IE: Syllable Stress Tips for Higher Pronunciation Scores

Are you nervous about the IELTS Speaking test? Most people get super nervous about this part of the test! Part of why you are nervous is because you don’t know what kind of questions to expect from the Examiner. Today we’re going to show you what questions the Examiner is likely to ask on the Speaking test.   We’re also going to show you how to prepare for these questions. On Part 1 of the Speaking test you will always have to talk about: Work Study Home    Sample questions for Speaking Part 1: Do you like your apartment? Are there many shops near your apartment? What are you studying? Why did you choose this subject? What will you do when you finish? Clothes Driving a car Excercise Food Health School- what do you remember about your high school? Who was your favorite teacher? What do you like to read? Do you enjoy reading before you go to bed?   ** Remember! You can’t give one-word answers. You must expand on your ideas. Give complete sentences or you will get marked down. When the Examiner asks, “What are you studying?” don’t say “English” instead you can say “At the moment I am studying English at the university downtown. You can practice Part 1 with a language exchange partner.   Speaking Part 2 and Speaking Part 3: Questions in Part 2 and Part 3 will always be linked to each other. Topic: Movies Part 2: Describe your favorite movie (who, what, when, where, why). You can practice this part by yourself to get comfortable speaking for two minutes. Part 3: What makes a movie successful? Do you think the director or the actors are more important? For part 3, you should have 3 things in your answer: Give your opinion Give an example of your opinion Give a concluding sentence When you prepare for the test, you should write out your answers ahead of time. Later, when you get comfortable with that you can stop writing them out and get better at responding quickly. Remember, planning ahead and preparing is the key to getting more confidence. Final tip- check out the NY Times and look at the newspaper sections- those are typical IELTS Speaking topics.  What other questions do you have for the Speaking test? Please ask us in the comments below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

17 Mars 201513min

Click here to get 7 Easy Steps to a 7 or Higher on IELTS   Today find out how to get a 7 on all 4 sections of the IELTS! In the Speaking Section: The examiner looks for four things:   Fluency and coherence: Use linking words, don’t pause, don’t repeat yourself Vocabulary: Use a few slang words, a few idioms, a few phrasal verbs- get away from the textbook Grammar: It’s hard to get a 7 in grammar. The only way you can do it is if most of your sentences don’t have mistakes but it’s ok not to get a 7 in grammar because the score is an average. Think about where your strengths are and if they are not in grammar then focus on other areas. Pronunciation: This is the easiest one to get a 7. You can do it! Show some personality. Use some intonation. Use drama! You don’t need “perfect English pronunciation.” The Writing Section: Task 1: Task achievement- you have to include all of the important numbers and you have to have an overall trend. For example, “Overall, numbers increase in this period.” Task 2: They grade you on task response. Did you answer the question? Answer every single part of the question. Also, cohesion and coherence are important. Use linking words and have clear paragraphs. Have an obvious main idea. Vocabulary: You need to use academic phrases and academic linking words. Grammar: It’s hard to get a 7 on this. You need a variety of sentence structures and not a lot of mistakes.   The Reading and Listening Sections: At least 27 correct answers out of 40 will get you an “acceptable” score   Now you know exactly what you need to do to get a 7 on all 4 sections of the IELTS. Now go get started on your preparation and you will be ready to get that 7! Let us know your questions in the comments section. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12 Mars 201514min

Click here to get 7 Easy Steps to a 7 or Higher on IELTS   Today you’ll get 3 sentence structures to improve your grammar grade on IELTS Writing Task 1. On IELTS Task 1 you are shown a graph, table, pie chart, or bar chart. They have numbers and you have to compare and contrast how they change. You will see a graph that shows “Change Over Time” The examiner wants you to use different sentence structures for this category.   Here they are: 1) Subject + verb + adverb : “The numbers increased dramatically in 2008.” 2) There was + adjective + noun: “There was a dramatic increase in 2008.” 3) Before +verb-ing: “Before increasing in 2008, the number of surfers experienced a decline.”   Where can you find graphs to use to practice these sentences? Find IELTS forums Go to IELTS.org Go to a bookstore and write down some sentences with your notebook New York Times and USA Today Google Images, type in “bar chart” or “pie chart”   Where else have you found resources like pie charts or graphs to practice these sentence structures for Writing Task 1? Let us know your ideas below!     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

