IELTS Preparation & Test

Profile of Ascend IELTS Master Trainer

David Doyle, Principal of Ascend Education Centre,
David, an Irish citizen and Singapore PR, is the Principal of Ascend –The English Professionals. He has been teaching IELTS for over 14 years. He firmly believes in the training philosophy that you have to perform on the day of the test as you practice in preparation for it. David’s classes are therefore focused on intensive and structured practice to maximize performance. To maximize performance in the writing and speaking modules of IELTS, students are encouraged to take ownership of the IELTS rubric which David breaks down into meaningful and targeted practice. For the reading and listening modules David provides his students with practice opportunities and tips to improve their reading and listening skills in class by breaking these skills down from the angle of the different question types so candidates can reflect on and clearly target specific areas for improvement. In this way after completing the preparatory course, candidates are prepared to perform as they have practiced in class.

On the 4 Skills IELTS Course you will

• Learn how the Writing and Speaking modules of the IELTS test are assessed and scored
• Apply the assessment requirements of the writing and speaking modules through guided practice in class so you have a comprehensive and clear understanding of how you can successfully approach all the types of questions you will face in the IELTS Writing and Speaking modules of the test
• Learn step-by-step strategies on how to approach all question types in the Listening & Reading modules of the IELTS test
• Apply step-by-step strategies in mini-tests across the Listening & Reading modules through guided practice in class so you have a comprehensive and clear understanding of how you can successfully approach all the types of questions you will face in the IELTS Listening and Reading modules of the test
• Receive regular and structured feedback from our experienced teacher on your performance to identify areas for continual improvement
• Receive tips on how to use your time effectively in preparation for and during the actual IELTS test
• Developed the skills necessary to maximize your score by applying clear strategies across all question types in the modules of the IELTS test & manage your time effectively when sitting the actual test

On the IELTS Writing Module you will learn to

• understand how the Writing test is assessed and scored
• have a clear strategy for approaching different question types in Task 1 Academic & General Paper (Report/Letter)
• recognize Essay question types
• comprehend and paraphrase statements for Essay
• organize and produce coherent and cohesive paragraphs with clear topic sentences and linking words (logical and grammatical) for task 1 and 2
• use a variety of appropriate vocabulary for task 1 and 2
• use a variety of collocations and lexical sets appropriately for task 1 and 2
• avoid common grammatical errors in writing in tasks 1 and 2
• demonstrate a good control of complex sentence structures in tasks 1 and 2

 On the IELTS Reading Module you will learn to

• recognize question types: true, false, not given, yes, no, not given, matching, locating information, note/table/summary completion (with & without table), multiple choice, label a diagram, flow charts, direct questions
• have a clear strategy to approach each question type
• comprehend questions or statements
• comprehend academic reading passages
• skim to get the main idea
• scan to locate specific information
• predict meaning
• identify the writer’s point of view
• achieve required reading speed within time limit

On the IELTS Speaking Module you will learn to

• understand how the speaking test is assessed and scored
• extend answers on familiar topics in part 1
• plan and execute answer in part 2 by using detailed description within the prescribed time limit
• enter into extended discussions on questions in part 3
• engage in conversational topics fluently and coherently
• use a variety of appropriate vocabulary including collocations and idiomatic language
• use a range of complex language structures appropriately and accurately
• use a range of standard pronunciation features such as intonation, stress and rhythm appropriately and accurately
• generate and organize ideas within required time constraints

On the IELTS Listening Module you will learn to

• use pre-listening skills to maximize time for listening
• understand section types 1-4
• recognize question types: note/table completion, multiple choice, matching, label a diagram, flow charts, direct questions
• have a clear strategy to approach each section and question type
• anticipate and predict possible answers through active reading
• listen for main ideas
• listen for specific details
• take brief notes while listening
• check answers for spelling and grammatical accuracy