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Multi-tasking in IELTS

According to Merriam Webster, “multi-tasking” can be defined as: the performance of multiple tasks at one time.

But what does it have to do with the IELTS test? Well, it is a very important skill that you need in many parts of the test:

In the IELTS Listening test, you need to read questions, listen, notice the answers and write them down, but still continue listening. Just focussing on writing answers in the listening test will make you miss important parts of the recording.

In the IELTS Speaking test, you must listen to the questions, but also start thinking of your answer so that when the examiner stops speaking, you are ready to respond. You can also use a ‘filler phrase’ like “Well, to be honest…” or simply rephrase the question to give yourself a little extra thinking time to formulate your response. Just listening to the speaking test questions and then thinking of an answer will mean you go silent for a few seconds and result in hesitation and show a lack of fluency.

In the IELTS Writing test, managing your time effectively is key to getting a good result because you need to spend the right amount of time on each task. In terms of multi-tasking, you have to read the question carefully, make a quick paragraph plan, think of the correct words and structures, write your answer and do a final check to correct any mistakes. If you don’t keep track of time in the writing test, you might not write enough or even finish the task.

In the IELTS Reading test, timing is also very important. You need to skim read the text to get a general understanding, read the questions carefully underlining key words, scan the text for the answers, referring back to the question to make sure you’re found the right part and then re-read the text carefully to confirm the answer. Simply reading the questions and then trying to find the answers without fully reading the text, may seem like a short-cut but will actually result in wasting a lot of precious time.

So, the IELTS tests are all about multi-tasking. Some people are better at it than others, so if you are not a great multi-tasker, start practising before your test!

To find out who’s best at multi-tasking - men or women - read this article from The Huffington Post. It’s similar to the texts in the IELTS reading test.

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Can you answer this IELTS-style question about the Huffington Post article:

Women were found to be better than men at searching for restaurants on a map.

TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN

The first correct answer to be posted here will win a free IELTS practice interview on skype with an iPass tutor!

By Jenny Bedwell on 2015 10 28

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Jenna - Finland

Jenna - Finland

After a month of intensive studying with iPass, I took the IELTS again and, even to my own surprise, got the scores I needed: listening 9.0, reading 8.0, writing 7.0, speaking 7.0!

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