IELTS: DOs and DON'Ts A Summary of Techniques LISTENING DO:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Use the reading time to identify key words and anticipate the answer. Use g_________ to help you - what fits the answer - noun verb or adjective? RTFQ - how many words do they want? Use the e________s - if there is a chart you probably need to fill in similar information. Use Capital l________s at the beginning of names or street names etc. Listen for more than one answer at a time - they don't always come in order. Use the checking time to check your answers are g__________ly correct and spelt correctly. 8. Listen for n_________s. 9. Fill in the answer sheet very c_________ly.

DON'T:
10. Get caught on one question so that you miss the next answer. 11. Leave gaps on the answer sheet - make intelligent g________s 12. PANIC about v_________y problems - see Reading

READING DO:
1. Use grammar to help you! e.g irreversible root = reverse prefix, makes it negative 2. Look at whether the text explains the word. E.g. such as, for example, in other words, or use a s_______? 3. RTFQ!!!! 4. Use the c________ to help you. E.g. 'You look very serene, have you been relaxing?' 5. U__________ your key words. 6. Skim and s_____. Underline names, places or numbers, or the different topics 7. Use l________ words to help you - those for addition, contrast, repetition, referring (pronouns), relative clauses, cause and effect. 8. Look out for negatives, limiters, qualifiers: e.g. not, however, some, very, sometimes, may, could suffix, makes it an adj.

DON'T
1. Mess up your t________ - allow 15 mins for Q1, 22 for Q2 and 22 for Q3 - if you fill in the answer sheet as you go along. If you save the answer sheet for the end you need to allow 10 minutes for that! 2. S______ too long on a complicated Yes/No/Not Given question 3. Panic!!

WRITING DO:
1. RTFQ u_________ the topic and purpose 2. ATFQ DONT GET CAUGHT UPIN YOUR EXAMPLES 3. P_________ or reformulate the question this shows your language skill and also helps you to think about the question and what it really means. 4. Brainstorm and p____- give yourself some time to get ideas 5. Use paragraphs 6. Write a good c_____________ to Task 2. 7. Check your grammar and spelling - especially your ARTICLES 8. Paraphrase, s____________ and write a thesis statement (2) or Topic sentence (1)

DON'T
1. 2. 3. 4. Spend too long on Task 1 Copy the rubric - you get NO marks for r__________ the question Leave off your third person s'es. Mix up your l's and r's!

SPEAKING DO:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Greet the examiner. Respond and ex________ Speak clearly - sitting properly will help. Make eye contact. Give your o________. Be natural Answer the question if it is something you know nothing about say so in good clear English, and e_______ why its a test of l__________ not knowledge!

DON'T
1. 2. 3. 4. Fidget, mumble or look at your feet. G________ (speak too quickly) T______ too long before you speak. W_______ so much about your grammar that you dont speak at all

ANYTHING WE HAVE FORGOTTEN?

IELTS REVISION GRAMMAR DRILLING

Use a list of irregular verbs. Take it in turns to drill your partner. Give the verb ! then the tense you want Always use HE or SHE (to practice that third person s where necessary) Present Simple Present Simple Negative Present Simple Question Present Perfect Present Perfect Negative Present Perfect Question Past Simple Past Simple Negative Past Simple Question Past Perfect Past Perfect Negative Past Perfect Question Zero Conditional First Conditional (e.g. If I buy, she will buy) Second Conditional Third Conditional