Courses for STEP, IELTS, TOEFL and everyday English
Module 1
9 min read
لم تحدد مستواك بعد؟ اختبار من خمس دقائق يفتح لك الشرح بالعربية في الدروس الأولى.
ابدأ اختبار تحديد المستوىIELTS reports five numbers: a band for Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, and an overall band. The overall band is the average of the other four, rounded. Everything useful about how to prepare follows from those two sentences, and almost nobody works it through.
Each section is a quarter of the result. Raising your strongest section from 8 to 8.5 adds an eighth of a band to the average. Raising your weakest from 5 to 6 adds a quarter. The weak section is worth twice as much per band gained, and it is also the easier place to gain one, because the distance from 5 to 6 is shorter than the distance from 8 to 8.5.
This is the opposite of the instinct most candidates follow. Studying what you are already good at is more pleasant, produces visible progress, and moves your overall band least.
The average is rounded to the nearest half band, and a result ending in .25 rounds up. An average of 6.25 is reported as 6.5. An average of 6.125 is reported as 6.0. Those two candidates differ by an eighth of a band and are treated very differently by a university requiring 6.5.
One half band, in one section
Listening 6.5, Reading 6.5, Writing 5.5, Speaking 6. The average is 6.125, reported as 6.0. Raise Writing alone from 5.5 to 6, and the average becomes 6.25, reported as 6.5. Nothing else changed. One section, one half band, and a requirement that was missed is now met.
There are two versions. Academic is the one universities require and the one this course teaches. General Training is used for migration and some work registration. Listening and Speaking are the same in both; Reading uses different texts, and Writing Task 1 differs completely, since Academic asks you to describe data and General Training asks for a letter. Confirm which version your institution requires before you prepare for either.
One more number worth knowing now. Within the Writing section, Task 2 counts for two thirds and Task 1 for one third. Two of this course's three writing modules are about Task 2 for that reason.
Try it now
Write down the band your university or employer requires, then your best honest estimate of your current band in each of the four sections. Average them. The gap between that average and the requirement, and which single section would close it fastest, is your study plan.
A few quick questions. You'll see an explanation after each one.
Question 1 of 4
Which section should a candidate prioritise, and why?