IELTS (Academic / General) Preparation Course:

Course Overview:

This is an intensive 12 week program for students wishing to achieve an Academic Score (5.0 or above) in the IELTS examination.  It is based on the most current theories and methodologies of effective IELTS Test Preparation, and includes material selected from over 30 texts. The course includes fundamental techniques, and general and specific strategies for effective Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. The Bridge IELTS course is Topic Based, and teaching covers a range of vocabulary and all current topics expected to occur in current IELTS Tests. The course is interactive and provides plenty of realistic and actual test practice in all 4 areas.

Skills Developed in the Course include:

Reading:

• General Reading Strategies: Surveying texts; Question analysis; Skimming & Scanning

• Finding Different Types of Information including the Main idea, Particular Detail & the Writer’s Opinion

• Question Techniques for Multiple Choice, Short Answer, Sentence Completion, Summary / Diagram Completion, Choosing Headings, True / False / Not Given, Classification & Matching questions

• Weekly Practice Reading Tests: 60 minutes under exam conditions

Writing:

• General Strategies: Question analysis – Topic / Task; Ideas; Planning; General Structure; Checking

• Task One Academic: Describing Tables; Charts & Graphs; Objects & Process Diagrams

• Essay Concepts: Expressing Main Ideas; Supporting Evidence; Concessions; Disagreement & Clarification

• Essay Style: Introduction; Conclusion; Logical & Grammatical Links – Expressing Relationships; Cause & Effect; General & Particular; Time; Addition; Comparison & Contrast

•  Weekly Timed Tests + Additional Homework

Listening:

• General Strategies: Preparing to Listen – Orientation & Prediction, Identifying detail, Identifying Main Ideas, Using Speaker Intonation & Linking Words to identify opinions & topic changes

• Practical Techniques & Strategies for Answering Questions: Multi-Choice; Diagram Completion, Short Answers & Sentence Completion

• Identification of Key Phrases and Words & Prediction Strategies

• Weekly Practice Tests under Exam Conditions

Speaking:

• General Strategies: Attitude & Style; Creating interesting & complete answers; ‘Buying time’ without pausing & dealing with new words

• Functional Skills: Giving General Descriptions; Sequencing; Expressing & Justifying Opinions; Speculating; Expressing Preferences; Comparing; Summarizing; Contrasting; Narrating &

Paraphrasing; Analysing & Conversation Repair

• Realistic Weekly Test Practice

Special Features of the Course:

• All programs are delivered by professional, well-qualified and experienced teachers

• IELTS program includes daily practice in all areas

• Realistic IELTS Test Practice throughout & Official UCLES Practice Tests during final 2 weeks

• Increased language awareness and a framework for answering questions in all areas

• Rapid English language improvement & build-up of test taking skills