Tips to Crack IELTS: Reading Module

Last month, we discussed how following a few easy steps will help you get through the Listening Module of the IELTS test. This week we will be focusing on the Reading Module of IELTS.

The Reading test of the IELTS Preparatory Course is 60 minutes long. The student will be given 3 or 4 passages of increasing difficulty which they have to answer. There will be 40 questions totally.
You can mark the answers on the question sheets, but the answers are accepted only on the Reading Answer sheet and no extra time is given for transferring answers. You should allot at least 5 minutes to transferring the answers to the answer sheet and cross checking them.

Here are some tips to make sure that you ace the reading section:

• Make sure you understand the questions and are able to follow the instructions.
•   Manage your time well. Do not spend too long on one passage or question.
• Read with a purpose
• If you do not know anything about the subject of the text, do not panic. All answers can be found in the test, there is no need for any knowledge of the subject in advance.
• If you are unable to answer a question, do not waste time move onto the next one
• Check your Spellings
• Use singular and plural correctly
• Attempt all answers even if you are not sure. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers.
• Check Your Answers
•   There is a word limit for certain answers. Pay attention to that. For example, if you are asked to complete a sentence in 2 words and the correct answer is 'blue blouse', then the answer 'blouse that is blue' would be incorrect. 

Our next blog will tell you how to ace the writing section of the IELTS

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Tips to Crack the IELTS: Listening Module

The IELTS Preparatory Course or (International test of English as a Foreign Language) is an English proficiency test for non native English speakers. IELTS and TOEFL are the 2 major Tests for proficiency in English for non-native English Speakers. IELTS is a standard test for people visiting countries in the European Union, The US and Australia and New Zealand for academic and employment purpose.

Test bands:
The success of the test is measured in bands. To score more, you have to increase your test band score. Test bands vary from a scale of 0 to 9 where 0 means being absent for the test and 9 suggest expertise in the English Language. A high band score always suggests the knowledge and expertise that the user has over English as a foreign language. Some universities select students who score a higher band on the scale. Therefore it is essential to understand that the higher the band scores the better the chances of getting into the more exclusive colleges offering higher education. To enter a good university, you have to have a test band score of at least 6.5. The competition is stiff and it is difficult to get into universities because of a large number of students vying for limited seats. But with hard work and perseverance it is possible to crack the IELTS and get a good band score and make you eligible for higher education in the best universities
The IELTS test consists of 4 different sections. These are:

· Listening

· Reading

· Writing

· Speaking

Listening:

The IELTS listening test takes about 30 minutes and the student is given 10 minutes extra to transfer the answers to the answer sheet.
The test has 4 sections with each section having 10 questions, total 40 questions for the listening section. The recordings will be in different accents, including British, North American and Australian. You will hear the recordings only once.
Here are a few tips to help you crack the Listening section of the IELTs exam without any problems:

· if you cannot hear the audio clearly, let a member of staff know straight away follow the instructions carefully
· Listen to the specific information you want
· Concentrate well on what is being said
· Be careful with spelling and grammar
· Do not panic if you find the topic difficult or if the speaker is fast
· Read, Write and Listen at the same time
· Pay Attention to the word limit
· Attempt all questions as there are no penalties for incorrect answers
· Check your answers thoroughly

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Microsoft Keyboard Shortcuts to Make Your Life Easier

Whether you are learning to use a computer or you have been using your computers for years now, shortcuts are a vital part to make computer usage easier. Here are a few shortcuts that will definitely using the computer Skills much more fun.

win+d
 This shortcut minimizes all open Windows and return to a clean desktop. Pressing it again restores the previous state.

F2
 This shortcut will go to the Rename selection. Simply click on a File, press F2 and you can type to rename the file.

alt+tab 
 Hold the alt key and continuously press tab to move forward between open applications or folders.

Win+pause
 With this shortcut, you can access System Properties which holds system properties, computer name, and device manager and so on.

Alt + Prtscrn
Take a screen shot of active window. To make an image of the screen shot, paste the image in Microsoft paint and save the file.

Shift + F10
Pressing these buttons together does the same as a right-click with mouse

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The Benefits of Enrolling For a Basic Computer Course

Computers have been around for ages, but the real computer revolution started with the release of Windows 98. Today, a business is not complete without computers. Right from corporate offices in big cities that have hundreds of computers and computing devices to the humble farmer, a computer is an essential to every profession.

Computer courses are useful and help to enhance your knowledge and skills. Regardless of your interest in computers, taking a computer course is essential for advancing your career.

At Ace-It Training, we offer a variety of computer courses. 

· Microsoft Office Specialist 2010
· Microsoft Excel Training
· Microsoft Access

Improving Employability:

A computer course improves your chances of getting a good job. If you are a new computer user then try your goal should be to try and be proficient with basic computer skills. If you are an advanced learner, you should opt for specialization in software that might help you in advancing your career. A proficient computer user is a fast worker and increases his own and the company’s productivity.

