| How to Prepare for IELTS Posted: 01 Aug 2019 05:00 PM PDT IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System, and the test includes sections on reading, writing, speaking, and comprehending spoken English. Test takers receive a score that ranges from 1 to 9. A score of 1 is the lowest and 9 is the highest possible score. Whether you are taking the IELTS to study at a university in an English speaking country or taking it to demonstrate English language proficiency for a job, you need a score of 7 or higher to pass. Start preparing for the IELTS early and use targeted strategies to increase your chances of success! [Edit]Studying for the IELTS - Begin studying 6 to 8 weeks before your test date. When you feel that your English skills have progressed enough that you want to take the IELTS, book your exam. But make sure to allow yourself at least 6 weeks to study for the test. This will help to ensure that you have enough time to prepare yourself for the test and you won't have to retake it.[1]
- Avoid cramming for the exam or trying to take the exam too soon if you don't feel ready.
- Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses to decide what to focus on. The IELTS exam includes reading, writing, speaking, and listening sections. Consider what your strengths and weaknesses are to help you decide what you should focus on.[2]
- For example, if you excel at reading and writing English, but have more difficulty engaging in conversations, then you might want to devote more time to studying for the listening and speaking sections of the exam.
- If you feel that you are equally skilled in all of the test's areas, then you can divide your study time evenly.
- Get an IELTS book or study guide to direct your studies. There are many free study guides and materials available online, or you can check a study book out of your local library, or purchase a study guide from a bookstore or online. Following along with a study guide will help to ensure that you fully understand the layout of the exam, and increase your chances of success. Some good options include:[3]
- Top Tips for IELTS Academic
- Official IELTS Practice Materials Volume 1 & 2
- How To Prepare for IELTS
- Find an IELTS prep course to get extra help. There are free and paid IELTS courses available. Some of the courses are in-person, while others are online. Find a course that works for you and enroll in it for some additional study time, guidance, and tips.[4]
- You can also watch IELTS test prep live streams on Facebook and Youtube. While these won't provide the same targeted help as a course, you might still find them helpful.
- Taking an English course is also helpful if you don't have access to an IELTS test prep course. Enroll in an English language course at your local university or online if this is an option for you.[5]
[Edit]Focusing on Specific Skills - Practice your English speaking skills as often as possible. The speaking portion of the IELTS only takes about 11 to 14 minutes, but you will be talking with the examiner the whole time. During this portion of the test, the examiner will ask you general questions about yourself and you will need to respond. Then, the examiner will give you a card with a question on a specific topic. You will have 2 minutes to prepare what you want to say and you will need to speak for 1 to 2 minutes. The examiner will follow up by asking a few more specific questions on the topic.[6] Getting regular speaking practice is key to doing well on this part of the IELTS. You can do this by:
- Speaking English with other native English speakers
- Practicing with other people who are learning to speak English
- Joining an English study group
- Using an English speaking app[7]
- Listen to English for the listening portion of the test. The listening section of the IELTS is 30 minutes long and it features 4 recordings of native English speakers having a conversation. The recordings include 2 monologues and 2 conversations set in an everyday social context.[8] Listen to native English speakers talking every day to improve your English listening skills. Some good ways to do this include:[9]
- Listening to English podcasts, music, and radio shows
- Watching Youtube videos, movies, and TV shows in English
- Having conversations with native English speakers
- Read English daily to improve your English reading skills. The reading portion of the IELTS test is 60 minutes and features 40 questions on sections that you will have to read. For the general reading test, the sections will include topics such as the workplace, social settings, and everyday reading, such as newspaper or magazine text. The academic reading test will include material that you might encounter in a university course. Some ways you can prepare for the English reading section include reading English:[10]
- Novels and short stories
- Textbooks
- Magazines
- Newspapers
- Blogs
- Websites
- Social media posts[11]
- Write in English to build your skills for the writing section. The writing portion of the IELTS is 60 minutes long and it only has 2 questions. You will need to write a letter making a specific request and an essay in response to a question. Get as much writing practice as possible in your daily life. Some ways you can get writing practice include writing:[12]
- Emails
- Letters
- Essays
- Notes
- Social media posts
- Text messages
[Edit]Completing Practice Tests and Quizzes - Complete sample test questions for practice. Sample test questions mimic the format of questions on the IELTS using different language and scenarios. Completing sample test questions will help you to become more familiar with the types of questions you will encounter on the test. You can access sample test questions online, in guide books, and in apps for the IELTS. [13]
- Although sample test questions won't be exactly the same as the ones you will see on the real test, they will be similar, so you might find them easier to understand and get more points on the test as a result.
