Sunday, 8th December 2024
I did some IELTS practice questions
The teacher told me that if I wanted to do IELTS speaking, there was a practice module at the school, so let's do that.
For writing, the teacher also told me to look for IELTS questions on the web by myself, write them down and send them to her by message and she would look at them in the next lesson.
For the band score, she told me to study for a 7 and be happy if I get a 6.5.
By the way, an IELTS band score of 9 means you can do as well as a native speaker.
The band score is like an overall index of the four English language skills, apparently.
In yesterday's lesson, I was very nervous because I imagined the actual exam, and I spoke slower than ever.
I get nervous when I think I am being tested.
When I told the teacher I wanted to take the IELTS, she asked me if I had a date set for taking it.
I stated that I had not yet, but that I would like to take it once to find out what my weaknesses are, and she said it would be better if I had a bit of practice.
I don't understand myself which of the four skills I am good at and which I am weak at.
But speaking is probably the worst.
If I can't speak, I can't listen.
I should practise speaking a little more.
After yesterday's lesson, I felt deeply that I had neglected studying English for about three years.
Because I don't use it at work, I thought.
This loss is huge.
Today I tried to solve IELTS writing questions.
There are two tasks in IELTS writing: task 1 and task 2.
You have one hour to work on both of them.
Task 1 is a written piece of work consisting of 150 words in 20 minutes.
The subject is a graph showing some data and you have to summarise in 150 words what you can say about it.
Task 2 involves writing a 250-word piece of writing in 40 minutes about which of two opposing concepts you support, based on your experience and knowledge.
There is no right answer for either, it seems that it is just a matter of logic, or making sense, and making sure there are no mistakes in the sentences and words.
I found Task 2 easier to write.
In Task 1, I ran out of time after about 130 words because I didn't really know what to say when I saw the number transition.
I sent a message to my teacher with the link to the questions and the sentences I had written.
My next lesson with the teacher is the week after next.
The teacher replied that she will look at the sentence I sent today at that time.
I didn't know how to count the words.
I did some research and found out that I could count them in Google Docs by adding an extension.
Google Docs has a function to correct grammar and word spelling.
I turned them all off.
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