Re: how much do i need to save for IELTS exam?

i read the posts... am contemplating on IELTS self review or with review center... yes, 7500 is somewhat a big amount of money. but is it worth it? i would like to take my chance. and, what was that issue that what you have to write in your address should be a Manila address otherwise you'll be asked to come back on a different day....

Re: how much do i need to save for IELTS exam?

hello princess miucha! you can check the website http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/

Re: how much do i need to save for IELTS exam?

your address should be your correct address otherwise your results will get sent somewhere else.

I would discourage against going to the Niners review centers, they don't teach English development at all, they just teach you tricks for passing the exam.

Question: If you pass the exam and still cannot effectively communicate in English, wouldn't that cause a lot of problems for you int he future?

Follow up: Wouldn't it be better to go to a language skills develoment course and actually make sure you CAN communicate in English rather than just passing the test?

If you've said yes then I encourage you to look for a real review/language skills center. My picks are:
American English in Makati
Speakwell branches all over the place
Magister in Ortigas
Rachell Allen in Taft and Sucat (soon the Ortigas branch will have IELTS)
Allgen in TM Kalaw

Re: how much do i need to save for IELTS exam?

It cost my friend around P9,000 (I guess it was rounded off).

I talked to people who have taken the IELTS exam. None of them recommended enrolling in a review center for it. I think there are also materials on the internet that you can use to self-review.

Try to talk to people in English, especially those who don't understand Tagalog. Watch English movies. Practice, practice.

If enrolling in a review center gives you confidence, go for it.

Re: how much do i need to save for IELTS exam?

Confidence issue is normally the problem. Pinoy nurses (9 times out of 10) are actually VERY fluent in English but when the speaking portion of the IELTS exam comes around the nervousness sets in.

There is a desire to speak perfect English with an American/British/Foreign accent.

This is completely wrong.

Anyone telling you that you have to "talk like an American" to pass IELTS is full of cheese (not the good kind either).

IELTS simply tests your ability to communicate effectively.

Philippine accent is not a problem!

In fact, trying to fake a foreign accent will cause you to be misunderstood!

Over time when you are living in the USA then you will slowly adopt the local accent (which varies depending on the part of the country you are in) but don't try to learn it when you are here in the Philippines... you could actually offend someone.

I attended a lecture at a local review center and was shocked to see the instructor teaching people how to speak in slang and slur the words together. He was teaching people to develop an accent that I had to spend a lot of time and effort to eliminate in order to be taken seriously in the professional world!

You need to learn neutral English. No accent, no slur, no slang.

Unless, of course, you are trying to become a voice actor...