Post by neseogretmen on Oct 28, 2015 12:44:48 GMT
You asked for comments on materials good and bad. I want to point out a book I think is NOT GOOD for students. Even some of my students (I teach high school) found mistakes in this book - Ace the IELTS by Simone Braverman.
This has some good advice and general tips, but is NOT suitable for Academic Test takers and is full of errors in spelling, grammar and facts.
For example the statement that “spelling is not important in Listening, except for the words they spell for you on the tape” is completely false. Spelling IS extremely important in IELTS – for spelled out words/names or any other answer. You will even be penalized for errors in capitalization. Similarly, the book says that for Reading, there are “4 text passages and about 40 questions in total”. In fact, there are three sections of reading for General: the first has 2 or 3 short texts, the second has two longer passages and the third, one long passage. There are always 40 questions – the answer sheet is the same as for Academic. Another example of misleading advice is from the section on writing essays for Task 2. For example with this topic: “Modern society benefits greatly from computer technology. However, becoming more dependent on computers has its disadvantages. Discuss the threats of computers.” The advice is to write about the “advantages and disadvantages of computers”. Anyone who did would lose marks for Task Response. The question says to discuss the threats (disadvantages, negative points, downsides) of computers: it is a one-sided essay.
All in all, while there is some general advice and common sense, the same information is available free on your website very clearly - IELTS Exchange - and other websites have the same tips and advice like IELTS Simon and Ryan's ielteielts site so students should save their money. It is definitely not suitable for Academic students. I have seen it for between $40 and $90.
Thank you,
Nese Erten
Anadolu Lisesi
This has some good advice and general tips, but is NOT suitable for Academic Test takers and is full of errors in spelling, grammar and facts.
For example the statement that “spelling is not important in Listening, except for the words they spell for you on the tape” is completely false. Spelling IS extremely important in IELTS – for spelled out words/names or any other answer. You will even be penalized for errors in capitalization. Similarly, the book says that for Reading, there are “4 text passages and about 40 questions in total”. In fact, there are three sections of reading for General: the first has 2 or 3 short texts, the second has two longer passages and the third, one long passage. There are always 40 questions – the answer sheet is the same as for Academic. Another example of misleading advice is from the section on writing essays for Task 2. For example with this topic: “Modern society benefits greatly from computer technology. However, becoming more dependent on computers has its disadvantages. Discuss the threats of computers.” The advice is to write about the “advantages and disadvantages of computers”. Anyone who did would lose marks for Task Response. The question says to discuss the threats (disadvantages, negative points, downsides) of computers: it is a one-sided essay.
All in all, while there is some general advice and common sense, the same information is available free on your website very clearly - IELTS Exchange - and other websites have the same tips and advice like IELTS Simon and Ryan's ielteielts site so students should save their money. It is definitely not suitable for Academic students. I have seen it for between $40 and $90.
Thank you,
Nese Erten
Anadolu Lisesi
