RECENT INCREASE OF IELTS POINTS TO APPLY FOR A VISA / 2011 AUMENTO RECIENTE DE PUNTOS DEL EXAMEN IELTS PARA OPTAR POR UNA VISA / AUGMENTATION D' IELTS POINTS DE DEMANDER UN VISA

The IELTS examination has always been an important step in learning English, whether is for studying abroad; to immigrate to another country or just check where we stand, this test has been created to test your four skills:

·          Reading

·          Listening

·          Writing

·          Speaking

In comparison to the OET Examination, which its score hasn’t changed, you receive a four sub-tests: Listening, reading, writing and speaking score from A to E, being A the highest grade and E the lowest, however for immigration purposes YOU need in the four sections A or B to pass. Two important recent changes to mention about this test is that OET Organization Australia decided at the end of last year to close down the OET Test centre in Lima, Peru due to the lack of applicant´s registration per month. The other change was introducing the condition of accepting only score results were all sections are passed, only A or B, if YOU got three A or B, but one C or less, your results won’t be valid, it’s an obligation to get all section with a pass mark because there isn’t an overall grade; you receive a separate grade for each sub-test.

Talking about the IELTS Examination, the official score has increased for immigration Australia from 6 to 7 points in each band, this is important to clarify; a valid result is a certificate with 7 points in each section. On the contrary to immigration Canada, who has reduced from 7 to 6.5 in each band its IELTS requirement, but not in Listening to obtain the maximum score 16 points, four points in each section.

·          Writing:  6.5 Band

·          Reading:  6.5 Band

·          Speaking:  6.5 Band

·          Listening:  7.5 Band

But while it may seem simple to get this high new score, it isn’t because this test is challenging in timing and accuracy based on a general concept of difficult questions in their two versions, General Training to apply for a resident visa or Academic to get a student visa, with a minimum result of 7 score in the four bands, anyone will be able to spot the majority of degrees, masters and postgraduates offering around the world, and a minimum of 8 points in writing and speaking is required for medicine, engineering or teaching studies.

·          Reading (Longer articles with more in detail and deep questions in disorder)

·        Writing (A different task 1, from a simple business letter to a graph process description composition)

HERE is a link about the latest changes worldwide:

·          http://immig-canada.blogspot.com/2009/03/latest-changes-in-ielts-score.html            IMMIGRATION CANADA

·          http://www.visabureau.com/australia/immigration-points-test.aspx#language            IMMIGRATION AUSTR

IELTS General Training (GT) bands & score calculator

READING & LISTENING
Questions Correct	Band Score
15-22	4
23-29	5
30-33	6
34-37	7
38-39	8
40	9

IELTS Academic band & score calculator for Reading and Listening

READING & LISTENING
Correct questions	Band Score
10-15	4
16-22	5
23-29	6
30-34	7
35-38	8
39-40	9

HOW TO GET A 7 POINTS SCORE

Sections	Raw score achieved by a candidate in each section	Score	Overall IELTS Score
Listening	33 out of 40 questions	7.5	(7.5 + 7 + 6 + 8) divided by 4 = 7.124 rounded off to the nearest half decimal = Your final score is 7
Reading	29 out of 40 questions	7
Writing	23 out of 40 questions	6
Speaking	36 out of 40 questions	8

IELTS score band explanation

SCORE	LEVEL	EXPLANATION	QUESTIONS
8	Very Good User	·         Has fully operational language command with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. ·         Handles complex detailed argumentation well.	35 - 36
7.5			32 - 34
7	Good User	·         Has operational language command, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriateness and misunderstandings in some situations. ·         Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning.	29 - 31
6.5			26 - 28
6	Competent User	·         Has generally effective language command despite some inaccuracies, inaccuracies and misunderstandings. ·         Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.	22 - 25
5.5			18 - 21
5	Modest User	·         Has a partial command, coping with overall meaning in most situations though is likely to make many mistakes. ·         The candidate should be able to handle communication in his or her own field.	15 - 17
4.5			12 - 14
4	Limited User	·         Basic limited in familiar situations. ·         Having frequent problems in using complex language.	10 - 11
3.5			8 - 9
3	User	·         Conveying and understanding only general meaning in very familiar situations. ·         Frequent breakdowns in communication occur.	6 - 7
2.5			4 - 5
2	Intermitten t User	·         No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or short formulas in familiar situations. ·         Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English.	3
1.5			2
1	Non User	·         Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond a few isolated words	1

IELTS Speaking GT & Academic band scores

http://www.ielts.org/test_takers_information/getting_my_results/my_test_score.aspx

At the end all is about the Language, “Your English Level”, everyday more and more people learn a second language, 69% choose English; not only because they like it but also because they’re aware of their advantages, this is still for a long time the main language in the world, use as a tool of communication worldwide, it can open you many doors. This is precisely the reason why many immigration programs like Canada & Australia are increasing their English levels:

·    They want their new citizens, residents ready/able to communicate asap they’ll arrive to their new country:

·          Easily insert to the nation, environment and labor market right away.

