Vikramjit Singh

PTE Vocabulary: The Ultimate Guide To Improve

PTE Vocabulary plays a major role in the PTE exam, yet many students undervalue its importance.

Are you looking to increase your vocabulary list?

If yes, keep reading because if you want to do well at the PTE exam, you will need to demonstrate that you know a wide range of vocabulary.

You will notice that having a wide range of vocabulary leads to:

a better understanding when listening to English conversations,
being a better speaker,
improving your score in PTE’s Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing.

Here is what you’ll get in this article exclusively related to expanding your vocabulary if you read it to the end:

a very effective method to expand your vocabulary
a list of vocabulary useful for PTE
a list of words to add in your day to day conversations

How To Learn New Vocabulary Helpful For PTE

Write Down

It would help to take a note pad (and a pen) to write new words down with their meaning or their translation.

Writing down vocabulary is incredibly powerful in many aspects.

Learning new vocabulary doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be able to use it directly in your day to day conversations.

It is important to note that you’ll only be able to use a word naturally after hearing multiple times in multiple situations.

An excellent way to speed up the process of learning vocabulary is to repeat the new words you wrote down daily, either in the morning or in the afternoon.

How To Be More Efficient When Learning New Vocabulary

First, why efficient?

When you study to take an exam, you need to focus your training to reach your best potential in the imparted time. Otherwise, you may work a lot to accomplish very little.

You usually find yourself confronted with two situations to learn new terms:

For a word you hear or read for the first time

Look for its meaning.
Ask yourself how often you would use it in your native tongue.

Not often?

It would help if you kept it in another note pad, or at the end of the same one. You can always come back to it later.

Often?

Try to find this word in different sentences to know how you can use it in various situations.

Write down in your pad the word with its translation. Then select a few expressions with this term and note them down, possibly with different colors depending on the importance you give them.

In PTE Success, you’ll find a built-in dictionary in which you can directly add the words you didn’t understand in any of our questions.

Regarding the vocabulary you overuse

When you speak or practice our PTE questions, try to make the effort of noticing words you often use and write them down.
Try to find various synonyms and write them next to it in a column. If you do that, you will notice that your vocabulary knowledge improves. Also, on PTE day, you will find yourself looking for new ways to say something several times; hence you will not have to lose time to make this effort since you already did it during your training.
Next, even if you already know several synonyms, your goal consists in enhancing your vocabulary capacity, so look for new ones over time. The more, the merrier!
Last but not least, wonder what the antonyms of these words are. You don’t know the meaning of antonyms? Google it! It is a good starting point.

Isn’t it a bit going over and beyond?

Not at all, since vocabulary is essential in every day of your life. Following this approach will help you remember longer and put this new vocabulary into use in different situations.

Instead of memorising only one term, you now taught yourself several more in one search. You efficiently managed your time!

Websites For Better Vocabulary

Linguee
Word Of The Day
Wiktionary

Linguee

It is an English Dictionary and Translation Search with 1,000,000,000 example sentences from human translators.

Word Of The Day

Word Of The Day will help you find new words on a topic of your choice.

Wiktionary

If you look for some inspiration to investigate new words, wiktionary proposes “frequency lists” , which rank the most recurring vocable in almost every language with English at the top.

You might have hesitation in taking up the right institute. PTE Institute Kurali will provide a free demo before you start. Reach us today!

How to self-study for PTE academic exam?

PTE academic exam is given to test the English language proficiency for the country where English is the first language. Australia, New Zealand, U.S.A and many countries which are accepting the PTE academic exam as proof the English language. Unlike other exams, PTE is conducted over the computer without any human involvement. As a result, many PTE aspirants prefer to study by themselves without any help from a coaching institute. Also because of the busy schedule, it is hard for the individuals to attain the classes for the PTE preparation.

Now, the question is whether is it possible to self-study without any expert guidance? Is it possible to achieve the desired score of PTE academic exam? Can it be possible to find the proper material and PTE mock test for the preparation? And many more questions which will come up when you decide to opt for the path of self-preparation. Don’t worry. We will put rest to all the questions and doubt regarding the PTE academic exam self-preparation. Also, we will provide you the exact proven techniques to help you achieve the desired score for the PTE academic exam.

Point which we will discuss in order to give you advantage in self-study:

Knowing what PTE is if you are new to the PTE academic exam.
Detailed analysis of each question and its techniques with managing the time efficiently.
S.W.A.T analysis of PTE academic exam.
Secret tip to overcome any problem during the PTE academic exam and prepare before it comes.

Know minute details about the PTE academic exam before starting preparation:

PTE is a completely computer-based exam, which gives you the chance to even score perfect 90. The first thing one should do before starting preparation is to know what the PTE is and how it is been scored.

Tackling each section individually and managing time effectively:

Many times, we are getting the complaint that we were not able to attain the Write from Dictation in the listening section. In the Reading section, we are spending so much of time on one question and unable to finish all the question on time. This is the result of lack of proper time management. Managing and allocating time for each question will resolve all your problems. But the question is how to manage time effectively? This problem can be resolved by practicing full-length PTE scored mock test regularly. The PTE practice test will give you the proper environment before appearing for the actual PTE academic exam. So, always do practice at least 10 to 15 full-length PTE mock test to overcome this problem.

