I'm sure some of you will figure it out sooner.
So if you happened to be curious about my teaching schedule, I hope this entry serves as assurance that I'm fine even if we haven't been conversed in a long while :)
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Wher'm I at?
A few of you are wondering where I'm based these days. The hint lies in this landmark's photo.
I'm sure some of you will figure it out sooner.
I'm sure some of you will figure it out sooner.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
my experience with IELTS
I apologize for being on hiatus for over two months.
I'm just trying to belt out my frustration on the latest exam I took.
I'm just trying to belt out my frustration on the latest exam I took.
It's now thirteen days after I've taken the exam.
Naturally, the first thing I did as soon as I woke up was to check the results of my exam, online.
Total band score was 0.5 lower than what I aimed for.
My overall band score was mainly pulled down because of writing. I admit I'm not a very good writer but I was quite shocked with the grade I received. While preparing for the exam, I had been warned by my textbook that this section's band score would go down by 0.5 if we didn't write at least 150 words for task 1, which was to describe a diagram, graph or map in twenty minutes. I got a simple graph for the exam. Differences in two years, among six points along the X-axis had to be described- easy peasy. I strongly believe I pointed out all the good points and other noteworthy details, but my problem was getting enough words to avoid the deductions. Since the exam was hand-written, I had consumed time erasing, as well as editing and rewriting several lines. In addition, you wouldn't know if you had satisfied the limit because this isn't a computer-based exam.
I'm friggin' disappointed with this section. I mean, who writes essays by hand these days? I've never had to hold a pen or pencil in four years after graduation, except when I had to take down notes during my TOEFL in January and other instances which involved filling out forms. People who take this kind of exam go to graduate school, MBA and work- where they'll have to do all their research papers and what-nots on Microsoft Word or other similar programs. Therefore, it's preposterous to let test takers handwrite a certain amount of words under time pressure, without having a word counter.
Naturally, the first thing I did as soon as I woke up was to check the results of my exam, online.
Total band score was 0.5 lower than what I aimed for.
My overall band score was mainly pulled down because of writing. I admit I'm not a very good writer but I was quite shocked with the grade I received. While preparing for the exam, I had been warned by my textbook that this section's band score would go down by 0.5 if we didn't write at least 150 words for task 1, which was to describe a diagram, graph or map in twenty minutes. I got a simple graph for the exam. Differences in two years, among six points along the X-axis had to be described- easy peasy. I strongly believe I pointed out all the good points and other noteworthy details, but my problem was getting enough words to avoid the deductions. Since the exam was hand-written, I had consumed time erasing, as well as editing and rewriting several lines. In addition, you wouldn't know if you had satisfied the limit because this isn't a computer-based exam.
I'm friggin' disappointed with this section. I mean, who writes essays by hand these days? I've never had to hold a pen or pencil in four years after graduation, except when I had to take down notes during my TOEFL in January and other instances which involved filling out forms. People who take this kind of exam go to graduate school, MBA and work- where they'll have to do all their research papers and what-nots on Microsoft Word or other similar programs. Therefore, it's preposterous to let test takers handwrite a certain amount of words under time pressure, without having a word counter.
I heard a rumor that IELTS will be conducted via computer in the future. If I had a reason to retake the exam, I'd wait for that. Fortunately, my current score's enough to study anywhere but not to work. EL-OH-EL! Guess I won't be seeing any hobbits and 'roos soon :(
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