- You can get sample test questions on the official IELTS website: https://www.ielts.org/en-us/about-the-test/sample-test-questions
- Take an official practice test for a simulation. You can get an official IELTS practice test online to complete on your own. This is a great way to see what taking the actual test will be like. Time yourself according to the test's instructions. This will show you what sections you need to spend more or less time on.[14]
- The total time allotted for the IELTS is 2 hours and 40 minutes, so set a timer when you start your practice test to get a realistic experience.
- Download an IELTS test prep app. There are several mobile apps available that you can use to enhance your studies on the go. Download a free app and use it whenever you have a minute, such as while riding the bus, waiting in line, or during a break between classes. Some good options include:[15]
- IELTS Word Power. Increase your vocabulary with over 100 questions from different categories from business to technology and science.
- IELTS Word Ready. This app uses personalized vocabulary training to help you prepare for your IELTS.
- IELTS Prep App. Use this app for free practice tests, exercises, and quizzes.
[Edit]Getting Ready to Take the Test - Locate the test center about 1 week in advance of your test. To ensure that you won't get lost on test day, it is a good idea to seek out the test center about a week or a few days ahead of time. This way, you will know how to get there and you will be less likely to get lost on the day of your test.[16]
- For example, you could drive or walk to the test center about a week before the test. You may even want to identify an alternate route just in case the main route is blocked on your test day.
- Read the IELTS terms and conditions before test day. When you register for the test, you will be provided with information on the exam and test center. Read through this information carefully before the day of your test so that you know what you need to bring, when to arrive, and any other important details.[17]
- For example, the test may specify that you will need to arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of the exam.
- You will need to bring some sort of photo ID, such as a driver's license or student ID. Check the terms and conditions to find out what types of ID are acceptable at your test center.
- Get 7 to 9 hours of sleep the night before the test. Being well-rested will help you to stay focused and calm during the exam, so try to go to bed early the night before your test. You don't need to go to bed hours earlier than usual, but try to turn in about 30 minutes earlier than normal. Aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep so you will be well rested.[18]
- Avoid the urge to stay up late studying the night before. This will not improve your performance on the test. You won't retain information that you try to learn at the last minute and you will have a harder time concentrating if you are tired.
- Eat a good breakfast on the day of the test. Being hungry during the exam will distract you and make it hard to stay focused. Eat something on the morning of your test that will sustain you during the exam. If you're taking the test in the afternoon or evening, then have lunch or a snack before you head out for the test.
- Try having a bowl of cereal with milk and fruit, or eggs and a couple of slices of toast.
- Drink coffee or tea with your breakfast if you like, but don't skip breakfast and only have coffee or tea. This is likely to make you feel jittery.
- Turn off your mobile device and put it away for the test. Before you enter the test area, make sure to turn off your mobile phone and store it out of sight. Taking it out during the exam may not be permitted and you may be accused of cheating if you do so. Err on the side of caution and do not take out your phone during the test.[19]
- Some test centers may require you to check in your mobile device at the front desk or store it in a locker during the test. Make sure to check with the test center for their policies.
- Try to stay calm and take deep breaths if you get nervous. It is normal to get nervous during a test, but don't let anxiety take over. If you notice that you are feeling nervous, close your eyes, and take a few deep breaths in and out. Remind yourself that it's just a test and everything will be okay.[20]
- Repeat this as needed during the test to stay calm.
