Ielts

[nikkiwd]

Maybe so Rupert but why risk it, it isn't a question that should affect how they assess you so why do they ask why you are taking the test. My husband was also told during the speaking test that as he was native English his test would go on longer than usual! how is that fair and unbiased...

[Guest guest10912]

Maybe so Rupert but why risk it, it isn't a question that should affect how they assess you so why do they ask why you are taking the test. My husband was also told during the speaking test that as he was native English his test would go on longer than usual! how is that fair and unbiased...

 

Perhaps they want to know why people are taking the test for statistical reasons, it isn't risking anything. And if you have just "proved" something with your bizarre observation, then I have equally disproved it.

 

And what on earth does it matter that his English test went on for longer. The speaking part of IELTS could not be any simpler for an English person, you just have to talk! It's not hard. Really.

[racheld]

Dear all

 

 

I took the IELTS 7 times in total. I'm also a nurse so I was very upset after each result was just 0.5 short. I have dyslexia and thought my dreams of moving to perth where over.

 

BUT I applied for my nursing registration with out the test. Showing all my education had been taught in English and I am now fully registered, It was so good to see my name on the register. I now need to get a modified skills assessment through the anmc ( to help with visa points) and because I am already register I don't need to provide English to get.

to help with visa application I then took the general IELTS which is easier and got a good result.

 

i took me over two year to get where I am but I'm happy with the end result.

 

Problem I have now are visa company taken lots of money from me and have done nothing for me so having to start again with a loss of £2100 .looking for sponsorship in perth and nothing is available but I'm sure with time I will get my dream.

 

light at the end of a long dark tunnel there is hope when you don't get the mark needed so my advice to all is just keep at it you will get there.

[Levi]

Congrats to those who have passed the first time - be they native speakers or not. I am just speculating here, that's all.

 

As far as I know statistical information is collected anonymously, so if the British Council wants data then I suggest it collects it another way, and not on the form where my personal details are written down.

 

I don't know how much more I can practice, people and especially the British Council should read my posts here for example, they are much better (grammar, vocabulary, etc.) than most people's.

 

Thanks for the comments, I like to express my views and thoughts and I appreciate if others do the same. Perhaps I will learn something.

[flatpack]

Levi I can concur with you that your spelling and grammar are very good, but that is not where you are struggling although your writing is not as good as your reading or listening scores. Do you utilise a spell checker? If so turn it off for a while and see if you spelling and grammar suffer, it may help you find your flaws.

I cannot comment on your speaking for obvious reasons, is there anyway you can hold conversations in English with fluent English speakers on a daily basis? As it seems that is where your issue is.

Hope you get the scores you need soon.

[Rossmoyne]

Hi Caroline, sorry to hear that you didn't get the score increase. How come you're not migrating now? As in not at all?

 

I got my EOR result in 7 weeks, via Bucharest-London.

 

For what it's worth, I am planning to mess with these IELTS people a bit via the consumer protection agency (here in Romania) and also to write to the EU consumer protection agency. There are so called "abusive clauses" (for example in the borrowing contracts) and I want to see what this agency thinks about those "what's your occupation, why are you taking the test, where are you migrating, etc." questions - if all the British Council does via this exam is assess you English proficiency.

Plenty of people have already asked me why would I do this, or that I'm wasting my time, but I just gotta try : ))

 

If in 10 years those questions will disappear then I will be satisfied.

 

Levi are these questions asked by the British Council purely for statistic purposes do you think, like to find out how many people are wanting a grade for work purposes or for migration purposes. Do you really think there is a connection with these questions and the immigration process for Australia? The British Council are not connected to the Australian Government and I always understood (having worked in the migration arena for a number of years before I retired) that IELTS testing was the most reliable.

[Levi]

Hi flatpack, I don’t utilise a spell checker. It is on in my browser (yes, English), but I hardly pay attention to it. How come, you ask: because when I type any email in Hungarian everything is underlined with red, so I got used to it.

I can’t speak English here, there are only Hungarians and Romanians around me.

 

I just think I should have, could have received a 7 in speaking, that’s all. All the other nonsense I write is because I live in Romania, and this is a corrupt country. If people can make money off of you, then they will. Be they Britsh Council emplyees or not. This place is not civilized like the UK, Canada, etc.

 

@Rossmoyne: Having read many of your posts I know you are a smart and kind person, and those are good questions. My answer is I don’t know what to think.

 

Like I said on another ielts thread, when I take the train from point A to point B nobody asks me what’s my occupation, where and why am I going. I just exchange money for a service. I would like this test to be like that. It shouldn’t be mandatory to reveal my purposes and full name under my signature.

 

So, last two posters, thanks for your comments and encouragements. : D

[flatpack]

I only asked about the spell checker to see if you're relying on it here, if you were then the level of your spelling and grammar would be misleading. But as you say you are not using it then my point is irrelevant.

Your grasp on English seems VERY good so I can only assume that your pronunciation is poor and the only way to improve that is by practising witha fluent English speaker who can correct you and help you with your mistakes.

Is it possible for you to come to the UK for a while whilst you perfect your speaking?

[Rossmoyne]

Levi - I tend to agree with Flatpack. As I have said before, your written English is very colloquial and grammatically correct, so I can only assume also that you perhaps need practice speaking with a native born English speaker. I guess that isn't so easy where you are, but what about taking a holiday in England and attending a language college for a crash course in speaking. Where I used to live in Sussex (Brighton area) there were quite a number of Language colleges who used to run intensive courses for short periods of time. In fact we used to have students from some of these colleges as boarders with us. Mostly they were three week courses and the total immersion in English both studying and living with a family really helped the students. Mind you that was 25 years ago so I don't know if they still do that. Might be worth you checking it out though if you aren't able to find anyone in Hungary to tutor you one-on-one. You seem a very determined young man so I am sure you will find a way to improve your spoken English and I wish you good luck in this.

[Levi]

Thanks both! I learned English in the nineties - I was a kid back then - starting with cartoons and taking it from there. I read a lot on the internet, I read a couple of Stephen King novels (The green mile, The cell, The stand) man I loved them, etc. So what I wanted to say is that I also watched many TV programs, series and I mainly speak with an American accent; sometimes I fool around with a Texan accent, redneck accent (hope I'm not offending anyone) : ))

 

I couldn't go to England, money is always an issue, just like with the IELTS, I have to save up before the next test. The thing that got me was the 2 minute talking, maybe it was 1 minute for me. I just have to think about what I want to say, I don't want to blurb out the first nonsense that comes to mind, plus it may be off topic - and that would be another bad thing.

 

Thanks for the encouragement, the tips, ideas, keep'em coming, and not just for me but for others too.

[neilwiz3]

hi levi, yes i score well in speaking, sad to say 5 attempts and still not there yet but my speaking is 9+ every time, main thing is to relax and keep calm.

 

I have a mate who`s always in my office having a brew and chatting with me at work and i just pretend the guy interviewing me is him lol.