Lesson one – let’s get started

Welcome to lesson one of your IELTS Step by Step programme

You will spend today familiarising yourself with the site and the areas you will need to use most for your study programme.

 

Let’s begin by taking a test!

 

Follow this link to the test. It is multiple choice and in 4 sections. You should try and do each part of the test. Some things you will find quite easy but it is true that even the most advanced students make elementary mistakes!

At the end of each section you should record your score. You can repeat sections if you like and record your scores.

The answers give a short explanation about the area of grammar tested. Record any that are incorrect as these will tell you the areas of grammar you need to revise.

 

There are 50 questions in the test add up your score and this will give you an idea of where you are on the global language scale (this measures overall language level NOT your IELTS performance) it is important that your general English level aligns with the IELTS score that you want.

 

Check your score against this table it will give you a general language level against IELTS and TOEFL scores.

 

If you are on track then you now need to focus on the tasks in the exam – if your score is lower than the band you desire then look at the questions you made mistakes with and make sure you practise these areas. You can use the grammar and usage section on Gapfillers to help you.

 

Now find the following areas

1. My Account (IELTS Step By Step network – under My Networks) – you should find a welcome message here – send a reply to the network
2. Now go back to the home page and find Gapfillers Daily Practice – find today’s exercises and try the News Bulletin – how did you get on? Record your score in your learning diary and try it as many times as you need to get the answers. You can subscribe to the RSS feed if you would like to see each exercise as it goes live!
3. Now go back to the Home page again. Go to the language sections.  This is where all the language training material is stored. Find Grammar and Usage. Go into the index and find an exercise on prepositions – try this. Don’t forget to record the name of the exercise and your score in your learning diary! Look for your score in the quizzes section of Member Home
4. Finally, lets go to the Writing Section, have a look at this Spelling Bee. Try it as often as you need to get the answers you are happy with before you check your answers. How did you get on? Remember that spelling is included in a band descriptor in the IELTS writing test. A lot of spelling mistakes can irritate the reader (examiner) and so you want to make as few as possible.

Don’t forget, if there is anything you don’t understand or can’t find send a message via Contact us

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Let’s think about an overall strategy for your IELTS practice now

 

• You should know from the test which areas of English you now need to improve
• You should know from the table where your English sits on the IELTS scale and how much you should improve this
• Put these together and you will know what and how much you need to do each day on your general English to get to your band level
• In your learning diary write down the areas that you need to improve. Then write down how many points you need to gain to get to your band score – if there are just one or two areas and you only need to go one level then 20 minutes a day of general English should help you alongside your IELTS preparation (do the Gapfillers Daily Programme and this will help)
• If you scored less than 30 on the test and you need at least band 5.5 then you should leave IELTS for a while (continue with this programme as this will help you but you may want to repeat it later) and concentrate on your general English skills – use the Daily Programme but also other exercises to improve your overall level before you start to focus more on IELTS.
• Wherever you are with your English and IELTS the best strategy is ‘little and often’ balance general English with IELTS practice DON’T do test after test better to practice exercises that will improve your skills in different areas (like the ones you will get on this programme) and then test yourself when you feel you have improved.

Don’t forget, if there is anything you don’t understand or can’t find send a message via Contact us

Tomorrow we will start to look more at the IELTS exam itself.

Now you’re done!

Good luck and let’s make great progress with IELTS!