Have you sat IELTS or TOEFL exams?
I am looking to chat with people who had done IELTS or TOEFL and who got the score they needed. I’d like to know what you did to help you get the score. If you are one of these people, would you mind sharing your tips with the EMS community, or talk about your overall experience with IELTS. You could feature on this podcast! :)Are you one of the ‘survivors’? Contact me! Hope you enjoy today’s episode :)
Episodes mentioned
[122] Talk About An Outdoor Activity – IELTS TOEFL Speaking Question
[022] Learn to Speak English With IELTS (Part 2)
[021] Learn to Speak English with IELTS (Part 1)
[014] I hate IELTS (but there is still hope!)
[013] IELTS or TOEFL which one is easier? (Test Your Fluency)
Transcript
Hey amigos, today’s episode is a bit different. I will need your help! I am looking for the survivors of IELTS. If this doesn’t make sense yet, then keep listening it will all start to make sense soon. Stick around!
So welcome amigos y amigas, my name is Milena from www.englishmadesimple.net and you are listening to episode number 180 – number one hundred and eighty – numero ciento ochenta.
How is it going?
Hope you are feeling amazing. Hope you are fine and dandy.
One sec…
Let me do a quick test…a psychological test, that is!
Let’s see what happens if I say this word “IELTS” …. do you still feel amazing? Or do you want to scream in pain? Haha
Does your eye twitch? Are you going crazy?
Do you feel like you are in a nightmare with Freddy Kruger?
Going nuts!
That’s what I was expecting to see. That’s the type of reaction I was expecting.
So let me just give you a quick overview of what IELTS is for those of you who don’t know.
I did mention it in some of the earlier episodes, let me check the episode numbers #122, 022, 021, 014, 013 – IELTS or TOEFL. I will leave the links in the transcript of today’s show so you can easily find these episodes.
So if you are new to this show and you are about to do IELTS or TOEFL exams you can check out these earlier episodes… if you need some motivation or empowerment.
In one of those episodes I talked about how much I hate IELTS. I believe it was episode #014 and it was titled “I hate IELTS” – haha.
Alrighty, going back to the overview of IELTS – IELTS or TOEFL – these are English exams, required to be taken if you are planning to study overseas or if you are planning to move overseas. When I say overseas, I am referring to English-speaking countries like, the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and so on.
IELTS and TOEFL are mandatory English exams enforced by the Governments of those countries to test your knowledge of English.
I understand that not all visas require English tests but the majority do. Especially if you are planning to migrate to Australia as a skilled migrant – in other words – a professional, you would need to demonstrate your level of English.
For example:
As of this recording if you are planning to immigrate to Australia as a skilled migrant, you would need to have an IELTS score of 7+ in all of the disciplines. The disciplines you are rated on are: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
Now these requirements vary and it’s best to speak with your migration agent. It also depends on what visa you are planning to apply for.
I am not going to talk about visas as I am not a migration agent, and I don’t want to give you wrong advice. It’s best you do your own research, talk to someone at the embassy or find an immigration agent. I have a couple of immigration agents I can recommend.
But anyway, all I want to talk about is that awful exam – IELTS.
By the way, IELTS stands for The International English Language Testing System.
The reason I hate IELTS is that it is too long, close to 3 hours, also it is not cheap, most of us have to do it more than once, so that’s more money out the door, the topics are not interesting, I personally don’t care about the topics we have to write about in these exams, most of the things you need to learn for IELTS are not required in your day-to-day life overseas.
To get a score of 7 you almost have to be an advanced speaker of English.
To use the word HATE is a bit harsh, it’s not very nice to use this word. But let’s just say I don’t like it. I don’t like IELTS.
And some of you might feel the same as me. I can hear your pain.
And you know, I have other words to describe IELTS which I am not going to share with you today, as I don’t want to get in trouble with Weon Inteligente.
So I have to keep it polite.
I keep getting emails from a number of listeners asking me about IELTS and TOEFL. TOEFL is another exam. It’s computer based as opposed to IELTS that’s handwritten. TOEFL is used mostly for international students but I believe it can also be used for other residency visas.
I have students preparing for IELTS and TOEFL and it’s just been a topic I feel has to be covered in the podcast.
I want you to know that I sympathise with you. We share the same sentiment about IELTS.
You also need to know that you are not alone. There are others who feel the same way you do, especially if you feel frustrated, and you feel like it’s the end of the world.
Please be patient and I promise you, you will see that light at the end of the tunnel. Just keep going! Keep practicing.
Maybe you won’t get the score you need the first time you take IELTS, but know that this is normal. You are not alone. I know of people who had taken IELTS 3 or 4 times because they needed a 7 for one of the visas to Australia.
What you need to know is that IELTS is a skill. And like any skill, you need to practice it until you become good at it. You must dedicate 1 hour a day to practice if you want to be good at it. As I said, it’s a skill. You must get familiar with the types of questions in the test. They follow the same format, get familiar and practice past IELTS questions.
And once you get the IELTS score you need, whatever your goal, it feels like you won the lottery! It feels great, I know. My friends had to do IELTS in order to come to Australia.
I’ll tell you, don’t give up. It’s possible to get the score you need.
So amigos y amigas, I am not going to go into too much detail about IELTS and TOEFL in today’s episode.
And that’s because I want to speak to the survivors of IELTS. Haha
Where are you guys? Are you out three? I am looking to speak to the survivors of IELTS and TOEFL. What has worked for you? How did you get the score you needed?
I want to know if you have any tips to share with the EMS audience.
Have you survived IELTS? Have you survived TOEFL?
If so, please get it in touch with me. Please send me a message at www.englishmadesimple.net/contact OR directly on milena@www.englishmadesimple.net.
I want to speak to people who have defeated the IELTS beast.
You will be featured on this podcast. We can have a chat on the podcast or if you are too shy, you and I can have a chat behind the scenes and I will share the tips with my listeners.
If you have friends who have done these exams, tell them about this podcast, get them to contact me.
Thanks for joining me today amigos y amigas. Thanks for listening to me blab about IELTS.
By the way, have you joined my Facebook group? No IELTS required. No passport required. It’s free to join. The Facebook group is called English Made Simple. All you need to do is answer 1 question before you join. I hope to see you in there.
You’ve been jamming with Milena from English Made Simple, hasta la proxima!
IMPROVE IN ALL 4 DISCIPLINES
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Milena Vujnic
Podcast Host at English Made Simple Podcast
Milena is the host of the English Made Simple Podcast and is passionate about helping English learners break their fear of speaking English so they can confidently make conversation and be understood by other English-speakers.
Milena lives in Australia with her Chileno husband and loves anything podcasting and online coaching and is honoured to be supporting and guiding immigrants from all over the world with her products, programs and coaching services.
Click here to learn more about how you can work with Milena.