IELTS TRAINING CENTRE KENYA - IELTS PREPARATION | OET | TOEFL | PTE | GRE | DUOLINGO
Title: IELTS TRAINING CENTRE KENYA - IELTS PREPARATION | OET | TOEFL | PTE | GRE | DUOLINGO
Understand the test structure, then study
In this post, I'll delve into the next two stages of preparation: comprehending the test structure and using a combination of test and non-test materials
Stage 2: Comprehend the Test Structure and Identify Areas of Focus.
OET provides excellent free resources for each profession
Many students find these resources invaluable for assessing their strengths and weaknesses across the four subtests. It's crucial to be honest with yourself and pinpoint areas where you need to dedicate more effort to be fully prepared for the test. While a tutor can assist with writing and speaking, you might also require support with listening and reading strategies. Some individuals may excel in most areas but struggle in one or two. Seeking extra help, whether through group courses or personal tutoring sessions, can prove highly beneficial. Even a few focused sessions can yield significant improvements.
Stage 3: Utilize a Blend of Test and Non-Test Materials to Reach Your Target Bandscore.
The OET free guides offer numerous links to resources such as TED talks, podcasts, and websites. Exposing yourself to a wide range of materials is essential as it helps you comprehend sustained pieces of writing and speech, particularly in the OET Reading and Listening sections. Developing the ability to think critically about language is crucial. Just as a diverse diet promotes better health than relying solely on supplements, varied and challenging language materials are vital for skill development. It's crucial to incorporate some form of vocabulary tracking tool to manage the plethora of new words and phrases you'll encounter. With my students, I use Brainscape, a spaced repetition system that prompts you to recall words within sample sentences.
Using test materials is integral to building confidence with the format and the diverse subskills required. While this stage may feel frustrating initially, it's a normal part of the learning process. You may notice recurring errors, which is also common.
Key skills to focus on include
· skimming and scanning
· reading for detail
· understanding argument development
· inferring meaning from context
· recognising subtle nuances in tone.
Paraphrasing deserves a special mention!
Students often prefer to self-train in reading or listening and seek tutor assistance for writing and speaking. However, a good tutor will assess your scores across all test components, as it's easy to overestimate one's skills. Keep working with a mixture of test materials and maybe two or three sources for listening and another three for reading.
Good luck!
