 besure to practice on the time management.

ssanjeev · 22nd December 2008, 15:14

Did mine the previous year and got an overall of 8.5 Individual bands were 9,9,8.5,&8.
I believe its quite easy, all you need to do is focus on whats going on, as for instance the recording will not be repeated.

Rgds,
Sanjeev

straight6 · 22nd December 2008, 15:52

I have given call center interviews where one of the rounds is the listening test. I have a bad attention span. I have chosen 31st Jan so that I get enough time to practice.

vkochar · 22nd December 2008, 16:58

I gave my IELTS in 2001. Scored 7.5 Band which was considered excellent then. DO not know what parameters are there now.

I even brought the 2000 rs ( price in 2001 ) tutorial from the British Council which consisited of 2 cassetes and a book.

It was quite easy then. Basically if your English is good, that's it, you do not need to even prepare.

manson · 22nd December 2008, 19:29

I took my IELTS back in 2004 and scored an 8.5.
Knowing you on a personal level, I do not think you should have trouble getting a respectable score. All you need to do is take three or four mock tests to get familiar with the format of the exam.

manson.

abhinav.gupta88 · 22nd December 2008, 19:51

Thanks for the thread buddy.
Will help me take some tips too.
I plan to take it somewhere around Jun.
( Might need it for UK visa - student)

vivekiny2k · 22nd December 2008, 19:59

I scored 7.5 too. lowest was in speaking, and then writing. if you are taking it in india, that will not happen because the accent is accepted. writing was expected because my handwriting sucks, i have not written anything serious since college. typing is fluent though. LOL.

writing with pencil is better because I have a habit of cutting and pasting and rearranging (effect of using word processors). They give you sharpened pencils as you need them.

straight6 · 24th December 2008, 19:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by vkochar

I even brought the 2000 rs ( price in 2001 ) tutorial from the British Council which consisited of 2 cassetes and a book.

I called the British Council today and they said that they have couriered books and cd's to me for free.

Quote:

Originally Posted by manson

I took my IELTS back in 2004 and scored an 8.5.
Knowing you on a personal level, I do not think you should have trouble getting a respectable score. All you need to do is take three or four mock tests to get familiar with the format of the exam.

manson.

How do you do the mock tests? People have suggested classes.

chetan · 25th December 2008, 02:07

The speaking test , do we have to speak in front of a crowd ?

22nd December 2008, 12:17	#1
straight6 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bombay Posts: 2,548 Thanked: 296 Times	Have you appeared for IELTS? Hi, I'm planning to give the IELTS test and wanted to know if any of you have given it before and the scores you got. How difficult or easy you found it and any tips or suggestions you might have. Thanks.
	() Thanks

22nd December 2008, 12:24	#2
amit Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 3,717 Thanked: 449 Times	I appeared for IELTS sometime in 2003-04. It's pretty easy. You are tested on your listening, writing and speaking skills. Since this was required as a pre-requisite for immigrating to Canada, my immigration agent gave me a book containing the sample questions and audio tapes to simulate the exam environment. I was tested on listening first and then writing. After that you have to wait till you are called for the speaking test. It starts off as conversation between you and your tester and later you are given a topic to speak on. You get a couple of minutes to think of what to say and are even allowed to jot down the main points on which you want to talk about. I think the minimum score required back then was 6 and I scored 7.5.
	() Thanks

22nd December 2008, 12:59	#3
straight6 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bombay Posts: 2,548 Thanked: 296 Times	Thanks. 7.5 is good. Did you find the time enough to complete the exam? Did you have to write with a pencil or pen? A pencil will need to be sharpened which means wasting time. I'm going to get a CD for this from someone I know. I already have a book from a friend who went to New Zealand. How long do you think I would need to prepare?
	() Thanks

22nd December 2008, 14:54	#4
iceman91 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: melbourne/banga Posts: 1,961 Thanked: 34 Times View My Garage	it is easy. dont stress. I did it in 03 got 8.0 and then in 07 and got 8.5 The speech test especially be calm and tlk clearly. no point in trying to use big words.
	() Thanks

22nd December 2008, 15:02	#5
Sha BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Canberra Posts: 539 Thanked: 17 Times View My Garage	With two days preparation you can easily get 6.5. I have given three times.
	() Thanks

22nd December 2008, 15:03	#6
abhi1309 BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Pune Posts: 446 Thanked: 68 Times View My Garage	I appeared in 2004 at Mumbai. I scored 7.5 which I did fairly easily. Just listen to what they say on those headphones and fill up your sheet carefully. That is where your listening skills come into play and you might just miss something. I found only this a bit tricky. Rest all was good. The score I believe is valid for 2 more years.
	() Thanks

22nd December 2008, 15:05	#7
pawan BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: auckland, new zealand Posts: 868 Thanked: 4 Times	hey i just wrote my ielts about a month back and got a 7.5 besure to practice on the time management.
	() Thanks

22nd December 2008, 15:14	#8
ssanjeev Newbie Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 18 Thanked: 7 Times	Did mine the previous year and got an overall of 8.5 Individual bands were 9,9,8.5,&8. I believe its quite easy, all you need to do is focus on whats going on, as for instance the recording will not be repeated. Rgds, Sanjeev
	() Thanks

22nd December 2008, 15:52	#9
straight6 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bombay Posts: 2,548 Thanked: 296 Times	I have given call center interviews where one of the rounds is the listening test. I have a bad attention span. I have chosen 31st Jan so that I get enough time to practice.
	() Thanks

22nd December 2008, 16:58	#10
vkochar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Delhi / Agra / London Posts: 2,146 Thanked: 819 Times View My Garage	I gave my IELTS in 2001. Scored 7.5 Band which was considered excellent then. DO not know what parameters are there now. I even brought the 2000 rs ( price in 2001 ) tutorial from the British Council which consisited of 2 cassetes and a book. It was quite easy then. Basically if your English is good, that's it, you do not need to even prepare.
	() Thanks

22nd December 2008, 19:29	#11
manson Team-BHP Support Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 3,935 Thanked: 4,171 Times View My Garage	I took my IELTS back in 2004 and scored an 8.5. Knowing you on a personal level, I do not think you should have trouble getting a respectable score. All you need to do is take three or four mock tests to get familiar with the format of the exam. manson.
	() Thanks

22nd December 2008, 19:51	#12
abhinav.gupta88 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Delhi , India Posts: 4,092 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	Thanks for the thread buddy. Will help me take some tips too. I plan to take it somewhere around Jun. ( Might need it for UK visa - student)
	() Thanks

22nd December 2008, 19:59	#13
vivekiny2k Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: cincinnati, jabalpur,chennai Posts: 1,264 Thanked: 209 Times View My Garage	I scored 7.5 too. lowest was in speaking, and then writing. if you are taking it in india, that will not happen because the accent is accepted. writing was expected because my handwriting sucks, i have not written anything serious since college. typing is fluent though. LOL. writing with pencil is better because I have a habit of cutting and pasting and rearranging (effect of using word processors). They give you sharpened pencils as you need them.
	() Thanks

25th December 2008, 02:07	#15
chetan BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 487 Thanked: 11 Times	The speaking test , do we have to speak in front of a crowd ?
	() Thanks