Job Promotions:

All jobs today make computer skills mandatory. All professionals use computers and companies prefer candidates who are computer literate and tech savvy candidates. Employers usually expand their knowledge of computer and computer software to stay ahead of the curve.

The situation in developing economies: 

The problem with some developing countries is that they lack the infrastructure for technology. There is also a language problem in the countries where English is not a native language. A generation of users unlike the generation of today was not exposed to technology and may be technically challenged. This can be changed with proper training and people in developing economies too can be part of the revolution that is led by technology.

The problem is being addressed by institutes in Dubai like Ace-it Training that offer courses in HR, Logistics and Supply Chain Management Courses Dubai, IELTS and IT that ultimately help professionals stay ahead of the curve.

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How to Become an Expert in Using Excel and Spreadsheets?

Microsoft's Excel spreadsheet application is used frequently in offices and at home for creating tables, charts and computing basic accounts. It is being increasingly being used by a large number of businesses, both large and small. Knowledge of Excel and Spreadsheets is useful in administrative support positions. It is vital nowadays to have knowledge of Microsoft Excel before you apply for a job or work towards a promotion.

Some steps to learning to use Spreadsheets:

About Spreadsheet Software:
Spreadsheets are available both online and offline. Spreadsheets are included in a wide variety of Office suits which include – Microsoft Office, Libre Office, Open Office and IBM Lotus Symphony. It is also available in Google Docs and Microsoft's paid version of the online Office suite

Take a class:
Join a Class for learning Excel. At Ace-it Training we offer a Microsoft Excel training course that will help you develop your excel skills and impress your colleagues and managers. If you are looking for a job, this course will improve your employability prospects.

Read eBooks or Books:
Read e-books and tutorials available online on that will help you learn Excel. Study both old and new editions of the books that you borrow from a library or end up buying. Make sure you learn the formulas for the financials part. You can also listen to podcasts by experts that explain the different ways you can use Microsoft Excel.

Practice your skills:
Start practicing Excel skills by keeping a log of your daily expenses on an Excel file. You can also export or download your online banking statements in the form of a excel file. You can also maintain statistics of scores of your school and college exams in an excel sheet.

Become familiar with Excel menus and Sub Menus:
Spend up to 3 to 5 hours on excel everyday and familiarize yourself with the menus and submenus. Learn to use formulas for mathematical calculations. Know where to find the options and features

Try Advanced Excel
Push yourself to the limits by practicing advanced excel and try and experiment as much as Possible.
You can learn Excel by taking one of the computer courses from Ace it Training.

Ace it Training is a premier institute that conducts courses in Human Resources,  IELTS Preparatory Courses in Dubai, Logistics, Computer Education and many more subjects. Apply for a computer course at Ace-It Training and see your career take off.

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Differences in the IELTS formats

IELTS is designed to reflect your real-life usage of English and tests the student's reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. It is the leading English proficiency test in the world today and is accepted by over 9,000 universities, colleges, schools, organizations and immigration authorities over the world.

There are two formats of the IELTS: the Academic format and the General Training format. Both formats are different in their structure and testing. To read more about which organizations accept which format, read our last blogpost.

Confirm with the authorities in advance about format of the IELTS they accept and prepare accordingly. Here are the differences and similarities between the Academic format and the General Training format.

The Writing Section is different for both formats. In Task 1 for General Training format, one has to write a 150-word letter. Whereas the Academic format, a 150-word report has to be writing that describes the data in a chart or table. Writing Task 2 for both versions of the text is same; it involves writing a 250-word essay responding to a point of view, argument or problem.

The grading for Task 1 for both Academic and General Training is based on the same thing: Task Response, Cohesion and coherence, Vocabulary, Grammar

The Reading Section is also different. The General Training format involves reading shorter passages that are based on social and work contexts. The Academic format involved reading longer passages of academic nature. They are more difficult to tackle than the General Training passages.

The Listening and Speaking Section are same for both formats.

It is vital to pay attention to which format of the IELTS you are giving and prepare accordingly. You can write to us or call using the details given on top of the website.

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Preparing for the right IELTS format

Are you preparing for your IELTS? If the answer to that question is yes, then make sure that you know which format you are preparing for.

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the world's most popular language test for testing English proficiency. There were more than 2 million IELTS tests taken in 2013.

There are two formats of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). They are the Academic format and the General Training format. Both formats have different structures and are accepted by different organizations. In most cases, you cannot choose which format of the IELTS you want to take. The organization you are applying to will specify which format of the test they accept.

On top of that, the structures for both tests are different and so are the preparation techniques. So before you start preparing for the IELTS, read the article below and make sure that you are preparing for the right IELTS format.

The academic format is for those who want to apply to study in an English-speaking college or university for undergraduate or postgraduate courses.

The General Training format is for you if you want to gain admission in secondary education or a training program in an English-speaking school or training centre. It is also used by visa authorities for migration purposes to Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the UK.

It is advisable to ask and confirm with the organization about which format of the IELTS they accept.

Look out for our next blog post on how the Academic format and General training formats are different.

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