IELTS

The examination is divided into four parts: reading (1 hour), writing (1 hour), listening (45 minutes) and speaking (15 minutes). The course book Focus on IELTS is used. Within each topic/unit covered , the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing are developed and practised, both on a macro and micro level. Listening and reading skills focus on understanding gist and specific information. Writing skills focus on understanding and production of language structures and vocabulary and the ability to plan and organise a text using cohesive devises and paragraphing, along with appropriate style and register. Speaking skills focus on fluency, clear development and organisation of ideas and argument, pronunciation of individual sounds, word and sentence stress and intonation. Students are assessed on their performance in class, written homework, regular tests from past/practice papers and by full mock examinations.

Topics From Focus on IELTS / Skills / Work Produced
Term 1 / Introduction to the IELTS examination
Health and Fitness
Life -style and Society
Culture and Leisure
The Environment
Supplementary materials
Vocabulary for IELTSI P67 Healthcare, P78 Food and Diet, P92 Men and women, P80 Children and the family, P87 Town and country, P84 The Arts, P100 Global problems, P73 Social Tensions
Advanced Language Practice U13 Health and the Body ALP U 9 People and relationships , U11 Arts and Entertainment
Advanced Writing Practice U17 Stating an Opinion
Advanced Grammar in Use U88/89 Comparison / Familiarisation with requirements of the examination
Reading
Skimming/scanning/reading for detail/recognising participle clauses/ using the topic sentence/ Recognising key words and synonyms/Recognising
structure and cohesion
Writing
Paragraphing/ Developing a formal argument/Describing a graph or table/Describing process and procedure/Definition/Exemplification/ Comparison and contrast.
Listening
Listening for gist and specific information/Noting down key information and detail
Speaking
Talking about personal interests/ comparing and contrasting/Describing places/stages of a process/Sequencing/ Expressing reasons /Giving explanations/ / Given a written account
Describe a graph showing unemployment rates in US/Japan
Describe a graph of CD/LP/cassette sales/ Describe the process of collecting weather information
Describe charts showing travel to and from UK
Write a discursive essay
Discuss government responsibility to improve health, education and trade
Discuss whether women with young children should work
Define happiness and discuss how it can be achieved
Discuss giving freedom to creative artists
Discuss government spending on museums and galleries
Term 2 / Education
Technology
Communication
The Media
Transport
Supplementary materials
Vocabulary for IELTS P75 Science and Technology, P54 Education, P56 The Media, P13 Reason and result, P14 Generalisation and Specifics
Recycling Advanced English U57 Travelling and Transport
Useful Exercises for IELTS Part 1 Communication and the Arts, Part 3 Technology, Part 5 Youth and Education / Reading
Understanding discourse and reference markers/recognising salient ideas/locating relevant information/transferring information to charts, tables and summaries
Writing
Describing cause and effect/Generalising/Qualifying
/Interpreting data/Using logical and grammatical links
Listening
Recognising synonyms/note completion/table and sentence completion/table and flow chart completion/short answers
Speaking
Participating in a discussion/Pacing/pausing and chunking/Listening and responding appropriately/Formal and informal register / Give a written account
Describe a chart showing post school qualifications
Describe a graph/chart about electricity usage
Describe a chart/graph about Japanese tourists
Write a discursive essay
Discuss the reporting of news
Discuss reasons for and solutions to bad student behaviour
Discuss testing in schools
Discuss whether prevention is better than cure
Discuss advances in science and technology
Discuss capital punishment
Full Mock Examination
Term 3 / Review and further practice of topics from supplementary materials as appropriate / Review and further practice of skills as appropriate / Timed examination practice of all skills