23
Nov
2009
IELTS Preparation
The IELTS
IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System. It is an exam that can be taken to have evidence of your English language skills covering skills of reading comprehension, writing, listening comprehension and speaking. It has both an Academic version for entry into universities and a General Training version useful for entrance into high school, vocational study or an English speaking country. The test consists of four components:
- Listening (30 minutes)
- Reading (60 minutes)
- Writing (60 minutes)
- Speaking (14 minutes).
The IELTS is a widely recognised indicator of the ability to use and comprehend English, accepted by over 6000 institutions and spanning 120 nations.
IELTS Exam Preparation
GEOS Gold Coast is an English college in Queensland, Australia, that offers a course to help students prepare for the IETLS exam. The couse runs for 10 weeks and focuses on key skills including speaking, listening, reading and writing. Students require a minimum of intermediate level English in order to benefit from the course.
It covers both the Academic and General format of the exam in two modules. The Academic Module prepares students who are taking the test to enter university. The General Training Module is designed for students who wish to continue with vocational training courses, for example at TAFE, as well as those who are applying for Permanent Residency in Australia.
GEOS Gold Coast is one of the leading schools on the Gold Coast. Established for 10 years and winner of the Gold Coast Export Awards for Education in 2005 and 2006, it is a college with experienced, caring and qualified teachers as well as a variety of different courses. The college is part of a network of GEOS schools in the Oceania region, meaning it is possible to transfer to another school in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and so on. Located only 5 minutes from the beach, the college not only offers great English courses but lots of fun as well.
30
Jun
2009
CAE- Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English
CAE
The Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English is an examination that tests a candidate’s English abilities for work or study purposes. There are many benefits to taking the CAE including its wide recognition by businesses and academia, convenience of location (it is available across 127 countries), and its availability (exams are generally held twice a year). A preparation CAE course will equip candidates with valuable language skills at a Level C1 of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). Furthermore, it is valid for life and gives you confidence to use English in actual situations.
Is CAE the right test for you?
The CAE is for those who can - in English- read quickly enough to succeed in an academic course, understand complex opinions, produce clear and well-structured pieces of text, use English flexibly in social situations and effectively in business situations. As the name of the Certificate implies the test is aimed at those with an advanced grasp of the English language in all its forms - speaking, writing, reading and listening.
CAE test format
In contrast to other test papers such as TOEFL and the IELTS, the CAE paper has five components. The first section deals with reading skills (1.25 hrs) which requires the applicant to understand a wide range of texts include fiction and non-fiction books, journals, magazines and newspapers. The second section tests the applicant’s writing abilities (1.5hrs) through producing 2 pieces of writing in different formats (such as a report, essay, article, proposal, etc). This is followed by a component that tests the applicant’s use of English grammar and vocabulary through a serires of different tasks. Then there is the listening component (40 minutes) that tests understanding across different verbal texts (eg lectures, radio broadcasts, conversations, and speeches). Finally there is a 15 minute speaking exam which you undertake with another candidate to test your skills in different types of interaction.