mgreaves Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 Thanks, just booked on for a couple weeks (next time I am free), I think I will focus on the speaking practice this time, I am guessing I just did not do what was needed to get the marks. I also finished the whole thing in under 2 hours so I should probably proof read my work a bit more as my spelling score was low, I think I rely on spell checker too much! Thinking about it a bit more I would have to say so far I prefer the IELTS, but as I know my writing is the weak point I think PTE-A does remove some of the pressure the way it assesses more than one element at once. Having done so many exams in the IELTS format over my life time (School, College, Degree, Professional Qual) I was completely relaxed here, however sitting an exam on a PC I am not use to! Especially when others are talking around you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dani4 Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 Hi SuperCow, I have few questions please. I'm new with PTE and first of all I need materials for practicing. Where I can find them please? And as I can read from your post you are comparing General IELTS with Academic PTE. Are they on the same level you think? I'm struggling with my writing part in Academic IELTS but I was great with the General IELTS, in both writing and reading. But Academic IELTS and those stupid graphs, charts are bars are killing me. Not to mentioned topics they give for their essays. Can you guide me in my PTE journey? Thanks for your help in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slawka Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 One more thing worth to add. For IELTS result you have to wait two weeks while PTE I received next day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supercow Posted August 18, 2015 Author Share Posted August 18, 2015 Hi SuperCow, I have few questions please. I'm new with PTE and first of all I need materials for practicing. Where I can find them please? And as I can read from your post you are comparing General IELTS with Academic PTE. Are they on the same level you think? I'm struggling with my writing part in Academic IELTS but I was great with the General IELTS, in both writing and reading. But Academic IELTS and those stupid graphs, charts are bars are killing me. Not to mentioned topics they give for their essays. Can you guide me in my PTE journey? Thanks for your help in advance. Hi @Dani4 I'm afraid I'm no tutor, so can only give you general guidance. For specifics you will need to seek advice from someone more qualified than I am. To answer you questions directly, however: * https://ptepractice.com | The $9.99 package I felt was sufficient for my needs. I suggest starting with that and self-assess whether you think you need more. * I have not attempted the Academic IELTS, so I'm unable to comment on that. The PTE subject matter is more academic in nature than that of the General IELTS, and you do have graphs and images you'll need to interpret for the PTE exam. If the mere sight of them puts you off, then perhaps PTE is not for you. The key you need to remember is not to panic when you see them and just put into words, what the graph is illustrating. They look much more intimidating than they really are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slawka Posted August 18, 2015 Share Posted August 18, 2015 Hi SuperCow, I have few questions please. I'm new with PTE and first of all I need materials for practicing. Where I can find them please? And as I can read from your post you are comparing General IELTS with Academic PTE. Are they on the same level you think? I'm struggling with my writing part in Academic IELTS but I was great with the General IELTS, in both writing and reading. But Academic IELTS and those stupid graphs, charts are bars are killing me. Not to mentioned topics they give for their essays. Can you guide me in my PTE journey? Thanks for your help in advance. Try this free tips from Pearson - pdf http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCEQFjAAahUKEwj6zNmg3LLHAhVFzRQKHUcMAMI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpearsonpte.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F08%2FPTEA_Test_Tips.pdf&ei=2DDTVfqAKsWaU8eYgJAM&usg=AFQjCNEVWQwC-3nKYprGFVvFDzGycSWxFg&bvm=bv.99804247,d.ZGU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robwilliams1983 Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 After 3 attempts at IELTS general test and failing by 0.5 each time I have decided to try the PTE test. I am booked in to take it next weekend in London, so fingers crossed. Hopefully will get the results ASAP and not after 2 dreaded weeks of waiting like IELTS. It is always the writing section that lets me down. When writing the essay section for the PTE exam, is the layout that is needed the same as for IELTS general writing xam questions? Such as introduction, 2 paragraphs (1 for and 1 against) and then a conclusion? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supercow Posted August 22, 2015 Author Share Posted August 22, 2015 It's not a requirement in the strictest sense of the term, but it's certainly good practise for any essay introduce the topic, introduce your idea(s), flesh out your idea(s), and then end with a conclusion / punchy summary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birch4 Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 Thank you For some strange reason I was more stressed and uptight about passing this exam than any of my ACCA accountancy exams ! Anyway that's the stress over, just a waiting game now Hi there, were you in Edinburgh the same day as me?? We waited hours and a wee Japanese girl travelled from London?? :arghh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birch4 Posted August 24, 2015 Share Posted August 24, 2015 Thank you For some strange reason I was more stressed and uptight about passing this exam than any of my ACCA accountancy exams ! Anyway that's the stress over, just a waiting game now I have pm'd you! Yes I was there in Edinburgh that day too! I have still to re sit! Wow! Your scores were great. I'd be interested to chat with you about this :hug: And to see what practice you did. I felt so so sorry for that wee girl that day. Was a shame..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allegroridz Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 Nice post ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph23 Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Just finished my Pearson test, I am worried about two things. 1. The mic did not shut off after 3 seconds, so I have wasted a lot of time in the short answer area. Does clicking "next" submit my recording on that specific question? Since I let the recording finished itself, will this affect my score because there were long silences after giving my answers? 2. On the 200-300 words essay, I finished writing the essay and was going through it checking my grammar and structure. However, I did not notice the time was up and the system just brought me to the next part. Was my essay submitted? I finished the essay but did not hit "Next/Submit" Now I am worried. Any comments on this would be much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgreaves Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Just finished my Pearson test, I am worried about two things. 