Job Discussion Forums

[Sashadroogie]

I have not had too many aged 16 or 17. But even so, the initial questions in part 1 do have an option for talking about studies rather than jobs.

In any case, struggles, usually indicated by pauses or hesitations, are differentiated between those that are due to accessing vocabulary, and those that are content related. I have not had too many candidates, any I can recall actually, struggle to come up with some sort of response to the questions posed because of content. Just language.

[hdeth]

I could see my students struggling on content. Even in an AP writing class they only want to learn things that are tested in the AP test, not about writing in general, so they end up learning very little outside of the various tests they have to take.

After teaching here for a bit, I had a student from an English speaking country in a class and their writing was terrible too. So maybe my standards are too high.

There is still a concept of a well-rounded student at most universities...though I think requiring classes on animal science and programming would be more prudent than poetry or math.

[Sashadroogie]

AP writing class? I'm struggling with the content here too. Style guide? Placement test?

The point is that IELTS doesn't really challenge adults in terms of content. By design. Its content relates to human universals as much as is possible. Topics like family, food, sport, the future, the natural world - these are not going to present too much of a challenge to most people regardless of their language and cultural background. Not having the basic vocabulary of language structures to present an opinion however can be a challenge for lower band test takers.

[bograt]

[buravirgil]

[Sashadroogie]

[bograt]

[Sashadroogie]

Which is more of an indication of lack of interest than language ability, surely? And if pressed to say something, anything, I doubt too many would fail to demonstrate their language and mental abilities by expressing some sort of opinion, no matter how banal.

[Sashadroogie]

Anyway, springing a question on the street is hardly the same context as what we are discussing here. Doesn't really compare.

[bograt]

"Anyway, springing a question on the street is hardly the same context as what we are discussing here. Doesn't really compare."

Yeah, I thought you'd say that but if you look at this part of my point

"A lot of candidates wouldn't have a clue how to answer questions like that unless they were primed on it in their IELTs class. And sometimes they get caught out."

Most of the time they've prepared for the exam well enough to be able to answer the questions in part three but occasionally they get thrown a curved ball and struggle. If they were a mature adult they could probably come up with an opinion on the spot but being less mature, they often can't because they've never thought about the topic before.

[buravirgil]

[Sashadroogie]

Yes, Bograt, if I were to just bump into you in a casual situation, say a bar, and ask you for your opinion the Greek eurozone crisis and comment on the much feared 'Grexit', you might just say that you couldn't care less, and leave it at that, whilst shuffling away.

But in a formal test like IELTS, where you have been asked in Part 2 to describe a time when you bought something expensive. you'd probably be more willing, and ready for questions like 'what are the factors that cause economic problems in society?' If you, as an adult who lives in the world, couldn't express anything coherent on that topic, then it is because you do not have the language skills required.

[bograt]

[Sashadroogie]

Ok, you might be talking about young students, but IELTS isn't designed for them. It is designed for adults, who perforce have some experience of the world, by virtue of living in the world. Basic human experience that is universal. IELTS doesn't depend on specific knowledge or even having a good general knowledge. It doesn't test this. It simply tests language abilities. If you have 16 plus candidates in an official IELTS test, then they are considered adults.

If you are talking about students who are too young to take IELTS, that is a separate issue, but not one that gives any sort of support to the proposition that IELTS tests general knowledge, or that getting a higher grade depends on having informed opinions on complex issues. That's just not the case.

[buravirgil]