S.W.A.T analysis for PTE academic exam:

Before appearing for an exam, one should always know their strength and weakness. Same goes for PTE academic exam. You should be able to figure out what your weakness is, and for which question you require more work to do. Dedicate more time for that question type and overcome that weakness by practicing hard.

Secret Tip to target the desired score:

The most important weapon that a self-study PTE aspirant can have is PTE mock test. These PTE scored mock tests are boon to the student who rely just on themselves to achieve the targeted score. It helps and creates the environment to nurture your mind for the perfect score.

PTE Institute Kurali is one of the best PTE coaching institute and providing PTE coaching at affordable prices and uncountable benefits.

How to Learn French on Your Own

Having a rigid classroom structure is a great way to learn French for some people – but its not for everyone. In fact, many people prefer to learn languages entirely on their own. If you’ve dreamed about becoming a fluent, self-taught French speaker, here’s how to learn French on your own.

A Guide for Self-Taught French

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll define and explore the three essential steps for how to learn French on your own. This guide provides a framework that you adjust and expand depending on previous knowledge and needs. If you’ve studied French before, for example, you may want to gloss over step 1 and start at step 2 (depending on how much you remember).

We’ll also outline how long you should spend on each step before moving to the next one.

Steps for How to Learn French on Your Own

The steps we’ll cover include:

Step 1: How to get your footing and set goals

Step 2: Resources for reading and speaking

Step 3: Using French in Everyday Life

How long will it take to learn French?

In total, these guidelines are meant to help you become conversant in one year. You can speed up the tips if you’re traveling sooner, or spread the lessons out if you’ve got more time to spare.

This post will also explore how to find the best French learning resources, strategies for studying and how to set realistic language goals.

A step-by-step approach to learning French

To help with this guide, we’ve teamed up with French speaker and teacher Jonathan has been studying French for over two decades, and you’ll find his tips for learning French throughout this post.

Ideally, you’ll spend one hour each day practicing French.

You can also double up on the weekends – the most important thing is that you can commit to around 7 hours per week. Our guide highly suggests that you find time to converse in French, too. This is an essential aspect of listening and speaking comprehension, but we’ll outline tips for that later.

According to Jonathan, you should also choose the right time of day to learn French. For example, your brain might not be alert and active if you try to squeeze in time at the end of the day after work, or too early in the morning before you’ve had to time wake up.

“Instead, find a moment when you are at your optimum and can focus for a few minutes on both reviewing previously learned content and some new material” Huggins adds.

How to Learn French on Your Own: Getting Prepared

In addition to setting aside time, you’ll also need to be motivated, determined and patient. Every form of self-taught education requires this trait. However, it’s especially important when learning a difficult language like French all on your own.

Lastly, to mentally prepare yourself for this exciting journey, you’ll need a solid dose of concentration. If you’re constantly leaving mid-lesson to take the dog out or check your Instagram feed, the whole process will become more frustrating. This is why it’s so important to choose a time of day when you know you’re most productive (which probably isn’t after a long day at work).

Tips for Learning French on Your Own

Remember: this guide is designed specifically for people who want to become fluent in French through a self-taught program lasting up to 12 months.

If you’re looking for a crash course or you’re heading to France next month, our post on how long it takes to learn French may help you create a realistic short-term goal.

You’re still reading… which means you’re confident and ready to learn French independently. Great! Let’s dive in.

Step 1: Get your Footing and Set Goals

Time commitment for step 1: 1-3 months

The first few weeks of your French learning journey are all about gaining your bearings. This stage will familiarize you with French speaking and help you create a strong foundation.

To get started, its important that you choose a method you enjoy.

According to language expert Jonathan, there’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all approach to learning French. “It really depends on understanding your individual learning style. Know what you prefer and what gets you the best results” he adds. So, it’s best to choose a format depending on how you like to learn and gain information.

Here’s how to choose a French resources based on your learning style:

Here’s how to learn French on your own by finding the right resources. (Feel free to mix and match mediums if you enjoy more than one format!)

For someone who loves reading:

Grammar books may be best for your learning style if you love reading. There are thousands of options in your local library and online, but some are better than others. Check out this list of the top French grammar books to narrow your search.

Note: you won’t be reading this grammar book cover to cover. Rather, you’ll use it as a reference to better understand tenses and conjugation as questions arise throughout your lessons. If you prefer reading, you should also combine book resources with listening or visual resources to ensure you don’t get too bogged down by grammar.

If you’ve always learned best by listening:

Podcasts might be a better first option if you’re a big fan of music and radio programs. Podcasts are a fun and free way for beginners to become more familiar with the language. For help finding the right one, visit our roundup of 10 podcasts in French to improve your listening skills.

If you’re a visual learner:

You’ll likely enjoy learning from videos if you consider yourself a French learner. Check out this list of YouTube channels for learning French, compiled by our friend Benjamin Houy of FrenchTogether.

You might also benefit from using apps or online tools, which allow you to visualize French phrases in context. Clozemaster is a helpful tool that helps you test yourself daily and track your progress as your skills advance.

Find a Textbook

To get started on step 2, you’ll first need to find a proper textbook. Just like grammar books, there are thousands of French textbooks to choose from. When you’re trying to learn French on your own, however, you’ll need a textbook that won’t require the aid of a teacher.