[Edit]References |
| How to Paint a Staircase Posted: 01 Aug 2019 09:00 AM PDT Staircases are typically high-traffic areas that get a lot of wear and tear due to daily use. However, it's important that they look good because they are something you see every day. To spruce up the look of your staircase, try painting it. With a new coat of paint on your railings, balusters, trim, and stairs, you can make your staircase go from dull to delightful in just a few days. [Edit]Prepping the Surfaces for Paint - Strip the old paint from your staircase surfaces, if necessary. If your old paint is relatively smooth and in good shape, you can just paint over it. However, if the surfaces are peeling or have too many layers of paint built up, you should consider stripping it off. To do this, you can either use a heat gun or a chemical stripping product.[1]
- To use a heat gun, hold the gun away from the paint until it bubbles, keeping the heat gun moving to prevent scorching the wood. Once the paint bubbles, use a putty knife or paint scraper to remove the paint.
- To use a chemical stripper you will need to follow the directions on the packaging. In general, you will apply the product with a paintbrush, wait until the stripper starts to dissolve the paint, and then scrape it off with a putty knife or paint scraper. When using stripper it's important to wear personal protective equipment, to ventilate the area, and to wash the surface down afterwards to clean off excess chemicals.
- Fill small holes and imperfections with wood filler or spackle. Use wood filler or spackle and a putty knife to fill any holes or dings that need to be smoothed out. For small holes, such as nail holes, pick up a pea-sized amount of the filler on your putty knife. Push the filler into the hole and scrape off any extra with the flat end of the putty knife. Let the filler dry for as long as directed on the container, which can vary from an hour to a day depending on the product.
- Most spackles will work to fill holes and imperfections in wood and wall surfaces, such as drywall or lathe and plaster.
- Look along the railing, the balusters, the trim surrounding the stairs, and the steps themselves for spots that need to be touched up.
- If your holes are larger than , you may need to use a more advanced filling technique that includes patching the hole.[2]
- Sand any surfaces that are rough. Look over all of the surfaces to find spots that are rough and need to sanded. Also, feel the surfaces with your hands to find small areas that could use sanding. Sand the surfaces with 200 to 400-grit sandpaper to smooth out areas that you filled and any irregularities in the existing paint. You can either use an electric sander, such as an orbital palm sander, or a simple sanding block.
- Remove any dust that you create with a tack cloth or lightly damp cloth after you are done sanding.
- Sand all painted surfaces very lightly to help the new paint stick. Scuff up surfaces that are totally smooth with sand paper. Get fine-grit sandpaper with a grit rating of around 400. Rubbing this on the surface will scuff it up just a bit, which will allow the new paint to stick but will not create a textured surface on your final coat of paint.[3]
- Simply run the sandpaper quickly over all of the surfaces you are going to paint. There is no need to be very detailed about this process. You just want a surface that is not totally smooth.
- This is especially important for surfaces that have shiny, new paint on them already.
- Clean every surface that will be painted with a degreaser. Wipe down areas you will paint with a rag and a mild surface degreasing cleaner. This will remove any dust that you created while sanding, in addition to removing any grease, dirt, and wax build-up that might remain. After wiping the surfaces with the cleaner, use a clean, dry rag to wipe it off.[4]
- Many people use TSP to clean surfaces before painting them. This product is very good at cleaning surfaces and it will also dull any painted surface it's used on, which helps new paint to stick better.[5]
- For stubborn dirt, use a multi-purpose household cleaner.
- If the stairs are concrete or metal, you may also use a wire brush to remove set-in dirt.
[Edit]Painting the Railings and Trim - Paint the handrails and trim before painting the stairs. It's best to start with the handrails on a staircase for several reasons. If you create drips while painting the railings and trim, you won't be dripping on the finished surface of the stairs. You will also be free to move up and down the stairs without the risk of creating wear and tear on your finished paint job on the stairs.[6]
- Also, with the railings, balusters, and trim painted first, you don't have make sure they are super dry before moving on with the next phase of painting. If you paint the stairs themselves first, they need to be very dry before continuing on with your project.
- Tape off the edges around the railings and trim with painter's tape. Run the edge of the tape tightly at the edges where you want the paint to end. Then push the tape down with your fingertips or a putty knife to ensure that paint doesn't seep underneath it.[7]
- Taping off can take a long time, especially in tight areas, such as around the balusters. However, remember that it is worth it to take your time to tape it all off well before you start painting.