·          Face with advantages the hunt for a new job,

·          Complete their immigration process fast without delays,

·          Move around, blend in faster with local people, adapt quicker to the new system.

If you don´t believe me, just watch any of below videos where people around the world talk about how important was for them to have a good level of English before even thinking in starting their visa application or departing to their new country, you’ll be convinced in that the main obstacle or challenge for immigrating, working or studying abroad is THE LANGUAGE:

LA IMPORTANCIA DE SABER INGLES ANTES DE MIGRAR para evitar maltratos y trabajos injustos, mal pagado:

·                http://youtu.be/XlqYvOqjv3o

·          http://youtu.be/kn8M8_B9Ano

·          http://youtu.be/HYvCkXowE60

·          http://youtu.be/t4iJaNOT0to

·          http://youtu.be/XlqYvOqjv3o

In summary if we are looking for better opportunities abroad, all YOU have to do is concentrating in improving your English & French levels. To help you in this, I’m adding here some free TO DOWNLOAD material you can find on the net, useful links with exercises and IELTS free simulation tests, and some of my own CLASS PRACTICE from my students in One to One Language School to keep up your training. Please feel free to send me some comments, your own practice, exercises or homework to help you giving you my feedback as a certified IELTS & OET teacher………Cynthia & Webmaster (mkt@onetooneperu.org or just paste it in comments here)

1.     Improving your Reading for IELTS (exercises, sample questions, exams):  http://ieltsbd.com/ielts-reading-how-to-master-ielts-reading-1/

2.     Improving your Speaking and Writing (exercises, sample questions, exams):      http://www.goodluckielts.com/

3.     IELTS real people comments their own experiences:                                                  http://www.ieltstips.com/

4.     Writing and Grammar practice (exercises, sample questions, exams):                http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/

5.     IELTS sample questions:                        http://www.ielts-worldwide.com/free-study-material-on-ielts.htm                                                 

6.     CAMBRIDGE dictionary:                         http://dictionary.cambridge.org/                                                    

1.    MY OWN collaboration as An ESL TEACHER IN PERU, I hope it help you!
    IELTS READING

Some common reading topics coming that you should research and read about to become a quick reader:

·          Electronic crime

·          Vitamins advantages and disadvantages

·          Company growth

·          Global warming and greenhouse effect

·          Australia main cities tourist destination

·          Technology and education

·          Health and diets

·          Impact of newspapers and books

·          Types of dwellings around the world

·          Cultural globalization

·          Organic and factory farms

·          Past and current teenager trends and habits

IELTS SPEAKING

Some common speaking topics coming that you should develop to prepare your dissertation

·          Carbon dioxide (What is carbon dioxide and how is it discovered? Where on earth do we find carbon dioxide? Where on earth do we find carbon dioxide? How Green plants produced carbon dioxide?)

·          Peru’s transportation problem (If countries are serious about solving traffic problems, they should tax private cars very heavily and use the money to provide free or very cheap rail travel. Should scientists be left to work as they please or should they be made to develop programs to improve transportation? To what extent is the continuous use of fossil fuels acceptable? How far is it the responsibility of governments to reduce the number of road accidents per year?)

·          Peru’s health and environmental risks (How to Minimize Health Risks When Travelling to Peru? Getting Prepared Medically Before the Trip. Most important Health Dangers in Peru? How diseases are spread? Most common diseases spread by animals? Most common illnesses, diseases caused by infection and intoxication in Peru?)

·          Peru’s typical medicinal plants and use

·          The real meaning of your name and the zodiacal signs (Do your name has any special meaning? Who choose your current name? Would you ever like to change it? What’s your zodiacal sign and do you believe in it? Are Peruvians mystical people?)

·          Shopping habits in Peru

IELTS WRITING

Very useful connectors and phrases for General Training Task 1: the Business Letter

to	act on behalf of	on arrival of	order to be confirmed
to	agree with	on behalf of	our best attention
	always at your service	on condition that - provided that	our offer is still open
	as agreed	on delivery	outside address
	as far as I'm concerned	on receipt of the order	pay the maximum attention to the matter
	as far as the payment is concerned	on short notice	payable in advance
	as follows	on written request	order to be confirmed

Task 1: A Business Letter sample with Examiner’s comments

It’s written in a largely predictable way, with a word limit in each paragraph context and purpose to achieve its purpose, although short lose, inadequate answers reduce marks. Its introduction is appropriate and the purpose clear. Regarding coherence and cohesion, this task has been developed with clarity and fluency through a logical sequencing, good response organization, information, ideas and language like logical connectors, pronouns and conjunction, however points are not always linked together, well and punctuation is sometimes faulty. About grammatical range and accuracy, this candidate shows a good level of grammatical resource as manifested in his writing sentence level. Sentences are quite simple and mistakes occur as soon as more complex structures are attempted.                 TOTAL WORDS = 135                        SCORE = 5

