English language: Advanced IELTS exam preparation

The tutor coaches the learner in the content of the exam and guides them with the strategies for understanding and navigating the test questions.  Assignments are set for homework and during lesson time there is repeated work on essay writing, vocabulary, comprehension and speaking practice.

Course Content

Module I - Note Taking Skills
- Practice in taking notes and using notes to summarise listenings.

Module 2 - Skimming and scanning skills
- Search for a main topic, topic sentences, supporting details and concluding thoughts.
- Scanning for pertinent data such as names, dates, numbers etc.

Module 3 - Summarising and paraphrasing
- Students write 3 or 4 sentence summaries of a short passage.
- Students must paraphrase a set of sentences in their own words.
- Students practice identifying information and data from charts and graphs.

Module 4 - Mind mapping
- The use of the mind map to plan a piece of writing.
- Use of mind maps to plan the introduction to an essay.
- Developing the body of the essay.
- Understanding the importance of the controlling idea.

Module 5 - Polishing skills for the writing task and the speaking tasks
- Essay writing skills - checklist.
- Speaking test - final practice.

Pre-course needs analysis

A pre-start Zoom meeting between the tutor and the student for level assessment and needs analysis.

Recommended reading

Before the start of the course, the student is sent an assignment to be completed before the course and a short reading list.

Certification

All students who successfully complete the course are eligible for a Course Certificate.  Certificates are sent by email after the end of the course.

Course aims

To make the student familiar with the exam and to give the student the confidence and skills required to achieve a score of 9.0 in the test.

Teaching methods

- Introductory section, outlining key areas of work within each module.
- Description of required reading and recommended reading.
- Presentation of materials taken from additional (eg. online) relevant sources.
- Daily homework assignments.
- Feedback to homework.
- Assessment and feedback.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, the student is expected to be able to:
● Take notes on a piece of listening.
● Summarise and paraphrase an unfamiliar passage of text.
● Plan, structure and write an essay of 500 words.
● Report verbally and in writing the data/information shown in diagrams and graphs.
● Speak in an interview situation for 5 minutes.

Assessment methods

Students sit rehearsal tests under exam conditions.  These are repeated as required to build confidence and familiarity with the exam.

Useful information

Each lesson is live and taught by a tutor via Zoom.

Each lesson is of 60 minutes duration

Lessons can be taken at any time from Monday - Saturday 09.00 to 18.00 GMT

IT requirements

This course is delivered online; to participate, students must be familiar with using a computer for purposes such as sending email and searching the internet.  Students need regular access to the internet and a computer meeting the recommended minimum computer specification