How to Pass IELTS on Computer

Let me show you how on computer works. I've got full demonstration of each section and I've just taken the exam myself so know which features don't work in the practice test you can take at home but do work at the test center and the other way around. It's here and let's get straight into it. You might have seen the old computer-based IELTS interface, the one with the gray background. that's no longer in use. Now you'll be taking your test on the Inspera platform which has white background. You have 40 questions listed at the bottom of your screen and you can go to any question at any time. Just click on the number and it will take you there. But remember questions don't change automatically in the listening section. For example, once the first dialogue finishes and you get to question number 10, this screen won't automatically switch to the next set of questions. You need to go there yourself. Keeping track of time is easy. There is timer at the top of your screen showing how much time you have left. When you have either five minutes or two minutes left, forgot exactly which, the timer section will turn red, so you know it's time to wrap things up. If you come across question you are unsure about, you can mark it to review with red flag. This function doesn't work in the demo, but here is an imitation of how you'll be able to do it. Click on the question and you'll see clear outline of flag next to it. Click on it and the flag will turn red. And you also see small red flag next to the question number at the bottom of your screen. Once you've reviewed the question, you don't have to remove the flag. It saves time. You can also highlight keywords, which is really useful in the reading section. This feature isn't available in the demo test either, but it will be in your real test. It works just like on the old platform. So, let me show you. Select the text you want to highlight, right click, and choose highlight. There is also an option to add notes and they will appear on the right hand side of the screen, but honestly don't think you have time for that and I've never used it myself. If you're wondering about taking notes on paper, you'll be given clean sheet of paper for your listening and reading sections and then new clean sheet for your writing section. So do bring your own pencil or pen. Now, let's go through each section starting with IELTS listening. I'm going to show you different types of tasks and how to answer and how to select your answers or deselect them so you don't have to waste your time during the exam figuring it out. For filling the blank questions, you type your answer as you're listening to the recording. And once this part finishes, don't wait for instructions. Actually, instructions will suggest to review your answers and only then go to part two. But personally wouldn't spend time reviewing my answers and as soon as one part finishes, jump straight to the next one and start reading the new questions. You have 2 minutes at the end to review your answers. In matching information exercise, you drag each option to the correct place. And if you want to change it, just place the new option on top or you can place it back as you wish. Sometimes when you have maps, you may also have to drag options into the correct place. In my test though, had map and little table like this where had to just click on the correct option for each answer. It's less visual, so be extra careful. It's just so easy to click on the wrong option. Here is chart completion task with list of options. Just drag them to where they should be. For multiplechoice questions, click on your choice. And if you change your mind, just click again to deselect it or click on another option. What about IELTS reading? In the reading section, you'll see both the passage and the questions on the same screen. And you can scroll the text up and down. quite like that we don't need to turn pages and the monitor will be big enough to see everything 19 or 21 in true false not given questions. Just click your choice. For filling the blank questions you have to type your answer. And on the practice platform, you can copy and paste word, but you won't be able to do that in the real exam. Also, Ctrl for search doesn't work and never has. You have to rely on your eyes for searching and scanning. For matching headings, read the first section and drag the correct heading and repeat. But if you're struggling to decide right away, or maybe you're hesitating between different options, you may want to solve this task on paper, match everything, and then select your final answers. For multiplechoice, simply select the option you think is correct. If you're doing the general training test, you have lots of tables with options like this. But also had similar tables in my listening test in the map exercise for example. So let's say unit is available immediately. You'd click that option. You can also select each option more than once if the instructions say so in the real exam. However, if you click again, your choice will be removed. But this doesn't happen in the demo for whatever reason. You can also select another answer in matching features. You may see similar tables. And remember that in IELTS reading, there is no extra time. 60 minutes is all you've got. Now, on to the writing section. You can switch between task one and task two any time. What usually do is read both tasks, then write my task one answer, then task two, and then proofread everything. As you're typing your answer, the words are counted automatically. As you can see, articles and prepositions are counted too. For general training writing, the letter format will look like this. No surprises here. would say the key question in IELTS writing is how fast can you type? Can you type faster than write with pencil? If yes, computer can give you an advantage. Plus, you can fix any mistakes easily. your handwriting won't be problem and you won't run out of paper, which was always problem for me in task two. But of course, typing often means more typos and you need extra time to correct them. If you're wondering what kind of equipment you'll be using, you have large monitor, probably 19 or 21 in, standard keyboard, and mouse, not laptop. There are some extra advantages of IoT's own computer. First of all, faster results. 3 5 days versus 13. Fewer people in the room, so less noise and faster registration and built-in timer so you always know how much time you have left, not just clock on the wall. And you'll be given earphones which helps in listening. few years ago, took IELTS on paper in London and they used loudspeakers in this massive hole. So this won't happen to you. I'll link to the practice tests used. They are from iats.org website. And when you go there for the academic test, you'll find sample tasks and full practice test at the bottom. But for general training, there are only sample tasks and it actually links to academic reading test and that's the only one you can take for full reading practice. I'm not sure why, but hope this video was helpful and all the best with your preparation and your exam. Bye.