IELTS: Your Gateway to Enormous Global Opportunities

Are you looking to study or work abroad? Do you have plans to settle in an English-speaking foreign country? Then IELTS is the key that will open the door to a world of opportunities overseas.

What is IELTS?

The International English Language Testing System abbreviated as IELTS is the world’s most popular English test for international higher education, work or migration.

It is an English proficiency assessment test designed to gauge a wide range of language skills of an individual looking to study or seek employment in or migrate to countries where English is the language of communication. The test has been developed and jointly owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment of the University of Cambridge.

When is it offered?

IELTS is offered up to four times a month in more than 130 countries. You may have to take the test on Thursdays and Saturdays. You can appear for IELTS in over 1,100 test centers around the world.

Test components and duration

IELTS has four papers: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. It has two different modules: Academic and General Training. Here, we look at the test components of IELTS Academic.

IELTS Academic

If you desire to earn an undergraduate or postgraduate degree abroad or if you are a professional desiring to register in a foreign land, you need to take IELTS Academic.

Components of IELTS Academic

Reading

This paper has 40 questions, spread over 3 sections. You will find general topics written in narrative or argumentative style sourced from books, newspapers, journals and online materials. You will be tested for general understanding of the main text and specific grasp of finer points.

Texts may have diagrams, graphs or illustrations too. You will find dictionary definitions for technical words, if any. Marks will be deducted for faulty grammar or spelling. The duration will be 60 minutes including transfer time.

Writing

You will have to complete two writing tasks in this paper. Task 1 involves describing some visual information given in a graph, table, chart or diagram; you will write at least 150 words of your own in 20 minutes.

In Task 2, you need to discuss a point of view or problem by writing at least 250 words in 40 minutes. You will be tested for relevance of response to the task and how well you express your ideas in writing.

Listening

This paper has four sections each of 10 questions. Sections 1 and 2 focus on everyday social situations. Sections 3 and 4 are set in educational and training contexts. Speakers use different accents including British, New Zealand, Australian and North American.

You listen to the recordings only once. Time allowed is approximately 30 minutes for listening and 10 minutes at the end of the test to transfer your responses to an answer sheet. You will lose marks for incorrect spelling and grammar.

Speaking

The IELTS Speaking test is a face-to-face oral interaction between the candidate and the examiner. The test has three parts and will be recorded for later assessment. You will be tested for grammatical accuracy, pronunciation and fluency. Time allotted is 15 minutes.

Test report format

You do not pass or fail in IELTS. Your performance in each test component is graded using scores from 1-9. The unique 9-Band Scale is internationally recognized to assess your performance in a consistent manner, irrespective of when or where you take the test.

IELTS 9-Band Scale

9 Expert user

8 Very good user

7 Good user

6 Competent user

5 Modest user

4 Limited user

3 Extremely limited user

2 Intermittent user

1 Non-user

0 Did not attempt the test

If you have an overall half band score, say for instance 7.5, it would mean that you have performed very well within the Band 7 level.

Who Accept IELTS Score?

Several universities and employers accept IELTS scores across the world in countries like Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Professional bodies, immigration authorities and other government outfits also recognize it.

You can learn more about specialized and personalized online IELTS preparation and tutoring at a reputed online tutoring portal.

Start-up India – Creating entrepreneurial energy

The “Start-up India” launch, that happened on January 16, 2016, brought together several stake holders to stimulate dialogue on key challenges faced by the Indian startup ecosystem. This initiative is a significant step in the Government of India’s commitment to making India the hub of innovation, design and Start-ups.

The global workshop on “Innovation and Start-ups” brought together some of the most innovative  minds like Masayoshi Son, Founder & CEO Soft bank, Travis Kalanick, CEO Uber, Adam Neumann, CEO We work and several successful Indian businesses from flipkart to Paytm. Catalyze Center for Learning was one of the 2000 Indian startup Invitees to attend the event. The landmark event not only brought forth the innovation and energy of Indian youth, but was an arena where some of the brightest innovators and business minds shared their stories and left some very powerful take home messages for aspiring entrepreneurs. 

Here are some of the take home messages that came out of the day long discussions and interactions.

• Entrepreneurship happens when passion meets a need - Talking about how Uber came about, Travis shared, “We wanted to get a ride in Paris but couldn’t find a taxi.” He saw a big market there that hadn’t changed for a long time.

• Start small and make a difference - It is important to start small and build a business and a community that fosters itself. Also be passionate about making a difference to people. 

• Success always follows exceptional people - Entrepreneurship is not only about money and success, but making a difference and touching the lives of people in positive ways. Instead of chasing money, which is a peripheral, chase impacting lives, which is core. Once the core is addressed the peripheral follows.

• Take the plunge and enjoy the ride - Entrepreneurship is not only about success. Most successful entrepreneurs have had many failures before they became successful. It is important to take the failures as learning lessons and enjoy the ride.