Therefore, a book designed for self-guided learning is best. You could find a free resource, like this French textbook from Wikimedia Commons, then pair it with a book that includes dialogue.

Explore Dialogue

Dialogue in a textbook is important for many reasons. It can be read, written down, and most importantly, practiced aloud. Take turns reading through both sides of the conversation. Pronounce the best you can, and research words that you don’t understand. Get used to the way this feels.

Make your own French Dialogue

Once you’ve gotten more comfortable with the pronunciation of words, even just to yourself, you’ll want to use those words to form sentences of your own.

Pull out sentences from dialogue and make them true for yourself. You might also try mixing them around into a different structure. for example, you could transform a statement into a question to practice your inquiry skills.

Or, you might take a sentence where someone agrees and turn it into a sentence where that person disagrees. Then, explain yourself and pretend you’re disagreeing with someone in a real, thought-provoking conversation.

These exercises will help you navigate the world of fluid French speaking.

Step 2: Test and Practice

Time commitment for step 2: 3-6 months

After studying French for a few months, you’ll be off to a great start. But it’s important to test yourself on what you’ve learned.

To continue going strong and avoid getting stuck on the plateau, its important to constantly be learning. In this context, learning means both remembering and using what you’ve learned while also acquiring new and challenging vocabulary.

The best way to learn French on your own is to constantly revise, test and practice. If you’re not going over what you’ve learned, it’ll likely fade from you memory as quickly as it was acquired.

Start Reading

Reading is one of the best ways to familiarize yourself with more complex sentences and new vocabulary. As we discussed previously, its important to engage with topics you enjoy.

If you enjoy cooking magazines, for example, pick up one in French. If you’re a fan of science fiction, opt for a book of this genre in French. As long as its written in French and its interesting to you, its a go.

How Often Should You Read in French?

At this point, you should commit to reading French for 15-30 minutes per day. Depending on the other work you’re putting in, this could certainly be scaled up or down. The most important thing here is that you’re using reading time to practice your vocabulary.

Reading to expand your vocabulary

Be sure to write down words and phrases that you haven’t previously encountered. It’s especially important to be aware of expressions and ideas that are relevant to your personal life.

If you’re an artist, for example, a history book about Monet might offer some helpful terms regarding your profession, which you can use to talk about yourself in conversation. Since you’ve already chosen a topic that interests you, this should come naturally!

At the end of each week, take time to review these new terms and test yourself on them. Slowly rotate old cards out as you add new cards to the deck – this will ensure you’re always reviewing new and old content at the same time.

Staying focused

You might be tempted to use your smartphone or computer to look words up. Don’t! Your smartphone doesn’t know how to learn French on your own. Instead, the best way to learn French is to truly, deeply focus. If you’re constantly checking your phone you will get distracted and your learning will be less effective. This is true even if you’re trying to look up something in French amidst reading and testing. Stick to the books and you’ll get results much faster.

Reading aloud

As you expand your vocabulary, it’s important to practice speaking words and phrases aloud. If this is your first time speaking French, the accent will likely feel clunky and strange in your mouth – that’s normal.

Jonathan explains that it’s important to accept the fact that you won’t be perfect outright. Worrying too much about the French u, the French r, and those pesky silent final consonants, for example, can cause frustration.

In turn, this frustration can become an excuse for not practicing your French speaking. To make sure you don’t get caught up in this initial challenge, “focus first on simple effective communication and not on perfection” Jonathan says.

Test Yourself

If there’s one essential tip for how to learn French on your own, its essential to test yourself. Flashcards are a helpful (and free) way to memorize new words quickly and efficiently. Each batch of flash cards should include words and phrases related to a common theme or idea. This gives the words context, which reinforces their meaning for better recall later on.

As you’re working to review what you’ve learned, remember: there’s no such thing as perfect. Focus on trying to get the ideas right and express yourself.

Flash cards are best reviewed for about 15-20 minutes per day. You can do this all at once if you’re feeling ambitious. But, you can also break it up into short 5-minute sessions so your brain stays sharp.

Step 3: Using French in Everyday Life

Its now time to start incorporating even more French into your daily life. The first step? Conversing in French.

Time commitment for step 3: 6-12 months

How to learn French on your own? Talk, talk talk!

French conversation is key for helping you flex your listening muscles while exploring advanced dialogue. Speaking with other people about their lives and interests will also expose you to new vocabulary you haven’t encountered before. From where they were born to what they do for fun, new people open up an infinite world of possibility. (Your grammar book and textbook will certainly come in handy here).

Do you know what else speaking in French can help you with? Confidence.

Sure, you won’t be perfect at first, but who cares. Speaking often is the only way you’ll become confident enough to navigate French conversation and make your way around a new city.

So where can you find a French speaking partner? One of the best resources out there today is called Meetup. This app brings together people from all over a city or region to engage in French speaking practice. Meeting people in person isn’t as scary as you might think.

Remember: they’re all in the same position. Everyone just wants to practice their French with new and encouraging friends.

If you’re not able to meet up with people in real life – or you’d rather not – the internet is filled with French speakers who are ready to chat and practice. You might also find a language exchange, where you can help someone with their English and they can help you with your French.

