Prepare for the IELTS exam

Tutorial^™

Academic Experience

Key points

Students train to gain experience and acquire the skills necessary to achieve their desired score in the IELTS exam- teachers push students to achieve to the maximum of their potential, and set milestones and goals for each student, with constant evaluation. This sets the pace for each learner to surpass their academic expectations and achieve more than they thought possible.

Students sit rehearsal tests under exam conditions. These are repeated as required to build confidence and familiarity with the exam.

Individual coaching allows the course to be tailored to meet learner's precise needs, which provides students with the security of the knowledge that they are as prepared as possible for their exam, and with confidence and familiarity in the exam format.

All students who successfully complete this course are eligible for a Course Certificate. Completion consists of submitting the final course assignment.

Homework tasks are set daily to allow learners to reflect on and consolidate what they have learned in the day, as well as prepare for the next day.

Objectives of the study

Objective of the stay

To make the student familiar with the exam and to give the student the confidence and skills required to achieve a score of 9.0 in the test.

The Tutorial: IELTS preparation

The tutor coaches the learner in the content of the exam and guides them with strategies for understanding and navigating the test questions. Assignments are set for homework and during lesson time there is repeated work on essay writing, vocabulary, comprehension and speaking practice.

Course Content

Note Taking Skills
- Practice in taking notes and using notes to summarise listenings.
Skimming and scanning skills
- Search for a main topic, topic sentences, supporting details and concluding thoughts.
- Scanning for pertinent data such as names, dates, numbers etc.
Summarising and paraphrasing
- Students write 3 or 4 sentence summaries of a short passage.
- Students must paraphrase a set of sentences in their own words.
- Students practise identifying information and data from charts and graphs.
Mind mapping
- The use of the mind map to plan a piece of writing.
- Use of mind maps to plan the introduction to an essay.
- Developing the body of the essay.
- Understanding the importance of the controlling idea.
Polishing skills for the writing task and the speaking tasks
- Essay writing skills - checklist.
- Speaking test - final practice.

Expectations

Expected Outcomes

By the end of this course, the student is expected to be able to:

Take notes on a piece of listening.
Summarise and paraphrase an unfamiliar passage of text.
Plan, structure and write an essay of 500 words.
Report verbally and in writing the data/information shown in diagrams and graphs.
Speak in an interview situation for 5 minutes.

Accommodation

Half-board homestay

Staying in a homestay gives participants the chance to be fully immersed into the local culture of the destination, whilst also being able to practise the language in a relaxed and natural setting. Many homestays have been welcoming our students into their homes for many years, offering their hospitality and expanding our students cultural horizons. Homestay arrivals are on the Sunday before the course begins, and departures are on the Saturday after the course ends.

Excluding accommodation

Should students wish not to stay in homestays and find alternative accommodation, the school is happy to offer recommendations on request.

Location

The Experience of Living in Oxford

For almost a millennium Oxford has been a hub of learning and academia.

A small university city, Oxford is easily navigable and students are quickly able to settle in and feel comfortable. The city has a bustling centre, with numerous shops, restaurants and cafes, as well as opportunities to explore the rich history and culture through museums, galleries and theatres. The centre of the city is also close to several parks and open spaces, allowing students to spend time outdoors and enjoying nature.

Culture

Cultural Programme

Oxford is a hub of history, culture and academia, and the school exposes its students to the best of the city. With over 1000 years of recorded history there is a wealth of culture for students to discover as part of the school’s cultural programme, including world-class museums and galleries, being inspired by the colleges of the university and exploring the historic streets. Students are also able to experience unique local activities such as punting, alongside trips to historic pubs and theatre and cinema trips. The school also organises walking tours to familiarise students with the city and give them a deep understanding of its rich history.