• Find a good mentor - Good mentors act as a compass where an entrepreneur can gain direction and insights.

• Hire a team where the cultural fit is right - Spend 25-30% of your time interviewing people who will help you grow.  Success of an entrepreneur is always about people.

10 FAQs on IGCSE Board

It is an age of an education revolution with every parent aspiring for a unique set of skill sets and creativity for one’s child, with aspirations that are truly unconventional.  It is always a challenge to choose the right board or school to fulfil these aspirations and empowering oneself with information on the different curricula offered is definitely a starting point. 

The Cambridge Curriculum is one such where the creativity and the versatility of a student can be explored, supported and encouraged to achieve those aspirations.

1. What is IGCSE/GCSE board?

IGCSE or GCSE as it is called in UK are international exams developed by University of Cambridge, encouraging and preparing a student to develop creativity, curiosity and a lasting passion for learning. 

2. What are the qualifications or certificates one achieves?

The qualifications are Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge O Level, Cambridge International AS and A Level, and Cambridge Pre-U. Several universities and employers around the world recognize these qualifications. 

3. What are the different programs offered under the Cambridge curriculum

• Cambridge Primary (5-11 years)

Is a world class curriculum that develops cognitive skills in English, mathematics and science. The children’s learning is assessed as they progress with two optional assessments: Cambridge Primary Progression Tests and Cambridge Primary Checkpoint.

• Cambridge Secondary 1 (11-14 years)

Cognitive skills in  are developed in English, mathematics and science for the first three years of secondary education. Its unique features are a combination of world-class curriculum, high-quality support for teachers and integrated assessment. Cambridge Secondary 1 Checkpoint

• Cambridge Secondary 2 (14 – 16 years)

Offers two levels Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge O Level

• Cambridge Advanced ((16 – 19 years)

Cambridge Advanced is typically for learners who need advanced study to prepare for university and higher education. It offers learners two routes: Cambridge International AS and A Level, and Cambridge Pre-U.

4. How well is it recognized in India ?

AS, A levels are well recognized by many universities in India , please find the recognition statements in this link http://www.cie.org.uk/images/122860-india-recognition-statements.pdf

5. What are the subjects or groups offered in IGCSE ?

The subject groups are English, Humanities, Mathematics, Science, Social Science Technology and Arts.

6. How is grading done in IGCSE?

Grading is done in percentage uniform marks. A system of grading is followed which is not dependent on the marks obtained in the marksheet but a combination of the mark obtained in the answer sheet and the position of the grade thresholds. The grades range from A* to G.

7. What options can one opt for after IGCSE?

Passing IGCSE entitles the student for any +2 qualification in India or abroad.  One can opt for the Cambride A level exams conducted by CIE or opt for IB diplomat. 

8. What are A level exams?

This is an equivalent of 12th standard and is completed over 2 years with AS (Advanced Subsidiary Level) in the first year and A2 in the second year.

9. How are the Cambridge A level exams recognized in the US?

Cambridge International AS and A Levels are recognized by more than 485 universities in the USA. This includes Ivy League and Ivy Plus universities. CIE has formed a US Higher Education Advisory Council, membership of the Council includes representatives from universities such as MIT, Duke, Columbia, Penn State, Washington and Yale.

10. What is unique about IGCSE?

The beauty of IGCSE is the creativity , flexibility and the unique innovative methods that can be used to meet the needs of students with differing abilities. The curriculum boasts of a combination of over 70 subjects, 40 in the case of Edexcel. 

The IGCSE curriculum helps in developing creative thinking, enquiry and problem solving skills and could prove beneficial to those aspiring to go abroad for higher studies.

Personalized Learning and the “flipped class room”

As an educationist and a passionate teacher, I have often tried to circumvent the problem of “one size fits all.” In a classroom of diverse nature, individualization and educator driven curricula does not cater to unique needs of the learner.

The hallmark of personalized learning involves tailored curriculum and pedagogy according to the learner’s interests and addresses lacunae in learning, meeting their different learning needs and aspirations. Typically technology is used to facilitate personalized learning environments and the tutor has a key role to play.

At this point it is important to understand the difference between individualization and personalization the two are sometimes synonymously used, but in reality have different pedagogical meanings. Individualization is typically found in a class room setting where all students master the same learning objectives lead by the teacher. In personalization the student has a very important role to play and often drives the learning process.  Personalization aims at addressing the unique needs of the student considering cognitive abilities, aptitudes, talents and competencies. The learner is an active participant and a co-creator of the learning pathway and environment.

Traditional learning environments like schools and colleges do sometimes support personalized learning. Personalized learning can happen in small groups in partnership with other learners. However, advancements in technology leading to disappearance of geographical barriers especially in an online or “flipped” learning environment influence and  support personalized learning powerfully.

ICT allows learners access to information, provides a medium for communication and debate and also recording and playback of these interactive sessions. Complex concepts can be explained in a simple and easy to comprehend way leading to bridging of cognitive lacunae.  “Custom made” tutorial solutions can make a big difference to enhance the personalized learning experience online.

