IELTS - IDEAS FOR SELF STUDY
General English Grammar and Vocabulary Practice
• WWW. Use the web:
o http://www.eslbee.com/sentences.htm (sentence structure)
o http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish and http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/grammar/
• BC MMC. Come into class early or come in another day (Sun-Thu, after 4 pm) to see more speaking videos and practice speaking materials in the British Council multimedia lab.
• BOOK/CD. Get a good grammar exercise book (with answers; with CD, if possible) such as
o Cambridge Grammar for IELTS with answers by Hopkins & Cullen; CUP
o The Good Grammar Book with answers by Swan & Walter; Oxford University Press
o English Grammar In Use (Intermediate/Upper Intermediate) with answers by Murphy; CUP
• BOOK/CD. Get a vocabulary exercise book (with answers; with CD, if possible) such as
o Cambridge Vocabulary for IELTS with answers by Cullen; CUP
o Vocabulary for English: IELTS by Wyatt; Peter Collin Publishing
• BOOK/CD. Get New Insights into IELTS Workbook (with answers & CD) by Jakeman & McD.; CUP.
Speaking
Generally
• SPEAK. Speak as much English as you can outside the class. Use native speaker friends to help you if you can. Try to pay more attention than usual to your grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.
• LISTEN. Listen a lot to REAL native speaker English; short podcasts in different topics from reputable websites like sites from the BBC, ABC (Australia), PBS (USA) and CNN (USA) are extremely useful.
Listening
• WWW. see links I forwarded, like
o http://www.esl-lab.com/
o http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/
o http://www.examenglish.com/IELTS/index.php
o http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish-central-skills-listening.htm
• PODCASTS. Download podcasts for REAL English (download iTunes to helps you organise them)
o http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/directory/station/worldservice/
o http://www.abc.net.au/services/podcasting/
o http://www.pbs.org/podcasts/
Reading
• PLEASURE. Read a short simplified reader for pleasure (your teacher has samples for you to borrow)
• NEWSPAPERS. Read short newspaper articles for general ideas and sometimes deeper comprehension. Read topics where you have background knowledge in your own language but focus on the English vocabulary used to express the ideas
• HOMEWORK. Every week, you will get extra homework from the student book or handouts. Make sure you find time to do this homework
Writing
• See if a local bookshop has a writing exercise book on basic level academic-type writing (with answers)
• Study sample scripts carefully
o http://www.cambridgeesol.org/teach/ielts/academic_writing/aboutthepaper/focus_on_assessment.htm
o http://www.cambridgeesol.org/teach/ielts/general_training_writing/aboutthepaper/focus_on_assessment.htm
• IELTS writing samples with estimated grades suggested by teachers: http://www.ielts-blog.com/ielts-writing/
• BOOK/CD. Cambridge IELTS Exams (1 to 5 are best because we use 6 in class); these provide sample answers and examiner commentaries for some written task questions.
Exam Practice
Speaking
• PRACTICE. Use the questions I give you that are similar to part 1, 2 and 3 test questions. Answer again and again, preferably with someone of the same level as you or higher
• Record yourself answering each part, especially part 2. Listen for grammar mistakes, ‘lazy’ pronunciation or too much hesitation in your answers
• BC MMC. Come into class early or come in another day (Sun-Thu, after 4 pm) to see more speaking videos and practice speaking materials in the British Council multimedia lab.
Listening, Reading and Writing
• BOOK/CD. Cambridge IELTS Exams (1 to 5 are best because we use 6 in class; you need the books with CDs).
• BOOK/CD. Get New Insights into IELTS Workbook (with answers & CD) by Jakeman & McD.; CUP.
• BC MMC. Come into class early or come in another day (Sun-Thu, after 4 pm) to use the materials in the British Council multimedia lab.