1. The mic did not shut off after 3 seconds, so I have wasted a lot of time in the short answer area. Does clicking "next" submit my recording on that specific question? Since I let the recording finished itself, will this affect my score because there were long silences after giving my answers? Now I am worried. Any comments on this would be much appreciated. I've done this twice now, the first time I clicked next on the speaking before the mic stopped recording, overall I got a bad score here but I think this was more to do with how I approached the test than the mic. On the second attempt I left the recordings to run to the end, like you they did not stop after 3 seconds. I do not think this affected my score as it improved, but I still did not get the needed 79 in speaking! (I got Level 9 in IELTS) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pommie Posted September 9, 2015 Share Posted September 9, 2015 Joseph Hitting next does keep your answer. Also, don't worry on your essay - it will keep what you have typed.... Good luck... JC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supercow Posted September 10, 2015 Author Share Posted September 10, 2015 (edited) I've done this twice now, the first time I clicked next on the speaking before the mic stopped recording, overall I got a bad score here but I think this was more to do with how I approached the test than the mic. On the second attempt I left the recordings to run to the end, like you they did not stop after 3 seconds. I do not think this affected my score as it improved, but I still did not get the needed 79 in speaking! (I got Level 9 in IELTS) Sorry to hear you're still not quite there yet. Don't lose hope! Out of interest... and I guess it's not an easy one to answer, but do you think that you have a heavy accent? Reason I ask this, is because it struck me when I did Pearson, that if you have personal interview (IELTS), then the interviewer might have been from the same area / live in the same area, so would completely understand your pronunciation / no meaning lost. With Pearson it's marked by unknown person far away who might not understand you. It was just yesterday that I was sitting at a London mainline train station, with a bunch of people sat next to me. At first I thought they were speaking a different language, but after a while it struck me that they were actually native English speakers, but I couldn't understand a word of it! Joseph Hitting next does keep your answer. Also, don't worry on your essay - it will keep what you have typed.... Good luck... JC Exactly this... you have nothing to worry about @Joseph23 Edited September 10, 2015 by supercow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgreaves Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Sorry to hear you're still not quite there yet. Don't lose hope! Out of interest... and I guess it's not an easy one to answer, but do you think that you have a heavy accent? Reason I ask this, is because it struck me when I did Pearson, that if you have personal interview (IELTS), then the interviewer might have been from the same area / live in the same area, so would completely understand your pronunciation / no meaning lost. With Pearson it's marked by unknown person far away who might not understand you. It was just yesterday that I was sitting at a London mainline train station, with a bunch of people sat next to me. At first I thought they were speaking a different language, but after a while it struck me that they were actually native English speakers, but I couldn't understand a word of it! I would not say I have a strong accent, I guess it is slightly mancunian but I work down south and also in a global office and noone here has ever mentioned my accent! I think the issue was more down to how I answered the questions, I got a bit flustered on one of the re-tell the lecture and also I know I got one of the simple answers wrong as I paniced a bit and said the wrong thing! I got 77 and only need 79 on speaking so hopefully I can get the extra 2 marks this weekend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeepDheer Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 It's my pleasure, as I said to @Ozmaniac before, if all the money I sunk into IELTS can come to any good and help someone else, I'm more than happy to do it! Don't know if you saw my response in the other thread, did you want me to post you the official PTE-A guide? It has a practise CD rom and audio CD init (I couldnt even use it as none of my fancy laptops actually have DVD drives any more). Just cover my postage, I don't want money for the book. Supercow, I am planning to give PTE -A this time in order to increase my points. Can you please provide me the book and CD. I will cover the postage. Hope its still available with you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supercow Posted September 10, 2015 Author Share Posted September 10, 2015 Hi @DeepDheer Let me have a look for it before I say yes. It must be in my spare room somewhere now, but I'll confirm this evening. You're based in the UK I assume? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeepDheer Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 Hi @DeepDheer Let me have a look for it before I say yes. It must be in my spare room somewhere now, but I'll confirm this evening. You're based in the UK I assume? Nope I am based in HK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supercow Posted September 10, 2015 Author Share Posted September 10, 2015 I'd love to help, but don't think the postage will make it worthwhile. Might as well just buy it from amazon or ebay or something. The online test prep Ive previously mentioned in this thread does the same job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeepDheer Posted September 10, 2015 Share Posted September 10, 2015 @supercow... thanks wil look for the one on ebay or amazon... Hk in e shopping sucks really lets see how this goes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supercow Posted September 10, 2015 Author Share Posted September 10, 2015 (edited) @DeepDheer I'll of course post it to you, I just questioned the economic sense in doing so Let me know if you can;t find it online, then I'll send it to you. Edited September 10, 2015 by supercow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgreaves Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 Quick question on the short answers, if you answer wrong does that count as a mistake for the speaking? Such as how many sides does a hexagonal shape have, if I rushed and answered 5, but the correct answer is obviously 6, I assume I lose speaking marks? Or does the fact the answer is related and therefore you have understood the question give you a mark? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgreaves Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 (edited) So I am not sure what happened, I came out the exam yesterday feeling crap as I was tired and struggled to focus in the exam, I messed up on one of the repeat sentences in that I stuttered and forgot the words, I then had to think quickly to say the rest of the sentence. Also on 2 of the short answers I answered too quickly and answered wrong (as per above post), however I then waffled and said the correct word without letting the timer expire, which appears to have worked. So I finally did it! L90,R90,L90,W86! Edited September 13, 2015 by mgreaves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supercow Posted September 13, 2015 Author Share Posted September 13, 2015 F*ck yea @mgreaves, well done! I'd love to feel that sense of relief again, such an amazing feeling ain't it?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cypruscj Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 Thanks for this!.very helpful in knowing the difference between the 2 tests. Will definitely keep in mind ☺ tests can be hard on ppls nerves at the best of times, not made easier by the fact tou know some deliberately try to trip you up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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