Not ready to talk yet? Improve your French writing skills

Conversing in French requires another person, and you can’t always have a French speaker by your side 24/7. Speaking can also be stressful and overwhelming at times. The next best option to work on your production skills to practice writing in French.

Resources like The Great Translation Game allow you to practice your French writing skills in a stress-free environment and get immediate feedback. You simply select or upload any text you’d like, read through it in French with English translations (or whatever base language you choose), then work through it again translating from the English back into French. You know what you’re writing is correct as long as you’re using native level content, for example news articles from Le Monde, and you’re learning vocab you’ll need since you’re using resources you’re interested in.

Practicing writing in French is a great way to improve your recall and production skills, skills that will carry over to speaking. It’s also a great way to rapidly expand your vocab and start thinking more in French.

French thought patterns

Even when you can’t converse with someone or you’re not in front of a computer to practice writing, you can still be practicing the language in your mind.

For example, you can be making comments on the world around you in French. You can describe people and places, or pretend what you might say to a person on the street. Pretend you’re lost – ask for directions in your head.

Thinking in French is an essential part of becoming fluent.

Despite how easy this strategy seems, its often overlooked by people who are learning French on their own. Speaking French in your head also makes French thought patterns a habit, which is a subtle yet powerful way to get more French into your head.

Immerse Yourself in French Culture

Next stop? Living the life of a true French person. From watching TV to listening to music, there are many ways this can be accomplished.

As we’ve discussed, its important to find a medium that works for you. If you’re a total movie buff, don’t overlook the power of French cinema. If you’re a music nerd, opt for that. We’ve covered a variety of ways that you learn French for free, and that post is filled with everything from TV shows to podcasts.

Another way to surround yourself with French culture is to find events in your community. Is there a French alliance or community center? How about a French class putting on a play in French at the local university? Surrounding yourself in the language and culture will further reinforce key ideas and words in your mind.

Make lifestyle changes

Making lifestyle changes sounds difficult – but it is in fact quite easy.

Here are a few simple changes you can make in order to add more French to your daily life:

Put your computer and phone in French mode

This will help you by making French more familiar. It’ll also help you get accommodated to French technology terms and will add more vocabulary to your day.

Switch apps to French language

Also be sure to set your news and weather apps to French regions, no matter where you are in the world. Setting your browser features to French will also expose you to current events and news in the French world.

Instead of seeing English headlines, you’ll be exposed to French ones. Rather than reading news about the English-speaking world, you’ll learn the issues and people that are driving conversation in the French world.

Access lifestyle advice in French

If you’re like most people, you rely on the internet to access recipes, cooking tips, fitness videos, and more. These aspects of your lifestyle guide everyday decisions – so why not take this advice in French?

Conclusion: How to Learn French on Your Own

If you’ve reached the end of this article, congrats! You’ve just taken a very important step towards understanding how to learn French on your own. It certainly won’t be easy – and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to the language learning process that’ll work best for you.

Attitude Matters

At the end of the day, its important to find something that is simple and enjoyable for you. When it feels like a chore, or like homework, you’ll be less inclined to get the work done. And since you’re the one holding yourself accountable, its important to maintain a positive attitude and a motivated mindset. French Institute Kurali provides best FRENCH training and coaching, reach us today for more information.

IELTS Listening Format Changes in 2020

Starting on January 4, 2020, the IELTS Listening will have a slightly new format. Here, we summarize them and tell you what you need to know as you prepare to take the IELTS in 2020 and beyond.

Changes to the IELTS Listening Format

Here is the official announcement from IELTS:

“From 4 January 2020, some small changes are being introduced to the instructions and layout of the paper-based Listening test:

We will be changing the word ‘Sections’ to ‘Parts’ – The paper-based test will now be divided into Part 1, 2, 3, 4.
We will be removing the Part 1 example.
We are also removing the page number references.”

How will the 2020 IELTS changes affect students?

What do these changes mean for test-takers? Let’s break down the IELTS Listening format changes one by one:

“We will be changing the word ‘Sections’ to ‘Parts’ – The paper-based test will now be divided into Part 1, 2, 3, 4.”
- This is just a very small labeling change that doesn’t affect the test at all.

“We will be removing the Part 1 example.”
- Of all the changes, this one is likely to have the greatest impact on students. Students used to get a sample recording + prompts before they began Part 1 of the test. Now, students need to be ready for Part 1 immediately after hearing the Listening test instructions.
“We are also removing the page number references.”
- This also a very minor change. It affects one line in the instructions when a set of prompts covers more than one page.
- Old format: Look at questions 1-5 on page 3.
- New format: Look at questions 1-5.

Summary: What You Need to Know

There are two minor changes to the IELTS Listening that shouldn’t affect your prep. One change you should watch out for is that there is no longer a Part 1 example. You’ll hear the Listening instructions and then jump right into your first question. So, make sure you’re ready to listen carefully Happy studying all!

Getting ready for the IELTS?

You might have hesitation in taking up the right institute. IELTS Training Kurali institute will provide a free demo before you start. For more details drop your comments in the comment section.

Should you give the IELTS OR TOEFL

If you are planning to study abroad in an English-speaking country for your Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree, you will most likely have to submit either an IELTS or TOEFL score.

