In this series, teacher trainer and testing examiner Allen Davenport explores ways of using authentic practice tests to prepare students for the IELTS tests. The series began with a look at the Reading test, and some creative ways of using authentic practice tests to prepare for this.
Allen recommended using books of authentic practice test materials from the Cambridge IELTS series to supplement – or even replace! – the course book, allowing students to keep all their test materials in one place and so make easier comparisons between questions on different tests.
Using authentic materials also allows students to see the actual features of the IELTS test for themselves – a much more effective approach than merely having the features described to them by their teacher. As a teacher, you can reinforce this benefit by encouraging your students to familiarise themselves with the format of the test.
Put your learners into groups and instruct each group to look at a different test. Ask each group to answer the following questions:
- How many different texts are there on your exam?
- How many questions in total does your exam ask you?
- How many questions are there in each section?
- How much time does it suggest you spend on each passage?
- What kinds of questions can you see on your exam?
As the students report their observations back to the class, you can mention items that they may have missed – that answers can be true, false, or not given, for instance.
You can also use practice tests to focus learners’ attention on the types of language that will prove especially important in the reading test, perhaps placing particular emphasis on the language involved in paraphrasing, a vital part of comprehension exercises.
These are just a few of the tips Allen gave during his webinar. To hear the rest, press the ‘Play’ button below.
You may also be interested to find out more about other Cambridge resources for IELTS preparation, including Testbank and the Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS.