Updated Oct. 7, 2008
General IELTS Links
The links on this page will take you to websites dealing specifically with the IELTS test. You will also find some useful information on improving your English on some of these sites.
Other Pages with Internet Links on this website.
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This is the official homepage of the IELTS organization. Most of this website is written at an English level that is too advanced for most IELTS candidates but there is also a lot of good practice material for students.
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In English: http://www.britishcouncil.org/china.htm
In Chinese: http://www.britishcouncil.org/zh/china.htm
British Council IELTS page, in Chinese: http://www.britishcouncil.org/zh/china-exams-ielts.htm?mtrklink=china-homepage-sevenofferlinkielts
The Speaking Test and the Writing Test Grading Criteria
Information about the IELTS test scoring system (in Chinese): http://www.britishcouncil.org/zh/china-exams-ielts-introduce-score.htm
Download (pdf) page showing the level, in general, of each Band score (in English): http://www.britishcouncil.org/zh/china-exams-ielts-bandscale-eng.pdf
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http://www.cambridgeesol.org/teach/ielts/speaking/index.htm
Good information and some practice exercises.
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孙涛 http://blog.sina.com.cn/suntaoxdf
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This is quite a good blog written by a Dutch woman who took the IELTS test years ago, became fascinated by it and decided she could make money by writing a book. One of the strengths of this website is that she is not a native English speaker, so she understands the problems of IELTS students. In addition, you'll find several model essays and practice materials here.
This is the page on her website with 'recent' information about the IELTS test in different parts of the world: http://www.ielts-blog.com/category/recent-ielts-exams/
Unfortunately, that page doesn't have dates on the postings, so we don't know how recent they really are.
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This is a pay site but what you can see for free is useful.
I am especially linking to this site because they have a video of a (more or less) complete Speaking test on the home page. If you can't connect to that website, try www.youtube.com). Part 1 on Youtube is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56WFNiQBOb8 but the second video, showing Parts 2/3 isn't on Youtube.
The video shows a girl from Portugal being interviewed in England. The examiner speaks a little fast and unclearly at times when he is giving the instructions on what to do although he is usually very clear when he asks questions.
This IELTS test is not really a complete test because only two topics were used in Part 1 and Part 3 was shortened to 2.5 minutes. But besides that, it is a typical test.
After (not before) you have seen the two videos (Part 1 and Parts 2 & 3), make a guess at her score and then go HERE to see what score I give her, and why.
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http://elc.polyu.edu.hk/IELTS/
Quite a good website from Hong Kong with some practice materials and vocabulary on topics that would suit all Chinese students. However, I think it was written by a non-native English speaker.
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Homepage: http://www.cityu.edu.hk/elc/
IELTS page: http://www.cityu.edu.hk/elc/study_preparation.html
Watch or download introduction lectures about all four of the IELTS tests (from the Self Access Centre): http://www.cityu.edu.hk/elc/elc/facilities/sac_ielts.html
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http://www.clarityenglish.com/area1/RoadToIELTS-Academic/CUN_Start.asp
This link will give you some excellent advice and study exercises for all the IELTS tests (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.) I am adding this link especially because you can see videos of people answering a few Speaking test questions.
This is how to use the site:
Click on the link above. (I think you need Adobe Flash Player on your computer for it to work.)
A yellow page will come up with a choice saying, "Click to choose a topic". Choose a topic.
On the topic page, you'll see another series of different choices to make – Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking.
I haven't had a good look at everything but, after you click on the Speaking choice, I suggest you start at the first item in the list and continue through to the end of the list by clicking the 'forward arrow.' Each page gives you advice and each video shows you examples of this advice being used in a real test.
The examiners are very typical examiners and the candidates are typical, too. You won't see a complete test in each video but you'll see, perhaps some Part 1 questions, a Part 2 or some Part 3 questions. Understand that these candidates are not models for you to copy but you will learn something by watching them, especially if you read every page in each Speaking module for each topic. (Later, I plan to write a commentary on these candidates and give them Band scores. Actually, all the candidates seem to be Band 6.5 or perhaps 7.0.)
After watching the video, don't click the 'Back' button on your browser (e.g., Microsoft Internet Explorer) because that will cause you to lose the whole website and you'll have to start again from the beginning. Instead, use the "Menu" button or the "Home" button at the top right-hand corner, which will take you back to the topic choice page. You can also use the 'forward arrow' and the 'back arrow' to move up or down the list of pages for that module.
Sometimes when you click the 'back arrow' on the yellow page, it doesn't really take you back to your previous page but rather, to the previous page in the list for that module. For example, if you choose to watch a video without starting at the first page in the module and your click the 'back arrow' after watching the video, it won't take you back to where you were before but to the page previous to the video in the list.
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http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=79483291132f222606cc
This video shows you the beginning and the first few questions of a typical Part 3.
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http://faculty.uaeu.ac.ae/paul.kelly/projs/ielts/IELTSHome.html
This website is from the United Arab Emirates University.
You will see several good examples of Part 2 and one example of a 'full' Speaking test. Later, when I have time, I'll comment on the performances of all these candidates and give them a score.
When you watch these videos, read the comments that are written on that page.
In the Part 2 examples, the two women look like northern Europeans who speak English at the Band 9 level, although the blonde woman is better than the woman with the light brown hair. The man seems to be German speaker, from Germany, Austria or Switzerland and seems to be about Band 7.0 or 7.5 in these Part 2 videos but he might do better in Parts 1 & 3 and end up being a Band 8.0. All three people in the Part 2 videos speak very clearly, which is good for you to watch.
There is a 'complete test' of a man named Mahommed. It's not a 'real' test because the examiner doesn't say exactly the same words as real examiners say and the whole test was only 9 minutes long. On the screen you can see a 'score meter', representing how an examiner's idea of the candidate's score is changing. This candidate is quite good – I would give him a Band 7.0 for Speaking.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7rnqFotWsk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEUE-DtfjY0&feature=related
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