Task 2:  Essay sample 1

Task 2:  Essay sample 2

TOPIC: The positive and the negative sides of globalization. Even though globalization affects the world’s economies in a positive way, its negative side should not be forgotten. Discuss. In the present age, globalization is playing an increasingly important role in our lives. But in the meantime whether it is a blessing or a curse has sparked a heated debate. Some people argue that globalization has a fundamentally beneficial influence on our lives, while many others contend that it has a detrimental effect as well. A convincing argument can be made about globalization not only playing a pivotal role in the development of technology and economy, but also promoting the cultural exchange between different countries. To start with, it is the globalization that impelled many corporate to become an international group, thereby making a contribution to the local technology and employment. Specifically, when a multinational group establishes a factory in a developing country, the new equipment, the new management skills and the job vacancies are all in the best interest of the local society. Moreover, people worldwide can get to know each other better through globalization. It is easy to see that more and more Hollywood blockbusters show cultures different from American, some recent examples are ‘Kungfu Panda and ‘The Mummy’. Admittedly, profit driven globalization has severely affected young people. Today, in the metropolises in different countries, it is very common to see teenagers wearing NIKE T-shirts and Adidas footwear, playing Hip-Hop music on Apple iPods and eating at KFC. The culture that took a thousand years to form just seems similar in these cities; it is looks like you can only distinguish them by their language. Meanwhile, in some developing countries, sweat workshops are always a concerning issue. For instance, reports show that some teenagers employed by NIKE’s contractors work in smelly factories over 14 hours a day, but are only paid fifty cents per hour. In summary, I would concede that globalization does come with some adverse effects. Despite that fact, benefits created by it far outweigh the disadvantages. Overall, I am convinced that we should further promote globalization and meanwhile the local government should take measures to combat culture assimilation and sweat workshops.

Examiner’s comments

This essay is extremely long (338 words). It has a sound structure, your position is clearly expressed, the information is well-organized, and structure-wise the sentences are fine. The vocabulary is impressive and there only were a few grammatical errors. Overall, looks like a band 7.5 essay.
OET MEDICAL WRITING: Practicioner referral letter (30 minutes / 200 words)

Structuring your thoughts = what’s the aim of your letter?

§   Identify any problems

§   Introduce your patient and clinical history

§   Formulate a differential diagnosis

§   Consider a plan of initial investigation underlying cause, severity and prognosis for each problem.

§   Advice about the patient

§   Your own recommendations

Always allow enough time to gather your thoughts before presenting your findings, use the brainstorming technique.

Presenting your findings = It is essential to be as concise as possible so that important information is not lost among mass of irrelevant details.

§   Start with a formal introductory phrases describing the patient and his/her reason for requiring medical attention. This is important as it provides a frame for the subsequent information.

§   Describe the detailed history, using patient´s words where possible, and avoid placing value judgments at this state.

§   Using your judgment introduce important negative responses, but do not overburden the reader with irrelevant detail.

§   The rest of the history should be presented in a similarly edited form.

§   Unrelated symptoms described by the patient can be mentioned at the end of the history.

When presenting your findings:

§   Start by describing the vital signs

§   Then concentrate on the system primarily affected. Discuss your findings in this system at length.

§   For other body systems, describe any positive findings and any important negative signs 

OET DOCTOR: Sample Letter

From: Dr. Gutierrez Department of Emergency Newtown Hospital Newtown - Australia 28/02/11 TO: Doctor John Brown PATIENT: Mr. Roberto Rojas                DOB: 02/04/1989                Maybe intracranial problem cause from recurring headache I am writing to refer my patient, Mr. Rojas to you. He is a 22 year old man found collapsed at home today alone before my visit. Mr. Rojas had a history of headache and visited my clinic twice previously. On the 13/02/11 he first attended my clinic and complained of front headache with mild nausea, slight blurred vision, but no aura or vomiting. He had no past family medical history of migraine and no photophobia or neck stiffness. No other abnormality was found except for fast pulse rate (90/min). On that occasion, he was treated with rest and paracetamol pills for probable headache tension. On the 26/02/11, he visited me again with recurring problems and complained of acute headache and visual blurring worsening. He also vomited three times and complained of slight paraesthesia on right side. My clinical examination only found pulse rate fast (110/min) and BP 150/95. Then I decided to treated him with pethidine (100 mgm) and Maxolon (10 mgm) under reviewing in 1day. Today, 28/02/11 he collapsed at home with severe headache and weakness in his right arm and leg with conscious state depression and slurred speech. My detail examination revealed a pulse rate of 100/min, BP 155/90; arm and leg power reduced. His knee jerk was increased. I believe he may have pace occupying lesion or other intracranial problems that is why I decided to admit him into Emergency for urgent assessment right away. He needs a CAT scan and X-RAY to discard brain injuries; he needs a full blood test to evaluate him against common illnesses. Could you please keep me inform about his results and evolution directly to my email: drbrain@yahoo.es or to my practice: 9945-8976. It is important to mention that Mr. Rojas has a family history of diabetes, cardiac problems and bulimia. Sincerely, Dr. Gutierrez

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