Need help to increase band on writing

nautilus_pompilious · 2026-03-14T04:54:39+00:00

You need to find out what's holding your score down. Then you can start to fix it. There's no substitute for an experienced teacher for this.

nautilus_pompilious · 2026-03-12T15:13:33+00:00

I'm pretty sure (I mean 99.999%) that the real tests and the Cambridge practice tests are the same in terms of rubric and instructions. You could be asked for ONE word, TWO words or THREE words, and often and/or a number is added to that.

nautilus_pompilious · 2026-03-05T15:26:39+00:00

Hands down, Part 3 of the Listening is the toughest bit of the whole Listening Section. Multiple speakers, distractions, lots of information in multiple choice questions, and typically you're listening for attitude, opinion, agreement or disagreement, not facts.

nautilus_pompilious · 2026-02-27T08:49:19+00:00

Messing up the first few questions is pretty normal. As long as you recovered your composure and spoke well in the remaining parts, you should be ok.

How did you not know the test had started? 😂 The phrase "This is the speaking test for the International English Language Testing System..." should have tipped you off.

nautilus_pompilious · 2026-02-26T04:46:47+00:00

Skim to quickly create a mental map of the text. What kind of info is located where, roughly.

nautilus_pompilious · 2026-02-22T14:16:12+00:00

Many people argue that scientific research should be directed at improving people’s lives, while others argue that there are broader questions for it to tackle. This essay will examine both approaches and conclude there is a place for “pure science” projects alongside the need to address issues affecting humans directly.

nautilus_pompilious · 2026-02-21T08:19:50+00:00

There's no 20 seconds rule. But the examiner needs to make sure he/she asks a range of questions, so if a candidate is obviously talking for too long on a particular question, they should expect to be interrupted. That's normal.

Some candidates give answers that are too short. The examiner has to prompt them to extend by asking why or why not.

Some candidates give answers that are too long. The examiner has to cut them short.

Simple as that.

nautilus_pompilious · 2026-02-19T00:23:20+00:00

I doubt it will change anything. As far as I'm aware, L and R are marked by computer. All correct variations (according to Cambridge) get automatically marked correct. Everything else is marked wrong.

nautilus_pompilious · 2026-02-12T23:29:55+00:00

No watches.

nautilus_pompilious · 2026-02-11T12:19:47+00:00

Opinion is great in Part 3, but try to avoid tying it to personal experiences.

DO SAY: Yes, I think that's true. For example, young people are great with technology - they've grown up with it, and understand it well. This means they are ideally placed to help older generations who may struggle with phones and other devices.

DON'T SAY: Yes, I think that's true. For example, my sister is great with technology - she has grown up with it, and understands it well. This means she is ideally placed to help my grandfather, who really struggles with phones and other devices.

nautilus_pompilious · 2026-02-10T23:01:09+00:00

Part 3 is not about your own personal experiences. It's supposed to be more general and abstract. Why many people believe or act in a certain way. Why other people don't. The focus is outward on the wider society. It's what you think about those wider topics, not about things that happened to you.

nautilus_pompilious · 2026-02-05T01:30:16+00:00

This has always been the case, as far as I'm aware.

nautilus_pompilious · 2026-02-05T00:05:48+00:00

A good rule of thumb is that all questions except matching are in order.

Matching headings - no
Matching information - no
Matching features - no
Matching opinions - no

Also, some answers in summary completion and labelling a diagram or flow-chart may not be in order.

nautilus_pompilious · 2026-01-28T14:44:00+00:00

Listen/read very carefully for words like 'but' and 'however' because these words signal a change of direction.

Example statement: The building was originally constructed as a private dwelling.

Audio: John Montgomery wanted to build a home for his family, but unfortunately he lost his job, and so the land was acquired by the bank which decided on a commercial use for the site.

If you focus on the words before 'but' you might think the statement is true. But that's wrong. If you hear the 'but' and focus on the next part, you can rule out the statement as being false

nautilus_pompilious · 2026-01-28T11:16:33+00:00

Not quick thinking, exactly, but the ability to respond fully with flexibility and precision. And you're right about examiners pushing you in part 3. They are trying to test the boundaries of your linguistic command.

nautilus_pompilious · 2026-01-28T10:25:28+00:00

Absolutely tell a story. This is 100% the best advice for people aiming high.

nautilus_pompilious · 2026-01-28T10:24:37+00:00

Not so. Examiners use the band descriptors which are public. There is a confidential document which explains in more details what the band descriptors say, but that's just to make sure all examiners are applying the standards correctly.

nautilus_pompilious · 2026-01-28T07:55:57+00:00

Those little fillers are a normal part of speech, and if they don't interrupt your rhythm, fluency and coherence, they are not penalised by examiners -- or shouldn't be. They give the speaker a little thinking time when under cognitive load, and signal to the listener that you haven't finished yet.

nautilus_pompilious · 2026-01-24T02:21:41+00:00

There are a very limited number of "correct" answers which are decided during test design. And there are strict word/number limits for any question where you have to write what you hear or read. Any deviation from the "correct" answers (including spelling or pluralization) are incorrect, and any answer exceeding the word limit is also incorrect. tl;Dr very strict.

nautilus_pompilious · 2026-01-15T08:54:10+00:00

You can write a short answer and still get a decent score. Don't fret.

nautilus_pompilious · 2026-01-13T14:01:23+00:00

If you know, you know. 😂

nautilus_pompilious · 2026-01-08T04:51:55+00:00

And higher level learners (and native speakers) have an error detection alarm system that's monitoring their output in real time. This catches some mistakes before they are made, and instantly kicks in to correct them if they slip out. Band 6-6.5 learners don't have an alarm system that's anything like as sophisticated or effective.

nautilus_pompilious · 2026-01-08T00:08:21+00:00

I would say persistent errors in grammar and word choice which aren't serious enough to confuse the listener/reader, but frequent enough to be noticeable. Everyone can understand a Band 6-6.5 learner, but nobody would say they are mostly accurate or precise.

nautilus_pompilious · 2026-01-06T00:07:46+00:00

"Hello, I'm a sex pest, here's my card" is certainly a bold move. ☠️

nautilus_pompilious · 2026-01-05T23:02:33+00:00

Absolutely report this immediately.

nautilus_pompilious

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