Although both of these standardized tests determine your English level by assessing your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills, the two tests differ in format, scoring and more.

Here we explore the differences between the two and give you tips on how to practice for and take the test that is right for you. IELTS institute Kurali‘s expert advisors can guide you on which test you should take based on the university of your choice.

Either the IELTS or the TOEFL is required as part of your application to an English-speaking university and will demonstrate if you will be able to understand the course material.

The IELTS and TOEFL exams are two of the most accepted English proficiency exams around the world. However, both of these tests are different in their structure, approach, and teaching criteria. This means that you need to understand how the two differ before selecting which test to study for and ultimately take.

What is the IELTS

IELTS is an abbreviation for International English Language Testing System. The test is available in two formats: ‘IELTS Academic’, for those planning to study at a higher education level abroad; and ‘IELTS General Training’, which focuses on social skills and workplace contexts. In this piece, we will focus on IELTS Academic.

The IELTS test uses British English and consists of four parts: reading, listening, writing and speaking. It takes two hours and 45 minutes to complete, including transfer time from one section to the next. The IELTS is accepted in thousands of institutions in over 140 countries, each institution however has its own requirements for IELTS scores. Once students take the test, they can then select up to five organizations where copies of their IELTS results will be sent free of charge.

What is the TOEFL

TOEFL is an acronym for Test of English as a Foreign Language. It is an English proficiency test, developed by an American company, ETS, to measure an individual’s reading, speaking, writing, and listening proficiency in American English. TOEFL scores are a requirement for over 900 universities and other institutions in more than 130 countries.

There are two methods of taking this test; it can be taken as a Paper-Based Test (TOEFL PBT) or an Internet-Based Test (TOEFL IBT); TOEFL IBT, however, is more popular. You can register and take the TOEFL IBT at designated centers in almost all countries and it takes four hours to complete. This test is accepted in Australia and the UK, and it is likely that American institutions will favor this exam over the IELTS test.

Comparing IELTS and TOEFL

For the UK, only the IELTS UKVI, which is also used to support your UK Visa and Immigration application, is accepted. But for Canada and the US, either the TOEFL or IELTS will do. Students looking to take the test can find local centers where the test is offered. To find a test location for the IELTS, you can go to the IELTS website. The TOEFL is offered more than 50 times a year and you can search for the test locations here. The price for both tests is similar, about USD 200-300 depending on where you are taking the test.

Both tests consist of four sections that assess the most important aspects of language: speaking, listening, writing and reading. The TOEFL, however, is entirely multiple choice, while the IELTS has a mix of short answers and essay questions.

The TOEFL is available as a paper-based test, but the internet-based test is more popular. Prior to 2016 the IELTS was only available as a paper-based test but since then it has introduced computer-based testing as well. The internet-based TOEFL can take up to four hours to complete, while the IELTS is two hours and 45 minutes long. However, the IELTS may take more than one day because the speaking test with the instructor is separate from the other sections.

Speaking

There is a big difference between the speaking part of the tests. If you feel that you are more comfortable speaking English to a person face to face rather than in a microphone, then the IELTS might be more suited to you. The IELTS speaking section takes 11 to 14 minutes and is conducted as if it were a normal conversation.

You will be alone with the test instructor, and they will record you on tape as they ask you some general questions about your home, family and studies. Next, you will be shown a card with a specified topic and you will have about two minutes to prepare, after which the examiner has a discussion with you about the topic.The TOEFL speaking test consists of six sections and lasts 20 minutes.

Two of the six sections will ask you for your opinion on everyday topics – this is the Independent Speaking Test. The other four sections will focus on Integrated Speaking. This means you will need to listen to or read something and then build a response to the recording or a passage. For each section, you will be given some time to prepare before giving your answer in the microphone.

Quick tip: Practice speaking and voicing your opinions clearly out loud.

Listening

For the IELTS listening part of the test, you will have to answer 10 questions while the audio is playing. The questions that will come up for IELTS cover everyday topics such as dealing with situations in an education and training context. The question format includes filling in the blanks, completing the sentence, and answering true or false. The

TOEFL speaking test takes an hour, while the IELTS speaking section is only 30 minutes. In the listening section of the TOEFL, you will listen to four to six recordings and then answer questions based on what you heard. These questions will show your ability to understand the content that is being shared, and your ability to understand the speaker’s emotions and motivations. You will hear two types of recordings: conversation recordings and lecture recordings.

Quick tip: When you’re preparing for the IELTS exam, take the time to listen to different accents to avoid getting confused – after all, this exam assesses international English. And for both exams, don’t forget to take notes while you’re listening!

Writing

The writing section for both tests consists of two parts that require you to write a short essay. In the IELTS, you will be given a graph or chart in the first part, and you then have 20 minutes to write a short essay of 150 words based on that information.

In the second part of the IELTS, you will be given an argument or a point of view and you will be required to write a 200- to 250-word response in 40 minutes. In the TOEFL, the first part requires you to read a short text about a certain topic and then listen to a two-minute lecture about this topic. Then, you will have to write 300 to 350 words in response to a question about this topic. The second part requires you to write another short essay.

Quick tip: Listen to podcasts and read articles and then summarize what you heard or read.

