IELTS

• a proficiency exam 能力考试
  • 为英语为非母语（not your first language）的人设立的
• The IELTS and TOEFL exams are two most popular English proficiency exams.
• a requirement 要求
  • An English exam was a requirement to apply for a work visa in Canada.
• widely accepted 被广泛接受
  • The IELTS and TOEFL exams are recognised by over 12000 academic institutions all over the world.
• to be valid
  • IELTS and TOEFL exam certificates are always valid for two years before you have to retake the test.
• computer-based
  • The TOEFL is a computer-based exam; it's not done on paper.
• on paper 纸质试卷
  • The IELTS test can be taken on paper in the traditional way.
• a test centre 考试中心
  • 托福考试可以在家里或在官方考试中心以上机形式进行。
  • 雅思考试很可能要在考试中心进行
  • 如果是为了申请大学，请务必确认该大学是否承认家庭版考试
• face to face 面对面
  • 雅思口语考试一直都采取现场面对面的形式，需要与考官进行 15 分钟的简短对话
• to assess 评估
  • 考试会评估拼写 spelling，这是最基本的部分
  • 除了 speaking 以外，listening、reading、writing 都会评估拼写
• to demonstrate accuracy 展示准确性
  • Examiners expect candidates to demonstrate accuracy in their writing and avoid mistakes.
• an error 错误

在雅思和托福中，拼写可以使用美式英语或者英式英语拼写，两者都可以接受，但要始终选择一种变体，不要混合使用。

使用最多的：

• British English spelling: I'm very organised when travelling.
• American English spelling: I'm very organized when traveling.

评估标准

• assessment criteria 评估标准
  • Clear pronunciation is another aspect of the assessment for global proficiency exams.
• fluency and coherence 流利程度和条理性
  • 可以用填充词，比如 um, well, 和 That's a good question... 不过尽量不要使用太多，否则会看起来你在犹豫
  • To improve coherence, you should learn a wide range of linking phrases to help you connect your idea logically.
• lexical resource 词汇量（雅思）
  • 托福用的术语是 language use
• grammatical range and accuracy 语法范围和准确性
  • 口头和书面表达中使用一系列不同的 时态
  • 即使考官的问题可能是现在时态，也使用一系列时态（现在时态、过去时态和将来时态）来回答是很重要的，这样就可以获得更高的分数。
• pronunciation 发音

听力

四个方面：语音、词汇、语法和短期记忆

雅思听力有四种口音：

• 英音（60% - 70%）
• 澳音（15% - 20%）
• 美音（10% - 15%）
• 杂音（5%）

英音和美音最大的区别是英音的元音发音靠后，美音许多元音比较靠前。

• regional 地域性
  • English is an offical language in over 60 countries, so there are many regional varieties of English spoken.

建议找一些来自澳大利亚、新西兰、加拿大和南非国家/地区的播客或者 Youtube 视频。

• universal 通用
• slang 俚语
  • 地方俚语很难理解
  • shortened language
  • 具有地域性，雅思和托福不会考察
• diverse 多元
• a lingua franca 通用语
  • English is used as a lingua franca in international business.

口语

考试测试你在国际场合中与他人进行清晰沟通的能力。不会测试某一个特定英语变体。

表达好恶

• to find something appealing 找到有吸引力的学科
  • I absolutely loved studying maths at school. I found it very appealing.
• to be fond of 喜欢
• my absolute favourite 我最喜欢的
  • History and politics were my absolute favourite subjects as a teenager.
  • My absolute favorite subjects at high school was computer science. I just love coding and building apps.
• to dread something 极度害怕某事
• I can't stand... 我受不了...
  • When I was younger, I couldn't stand going to school. I found studying unappealing.

举例

雅思考试中，必须非常仔细地听，确保准确回答考官提出的问题。如果没有听明白问题，最好要求考官重复一遍问题，而不是回答错误的问题或保持沉默。

• for example / for instance 例如...
  • I spend lots of time with my family. For example, we always eat together in the evenings.
• an example of this 这方面的一个示例是...
  • My and my brother have similar interests. An example of this is that we both like karate.

体现更好的语法掌握，可以使用过去时态：

• Just the other day... 举一个前不久发生的具体例子
  • My dad's an excellent cook. Just the other day, he made the most delicious Thai green curry from scratch.
• I remember once... 举一个过去已经完成的事件的具体例子
• When I was a younger... 举一个你童年的具体例子

组合使用：

My dad often asks me for help. An example of this is with technology. Just the other day he forgot his email password.

语法

• How often do you listen to music?
  • 可以综合多个时态
  • I listen to music every single day.
  • I'm going to a music festival next weekend.
  • I was actually listening to music last night.
  • I often listen to music at night to relax. For example, last night I was listening to some jazz music while cooking.

主题词汇

• current affairs 时事
• the press 新闻媒体
  • The role of the press in a democracy is to inform members of the public and hold people in power accountable. 新闻媒体在民主国家中的作用时向公众提供信息，并追究当权者的责任。
• to flick through 翻阅
• tabloid 小报
• biased 有偏见的
• well-informed 消息灵通的

用不同词汇表达同样的意思：

• 原句：I love reading about important news issues.
  • 改述：I enjoy news reading to current affairs.

I find reading news online more appealing than reading newspapers to help me stay well-informed about current affairs.

从不评估你的观点的质量，只是关注你的语言技能以及如何运用相关例子支持这些想法。

连接词

We use linking phrases to connect ideas and show the relationship between them. 我们使用连接词来连接想法，并展示它们之间的关系。

展示对比：Even though technology is useful, it has some downsides.

• fist of all
• To start with... 首先
• Secondly... 其次……
  • 连接词 「secondly」会向你的考官发出信号，表示你将会提到其他相似的要点。
• Moreover... 此外……
• Additionally... 此外……
• Similarly... 此外/同样……

表达观点

在口语或写作考试中表达观点时，你必须始终用合乎逻辑的理由支持它。

1. 表明你的主要观点（main opinion）

• While there are some drawbacks to children using VR, I'd say it can be very beneficial in education.

2. 然后给出支持理由（supporting reason）

• Children should use VR headsets since they can help them improve coordination skills.

考官评估的是 coherence（能够以条理分明、合乎逻辑的方式表达我们的想法）。

• Certainly! 当然
• Absolutely not! 绝对不是

Some people are very good at time management and learn a lot from having real responsibility. However, for others, having a side hustle can mean they have less time and energy to spend on their university assignments.

• I take your point... 我理解你的观点……

其他考试

托福

• 托福口语考试的第一部分：paired choice question（两个选项，选择一个偏好选项并陈述理由）

Do you perfer to study alone when you are preparing for a big examination? Or, do you believe that studying in a group is a better way to prepare?

• "Children should not be allowed to use virtual reality headsets.” Do you agree or disagree with the statement?

• negatively impact

• a positive impact

Virtual reality can be beneficial in education, since it makes learning highly interactive and engaging. 虚拟现实对教育有益，因为它使学习具有高度的互动性和吸引力。

• to be problematic 有问题的
• a downside 缺点
  • A downside of virtual reality headsets is that they have high upfront costs, so not everyone can afford them. 虚拟现实眼镜的一个缺点是它们的前期成本很高，因此并非每个人都能负担得起。

雅思备考必备

• 《剑桥雅思真题》
  • 可以考虑 7 - 10 作为熟悉题型
  • 11 - 19 开始学习技巧和策略，积累单词等等