Hi colleagues,

I �m picking your brains again! My local school is asking about alternative courses and exams for students who have got EAL. (An alternative to English GCSE). IELTs has been mentioned. I �m ashamed to say, I know nothing about it. How can I start to find out about this?  

Edit: Been googling this and I felt shocked about the missing apostrophe (below). Is it time to do away with apostrophes?

IELTS 

I�ve got a couple of books too, if you need them.

It �s a good test as it measures any language advancement - it � �s like TOEFL in this respect. Thus, you can �t fail it - there are bands from 0 to 9 for skills - reading, writing, listening and speaking. There are two varieties of it: general nd academic and you should give it a serious thought which one to choose. You know your students best and will be a better judge whether your 14 year olds will be able to tackle academic - university level lecture sort of reading. Make sure to look at the samples. Perhaps the general version would be better? On the other hand, many universities require academic IELTS  as an entry test, so you have to think what goald your students want to achieve. Keep in mind that the scores are valid only for 2 years. (Usually to get in, the students need about 6,5 -7.)

IELTS for UKVI is for immigration purposes

 

You may also consider other Cambridge main suite exams depending on how advanced your students are. I would suggest "for Schools" version. PET for Shools, First for Schools or CAE (it doesn �t have the for schools version). 

 

Hope I could help :-) 

 

 

 

EDIT: and here�s an entertaining wee review today concerning the apostrophe from the Guardian�s Style Guide editor: http://www.theguardian.com/media/mind-your-language/2015/dec/04/at-last-a-book-that-tells-you-exactly-where-to-stick-your-apostrophe

Alex 

Is it time to do away with apostrophes?

 

It �s an interesting question - mark you, I have a feeling in my colon that it �s too early to make an exclamation about reaching a full stop with apostrophes. We �ve comma long way together, dash it all.

 

 

 

 Okay, okay....

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Lynne

 

IELTS is the primary English test used in Australia. There are loads of great books around that will guide students through the process. It�s important for students to practice the actual test format.

 

It�s really a test for adults and sections 3 and 4 of the academic test are tailored to the university environment (tutorials, lectures, academic texts). Maybe check out alternatives for secondary students.

 

FutureLearn has an excellent IELTS preparation course sometimes available (not currently listed) as well as an essay writing course (currently listed) which is ideal for students doing the academic test.

 

Wikipedia�s site on IELTS gives a good rundown of the test and the official IELTS website is http://www.ielts.org/. 

 

There is no pass mark - it�s all about levels.  For example, level 4.5 is survival English and 5 is functional English.  5.5  is generally for entry into post secondary vocational studies and 6.5 for  university (but the academic test, not the general test).

 

Cheers

 

Jayho

Hi all,

 

Many thanks for your replies. I am putting together a recommendation for the principal and I might not be recommending IELTs, but I �ll have a good look at everything.

@Tap and almaz re apostrophe�s

 

Lynne