Reading

Both tests provide you with texts that are academic in nature and followed by questions that test how well you understand the text. In the IELTS, this section consists of 40 questions in three parts, with varying styles of questions that include short answer and fill in the gap questions that cover different aspects such as, reading for details and main themes, skimming, logical arguments and recognising the writer’s opinions and purposes.

In the TOEFL, as with every other section on this test, the questions will be multiple choice and are divided into three to five parts, or “passages”. You will need to read the passages before answering between 12 to 14 questions. These questions may ask you to define a word (“vocabulary test”), identify the idea (“understanding test”), or find the false statement (“comprehension test”). The timing is similar for both tests, as you will have 20 minutes to complete each part.

Quick tip: Read pieces of literature and ask yourself questions about it.

Test scores

The IELTS test is graded by humans and has separate scores for each section from 1 to 9, and a final overall score of all the sections. So if you didn’t perform well in one of the sections, your score will bring down your average score. The IELTS score helps you easily identify your English proficiency level; simply put, a non-user score is 1 and expert score is 9.

The TOEFL is graded by both humans and an automated scoring system and the score is structured differently with 1 point for each question, and a final score out of 120. You will receive a score from 0 to 30 for each section. Along with your TOEFL scores, you will also receive a performance feedback report.

This report provides you with the ordinary test takers’ score range, which will give you a better indication of how you performed on your exam compared to the average. Keep in mind that with both exams, you will have to wait at least 10 days to receive your scores and the printed score reports are mailed to you 13 days after your test date.

Which test is best for you?

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, if you are planning on studying in the UK, you have no choice but to take the IELTS UKVI. But if you plan on studying in Australia, Canada or the US, you have a choice as to which test you take because universities in those countries accept both.

So which is best suited for you? To keep it simple, if you prefer multiple choice questions and prefer speaking into a microphone, and if you are applying to an American institution, then the TOEFL is better suited for you. If you feel more comfortable talking to a person rather than a microphone, and prefer a variety of different question types, then the IELTS is better for you.

TOEFL and IELTS: What is the difference?

In order to study abroad in an English-speaking country for higher studies, one has to submit IELTS or TOEFL score. Both exams include the assessment of reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. However, the difference between IELTS and TOEFL is; the scoring pattern, the format, and more. This article is written in attempt to lay down the differences and help decide the right test is for you.

Bringing to stage TOEFL vs IELTS, because of the differences, one must understand both the exams well before making a decision.

What is IELTS?
IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System. There are two formats for the test; they are “IELTS Academic,” and “IELTS General Training.” While “IELTS Academic” is for individuals aiming for a higher education level abroad, ‘IELTS General Training’ concentrates on social skills and workplace contexts. IELTS academic is what we shall be focused on in this article.

IELTS is an English proficiency test to assess a person’s writing, reading, listening and speaking proficiency in British English (but not limited). The exam runs for 2 hours and 45 minutes to complete, including break intervals. It is accepted by over 9,000 institutions in the Common Wealth Countries, United Kingdom and Australia.

What is TOEFL?
TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language. TOEFL is an English proficiency test by ETS to assess a person’s writing, reading, listening and speaking proficiency in American English. The exam has time frame of 4 hours to complete.

More than 900 universities in over 130 countries require TOEFL for the consideration of admissions. TOEFL exam can be taken both online and offline mode. The offline mode is called TOEFL PBT and the online based is called TOEFL IBT. Between the two, the online mode is more preferred. The exam registration is done at designated centers. TOEFL is accepted in UK, US, Australia. However, most American institutions accept TOEFL scores instead of IELTS scores.

IELTS vs TOEFL
• Both IELTS and TOEFL consist of four sections-
o These sections are designed to assess the speaking, listening, writing and reading ability of the exam-taker.
• While IELTS have a combination of short answers and questions on essay, TOEFL offers only MCQs (multiple choice questions).
• IELTS is held at test centers which can be found on the official website, whereas TOEFL is held over 50 times a year in both online or offline mode.
• The charges for both the exams vary from USD 200-300 depending on the locations.
• TOEFL exam can be taken via paper-based or internet-based; IELTS is limited to paper-based alone.
• TOEFL exam lasts for 4 hours; IELTS lasts for 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Now that you know the basic differences that define the two tests individually, the decision rests upon you. The exam that best suits your comfort zone/needs is always the right way to go. Good luck with TOEFL/IELTS! You might have hesitation in taking up the right institute. IELTS coaching Kurali will provide a free demo before you start.

14 Commonly Asked Questions for The PTE-A Speaking and Writing Modules

Speaking & Writing Modules in the PTE Academic Exam are sections that often prove to be tricky for test-takers. In this blog, we have compiled a list of commonly asked questions about the two sections.

1.What questions can be expected in the PTE Speaking Module, and also what’s the duration of the exam?

In PTE Speaking test, the five question types are Repeat Sentence, Re-tell Lecture, Repeat Sentence, Read Aloud, Describe Image, and Answer Short Question.
The whole section takes about 30-35 minutes to finish.

2.Is it essential to speak in a native English accent so that the grading software can understand me?

This is an entirely false notion. PTE grading software is designed to understand different English accents. Aspirants should speak as generally as possible, in their accents, during PTE Speaking practice. Just make sure to talk lucidly so that the software can pick up what you are saying.

3.Should I use more complex sentences?

