ielts pte academic
TRANSCRIPT
Fiona Aish and Jo Tomlinson Target English
Preparing students for IELTS and PTE Academic: A comparison
Overview of Tests IELTS Academic PTE Academic
3 hours (approx) 3 hours (approx)
4 parts: listening, reading speaking, writing
3 parts: speaking and writing, reading listening
Two sessions One session
Paper-based Computer-based
Examiner graded Computer graded
Results in 2 weeks Results in 5 days
Paper certification Online certification
Not randomised Randomised
Test Structure
1. Listening 30 minutes + 10 minutes, 4 recordings
40 questions
2. Reading 60 minutes, 3 texts
40 questions
3. Writing 60 minutes
2 tasks
4. Speaking 11-14 minutes
3 parts
IELTS PTE Academic
1. Speaking and Writing 77-93 minutes, multiple recordings
approx 40 questions
2. Reading 32-41 minutes, 1 text per question
approx 18 questions
3. Listening 45-57 minutes, 1 listening per question
approx 20 questions
Test Similarities and Differences • All the papers are very different.
• Academic English functions: - paraphrasing, summarising, note-taking, writing, presenting information, reading complex texts, skimming and scanning
• Question type similarities:
- essay writing task 2 writing/ write essay
- processing and describing visual information
writing task 1/ describe image
- listening and reading for main ideas/ detail
multiple choice,
sentence or summary completion/ fill in the blanks T F NG/ multiple choice, multiple answers
Test Similarities and Differences • Question type differences:
- reorder paragraphs, summaries, dictation, reading aloud etc are PTE specific - table/form completions, labelling a diagram, matching headings etc are IELTS specific
• Speaking: IELTS is based on an interactive format, whereas PTE Academic involves short spoken responses
• Time and test management: IELTS has set times for each paper, and candidates can move forwards/backwards. PTE has section timing and candidates can only move forwards.
Number of birds, butterflies and insects in UK city gardens
Source: Aish and Tomlinson (2012) Collins Grammar for IELTS HarperCollins: London, p.32
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
Birds
Butterflies
Insects
Preparation Overlaps
Visual material can be used for both tests, exploiting different skills.
Some question types can be adapted for both exams. Academic lectures can be used for IELTS practice and PTE
practice.
There is a marking criteria overlap which needs to be addressed at a systems level, e.g. pronunciation, spelling and grammar
Teacher Preparation Challenges
Main preparation challenges:
1. Teacher test knowledge
2. Teacher language knowledge
3. Materials available
Preparation - PTE When this bank was founded in 1695, Scots coinage was in short supply and of uncertain value, compared with English, Dutch, Flemish or French coin.
To face growth of trade it was deemed necessary to remedy this lack of an adequate currency.
The first Scottish bank to do this was the Bank of Scotland.
In most countries it is only the government, through their central banks, who are permitted to issue currency.
But in Scotland three banks are still allowed to issue banknotes.
What is this?
What is it?
What is this?
What is it?
What is but?
Source: http://www.pearsonpte.com/TestMe/Preparing/Documents/10_Re-order_paragraphs_PTEA_Strategies.pdf
Academic Connections 3 P.76 ex 1 & 2, Williams and Hill (2010) Pearson Longman: New York
Preparation – PTE Adapt EAP materials
Read the text aloud
Choose the summary
Focus on the features
e.g. Highlight correct summary
Course Considerations
o Timetable: number of hours per week & homework
o Teacher preparation time: mix of published and own materials
o Technology: for PTE Academic it may be important to offer students blended
learning solutions
o Test practice: IELTS practice material is readily available. PTE Academic has limited
items at the moment
o Teacher and student test knowledge: time needed to develop
o Language Ability: difficulty varies within items
o Academic Awareness: students’ understanding of university skills & relationship to
both tests
o Student motivation: self motivation or extrinsic motivation
Thank you!
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