Students often ask me to explain why their scores have dropped. For example, one student got a band 7 in speaking last month, but his speaking score dropped to 6 this month. How is that possible?
You might think that the examiner has been too strict or has done something wrong, but this is probably not the case. The best explanation for fluctuating IELTS scores is performance on the day.
Some days you perform well: the topics in the exam seem to suit you, your brain seems to find good answers and remember good words or phrases, and you finish all parts of the test in the time allowed. Other days nothing seems to go right; you simply have a bad day.
Don't worry if your score fluctuates; this is completely normal. One day everything will go perfectly, and you'll get the scores you need!
Note: Your scores will also fluctuate if you keep changing the 'method' that you use.
"Your scores will also fluctuate if you keep changing the 'method' that you use." This is one hundred percent true. For example, I started practising ielts trainer and I did test 1 from this book.unfortunately, my score declined due to bizarre method.In this book specially in listening test They ask you to pause the recording for 10 secs/20 secs/30 secs which is seems too weird and I did not practised ir before. In fact, I really believe that we should keep our system unchanged all the time and we should follow a unique method. For instance, Simon Ielts catalogues and formulas.
Posted by: Raju | July 30, 2018 at 02:59
Sir,i m also facing the same problem & disappointed. That time seems to me that, i know nothing.
Posted by: habib | July 30, 2018 at 04:39
@ Raju & habib
In my experience:
1) Trying to learn vocabulary from a "vocabulary book" just does not work for me. I do much better finding a novel, or newspaper article, or an audio-book, or the news which has relevant vocabulary. Or as Simon suggests, TED-talks.
2) I find the "Band 9" model answers on some sites somewhat odd.
For example from one site:
a) "Some individuals opine that..." as an opening for a Task 2 essay. I can only find one example of this phrase on Google Books, written by what seems to be a non-native speaker.
b) "From my perspective, this phenomenon brings both and beneficial and adverse outcomes on the locals and the environmental quality." Apart from the obvious error, "from my perspective" would seem to be more appropriate for some fencing dispute with a neighbour: it comes across as someone trying to paraphrase "in my opinion". Also "brings ... outcomes on someone" does not seem to be a normal phrase. It is fearfully difficult for the average student to see the difference: one can only google each phrase. In contrast, most of the phrases Simon uses can be readily found and checked on ngrams and google.
3) I have seen some methods and approaches used at language schools for IELTS preparation which would not work for me. It has to be interesting and content-based. Discussing newspaper articles and explaining your views to other students seems as good a way as any toward improving your speaking. If you cannot stand up in class for a couple of minutes, put your point across, and explain your views clearly, you might struggle under the pressure of the speaking test. So get used to it first.
4) It has taken me some time to appreciate it, but Simon's somewhat prescriptive 13-sentence approach, should stop exam-room panic and provide a sound foundation for a solid and workmanlike answer, and hopefully lead to fewer grammar mistakes: a good framework is essential for coherence and cohesion. Simon's idea of writing within your limits, within the limits of your knowledge of English, using phrases you have heard and are sure about (rather than going for fancy phrases) is more likely to keep the error rate down and bring success.
Posted by: gioletta | July 30, 2018 at 05:05
@ Raju & habib
(Continued)
This site is, I believe, the only site where the comments on some writing submissions give an indication of how an examiner might react to an essay or report, often providing some evidence to show why the wording used is unusual, and what a more natural wording would be. Even the commentaries on other people's submissions may be useful and instructive, insofar as they demonstrate what is required to make a good impression on an examiner.
Posted by: gioletta | July 30, 2018 at 05:47
Your thoughts are absolutely invaluable regarding this site and I have learned something is very useful from your comments.
@Gioletta
Posted by: Raju | July 30, 2018 at 17:42
Please someone suggest me i read english properly but i dont understand. I mean easy language i can easily understand some articles or ielts readings seems me difficult to understand.
Its humbel reqest from me suggest me any advice
Posted by: WMK | July 30, 2018 at 19:14
@WMK
Keep going. It is a long process. Vocabulary and phrases take time to sink in. Most people lose concentration after forty minutes so take a break and do some listening instead.
Posted by: gioletta | July 31, 2018 at 00:39
#gioletta# Thankyou
Posted by: WMK | July 31, 2018 at 01:40
This is the same case with me .In last to last time I got 7 in speaking but this time I got 6.
By the way after reading your suggestions I got boosted up that, although I have got 6 but it is not my limit. I have potential and I can perform very well.Thanks Simon!
Posted by: Ravinder pal Singh | July 31, 2018 at 09:23
If appropriate learning and assessment methods are adopted, language learners can improve their language skills or "competency". Having a certain level of language competency does not necessarily lead to a performance of the same level. A long list of factors contribute to how good an individual can use structures in another languages. The context of communication, for instance, is significantly important. You might not have enough vocabulary to express your ideas about Astronomy, although you might be pretty fluent when you talk about environment. Another reason for poor language communication would be the emotional context of the conversation. Let's say you want to talk to your boss about a sensitive topic which is stress-provoking, in such cases, again, because of chemical reactions in your body, you might not be able to perform flawlessly. Finally, the food that you eat or even the amount of sleep that you have can influence your performance drastically. In summary, it is completely natural that, as a nonnative language user, your performance level fluctuates day by day. Having said that, by learning a range of structures that can be used in lieu of other ones, you are more likely to maintain an acceptable level of performance in your communication (I wanted to be cautious about the word choice here since all language skills might be affected by these factors).
Posted by: K.T. | September 20, 2018 at 15:18