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What can my girlfriend do to improve her chances of passing the IELTS speaking and listening test?

IELTSEnglish language examsVisa requirementsLanguage proficiencyListening skillsSpeaking skillsExpat adviceThailand
Oct 4, 2020
4 years ago
Gary ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
THANKS EVERYONE,your comments are all helpful 👍

Hi all.

My girlfriend failed her English exam last week which we accept but there is nothing explaining which area of the exam she failed!

We speak to each other everyday for an hour minimum and in English!

I have asked her to contact the exam office to see if they can give her a clue as to which part of her English she needs to focus on.

Any thoughts on this?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around a user whose girlfriend failed the IELTS Life Skills exam without clear feedback on her weaknesses. Community members suggest contacting the exam office for clarification, using practice tests, hiring an English tutor specifically for IELTS preparation, and emphasizing the importance of formal English over conversational practice. Advice also includes engaging in immersive experiences like watching English movies and correcting language usage during conversations to improve her proficiency.
Joe ***********
wear a see thru shirt
4 years ago
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Alex ********
Go to ielts.org

Lots of free practice tests and videos showing what is proper general speaking and what is not proper.

😉
4 years ago
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Henry *********
If for a UK Settlement visa, make sure you look at the videos and practice tests for IELTS Life Skills A1, not Academic or General Training IELTS.

This link is for IELTS Life Skills:
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4 years ago
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Henry *********
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Kimberly ************
Hi there, I taught IELTS before and even though the A1 B1 is only testing 2 skills, listening and speaking, there is a grammar for speaking. Also, she would need to learn and pronounce a lot of everyday vocab. For sure speaking 1 hr a day not enough for the language input. Watching movies and utube are great ways to train the ear and learn through a clear context. Also, practice speaking English out and about, learn how to ask and answer a variety of question types. With more practice, she should improve
4 years ago
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Gary ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kimberly ***********
 thank you,I will pass this info onto her.
4 years ago
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Gary ***********
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Oliver ********
I've been communicating with Thais in Thai every day for the last decade. Academically my Thai is at the level of a young child, with learning difficulties. If your girlfriend wants to pass the exam, she better train with a teacher/tutor who knows how this particular exam works and can assess her skills and help her to improve as required. If you search in Google for "[name of exam] tutor in Bangkok" I'm sure there will be many suitable options.
4 years ago
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เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
Good advice
4 years ago
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เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
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Kool *******
Remember, that test is formal English, and not conversational English, that you would be talking with her. Also, do you correct her when she is not using the correct sentence structure when you talk with her?
4 years ago
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Henry *********
That is completely wrong. The IELTS Life Skills A1 and B1 test is only testing conversational English and listening skills. For A1 level the grammar required to pass is very basic. Far more important is the interaction between the two candidates and the examiner.
4 years ago
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Henry *********
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Siddhartha *********
My real experience: watch English movie every day 1. No matter romantic/comedy/SciFi !! Movie in English not dubbed! Can be text subtitles English or thai!! What happens is listening and looking works fast and is also interesting so you not feel bored like the books. Might be funny; try for two months and you will see super results + she also get easy with accents!!
4 years ago
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Henry *********
Use this link for practice tests:

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4 years ago
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Henry *********
Sure. Sent.
4 years ago
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Gary ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Henry ********
 👍
4 years ago
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Gary ***********
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Gary ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Henry ********
 thanks Henry,please would you send the link to me on messenger?
4 years ago
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Gary ***********
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Daniel ******
There could be several reasons to explain the failure. Her husband might speak at a slower than normal cadence. He might speak in very simple sentences or even speak non-standard English, omitting grammar necessary for standard English. Lastly, there could could be differences in dialect between her husband and the tester.
4 years ago
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Roy ***********
@Daniel *****
 Very true.
4 years ago
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Roy ***********
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Jane ***********
Sorry to hear this. I'm an IELTS teacher and I agree with what
@Henry ********
 said. 'Comprehension' ie listening to the question, understanding it, and then responding appropriately is v important. It's easy to mess this up when you're nervous. The British Council has excellent free English comprehension lessons that you can use.
4 years ago
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Jack ***************************
Was this the IELTS, life skills, A1 or B1 for a UK spouse visa application?
4 years ago
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Li ****
Just because she speaks an hour a day in English does not mean it is up to a level that satisfies them.
4 years ago
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Bill **********
our examiner was friendly, helpful, put my wife at ease. Might just be the luck of the draw.
4 years ago
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Oliver *************
DISTGUSTING NO EXPLANATION OF THE RULES
4 years ago
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Christina *********
Can you get a copy of the her exam answers? Grammar is a common thing or spelling.
4 years ago
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Christina *********
Ahh didn’t see it was IELTS, have a look online for mock papers to practice with her.
4 years ago
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Henry *********
@Christina ********
 There is no writing/spelling in IELTS Life Skills A1 - just speaking and listening. The most common reason for failing is if they get the listening questions wrong. The level of grammar required at A1 level is very low. It's basically just the ability to communicate with other people that is tested.
4 years ago
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Henry *********
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Todd ***********
Get a practice test for her to take and identify what needs to be worked on that way.
4 years ago
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Jane ***********
You might want to get an English teacher to help as sometimes it's not that easy to spot what the problem is. Loads of English teachers online, try Italki and go for ones that teach IELTS
4 years ago
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Jane ***********
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Richard *****
Money money money pay up again lol
4 years ago
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Mike *********
You should already understand that they are not there to help or assist in any way. They see their job as judge and jury , to make everything as tough as possible- unless you are an illegal immigrant, in which case it appears to be just the opposite. Makes me sick!!
4 years ago
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Apex ********************
Hello Gary, which exam was it? The ITLES?
4 years ago
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Gary ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Thailand ***************************************
 yes that is the one!
4 years ago
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Gary ***********
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