IELTS Test
- Because of the study material that is a set of 7 books is issued to the students which is quite beneficial for the preparation of this test.
- Highly qualified and experienced faculty provides the best strategies to crack the test in one attempt.
- Special grammar and activity sessions are conducted to improve the English level of the candidates.
- Vocabulary knowledge is enhanced by using Flash cards and newspaper reading, as students are provided with newspaper daily.
- Students are provided with the pre and post discussion of each module in the class on the daily basis to clear their doubts and make them experts.
- Facility of registering for the exam/test is available at Bright Learning Institute at discounted price, as it is authorized by IDP and British council.
- Bright Learning institute conducts reality test every month to provide the platform to students to analyse their performance, and it is conducted as per real exam instructions.
- Weekly mock test results and the daily performance reports are given to the candidates.
- Also CD- IELTS batches are running successfully at Bright Learning Institute, and each candidate is provided with the separate computer system to have practice like real exam.
- Timely counselling of weak students is done by the experts.
Summarizing facts or figures from graphic information
If you are doing the Academic test, your first job may be to compose a report identifying the most important and relevant information and trends using the facts or figures presented in a chart, graph, table or a combination of such graphics.
Other graphics that can sometimes appear on the test are two maps or structural drawings of an area from different times showing changes that have occurred. You will need to summarise the major changes or differences between them.
The key to responding successfully to any of these Task 1 visuals is to show that you understand the big picture by identifying the main trends, major parts or stages and/or important differences that are evident in the graphic. So, rather than mechanically describing all the data, select and report on the most important and the most relevant aspects that appear.
As you can probably guess, there are specific kinds of details you should be looking for in the different graphics that appear on the test. Here is a more detailed breakdown of question types with some tips for how to interpret and complete each of them.
Charts, graphs or tables
Generally, the charts, graphs and tables can either show comparisons of data at one moment in time or compare data over a fixed period of time.
Showing comparisons of data at one moment in time
When you are reporting on a graphic you will need to show that you understand exactly what data is about. Using this example, you can see a comparison between the percentage of men and women living in poverty in 10 different age groups in the USA in 2008.
Besides giving a general summary of what the data shows about men and women in poverty at this time and in this place (more females were in poverty than men at all ages with lower rates for men and women in the mid ages), you should note any outstanding highs (highest rates were under the age of 5, for both males and females at 20% and 21% respectively) and lows for each (lowest poverty rate for men were those aged 75 and over at just over 5%, and for women it was between the ages of 45-54 at about 9%).
Look also at similarities (the higher rates of poverty for both men and women were under the age of 24) and/or differences (females had higher rates of poverty throughout, especially those over 75) and data that stands out as exceptional (higher rates of poverty in women aged 18-24 and 75-up).
Writing an essay
If you are doing the Academic test, you will be presented with an idea or premise about a subject and you will be asked to respond in some way to it. Topics can include a wide range of commonly discussed subjects such as the environment, immigration, technology, or culture.
Your response to the prompt will be in one of various ways. You might be asked to answer by:
- agreeing or disagreeing
- discussing two given opposing views
- writing about whether the advantages of a given development outweigh the disadvantages
- explaining a given problem or the cause of the problem and offering solutions.
Organisation
You are required to organise your response into an essay. Essays are composed of several paragraphs.
The first paragraph should introduce the topic, your main idea (thesis) and generally outline how you propose to present your argument or discussion.
The body or middle paragraphs are divided into separate points with explanations and examples to support them.
The essay closes with a conclusion that summarises your points and brings your arguments or discussion to a reasoned closing.
Aim to write 4 – 6 paragraphs including an introduction and conclusion.
Remember that you have only 40 minutes to write the essay because you also need to complete the Task 1 report in the 60 minutes you are given for this section of the test.
It’s very important that you read and respond to the prompt carefully.
If you complete only part of the task, you will lower your score. Here are some examples of some of the different essay types and a breakdown of what needs to be addressed in each.
Agree/disagree
Some people believe that it is wrong for professional athletes to compete in the Olympics because their strong financial backing and training give them an unfair advantage over the other athletes.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Look carefully and you will see that there are two premises that you will need to address if you want your response to be complete. It’s easier to see them if you look at them as questions:
- Do professional athletes have an unfair advantage over other Olympic athletes because of their financial support and training?
- Is it wrong for the professionals to compete in the Olympics for this reason?
NOTE: It is possible for you to agree with one and disagree with the other. For example, you could say that you agree that they have an advantage but that it isn’t wrong for them to compete in certain circumstances
Discussion
Successful sports professionals can earn a great deal more money than people in other important professions. Some people think this is fully justified while others think it is unfair.
Discuss both these views and give your opinion.
- Why do some believe it is justifiable that sports professionals earn a great deal more money than others?
- Why do others think it isn’t justifiable that they make these earnings?
- What is your opinion in this matter?
Problem/solution
Here are two different variations of essays about problems that often appear. The questions related to these prompts are usually given to you so it’s easy to see that there are two parts that need to be addressed.
However, take care to notice the plurals (reasons, problems, solutions). Be sure to pay attention to these instructions and provide more than one reason, problem or solution if you are aiming for a high score.
- More and more wild animals are on the verge of extinction and others are on the endangered list. What are the reasons for this? What can be done to solve this problem?
- An increasing number of professionals, such as doctors and teachers, are leaving their own poorer countries to work in developed countries. What problems does this cause? What solutions can you suggest to deal with this situation?
Advantages vs. disadvantages
Here are two different possible question formats you could see about advantages and disadvantages.
Today more and more people are working from home.
- Does this trend have more advantages or more disadvantages?
- Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Whether you are given question (a) or (b) above, to respond completely, you need to consider both the advantages and disadvantages.
You can write more about one side than the other, especially if you have a strong opinion going one way. However, a one-sided argument in these types of questions is not complete and you will lower your score if you forget to consider both advantages and disadvantages.
Write a short letter for a specific purpose
Task 1 in the General Training Writing section is a letter of correspondence where you demonstrate your ability to communicate using English letter-writing conventions.
You will be given a common, everyday situation such as writing to apologise for missing a friend’s party, or complaining to a company about bad service, writing to give advice to a friend about where to go on holiday, or writing to express your interest in a new job.
In addition to being given the situation, three bullet points will outline exactly what information you need to include in your letter. You might, for example, have to describe details, give reasons, express likes and dislikes, or make suggestions or recommendations.
You will need to choose and use the correct tone in your letter. Tone is the way you communicate with people that shows the kind of relationship you have with them. In letters it is clearly indicated by a proper salutation and closing and it should also be conveyed by your choice of words or phrasing as well as the kind and amount of details you include.
Different relationships require different levels of respect which is probably true in your language as well. IELTS letters are usually either formal, or informal in tone. Generally, if the letter is to friends, people you know well, or family, and the reason for writing is positive, the tone is informal. Letters to everyone else and for all complaints or negative messages should be more formal.
Here are examples of the two main kinds of letters that can appear on the test with advice on how to create tone for each.
The formal letter
You live in a room in college that you share with another student. However, there are many problems with this arrangement and you find it very difficult to work.
Write a letter to the accommodation officer at the college. In the letter,
- describe the situation
- explain your problems and why it is difficult to work
- say what kind of accommodation you would prefer
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Sir or Madam,
A key indicator of a formal letter is when you are given the salutation of “Dear Sir or Madam,” which shows that you do not know the person you are writing to.
The following are some suggestions for how to create and keep a formal tone in your letter:
Openings and closings:
Begin with: Dear Sir or Madam, or Dear Mr. Smith, or Dear Mrs. Jones
End with: Yours faithfully or Yours sincerely
Kind and amount of detail:
Get to the point or purpose of your letter right away, include the necessary and relevant information only and make sure you cover the three bullet points in the question accurately (if you are asked to explain your problems (plural), give more than one and stick to the facts).
Use polite, formal language and DO NOT USE CONTRACTIONS OR SHORT FORMS:
“I am writing to thank you . . . ”
“I apologise for missing the birthday celebration . . . ”
“I would like some more information about . . . ”
“Would it be possible for us to meet . . . ”
The informal letter
A friend has agreed to look after your house and pet while you are on holiday.
Write a letter to your friend. In the letter:
- give contact details for when you are away,
- give instructions about how to care for your pet
- describe other household duties.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear . . .
Notice that you have to choose the salutation, unlike the previous task sample. This does not automatically mean it is an informal letter. You should look to see who you are writing to and why. This example is a letter to a friend and the situation is a positive one (not a complaint or a serious apology), so an informal tone can be used.
Writing an essay
Essays in the General Training test are about general interest topics such as whether it is better to homeschool children, whether the drinking age should be raised, who is responsible for the care of the elderly or how families could be brought closer together.
Given a statement about a topic, you may be asked to agree or disagree or you may be required to answer one or two questions about the topic. For example, given the statement that families are not as close as they were in the past, you might be asked to respond to the following questions: Why do you think this is so? What can be done to bring families closer together again?
Organisation
An IELTS essay is usually composed of 4 – 6 paragraphs.
The first paragraph introduces the subject of your essay and what you plan to say about it. The last paragraph summarises your point and restates your main findings about this topic.
The body or middle paragraphs should answer the main questions you have identified in the task with a clear explanation for your response and examples to support your thinking. If you have analysed the task before writing, you will know exactly what to write in these body paragraphs. The following example will illustrate how.
Analysing the essay task
Force yourself to look carefully at the prompt by underlining key words. Then identify exactly what the questions are asking you to do. For example:
Traditionally, elderly people have lived with and been cared for by younger family members. In modern society, more and more elderly people are living in special homes for the elderly.
Why do you think families choose to have their elderly relatives live in special homes away from family?
What do you think is the best way for modern families to care for their elderly relatives?
This essay has two parts:
- Explain why modern families send their elderly relatives away to live in special homes.
- Say whether you think it is better for elderly parents to be cared for by younger family members at home or to be sent away or whether you have an even better alternative.
If you fail to answer either one of these questions, you will lower your score.
You could use a paragraph to answer each part in the body of your essay. Note that if you had two very good reasons, for example, for why families send their relatives away, you could devote a paragraph to each, which would allow you to provide further extension and support.
High-level essays do not simply list possible answers; they make a couple of good points and provide reasoning and examples to support them.
Here is an example of a point being effectively developed. This is a sample body paragraph that might appear in an essay responding to the first question.
Modern families today often do not have the time or energy to care for the elderly at home. In most places today people have demanding jobs and can barely take care of themselves let alone an older relative who may be sick or infirm. In most countries, special residences for the ageing are designed to care for the needs of those who have medical issues related to getting older and they provide wholesome activities and social stimulation for the elderly who otherwise might be sitting alone at home while their younger relatives are off working. That is why some families feel their relatives are safer and happier living away in these care centres.
Notice that the paragraph begins with the answer to the question and is followed by further explanation, an example and a concluding sentence.
Faster Result
Get your results in 3-5 days
More test Dates
Up to 7 days a week, 3 times a day
Free study material
Access free IELTS practice tests and tutorials
Multiple test locations
Conveniently located test centres across India