midwife momma Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 So, yesterday I sat my IELTS. OMG, my head was battered by the end of the day. I have spent the past month revising on 'road to IELTS', so went in reasonably prepared ( approx. 400 hrs revised). Listening, reading and writing was in the morning, followed by speaking in the afternoon. About 80 people sat the test which I was amazed at, I was under the impression that it would be all us poms trying to get out of the country, however it was predominantly others trying to get in! In my test room there were about 30 people and man it was hot and sweaty in there, urghh. The listening was the one I was dreading most as a I wear a hearing aid and was anxious I may not hear, however the examiner turned it up nice and loud, so I was fine. I know I missed one answer but think I managed the others ok. The reading went so fast, there were four topics covered and some were easier to read than others. The first topic was something about ancient Chinese chariots. The second about monkeys, the third about nanotechnology and the fourth about video gaming. Lots to speed read, I managed to complete it all, I transferred my answers onto the sheet in batches, I heard someone say they had answered all the questions but didn't have time to transfer all the answers. I don't know how non native speakers coped with the speed this test required. The writing part one was describing a graph about small businesses and the type of media used (150 words min). The second part was about prisons, why do criminals reoffend and what solutions are there to break the cycle (250 words min). I used two answer sheets for my writing, used my eraser loads and just pray the marker can read. I had time to re-read and put in any punctuation I had missed. The speaking, which I was least worried about was actually the one I am now more worried about. When the examiner collected me from the waiting room he said not to worry, that the questions were a little strange but just keep talking. Firstly, the obvious questions about me; where I live, do I like, is it a good place to bring up kids etc so no probs there. Then, have I ever used a map, when, how, what for, do I prefer maps or GPS. why etc, when would I find a map most useful. Then, is English an international language, what language would I like to learn, why, how. What are the advantages of speaking another language. Should the world have just one language. Why, why not. It doesn't sound that difficult written here, but at the time it was tricky to answer. Literally upon leaving the room, loads of ideas flooded my brain for which I could kick myself for not thinking of at the time. Following the test, I promptly walked back into Manchester city centre, met a friend, downed a wine, followed by pizza ( not eaten all day) followed by a long island iced tea! much needed to calm aforementioned battered head. Now the 13 day wait Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatpack Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 I too thought that I blown it at the speaking part, I don't think the answers that you give make any difference. There's no right and wrong. What the want to see (hear) is how you use the English language. Just from reading what you have wrote above I think you'll have walked it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annjean Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 glad im an aussie, probably would of failed that test and not been allowed into the country Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midwife momma Posted August 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 glad im an aussie, probably would of failed that test and not been allowed into the country When I tell friends about having to sit an English test they just assume it would be easy. I can vouch it's not. Right now wishing I was an aussie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midwife momma Posted August 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 I too thought that I blown it at the speaking part, I don't think the answers that you give make any difference. There's no right and wrong. What the want to see (hear) is how you use the English language. Just from reading what you have wrote above I think you'll have walked it. lets hope so flatpack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annjean Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 I cannot understand why they make you do it., Non english speaking i can understand, the mind boggles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gar374 Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 Sounds to me like you've nailed it. Good luck with the results. I found they came available about 00:10 on the Friday morning. Cheers Gareth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midwife momma Posted August 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 Sounds to me like you've nailed it. Good luck with the results. I found they came available about 00:10 on the Friday morning. Cheers Gareth well I hope so, thanks for the tip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 I had a terrible time with the IELTS as I'm sure you have seen on some of my previous posts, it was a complete nightmare for me I had 4 attempts and found the format and test conditions the problem, the reading can have more than one possible correct answers that you find, they are more like trick questions than a test of your reading, the listening can soon get passed you if you dwell to long on a question, I reckon you have nailed it and wouldn't worry to much about it, those 13 days will be a killer though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DyLeB Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 Good luck - was that the academic test you sat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midwife momma Posted August 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 blimey keith, I wish I was confident, cos I know how hard it has been for you and others to pass the damn thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midwife momma Posted August 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2014 Good luck - was that the academic test you sat? thanks, yes it was the academic version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danandlol Posted August 6, 2014 Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 hi, I sat my ielts three weeks ago and got my results last Friday, I was extremely nervous and was most worried about writing as I can never put down on paper what I mean. i had a complete mind block in the speaking and actually went completely silent for about twenty seconds and also though afterwards how much more i could have said. i ran out of the time on my writing test without finishing and was certain i would fail (needed minimums of 7's. but i got a 9 on speaking which i couldn't believe, and got a 7 on my writing, 7.5 on reading and 9 on listening. so basically don't panic over it because i did and was ok as i am sure you will be. good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midwife momma Posted August 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2014 hi, I sat my ielts three weeks ago and got my results last Friday, I was extremely nervous and was most worried about writing as I can never put down on paper what I mean. i had a complete mind block in the speaking and actually went completely silent for about twenty seconds and also though afterwards how much more i could have said. i ran out of the time on my writing test without finishing and was certain i would fail (needed minimums of 7's. but i got a 9 on speaking which i couldn't believe, and got a 7 on my writing, 7.5 on reading and 9 on listening. so basically don't panic over it because i did and was ok as i am sure you will be. good luck Thanks Dananlol, only another week to wait. it was the strangest of tests, darn those ielts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midwife momma Posted August 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2014 woo hoo, I passed. Listening 8 Reading 9 Writing 8.5 speaking 9 overall 8.5 20 points plus anmac requirements in the bag, so chuffed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatpack Posted August 15, 2014 Report Share Posted August 15, 2014 Congrats, that feeling is immense isn't it? I nearly jumped through the ceiling when I got mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Posted August 15, 2014 Report Share Posted August 15, 2014 Congratulations, well done how good to have got passed the sticky point of your visa, I know exactly how you must feel you should celebrate at the weekend, since I passed the ielts it has flown and now we are at the stage of waiting for a case officer to be assigned, good luck with the next stage! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beandownunder Posted August 15, 2014 Report Share Posted August 15, 2014 great result Midwife Momma well done :-) x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenPen Posted August 15, 2014 Report Share Posted August 15, 2014 Welldone @midwife momma!!!!! That is fantastic I knew you would do it - congrats!!! One step closer lovely xxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7cdb Posted August 15, 2014 Report Share Posted August 15, 2014 Well done girl! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annjean Posted August 15, 2014 Report Share Posted August 15, 2014 congratulations to you, i'll see you at the market sometime in the future:biggrin: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rossmoyne Posted August 15, 2014 Report Share Posted August 15, 2014 woo hoo, I passed. Listening 8 Reading 9 Writing 8.5 speaking 9 overall 8.5 20 points plus anmac requirements in the bag, so chuffed Well done Midwife Momma... IELTS is not easy.... and Academic is so much harder than General... so well done on your amazing scores.... I know everyone hates doing these tests, but they have been introduced for a reason that I am sure everyone understands.... if you want to live in Oz you need to speak English... and if you are going to be working in a medical or teaching profession, your English needs to be perfect... hence the Academic and General versions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midwife momma Posted August 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2014 Well done Midwife Momma... IELTS is not easy.... and Academic is so much harder than General... so well done on your amazing scores.... I know everyone hates doing these tests, but they have been introduced for a reason that I am sure everyone understands.... if you want to live in Oz you need to speak English... and if you are going to be working in a medical or teaching profession, your English needs to be perfect... hence the Academic and General versions. Thanks everyone, it was really tricky and I spent hours ( thankfully) doing online training. Such a relief I don't have to experience that again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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