Don’t use unnecessary complex sentences, since that increases the chances of your making a mistake. Your writing should give an adequate demonstration of your skills.

4.Should I speak fast to be fluent?

If you try to speak fast forcibly, then it can end up hurting your coherence. Too much focus on maintaining a fast pace can affect your content score if you end up speaking irrelevant things. Instead, you should focus on keeping an even, natural rhythm.

5.Do I stand to lose some marks, if I do not copy the Repeat Sentences questions as they are?

Even if you miss a single or a couple of words, and also maintain Oral Fluency, then it should be okay for you.

6.If you are quoting a person, is it going to be mandatory to use the exact words?

Quoting means that you are supposed to repeat what has been already said by another individual. So it is best practice to stay true to what has been spoken by the original speech. Otherwise, you have to paraphrase it.

7.What happens when I don’t maintain the word limit when penning an essay?

As per the Pearson Score Guide, it is mentioned clearly that in the PTE Writing Test, essays should be strictly in the word limit of 200-300. So if you don’t maintain the word limit, you stand to lose marks.

8.Does having an extensive vocabulary improve your score?

Just using big words, without context, is of no use. So be sure that whatever word you are using, their meaning is clear to you. Try and avoid repetitions, and the language you use should preferably be natural and easy.
Avoid repetitions and try to write natural and straightforward wherever possible.

9.What skills do you need to polish to clear the PTE Academic test?

Develop proper Oral Fluency by speaking in English more often. Having the correct pronunciation is also vital. Be sure to brush up your grammar and vocabulary.

10.In case if I forget to include an introduction and conclusion in the Essay?

According to Pearson, the advised format and structure mentions that an essay should have an introduction, body and conclusion. So it’s best to stick to the recommended format.

11.How do I score the maximum marks in the PTE Writing Test?

For the PTE Writing Test, pay attention to coherence, sentence formation and the ability to format.

12.If I take long pauses in the Speaking test, will it affect my score?

Please keep in mind that a pause longer than 3 seconds can result in your microphone being switched off. This means that whatever you speak after that won’t get recorded.

13.In Describe Image, should I attempt to speak about all the observable details that I see in the image?

It suffices to only restrict your information to all the relevant and most striking details on the image, that are pivotal to its existence.

14.What is the Exam format of the PTE Writing Test?

In the PTE Writing Module, there are only two question types that you can expect:

Summaries written text – In this task, you have to write a summary of a given text, taking care to include all the essential facets. The summary should not exceed 75 words, and the total time allowed is 10 minutes.
Write an essay – In this task, the aspirant has to write an essay on a given topic between 200-300 words in 20 minutes flat.

Conclusion
To get the best score in PTE , make sure that you get enough practice with quality questions. You could also go with PTE Institute Kurali, for scoring good marks in PTE exam. For more details drop your comments in the comment section.

How to Write Dates in English | ABA English

How to Write Dates in English Today we are going to refresh our memory and focus on the days of the week, months, and dates. We will also look at ordinal numbers, which are very useful to know when writing the date in English.

There are some elements that you should keep in mind when it comes to writing the date and its various possible formats. In many cases, the format depends on the country in which you are located. ABA English will explain everything you need to know in this article.

Writing Dates in English What we should be aware of when noting the days of the week is that, in English, they are ALWAYS CAPITALIZED.

That goes for months of the year, too.

For example: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December.

In English, you will probably notice that some calendars start with Sunday instead of Monday, depending on the place, but it is important to note that both varieties are accepted.

How to Correctly Write the Date Do you know how to write the date correctly in English? In English, it is important to remember that the date can be written in two ways and both are acceptable. Example: Day/month/year.

For example, 1/2/16 which refers to 1 February 2016. Month/day/year.

For example, 2/1/16 which also refers to 1 February 2016.

In other words, you have to be careful when you see dates like these written down as they could actually be interpreted differently depending on the country you are in.

Proper Date Format Knowing how to express both the date and time in English is very important. The day/month format is known as the “British” format. This is the same as the general European format and is often used in other English-speaking countries like New Zealand and Australia.

The month/day format, which portrays the month first, is referred to as the “American” format.

It is used 100% of the time in the United States and is also very prominent in Canada. By following these simple rules, you already know how to write the date in English.

Writing Dates Ordinal numbers are used in English to show position, ranking or order of numbers in relation to other numbers in a sequence, NOT quantity. These numbers are often used to write dates.

Ways to Write the Date As you can see,

in the previous example, ordinal numbers were used.

Every number has a corresponding ordinal number which ends in one of the following suffixes: –st, -nd, -rd, and -th.

The first three suffixes (-st, -nd, and -rd) correspond to the first three numbers, that is 1, 2, and 3. They are also applied to any numbers that end in any of these three digits (except for 11, 12, and 13, which are irregular).

Example: One (1) = First

Two (2) = Second

Three (3) = Third

Twenty-one (21) = Twenty-first

Fifty-two (52) = Fifty-second

Seventy-three (73) = Seventy-third

These can also be written in a different more abbreviated format with the number itself and the corresponding suffix.

Example: One (1) = 1st

Two (2) = 2nd

Three (3) = 3rd

Twenty-one (21) = 21st

Fifty-two (52) = 52nd

Seventy-three (73) = 73rd

With the remaining numbers, we always use the suffix -th.