Personalized learning addresses the cognitive, emotive and social dimensions of a student, empowering awareness of the learning process, increasing self-regulation and self-evaluation, both critical attributes for any successful student.

Co-designing and participation can be a teaching and a learning experience for both the learner and the teacher. The ever growing and ever evolving needs of the learner, makes the individualization process an “old class room” approach and personalization as a “neo-age” pedagogy.

6 simple ways to make online tutoring a more effective learning environment

With advancements in technology and the conveniences of working from home or learning from home, online tutoring offers a great teaching/learning experience. Advantages of online tutoring being learning from the comforts of your own home, one on one interaction with the tutor, saving on travel time to and from coaching centers, learning at your convenient time, the ability of technology to break geographical barriers so that the best teachers can be available on your screen and last but not the least, parental involvement . Regular involvement and feedback of parents is also a vital part of online learning.

Live online classes or online tutoring is not very different from face to face learning. There are many collaborative tools and virtual classrooms that can be used to make it an audio-visual experience.

Popular platforms or tools used are skype as an audio-vido aid with a plug in for white board. Alternatively several virtual classrooms are available such as wiziq, vyew or Webex which can accommodate several students at a time in an online tutoring session.

As discussed earlier, Online learning is not completely different from face to face learning or other forms of learning. In fact it could be more effective. To make an online experience endowed and enriched in knowledge sharing, following approaches could be adopted:

Create a plan Be Proactive. Create a plan and share it accordingly in order to study in tandem.

Share the curriculum and other resources To make the learning experience more effective, it is indispensable to share the curriculum such as CBSE, IGCSE, ICSE, IB , K-12 or Australian and also other resources between the student and the teacher.

Develop a rapport The onus is on both the teachers and the students to develop a rapport. For the teachers, A warm-up activity (Jokes, games, discussion on their favorite topic etc.) based on the interests of the students. For the students it could be responding well to the teacher’s activities. Once the ice is broken, an online tutoring session can be loads of laughs along with good learning

Stay motivated Aptly said by Carol Burnett, “Only I can change my life. No one else can do it for me”. That’s why we recommend Motivation to be key part of all of our sessions. Motivation is a great to tool to achieve extraordinary results. In an online environment, establishment of rapport is key to motivation. Without direct physical contact and interaction with other learners or an instructor, online students might lose their interest or motivation mid-way through their course or program. There are several motivation al tools one can follow such as keeping an eye on the prize, meaning working hard to be successful. Also staying motivated is a very personal thing, talking to a counsellor or taking a counselling session can greatly help set personal goals to stay motivated.

Communicate Good communication is the key to success in online learning. It is important to communicate the instruction techniques that work. It is also important to communicate when reinforcement of concepts or practice is necessary. Communication also includes asking the right questions to bridge gaps in learning.

Take notes Taking notes is indispensible to any learning experience. Note taking could be through the age-old pen-paper technique or making use of the digital concepts available. Animations, videos or other modes available on the GUI of the software being used to teach could also be used. Online recording facilities are available with some collaboration tools.

These simple but effective techniques can greatly enhance the online tutoring/learning experience and help students succeed in their goals.

Blended Learning and Personalized Online Tutoring

A lot of discussions happen on Blended learning. What is actually Blended learning? Blended learning, as the name implies is a blend of classroom delivery along with digital or online content, typically where face to face classrooms sessions are combined with computer meditated or other digital activities.

It signifies a fundamentally different approach that teachers and students need to adopt in the teaching learning process. Another popular term used in this is “the flipped classroom” or other terms like hybrid, mixed, or integrative to describe the same trend.

In 2000, an estimated 45,000 students from K-12 curriculum took online courses, and a decade late, the numbers have escalated to approximately 3 million, computers in schools catalyzing the whole process.

Blended learning has the following important components

• In-person classroom activities facilitated by an experienced educator
• Online learning materials, pre-recorded lectures, animations, videos or other tools to enhance the learning process, often used to explain difficult concepts
• The instruction followed by reading material, worksheets, assignments and other aids to reinforce the concepts already delivered.

While there is many a discussion on the effectiveness of blended learning and its impact on education, one of the applications that this could be extended outside the class room is in educational environments such as online tutoring. An online tutor could adopt the following characteristics to enhance the “facilitator” role
 

• While course content is vital, pedagogical technologies and strategies to enhance the learning process are indispensible.
• Creating a learning environment by facilitating interaction among students and personalizing it according to the individual needs of the student may be very effective in one on one tutoring environments such as online tutoring
• Making assessments and grading a little unconventional can greatly help in keeping the student engaged in the online class.

A true learning experience is a combination of relevance of the material as well as applications of concepts and ideas in a “real world setting”. These in fact can be beautifully combined in a blended learning environment - A teaching- learning experience that can be an interesting blend of the conventional and the modern.