11 Mars 201511min

Click here to get 7 Easy Steps to a 7 or Higher on IELTS   Are you nervous about your IELTS Speaking test? Did you know that there are some easy things that you can do to increase your chances of a higher score on the Speaking test? The IELTS exam is not completely objective because another person is giving you the score. Yes, they are trained and there are very specific requirements for each score but they are still human and you can influence the examiner in a positive way to increase your score. How to build a rapport with the examiner or get their attention: Don’t shake the examiner’s hand. This is not a business deal. Do follow their instructions about where to sit and be respectful. Don’t try to negotiate with the examiner to get a better score. Don’t ask the examiner how you did right after the speaking test is over. The final few minutes before you leave the room are very important so don’t make the examiner angry. Do use your personality. Do Tell personal stories. Don’t say what you think the examiner wants to hear. Do relax, smile, laugh a little bit. Do be polite. Do make eye contact if you can. If you can’t do that then you can look beyond the examiner.   Approach the Speaking section like a formal interview but also show a positive attitude. It’s supposed to be formal but relaxed.   Do you have any other questions about the Speaking test on the IELTS? Please ask your question below. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

10 Mars 201520min

Click here to get 7 Easy Steps to a 7 or Higher on IELTS   Are you nervous about talking for two minutes in speaking section 2 of the IELTS? Today, get some note taking strategies you can use to ace the IELTS speaking section!   In the IELTS speaking part 1, the examiner asks you about three topics. But in part 2 you are given a single topic card.  No matter what this topic is, you cannot change it. You have one minute to prepare to speak for two full minutes. How you spend that minute is important. Because you will have such a specific topic, and such a short amount of time, it’s probably best to write everything you can think of about the topic. You could do this in a bullet list, or as a mind map. But you need to have enough to say for those two minutes. If you do not have practice brainstorming like this, you may want to practice. Use a topic from a newspaper as an example. Give yourself a minute (or more) to make a list of notes on the topic. Then, see if you can use them to speak for two minutes.   Other tips: Practice brainstorming/note-taking every day if possible. You’re training your brain for thinking, speaking and writing in English. Take all of these notes in English, not your native language! Ideally, your notes will provide you enough to tell a story. Telling a story will enable you to speak for the full two minutes, and help you remain coherent.   Do you have much experience brainstorming? How do you think it would go for the IELTS speaking section part 2? Let us know in the comments section below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

6 Mars 201514min

Click here to get the 7 Easy Steps to a 7 or Higher on IELTS   What’s the difference between the IELTS and the TOEFL? Today, learn what makes these two tests distinct, and how to choose between the them!   The IELTS and the TOEFL have some significant differences. But that doesn’t mean one is easier than the other. Many universities will accept either test, so you might be able to choose which one works best for you. That means it’s a good idea to know how each is unique.   Here is are some points of difference between the two tests: The IELTS exam is completed on paper and by speaking to a person. The TOEFL is done entirely on a computer (even the speaking portion). For some people, IELTS might feel more “natural.” The listening section in TOEFL uses only North American accents. IELTS, on the other hand, uses a range of English accents from around the world. If you have trouble with accents, you might find IELTS more difficult. But IELTS is more predictable. For example, the test has three reading passages every time. TOEFL, on the other hand, always has a different number of reading passages. It also might have longer listening and reading sections. With TOEFL, on one section you have to listen to a conversation and give your opinion. This means it’s both a writing and speaking section. IELTS only has distinct listening and reading sections.   Which exam sounds easier to you? Let us know why in the comments section below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

4 Mars 201514min

Click here to get the 7 Easy Steps to a 7 or Higher   How can you increase your IELTS vocabulary range?  Today, learn 3 steps for building a more dynamic vocabulary for the IELTS exam!   You need to have words that are useful for academia and formal situations, but also with your friends on the street. This is key to having a more natural sounding English. But how do you build this range of vocabulary?   Jessica has three steps for building it. They include: Getting the vocabulary: Newspapers are a great resource for this. A newspaper like the USA Today is more understandable, while the New York Times is written at a higher level. A magazine like the Economist is even higher. Recording it: For every article you read, choose maybe five new words to learn. Keep them in context. Maybe write a summary of the article that uses these new words. Remembering it: Develop a system for studying these new vocabulary words. Try to review the words at least two or three times a week. Also, try to use these new words in conversation.   What are you doing to build a range of vocabulary? Tell us what you’re doing in the comments section below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2 Mars 201517min

Click here to get the 7 Easy Steps to a 7 or Higher on IELTS   Today you’ll find out why some students lose focus and energy easily and quickly on the IELTS and why others are able to stay awake and energized throughout the entire exam.   How to Keep Your Energy High for IELTS Day: Eat Breakfast: You need protein that will stick with you all day like eggs as well as carbohydrates that will give you the energy that you need like oatmeal. You can also try almond milk, nuts, fruit, etc. Bring Water to the Test: Remember that when you bring your water bottle into the IELTS exam, you cannot have a label on the bottle. Tear the label off before you go in. Prepare for this ahead of time. Get Fresh Air and Exercise: This is a great way to keep your focus alive and to keep your mind awake. Ty to get in a short, brisk walk before you check in and at noon after you finish the Writing section. This will help you be ready for the Speaking test in the afternoon.   Do you have great strategies to maintain your energy on IELTS test day? Let us know your ideas in the comments below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

27 Feb 201513min