Dear IELTS hopefuls
Nothing stands still. We all move on. Sentences can be short and sharp!
The next blog has been set up:
www.ieltschamp.blogspot.com
Let's hope that ieltscommunity22 show spirit and initiative.
Hoping to hear from you!
Tony
Monday, October 15, 2007
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Victory!
Hi, everybody!
Eid Mubarek! My best wishes to you and your families!
I had my exam on September 22 and it went well. Actually, reaaaally well. Beside myself, I have to thank for this the British Council for the preparation course and, especially, Tony Beale. After drafting this contribution, I counted eleven “Thank you, Tony!” across the text. To make the situation less embarrassing, I will say it once and strong:
THANK YOU, TONY!
The “extra” you added on top of the course meant a lot in the balance of the exam.
Instead of the DOs and DON'Ts (thoroughly covered during the course), I will concentrate on the “expected” and “unexpected”, the little things which can affect positively or negatively your exam day.
As you should already know, exam day starts at 9am in a room capable to host a large number of candidates for the written exams. In my case, it was Arzanah Ballroom at Sheraton Hotel and candidates were about 200.
Well, I expected a little crowding at the entrance, where people had also to store their belongings (nothing but pencils, rubbers and sharpeners was allowed in the room). What I did not expect was a delay in starting of the exam. Not much, but enough to play with your exam frame of mind.
LISTENING exam followed the procedure described during the course. Expected, but not desired, was missing by me of some answers. Not expected were some CD player technical difficulties and too loud sound. I was seated close to one of the room’s corners where one of the speakers was placed. In order to provide all the candidates with a minimum volume, people closer to speakers had to endure sound bombardment. Good for listening, very bad for your brain. Mine “vroom”-ed all day. I got band 8.5, so I assume improvisation for the missed spots helped.
No surprises during READING. The only difference compared to practice tests was the high percentage of TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN questions. Applying the course techniques, I could finish in 40 minutes, so a lot of time was left for checking and transferring the answers. I encountered one unknown word which was essential for the meaning of the sentence and if I used it incorrectly might have generated one of the wrong answers. I got band 8.5.
WRITING exam was one of my concerns, especially if I was not so accustomed with the subjects. But, I was lucky, both the essay and the letter were juicy enough to provide arguments and ideas for at least 250, and 150 respectively, words. I got band 8.5
When I applied for the IELTS test mentioned that SPEAKING was going to start at 1pm. After Writing, I was informed that I was scheduled for 5:50pm. Good, because it was a clear personal not a group appointment, bad, because it was a dramatic change in day’s schedule and it was also extending the stress of the exam day. To add to the drama, I received a phone call around 4pm to come as soon as possible to fill in an opening resulted from some cancellations. I took the opportunity, but at the expense of my appearance, which I consider was not fresh enough, especially after quickly crossing half of the city. The exam itself seemed longer than expected, but I suppose the examiner wanted a better contact with my English. Unexpected was also the short time the examiner needed to bring me in a comfort zone. Subjects suited me (somehow unexpected) and, so, the examiner had difficulties to stop my verbal flow. Retrospectively, I think I might have been a little bit impolite trying to impose too much. I got band 9.0.
Receiving the results was a stressful job. Instructions received earlier mentioned collecting the results on October 4 from British Council, opposed to receiving the results by Empost courier as informed during the exam day. Nothing happened on 4th or on 5th. Conflicting information received from British Council toll free number and Empost added to the stress. Finally, on 6th, I went to Empost to collect the results to spare one or two more days.
Even though the overall band 8.5 is very good and satisfactory for my purpose, I have to look at this result in the context of the General Training test. To speak good English, I still have to work a lot.
Good luck with your exams.
Yours truly,
Vladimir Baranovschi
Eid Mubarek! My best wishes to you and your families!
I had my exam on September 22 and it went well. Actually, reaaaally well. Beside myself, I have to thank for this the British Council for the preparation course and, especially, Tony Beale. After drafting this contribution, I counted eleven “Thank you, Tony!” across the text. To make the situation less embarrassing, I will say it once and strong:
THANK YOU, TONY!