Example: Four (4) = Fourth or 4th

Twenty-six (26) = Twenty-sixth or 26th

And do not forget the three exceptions to the rule that we mentioned earlier:

Eleven (11) = Eleventh or 11th

Twelve (12) = Twelfth or 12th

Thirteen (13) = Thirteenth or 13th

Once you memorize these simple rules, it will be very easy to remember how the proper date format in English. As explained, these are the main rules you must remember in order to use days, months, dates and ordinal numbers correctly.

You might have hesitation in taking up the right institute. IELTS Coaching Kurali will provide a free demo before you start. For more details please do comments in comment section.

Confirmation with the verb “to be”

What’s up guys! Do you sometimes think about different ways in English that you can give confirmation? Today, we are going to have a look at using the verb “to be” to give confirmation in English so that things become a lot more to the interlocutor.

What are question tags?

Question tags are created in English when we change imperative or affirmative/negative statements into questions by adding an interrogative part to the end of the statement. In terms of structure these are very easy, however using them naturally in spoken English takes a lot of practice. It is important to note that when we use question tags, if the first part of the statement is affirmative, the question tag will be negative and vice versa.

Examples: She plays tennis, doesn’t she?

They like films, don’t they?

You don’t play football, do you?

Question tags with “to be” Generally question tags are used for confirmation and especially with the verb “to be”.

Examples:

He is French, isn’t he?

She isn’t hungry, is she?

They aren’t German, are they?

As we can see in these examples, the tag creates emphasis on the point of the sentence encouraging the interlocutor to respond confirming what you have said or provide an answer in its place. It should also be noted that the subject and verb have been inverted in the tag-thus to create the question.

The past tense of “to be” has the same structure when using “question tags”

Examples:

He was 10 when he went to Spain, wasn’t he?

They were at home when the bus crashed, weren’t they?

She was young when she started school, wasn’t she?

In these examples we are clearly trying to encourage the person we are speaking to, to provide us with an answer to the statement we made- hence the tag. Is there anything else to know about question tags?

As mentioned, the structure of question tags is generally straight-forward, however there are different rules and auxiliary verbs that need to be adopted when using certain tenses. We recommend learning them little by little over a period of time so that you get used to them gradually instead of trying to learn all at once.

Studying in abroad is a dream for many students. IELTS and TOEFL will pull you closer to your dream of studying in a foreign university. But, for that, you have to join the Best IELTS Coaching which must suit to your pocket. IELTS Kurali is the best option for the aspirants looking forward to study in abroad. For more details please do comments in the comments section.

IELTS Difficulty: How Hard is IELTS? Know What to Expect

So, how hard is the IELTS? Many test takers struggle with similar issues when it comes to the IELTS exam. ‘IELTS difficulty’ is no rare occurrence. Today we’ll examine the areas of IELTS difficulties our students face.

We’re going to address the most challenging IELTS test parts. We’ll discuss the common IELTS challenges and key E2Language tips and strategies to avoid these problems.

Speaking Part 2

IELTS Difficulty: Don’t repeat yourself!

In this section you’re given a task card. You will then have to speak for 2 minutes. Unknowingly repeating the same story is a common speaking mistake in the test.

The real problem is most people finish their actual “story” in about 40 seconds and then just repeat it again and again.

The key is to use the PPF (Past, Present, Future) Method to tackle IELTS Speaking. This way you will be able to tell three different stories based on the task card.

You see! Not only will it get you to 2 minutes but it’ll also make you use a range of verbs.

Yes, mistakes are plenty on the IELTS Speaking. Avoid them today! The Most Common IELTS Speaking Mistakes!

Writing Task 2

IELTS Difficulty: Writing to the word count!

Do NOT fall short of the required word count!

Around 20% of candidates don’t write 250 words or more. You will lose a whole band score or more for the criterion called task response.

Find these #7 IELTS Study Tips to get you in the study mindset.

General Writing Task 1

IELTS Difficulty: Don’t mix your paragraphs!

Each paragraph should cover one dot point on the task card.

In other words, keep it organised.

Academic Writing Task 1

IELTS Difficulty: Comparing relevant data.

Choose two aspects of the graph and compare them.

For example, compare men and women or Thailand’s imports vs Cambodia’s imports (or something similar). Be specific and make sure you include percentages, numbers or other data.

Reading

IELTS Difficulty: Misunderstanding the question types!

Learn the question types.

Some of these tasks are honestly conceptually hard to understand. Two really tricky task types are: True / False / Not Given and Yes / No / Not Given.

Others like ‘Match Sentence Endings’ are just confusing!

Learn ALL of the in’s and out’s for your IELTS test preparation.

Listening

IELTS Difficulty: Misunderstanding the question types!

Like reading, you must know what the question types are because you do not have time to understand them as you go.

The best advice when it comes to both IELTS Reading and Listening is: set enough time aside to PRACTICE.

IELTS difficulty can be diluted with the right amount of preparation and understanding. Your desired score is very much possible. Be willing to learn the right methods, and put those strategies to practice.

Don’t let IELTS difficulty discourage you. Instead, kick-start your IELTS preparation by registering for one of the best IELTS Coaching Kurali institute.