- You may need to tape off areas in phases. For example, if you are planning on painting the handrail and balusters a different color than the trim, then you should tape off the trim while you paint the handrail and spindles first.
- In general, the trim and railings are painted at the same time because they are usually the same color and the same type of paint.
- Cover surrounding areas with drop cloths. Spread drop cloths above and below the staircase area to protect your floors. Also cover the stairs themselves and any furniture that you can't move out of the way but that might get splattered.[8]
- Use painter's tape to keep the drop cloths in place.
- Paint the primer on the railing, working your way down the railings and the stairs. Starting at the top of the stairs, paint the handrail first and then work down the balusters to the trim at the bottom. You can either do a small part of the whole railing at a time, for instance sections, or you can prime the entire handrail, then all of the balusters, and then all of the bottom trim.[9]
- For the railings and the trim you will likely use a brush, as a roller is hard to get into small areas.
- Prime the entire handrail and all the trim before moving on to your finish coats.
- Pick a primer that is made to adhere to previously painted surfaces and ones that will get wear and tear. Good primer is important in order to create a durable finished surface by creating a good bond between previous coats of paint and your new paint.
- Apply several coats of your final color once the primer is dry. Wait for the specified amount of time listed on the container for the primer to dry and then start your final coats. Using smooth strokes, work your paintbrush from the top of the railing, down each baluster, and along the bottom trim, making sure to coat every surface. Work your way down the stairs as you did with the primer coat.
- You should do 2 to 3 coats of the final color.
- Be sure to let each layer dry completely before starting on the next. This will create a stronger paint finish that will stand up to the wear and tear that stairways experience.
- Allow the paint to dry completely before removing the tape. Score along the edge of the tape with a putty knife or a razor blade. Then slowly peel the tape off. Peeling it slowly will help ensure that it doesn't pull off the new paint along with it.[10]
- Once you are done actively painting, you can pick up the drop cloths. However, be careful not to smudge your work by touching the railing or trim with the drop cloths as you move them.
[Edit]Painting the Stairs - Tape off areas around the stairs. Protect your work on the railings and trim by taping off areas where they meet the stairs. Also tape off where the stairs meet the floor upstairs and downstairs.[11]
- You may also want to put down drop cloths at the top and the bottom of the stairs, although you can typically get away without them if you are painting carefully with a brush.
- Pick a primer and paint that are designed for use on floors or stairs. Talk to an employee at your local paint store about which products will work best for your specific project. In general, the treads and risers should be painted with an oil-based paint that also contains a sealer so that it holds up to constant traffic. However, water-based floor and patio paints are made to be stepped on, so they hold up well on stairs as well.
- When purchasing primer, consider asking a paint store employee to tint it to help with coverage. This is especially important if you have a strong final coat color. A tinted primer will ensure that your top coats cover the primer color more easily and will reduce the number of top coats you need to do.[12]
- Start painting the primer at the top and paint every other step on the way down. Beginning at the top of the stairs, paint the first stair completely. Then skip a stair and paint the third stair down. Continue like this, working your way down so that you can have room to move as you work and so that you can leave areas alone once you paint them.[13]
- Painting every other step will allow you to use the stairs as they dry.
- Use a brush to paint the stairs so that you can get into all of the corners easily.
- Allow the primer to dry completely before moving on with your finish coats. This usually takes anywhere from an hour to 4 hours, depending on the exact paint you are using. Read the label on the primer for drying times and check the primer for dryness.
- Paint the primer on the other steps once the first set is dry. Start at the top again but paint the steps that haven't been primed yet: the second, fourth, and so on. Continue down until all of the steps have been primed.[14]
- Paint 2 to 3 coats of the finish coat on every other step. Start painting at the top of the stairs, making sure you completely coat the top step before moving down to the third one. Work the paint into the corners of each stair and then finish by painting smooth strokes over the big surfaces while smoothing out any blobs of paint near the corners. Allow each coat to dry thoroughly before applying a second coat, and potentially a third.
- Be sure that you are getting a solid coat of paint in all of the corners, including under the front lip of each stair.
