IELTS - Speaking : an overview

Assalamualaikum

I'm kind of shocked to see numbers of viewers that visited my blog. More than 70k viewers. Wow, it's quite huge for me as I'm not a frequent writer. I will write when I feel I want to write or when I've some ideas to write.  This number encourages me to write more, I guess.

I would like to share some experiences of taking IELTS examination recently. I was not sure about the decision to take this exam. Furthermore, the exam is not cheap. I have to be seriously sure to take it and achieved the desired results. In the end, I decided to take the exam after a long thought of it.

The exam divided into four components, namely listening, writing, reading and speaking. The exam day for speaking separated from other components. I think this is a good arrangement for candidates so that they can prepare better for speaking test.

I prepared myself for the speaking part most of time because I realised that by training, we will speak better. I admitted that I did some errors during the speaking test, but the most important tip is, you must answer all questions given by the examiner. Never answer ' i don't know' to any of the questions.  Try to speak as natural as you can. Avoid long pauses. Watch videos from Youtube and learn how high scorer answers.

There are three segments for the speaking test.
First segment: Answers have to be short and simple. It will roughly take about 4-5 minutes to finish.
Among the questions asked:
- Full name
- Where do you come from?
- Where do you live now?
- Describe your home during your childhood?
- Do you prefer your home now or before?
- What type of house that you would like in the future?
- Do you prefer to travel by public transport? Why?
- Do you think people nowadays like to walk? Why?
- What do you think of our transportation system now?
- What kind of transport that you would like to recommend to people travelling in your country?

Second segment: You are given 1 minute to prepare. Pencil and paper will be provided. You are given 1-2 minutes to present your topic. You will not be interrupted during your speech.
Question:  Describe an educational trip that you attended during your school years. State: Where did you go, activities and benefits from this visit?

Third segment: Somehow it's just like a continuation of the second segment. Answers will be longer and it is good to provide examples to strengthen your points. It will roughly take about 3-4 minutes to finish.
Questions: 1. What kind of educational trip practised in your country?
2. Do you think this activity should be continued in the future? Why?
3. Do you think students need to have more outside activities?
4. Do you think workers should be given training? Why?
5. Why do senior workers need to be retrained?

There are few more questions which i forget. But these are the questions given to me during my test. It's good to prepare a variety of topics as the questions could be from any subjects.

If you want a proper guidance for IELTS exam, it's good to visit ieltsliz.com as she is one of the best online teachers for IELTS exam.

Share of Thoughts...

I think it has been more than three years that ive stopped writing.

Why? Probably im just being lazy hehehe

Or, i just lost my inspirations to write.... hmmmm

I was once loved English writing. It develops my writing skill and passion towards expressing my thoughts into beautiful words. I love doing that... and i feel comfortable writing in English than in Malay... well, im not that fluent in English, but its something unique with English language that can only be described into words...

I love expressing my thoughts, feelings and ideas in English... maybe i get used to it since i was in university. I will always thank IIUM for giving me a proper English education that ive missed during my school years. I never thought that i can write like this. I wonder what my 'before' me will react if 'that me' read this posting pass 10-15 years ago! hahaha its just like watching movie, 'Back to the future'.

But, we have to move on. Memories remain wonderful experience as valuable reference to drive our life carefully, rightfully with the main guidance from Al-Quran and Sunnah. I believe knowledge and experience comes together coincidentally and will become a perfect shield for us in order to guide our life. Its good to have both knowledge and experience at the same time, but always we will miss one part to complete both.

Seeking knowledge is forever and is a life long process. Meanwhile experience comes everyday, and will become part of knowledge too. Its good to benefit from good experience and to take lessons from bad experience. Anyhow, both are beneficial.

Dont stop learning, seeking knowledge and gaining new lessons from everyday's experience. May our life is guided by Allah swt always until the time we see Him... Insyallah

It has alwiz been my passion ...

It has been more than a year and 4 months since i joined this dept... truly n without doubt, this new job has taught me a lot of things... and truly mould a better person of me compare to before ... i actually did things i have not imagine before, the process of dealing n negotiating alwiz come into action ... eventhough at first i found it difficult, but as time goes by, alhamdullah Allah helps in many ways... However, i just could not forget teaching. it has alwiz been my passion. my friend alwiz encourage me to still do teaching as a part time job, however it may works for others but not me. Im not that person who can alwiz do two things in one time. im just an ordinary people who like to come back to house, relax and having sometime with myself... but, i could not pursue my dream as my postgraduate degree is yet to complete. and the policy of every ipta now is for lecturers to have at least masters degree, with the intention to continue for phd. with my current position now, i dont think i can manage to do phd. phd needs sacrifices of time and money as well. i love my job now, but i also would want to pursue for phd asap. im not getting younger,therefore i need to grab all opportunities as time move on very fast. but, leaving this job of course will hurt some people feelings, especially my mum n my dad. n of course, will effect me as well as ive gone through many things for the sake of this job. money is not the main focus here but its just an opportunity to get things i really love and have passion with... I pray to Allah that He will show us the rigjht way as only Allah knows the best for us. Amin.