The “extra” you added on top of the course meant a lot in the balance of the exam.
Instead of the DOs and DON'Ts (thoroughly covered during the course), I will concentrate on the “expected” and “unexpected”, the little things which can affect positively or negatively your exam day.
As you should already know, exam day starts at 9am in a room capable to host a large number of candidates for the written exams. In my case, it was Arzanah Ballroom at Sheraton Hotel and candidates were about 200.
Well, I expected a little crowding at the entrance, where people had also to store their belongings (nothing but pencils, rubbers and sharpeners was allowed in the room). What I did not expect was a delay in starting of the exam. Not much, but enough to play with your exam frame of mind.
LISTENING exam followed the procedure described during the course. Expected, but not desired, was missing by me of some answers. Not expected were some CD player technical difficulties and too loud sound. I was seated close to one of the room’s corners where one of the speakers was placed. In order to provide all the candidates with a minimum volume, people closer to speakers had to endure sound bombardment. Good for listening, very bad for your brain. Mine “vroom”-ed all day. I got band 8.5, so I assume improvisation for the missed spots helped.
No surprises during READING. The only difference compared to practice tests was the high percentage of TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN questions. Applying the course techniques, I could finish in 40 minutes, so a lot of time was left for checking and transferring the answers. I encountered one unknown word which was essential for the meaning of the sentence and if I used it incorrectly might have generated one of the wrong answers. I got band 8.5.
WRITING exam was one of my concerns, especially if I was not so accustomed with the subjects. But, I was lucky, both the essay and the letter were juicy enough to provide arguments and ideas for at least 250, and 150 respectively, words. I got band 8.5
When I applied for the IELTS test mentioned that SPEAKING was going to start at 1pm. After Writing, I was informed that I was scheduled for 5:50pm. Good, because it was a clear personal not a group appointment, bad, because it was a dramatic change in day’s schedule and it was also extending the stress of the exam day. To add to the drama, I received a phone call around 4pm to come as soon as possible to fill in an opening resulted from some cancellations. I took the opportunity, but at the expense of my appearance, which I consider was not fresh enough, especially after quickly crossing half of the city. The exam itself seemed longer than expected, but I suppose the examiner wanted a better contact with my English. Unexpected was also the short time the examiner needed to bring me in a comfort zone. Subjects suited me (somehow unexpected) and, so, the examiner had difficulties to stop my verbal flow. Retrospectively, I think I might have been a little bit impolite trying to impose too much. I got band 9.0.
Receiving the results was a stressful job. Instructions received earlier mentioned collecting the results on October 4 from British Council, opposed to receiving the results by Empost courier as informed during the exam day. Nothing happened on 4th or on 5th. Conflicting information received from British Council toll free number and Empost added to the stress. Finally, on 6th, I went to Empost to collect the results to spare one or two more days.
Even though the overall band 8.5 is very good and satisfactory for my purpose, I have to look at this result in the context of the General Training test. To speak good English, I still have to work a lot.
Good luck with your exams.
Yours truly,
Vladimir Baranovschi
Friday, October 12, 2007
Eid Mubarek
Sincerest Eid greetings to all my friends on the blog, past and present!
May this auspicious time help you realise your dreams and strive even harder to surmount life's obstacles.
I have been 'lying low' and enjoying a very peaceful Ramadan. The interesting news is that I will be starting ieltscommunity22 next week when I kick off, In Sha Allah, a new three week intensive IELTS course on 21 October. Plenty of football (round and oval ball variety) before then to enjoy. My beloved football team, Watford FC, are doing very well this season - find out all about them in my local Uk newspaper www.watfordobserver.co.uk and find out about where I come from and what is happening in my home town! Isn't the Internet an amazing tool?
Watch this space!
Bye for now, off Eid visiting (won't eat too much baqlawa!)
Tony
May this auspicious time help you realise your dreams and strive even harder to surmount life's obstacles.