- You will know a third coat is necessary if you can still see primer after the second coat is dry.
- Paint 2 to 3 coats of the finish paint on the rest of the stairs. Once the first set of stairs are completely dry, which usually takes about a day, go back and paint the others. Work your way down, painting the second step first and then moving down to the fourth and so on.
- Once each coat is completely dry, you can apply an additional coat.
[Edit]Adding Decorative Details - Paint the risers or treads each a different color. To add a little fun detail to your staircase you can make your stairs multi-colored. To do this, tape off around the edges of the risers and paint them in one of two complementary colors. Once you have put on several coats, take off the tape and paint the treads the other color.[15]
- It's easiest to paint the risers first, as you will still be able to cautiously walk up and down the stairs while they are drying.
- Painting the risers and treads different colors will add time to your project because you will have to let one color dry completely before going back and painting the other color.
- Add a contrasting color to railing balusters. One way to add a pop of color and a little interest is to paint the balusters of your railing a different color than the rest of the railing and the stairs. You can pick a complementary color to the stairs and the surrounding walls or match the balusters to the surrounding walls.
- When painting your balusters a different color, it's important to mask off the bottom and top rails of the railing really well. This will prevent drips of a different color getting on them.
- Painting balusters is detailed work because they have a lot of small surfaces. Take your time while you paint them and watch out for drips!
- Create a decorative design going up the center of the stairs for a fun effect. Prepare the stairs with primer and a base color of paint. Then apply a pattern to the stairs over the base color with a stencil or freehand a decorative motif of your choosing.[16]
- Paint the design sections with latex floor enamel.
- Allow the paint to dry and apply a second and third coat, as needed.
- Paint a faux carpet design on the stairs, if you like. Once the stairs have been painted, measure the distance from the sides of the treads for the area you do not want to have the "carpeted" look. Block those areas off with painter's tape. Paint the center area of the stair treads with the color you've chosen for your faux carpet. Then paint an artificial fringe on the edges of the runner with a liner brush.
- To protect your design, apply sealer or polyurethane to the stairs after the decoratively painted surfaces are completely dry.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Prepping the Surfaces for Paint - Heat gun
- Chemical paint stripper
- Paint scraper or putty knife
- Wood filler
- Sandpaper
- Tack cloth
- Rag
- Surface cleaner
[Edit]Painting the Railings and Trim - Painter's tape
- Drop cloths
- Paintbrush
- Primer
- Paint
[Edit]Painting the Stairs - Painter's tape
- Primer
- Paint
- Paintbrush
[Edit]Adding Decorative Details - Several colors of paint
- Paintbrush
- Small, detailed paint brush
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Catch Up on Your Homework Posted: 01 Aug 2019 01:00 AM PDT Unfortunately, it can be really easy to fall behind on homework. Being sick or having lots of responsibilities outside of school can often lead to work piling up. But you shouldn't panic! Once you've come up with a plan of action and figured out how to stay productive when doing your work, you'll be able to catch up with your homework in no time! [Edit]Making a Plan - Make a master list of all the things you need to get done and when. This will instantly help you clear your head and give you a solid idea of what kind of situation you are in. Be sure to write the due dates for each assignment or task on your list, as well.[1]
- The items you add to this list should include your homework, upcoming tests and quizzes, and any extracurricular responsibilities you also have.
- Draw up this list on your computer for best results, as you'll be constantly correcting or adding things to it.
- Organize the tasks on your master list in order of priority. Place the most important assignments or the ones that are due earliest at the top of the list. If you wrote out your list on paper and can't change the order of the items, use different color highlighters to color code your to-do list.[2]
- For example, mark the most important tasks with a yellow highlighter, the moderately important ones with a green highlighter, and the least important ones with a blue highlighter.
- If you're not sure how to prioritize an item, ask your teacher or your parents which assignment or task ought to be completed first.
- Create a schedule for completing each task in a certain amount of time. Estimate how long each task will take you to complete, then mark the hours or days that you will use to complete each task. Make sure you will complete each assignment before it's due.[3]
- To estimate how long an assignment will take to complete, look at all the individual components of the assignment (e.g., all the questions on your homework), estimate how long it would take to do each component, then add all of this estimated time together.