Its almost a year now ...

Salam to all ...

Its almost a year since i joined dept. of info. Its a tottaly a new world 4 me, as i started fresh and vibrant again. D feeling as junior still aroused me on my first day, first week, first month and now first year in service. d fact that im still new and need to learn a lot.

Allah has written d fate that im belong here. this is a long journey for me, for at least 25 to 30 years ahead. i will utilize half of my life by serving this dept. sometimes i just wonder, can i do this?

the challenges r many, not enough time 4 me 2 mention. but i think, my biggest threat is myself. i realize that i can be so motivated at one time, where it can reach d sky, as sky is d limit. but, it can be d other way around. t4, sometimes im confused ...

this is what i want or this is what i need? it riddles me somehow ...

but, i believe and have to belive that Allah gives us things which we need, not what we want. because sometimes the thing that we want is not d best for us, as it may turn out to be a bad thing. but a thing which is not necessarily what we expected, it can shape us to be a better person, a better friend, a better boss, a better child, a better muslim ...

still, i cannot help myself by forgetting teaching. being a lecturer is always my passion, till death. u know, i alwiz had dreams on teaching my students, really teaching them until i felt satisfied. its d passion that i really feel d achievements d most, n im going 2 miss it alwiz ...

of course im happier now, but i alwiz miss that moments ...

My beloved 2009

( a letter to 2009)

To my beloved 2009,

in less than 4 days, i'll be leaving you behind. i regret that i never notice how important u were in my life. i think ive wasted u a lot, 2009 in which there were moments that i should not let you go just like that...

Dear 2009,

i planned a lot of thing with u, together we plan and set our dreams,but some dreams remain dreams dear... i wish i could turn back d time 2009,but im sorry i couldnt. im sorry when our goal remain a goal that was pasted in the room wall. im sorry for not takin the extra initiative to make it done dear 2009...

however, 2009, u hv helped me to get something that i really wanted before, u make me did something that i could not imagine i could do it before, u make me to become a stronger person that 2008...

dear 2009,

i will not meet u again in 4 days in advance. let our sweet memories remain a wonderful experience that i can used it with my new love 2010, eventhough we will not meet again but surely i will alwiz remember u 2009 deep down in my heart.

thank you 2009 for making me a better person :)

and 2010,let set our goal together and lets achieve 2009 goals!

yours sincerely,

wafa 1982-2009...

good news

Salam...

im back to kl, i think its more than one month since i start working in MUCH, cheras. its kinda funny to think, that im still here, for almost 3 years. yes, who knows rite? But, i believe that Allah has plan the best for me, in which its still remain mystery ...

i got few good news this week, hopefully this week is a cheerful week for me after a tense few weeks back ... (only Allah Knows) firsly, i hv been selected to sit for MEDSI test in UIAM, this saturday. hope i can do my best for this test.

secondly, maybe (its still shallow,but im still excited) my boss will credit our bonus this wed (15/4). hope so la, i got some plan with d bonus...hehehe

thirdly,ive been promoted to be unit manager for my department. it sounds good, but a lot of responsibility waiting behind. i dont know, whether to be happy or otherwise. i dnt know, its a mix feeling. ....

Ya Allah, gives me Your Strength to face obstacles in this challenging world. Ameen.

new oil price

fuh,so surprising! Our PM just announced in the late evening today, the current price of petrol n diesel has decreased!

good news for most of us,especially me! (even its still high)

based from the news, the new price for petrol is RM 2.55 (a decrease of 15 cent) and for diesel is RM 2.50 ( a decrease of 8 cent).

but d main question that keep playing in my mind, why now?

based on the current international trend, the price truly dropped off. is it a reasonable coincidence with the coming by-election or ???

think twice b4 u decide. :)

congrats chong wei

congrats Chong Wie for the datukship title.

hope that all athletes in malaysia can work harder for the country. just remember that govt has sepnt a lot of money just for the sake of sports management in this country.

hope that a gold can be ours in the next olympic!

Olympic, Malaysia Boleh?

salam and hi to all,

can Malaysia, for the first time win a a gold medal this time? for record, malaysia never win any gold medal, except for one silver and two bronzes in badminton. do u think that RM1 Million reward is sufficent to boost the spirit of Malaysian athletes to get that medal? some people claims that it is some sort of motivation for the athletes.

for me, its otherwise.