IELTS & University Blog
Your Freshman Year: The To-Do List Before Take-Off
Woohooo!!!! You’re headed to Massachusetts or Nottingham (or what have you) for what could be the greatest few years of your life! Yes, we know: The few months before your university adventure begins are filled with hope and possibilities. While it’s true that opportunities and success fall into some lucky individuals’ laps, the majority of good things result from proper planning.
IELTS Study Requirements by Country
So you want to study overseas? Chances are you will be required to submit an IELTS of TOEFL score to the universities of your choice to prove your abilities to speak, write, read and listen in English. The IELTS, which stands for International English Testing System is a globally renowned English proficiency test. However, the real question on your mind must be, what score do I need to get into my dream school? The annoying but accurate answer is that it depends on the course, country and university.
IELTS and TOEFL – Connectors
Firstly, we must ask, what is a connector? Well, a connector is a word or a phrase we use to link two or more ideas together. Secondly, we have to question, why are they useful to learn for TOEFL and IELTS? In fact, connectors are incredibly useful to illustrate your fluency of the English language, to strengthen your argument, to add structure to your writing and speaking and finally to show off your amazing vocabulary. Therefore, I thought I would share with you some easy connectors and explain how you can incorporate them into your speaking and writing task to boost your IELTS or TOEFL score.
The Freshman 15
The freshman 10, freshman 15, or in my friend’s case, freshman 40. Those extra pounds are the bane of new university students’ existence. Why, oh why is it that by the end of their first year in university, students have typically expanded a few dress sizes? Actually, the answer’s pretty obvious.
Academic IELTS – Graph Vocabulary
Those of you lucky Academic IELTS test takers are tasked to write a graph report in the writing section. This is the first section of your IELTS writing, and you are allocated 20 minutes to complete the graph report and write at least 250 words. What happens is you are presented with one or two different graphs. You then need to analyze the graph(s) and construct a graph report to explain what you see. The graph report is certainly a tricky task for many IELTS students as the only way to master this section is to understand the types of graphs you could be presented with and to learn the vocabulary needed to describe the graphs. What I have done is to compile a useful list of graph vocabulary to help you on your way to IELTS writing success.
General IELTS – Letter Vocabulary
Hello all general IELTS test takers! Unlike your academic IELTS test takers, you are tasked to write a letter as your first assignment of the writing section. You are given instructions to construct a letter for a particular purpose to a stated recipient.
More Idioms for TOEFL and IELTS
As mentioned in previous ICON+ blogs, using idiomatic expressions in your speaking and writing for the TOEFL and IELTS is a fantastic way to achieve top marks. Incorporating idioms into your sentences helps show the examiners your fluency in English. Furthermore, it adds emotion and creativity to your work. If you are getting bored with your revision for TOEFL and IELTS, spice up your language by using some of the idiomatic phrases below in your speaking and writing.
Are US College Campuses Safe?
Flip on the television and images of violence in America abound. From news clips on the most recent hunt for a new serial murderer to television series such as CSI: Miami, it sometimes seems that crime is woven into the very fabric of life in the US. From Singapore, where a single rape is headline-worthy news, US crime rates seem big, scary and ugly.
What NOT to Write About in Your College Admissions Essay
Don’t drink and drive! Stripes and polka dots don’t belong together in the same outfit. Oh, and most importantly – never drink orange juice after brushing your teeth (it takes really REALLY gross)!
Sometimes, it’s knowing what NOT to do that puts you on the right path. Here are some topics you should avoid on the personal essay you’re about to submit to Stanford, Oberlin, or U Mich – whatever your dream school may be.
Get the Most Out of Your TOEFL or IELTS Course
Every year, we at ICON+ work with hundreds of students preparing for the TOEFL and IELTS exams.
The scores they achieve impact which colleges, universities, and graduate programs they attain admission to; career opportunities; and even whether or not they can migrate to their countries of choice. A great deal of impact for tests that each last less than four hours, huh?
Although our students pay for the same course to prepare them for these crucial exams, we’ve noticed that some students walk out with disproportionately higher improvement on scores. We’ve scratched our heads and come out with the following tips to help you get the most out of your TOEFL or IELTS preparation course:
Gearing Up for Regular Decision Applications
Early Decision and Early Action deadlines have for the most part come and gone!
IELTS – Tips for Perfect Pronunciation
Many students worry about their pronunciation, which can significantly affect their overall confidence on the speaking section of the IELTS. The truth is the IELTS exam is not going to mark you down for having an accent. What IELTS wants to see is that you can communicate your points effectively to the interviewer. I’ve compiled a list of tips to help improve your English pronunciation.
Worthwhile Revision Books for TOEFL and IELTS
Getting started on your revision for your IELTS or TOEFL is always the biggest step. Purchasing a great revision guide can be the easy kick start you need to get going with your preparation. These revision tools provide useful techniques and tactics to effectively answer different question types as well as general exam advice.
University Selection: What NOT To Do!
Why do you want to go to college, anyways?
No, really. Answer the question!
It’s tougher than you’d think to come up with a reply, right?
IELTS – Requirements for Schools and Immigration
The IELTS is a wonderful multipurpose exam. This English proficiency test is not only used for applying to academic institutes but also for immigration purposes and work visas.
So the question is what mark do I need to attain on the IELTS to be successfully admitted to the school of my choice or to migrate to the country of my choice? Well, to be honest, the answer is not as simple or straightforward as many hope, as each country and academic program has different criteria to fulfill.
If I Could Redo College...
A university admissions counselor at ICON+, I am one of those who loved higher education so much that I chose to work in the field and help younger students navigate their educational and vocational pathways.
It has been nearly a decade since I flew from Tokyo to Chicago to begin my undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; it’s a good time to reflect on how my university experience has influenced my career progression and adult life. In doing so, I hope to inspire you to think of how you can take greatest advantage of your university experience.
Popularity of the IELTS
Two weeks ago, we posted a blog about the increasing popularity of the TOEFL. To be fair, the numbers of IELTS test takers have also been rising.
The SAT I and College Readiness
Many students, parents, researchers, and even educational institutions have questioned the validity of the SAT as a reliable indicator of college readiness. Is the SAT biased toward a certain cultural population? What about students who simply do not test well on standardized exams or do poorly under time pressure? We at ICON+ even wrote a blog, “Do SAT Scores Predict Success in College?” a couple of months ago.
Program of the Month: IE University
School Type:
Private University, Rural
Singlish and the IELTS/TOEFL Exams
Admit it. Singlish is COOL!
“La”, “Ma”, “Ah”, “Arama-!” Although foreigners from North America, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand might not understand what we’re saying when they first arrive at our shores, they quickly find themselves falling in love with this dialect that incorporates words from so many different cultures. Here, on our tropical paradise, we convey ideas and messages in the most efficient way possible. “Sure, I can certainly do that for you, sir!” becomes a succinct, “Caaan!” Come on - what’s not to love about Singlish?