I have been 'lying low' and enjoying a very peaceful Ramadan. The interesting news is that I will be starting ieltscommunity22 next week when I kick off, In Sha Allah, a new three week intensive IELTS course on 21 October. Plenty of football (round and oval ball variety) before then to enjoy. My beloved football team, Watford FC, are doing very well this season - find out all about them in my local Uk newspaper www.watfordobserver.co.uk and find out about where I come from and what is happening in my home town! Isn't the Internet an amazing tool?
Watch this space!
Bye for now, off Eid visiting (won't eat too much baqlawa!)
Tony
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
HAPPY EID
salam,
i hope that i am the first one to congratulate your all for Eid and i wish all good to all people all over the world.
EID SAEED
KHAWLA
i hope that i am the first one to congratulate your all for Eid and i wish all good to all people all over the world.
EID SAEED
KHAWLA
Saturday, October 6, 2007
1. Should sports classes be sacrificed in High School so students can concentrate on Academic subjects?
The learning is the first student's goal in high school, in other hand I believe; build up their fitness also important, and helps the school's managements to achieve their targets. This essay will discuss wither athletic class should be deleted or no from high school programs.(46)
The fitness is most important think for every one; the continuous periodic exercises need a certain level of tenacity. By sport classes this insistence can be planted, and the sport will be an important habit, moreover sport classes can form a good relation ship with trainers, So the teachers can help thime to solve their personal problems. On top of that, sports are refreshed their mined and increase their effectiveness. Finally the team games are strengthening student's relationships and increase their feeling in work team. The management in my secondary school gives special attention to sport classes, and sport teacher has the best link to the students.(107)
The opponent are believe that, the time and money invest in these action are useless, they add the sports can be done on personal bases, secondly high schools have general sport program which is not necessary fit with all. Finally the competitive in sport between the students can generate unreasonable hate some times.(53)
In conclusion, sport lessons are necessary to build a healthy environment, and to improve the student strength, privacy in training program can be considered in some cases, Schools are not recourse for information only, but they are responsible to product healthy society.(43)
(Total 253 words)
Ahmed Alqassab
The fitness is most important think for every one; the continuous periodic exercises need a certain level of tenacity. By sport classes this insistence can be planted, and the sport will be an important habit, moreover sport classes can form a good relation ship with trainers, So the teachers can help thime to solve their personal problems. On top of that, sports are refreshed their mined and increase their effectiveness. Finally the team games are strengthening student's relationships and increase their feeling in work team. The management in my secondary school gives special attention to sport classes, and sport teacher has the best link to the students.(107)
The opponent are believe that, the time and money invest in these action are useless, they add the sports can be done on personal bases, secondly high schools have general sport program which is not necessary fit with all. Finally the competitive in sport between the students can generate unreasonable hate some times.(53)
In conclusion, sport lessons are necessary to build a healthy environment, and to improve the student strength, privacy in training program can be considered in some cases, Schools are not recourse for information only, but they are responsible to product healthy society.(43)
(Total 253 words)
Ahmed Alqassab
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
writting task for your comments WRITING not WRITTING
Dear all,
I understand how much you are busy, But any comment from your side will be highly appreciated . Fair enough, Ahmed, Ramadan takes its toll, I'm afraid
Forests are the lungs of the world. destruction of the forests amounts to death of the world we know it. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
There is no doubt that the green areas are the natural factories for oxygen. Damaging these factories will dramatically affect our world. This essay will examine the strong bond between forests' healthy status and our life in this world. (38) [Sensible opening Ahmed: short, simple and clear - well done!]
