IELTS
The examination is divided into four parts: reading (1 hour), writing (1 hour), listening (45 minutes) and speaking (15 minutes). The course book Focus on IELTS is used. Within each topic/unit covered , the skills of
listening, speaking, reading and writing are developed and practised, both on a macro and micro level. Listening and reading skills focus on understanding gist and specific information. Writing skills focus on
understanding and production of language structures and vocabulary and the ability to plan and organise a text using cohesive devises and paragraphing, along with appropriate style and register. Speaking skills focus
on fluency, clear development and organisation of ideas and argument, pronunciation of individual sounds, word and sentence stress and intonation. Students are assessed on their performance in class, written
homework, regular tests from past/practice papers and by full mock examinations.
Term 1
Topics From Focus on IELTS
Skills
Work Produced
Introduction to the IELTS examination
Familiarisation with requirements of the
examination
Reading
Skimming/scanning/reading for detail/recognising
participle clauses/ using the topic sentence/
Recognising key words and synonyms/Recognising
structure and cohesion
Writing
Paragraphing/ Developing a formal
argument/Describing a graph or table/Describing
process and procedure/Definition/Exemplification/
Comparison and contrast.
Listening
Listening for gist and specific information/Noting
down key information and detail
Speaking
Talking about personal interests/ comparing and
contrasting/Describing places/stages of a
process/Sequencing/ Expressing reasons /Giving
explanations/
Given a written account
Describe a graph showing unemployment rates in
US/Japan
Describe a graph of CD/LP/cassette sales/
Describe the process of collecting weather
information
Describe charts showing travel to and from UK
Reading
Understanding discourse and reference
markers/recognising salient ideas/locating relevant
information/transferring information to charts,
tables and summaries
Writing
Describing cause and effect/Generalising/Qualifying
/Interpreting data/Using logical and grammatical
links
Listening
Recognising synonyms/note completion/table and
sentence completion/table and flow chart
completion/short answers
Speaking
Participating in a discussion/Pacing/pausing and
chunking/Listening and responding
appropriately/Formal and informal register
Give a written account
Describe a chart showing post school qualifications
Describe a graph/chart about electricity usage
Describe a chart/graph about Japanese tourists
Review and further practice of skills as appropriate
Timed examination practice of all skills
Health and Fitness
Life -style and Society
Culture and Leisure
The Environment
Supplementary materials
Vocabulary for IELTSI P67 Healthcare, P78 Food
and Diet, P92 Men and women, P80 Children and
the family, P87 Town and country, P84 The Arts,
P100 Global problems, P73 Social Tensions
Advanced Language Practice U13 Health and the
Body ALP U 9 People and relationships , U11 Arts
and Entertainment
Advanced Writing Practice U17 Stating an Opinion
Advanced Grammar in Use U88/89 Comparison
Term 2
Education
Technology
Communication
The Media
Transport
Supplementary materials
Vocabulary for IELTS P75 Science and
Technology, P54 Education, P56 The Media, P13
Reason and result, P14 Generalisation and
Specifics
Recycling Advanced English U57 Travelling and
Transport
Useful Exercises for IELTS Part 1 Communication
and the Arts, Part 3 Technology, Part 5 Youth and
Education
Term 3
Review and further practice of topics from
supplementary materials as appropriate
Write a discursive essay
Discuss government responsibility to improve
health, education and trade
Discuss whether women with young children should
work
Define happiness and discuss how it can be
achieved
Discuss giving freedom to creative artists
Discuss government spending on museums and
galleries
Write a discursive essay
Discuss the reporting of news
Discuss reasons for and solutions to bad student
behaviour
Discuss testing in schools
Discuss whether prevention is better than cure
Discuss advances in science and technology
Discuss capital punishment
Full Mock Examination