- For best results, write out this schedule in a planner or a calendar that you normally use to track your days.
- If any assignment or task doesn't already have a deadline, give it one. Pick a date by which you'd like to have the assignment off your to-do list and use that as your deadline, as long as it's a reasonable amount of time in which to do your assignment.
- Be sure to add any new assignments to the master list. You won't get caught up with all your work if you neglect the work you're assigned in the present. Insert your new assignments into the right spot in your list based on their priority.[4]
- For example, if you receive an assignment one morning that is due by the end of the day, add that assignment to your list somewhere near the very top.
- Break your assignments down into smaller, manageable chunks. Create "mini assignments" that address the individual components of a larger assignment and that you can focus on one at a time. Doing this will help keep you from feeling overwhelmed by your work and give you a stronger sense of accomplishment whenever you finish each mini assignment.[5]
- For example, if you have to write a research paper, the mini assignments for this task could be selecting your topic, researching your topic, creating an outline for your paper, and then writing the paper.
- Be sure to set "mini deadlines" for each of these mini assignments, as well.
[Edit]Staying Productive - Do your homework in a distraction-free zone. You need to be able to concentrate in order to be as productive as possible. Stay away from anything that might steal your attention, such as your phone, the TV, or gaming devices.[6]
- If you have to bring your phone with you, turn it off and put it in your bag somewhere you can't see it. If you keep it in your pocket, this will only tempt you to look at it when you're working.
- If you're working around other people, ask them to not disturb you until you're no longer working.
- Set aside a dedicated time for working on your assignments every day. This should be time that you can spend solely on your homework, instead of other activities that you normally do in the day. Try to give yourself at least an hour every day, if not more, ideally during the part of day where you feel most productive.[7]
- For example, if you do your best work in the mornings, set aside an hour right after you wake up every day to work on your homework.
- Aim to give yourself more than 1 hour each day if you can to work on getting caught up. However, if you're struggling to find the time to work on schoolwork, 1 hour is the minimum amount of time you should set aside every day for working on assignments.
- Make sure you have everything you need before starting a work session. Bring your pencil, pen, computer, books, and anything else you might need to your session. Taking the time do this beforehand will not only give you extra time, but ensure that the session is less stressful.[8]
- If you plan to work for longer than an hour, consider bringing some food and water with you as well.
- Work on only one assignment at a time. You won't be able to concentrate as much if you try to tackle 2 different tasks at the same time. Focus on the most important task you have to do that day and don't start another task until you're done with that one.[9]
- If you can't finish that first assignment in a single setting, you can also opt to work on that assignment for a set period of time, then switch over to a different assignment.
- Go into your work session with a relaxed, positive attitude. If your hand is shaking, you're sweating all over and your temper is short, you aren't going to get through things very fast, and the session certainly won't be an enjoyable one. A relaxed, focused attitude will help you get through your homework faster and prevent distracted mistakes from happening.[10]
- Try to reward yourself at the end of your session with a relaxing, fun activity to keep up your positive attitude.
[Edit]Preventing Yourself from Falling Behind - Finish assignments as soon as you can to keep them from piling up. It's important to stay on top of your homework as you go and always complete your assignments on time. Give yourself 1 hour of homework time each day to make sure you're keeping up with your assignments as they come.[11]
- If you have extracurricular activities that also make demands on your time, try to find a healthy balance between doing schoolwork and keeping up with these activities. Remember to prioritize your schoolwork if the extracurricular activity is less important.
- Hold regular homework sessions with a study buddy, if you can. Having this kind of arrangement can force you to make time for your homework and help keep yourself accountable to someone. Set aside time every day to work on your homework with this person in a quiet, distraction-free environment.[12]
- If you're easily distracted when doing homework with someone else, though, this may not be the best idea for you.
- Ask for help if you feel yourself falling behind again. Reach out to your teacher, your friends, or some other source of support. If you're concerned about getting your work done on time, ask your professor if you can have a small extension. Remember, it never hurts to ask.[13]
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