Forests are considered one of the living natural environments for many types of animals, fowls and insects. The woods are the natural home for all these type of creatures, and they can be considered as direct or indirect source of their food. All these creatures live in an amazing balance; even the strongest animal can not live independently without the weakest animal. And at the end the ?????????? [Yes it is going well, but you are two sentences short for this paragraph](78)
All the creators!!! are consuming oxygen continuously to generate the required energy for their daily lives, so carbon dioxide will be a result for this action. However, this gas is important for the plants to produce their food but it has two dangerous effects on the human beings' lives: firstly, this gas is a killer poison for the people. Secondly, increasing the carbon dioxide percentage in the atmosphere is enabling the air to act as a greenhouse, which leads to a dramatic rise in the earth's temperature, while also raising sea levels to the dangerous limits to threaten many coastal cities. (For instance that the people every where feel that the average of climate temperature is increased - this sentence is repetitive and meaningless, sorry!). [Hmmm, try not to get too technical Mr Mechanical Engineer - you are repeating yourself and using words incorrectly - all this brings your mark down. Rewrite this essay with my corrections and compare it to your original text]
(115)
In conclusion, although the development is the aim of civilization, which lead to product more carbon dioxide, but more investment to improve the forests must be the nations goal as it is the only tools keeping the stability of air containment limit, otherwise we will leave a damage environment to the next generations.(53) Ahmed, a 53-word sentence as a conclusion! You are making life very difficult for yourself and the examiner! Compare my conclusion below to yours:
In conclusion, we cannot stop progress, nor should we attempt to do so. We need to invest to protect the forests for our children's children by controlling greenhouse gas emissions. This must be our legacy, not a death sentence for the planet. (42 words / three sentences / strong message)
Total (284 words)
Ahmed Al-Qassab and Tony - have everybody else disappeared or given up? HELLO?
Ahmed, diagnose what is 'healthy' in this essay and what is 'sickly'. Unfortunately, I am seeing the SAME mistakes and WRONG strategy repeated. Keep it Short and Simple!!!.
I understand how much you are busy, But any comment from your side will be highly appreciated . Fair enough, Ahmed, Ramadan takes its toll, I'm afraid
Forests are the lungs of the world. destruction of the forests amounts to death of the world we know it. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
There is no doubt that the green areas are the natural factories for oxygen. Damaging these factories will dramatically affect our world. This essay will examine the strong bond between forests' healthy status and our life in this world. (38) [Sensible opening Ahmed: short, simple and clear - well done!]
Forests are considered one of the living natural environments for many types of animals, fowls and insects. The woods are the natural home for all these type of creatures, and they can be considered as direct or indirect source of their food. All these creatures live in an amazing balance; even the strongest animal can not live independently without the weakest animal. And at the end the ?????????? [Yes it is going well, but you are two sentences short for this paragraph](78)
All the creators!!! are consuming oxygen continuously to generate the required energy for their daily lives, so carbon dioxide will be a result for this action. However, this gas is important for the plants to produce their food but it has two dangerous effects on the human beings' lives: firstly, this gas is a killer poison for the people. Secondly, increasing the carbon dioxide percentage in the atmosphere is enabling the air to act as a greenhouse, which leads to a dramatic rise in the earth's temperature, while also raising sea levels to the dangerous limits to threaten many coastal cities. (For instance that the people every where feel that the average of climate temperature is increased - this sentence is repetitive and meaningless, sorry!). [Hmmm, try not to get too technical Mr Mechanical Engineer - you are repeating yourself and using words incorrectly - all this brings your mark down. Rewrite this essay with my corrections and compare it to your original text]
(115)
In conclusion, although the development is the aim of civilization, which lead to product more carbon dioxide, but more investment to improve the forests must be the nations goal as it is the only tools keeping the stability of air containment limit, otherwise we will leave a damage environment to the next generations.(53) Ahmed, a 53-word sentence as a conclusion! You are making life very difficult for yourself and the examiner! Compare my conclusion below to yours:
In conclusion, we cannot stop progress, nor should we attempt to do so. We need to invest to protect the forests for our children's children by controlling greenhouse gas emissions. This must be our legacy, not a death sentence for the planet. (42 words / three sentences / strong message)
Total (284 words)
Ahmed Al-Qassab and Tony - have everybody else disappeared or given up? HELLO?
Ahmed, diagnose what is 'healthy' in this essay and what is 'sickly'. Unfortunately, I am seeing the SAME mistakes and WRONG strategy repeated. Keep it Short and Simple!!!.
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