Skip to main content

Clearing IELTS. FAQs and resources


Hey all, 
This is the only page where I think I can flex the fact that my parents endeavour to send me to English medium school was successful.
Why IELTS?
It's required to register your MRCEM qualification with British Medical Council.
Why IELTS over OET?
Doctors are paid peanuts in India. I didn't want to spend money over an English Exam. 
My Result? I got 8 overal . So , I qualify to give you 2 cents on what and how to study.
Online or offline? I recommend taking online exam, its smoother and less stressful.
Coaching? No. Longlive YouTube.
How long did I take to prepare? 1 month lazing around. Focussed 8 days.
What all did I read?  Read the article.
Understanding Ielts pattern. 
1)This is a great video where the speaker in her Indian accent explains about the exam pattern and how to get through. 
https://youtu.be/2bthz0jYges

2) E2 is all about English exams. They speak British English accent. Their videos are to the point. In fact, sometimes overboard. They have about 20lakhs + subscribers, that's for a reason. Donot purchase the paid subscription, not worth it. 
https://youtube.com/@E2IELTS

3) Donot enter the examination hall until you solve the question papers in your ielts handbook which you will receive after you sign up for your exam by post. 

Listening :
1. Nothing beats https://ieltsonlinetests.com/
free mock tests. 
2.Watch British shows or podcasts.
I watch Michael Husseys videos. In addition to a great presence of mind, he speaks fluent British English. Produces engaging content.
3.Radhi Devlukia, British Indian YouTuber has an engaging channel.
4.Halalgirlnewyork, Shirin Syed, a British doctor exploring New York. Her youtube channel and Instagram channel around preparation for USMLE and lifestyle of a doctor.
5.British English movies - Bridgeton series, the crown, Sherlock etc
Its very important to enjoy what you're learning. I strongly believe in it.
Here are some videos that might help. 
1) https://youtu.be/e_UYhqrL8ic

Reading
1)There is no magic mantra. Sit down and focus. 
2)https://ieltsonlinetests.com/ for free mock tests.
3) My brother had given me a practise book from an ielts coaching centre. I don't recommend those books. The content they have is outdated and doesnot create exam environment. 
4)Sit down right infront of your computer screen. Focus on questions first. The answers are usually in ascending order of paragraphs. I'll attach the links, check them out.

Speaking
Understand that they are not judging your knowledge and opinions. So, go easy on being creative.
All you have to do is be a Kareena Kapoor from Jab we met or Kartik Aryan from Punchnama series.
Use all types of sentences.Simple, complex with all possible conjuctions.Imagine having last pieces of clothing and you want to fit it into your baggage.Check out these resources, these are essential.
A.Don't repeat words. 
B. Try complex sentences 
C.Insert conjunctions wherever necessary
D. Answer to the point first and then expand your answers
E.Smile

Practise commonly asked topics with your friends before you land into the exam hall.

1)https://youtu.be/kj2md14T1nQ
2)https://youtu.be/rAoJ8TN5bAE

Writing
Indians miss out on this with 1 mark usually.
Firstly, write essays and filter on grammarly or MS Word to skim out spelling mistakes, misplaced articles and improper vocabulary.
You can practise writing and ask Chatgpt to audit.
There are plenty of youtube channels that provide useful content, you can check these out.
1)
Ieltspracticeonline.com 

2)
http://Takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/prepare/free-ielts-practice-tests

3)
https://youtu.be/Ths_KvKpcNM

4)
https://youtu.be/-fMylOUECkI
5)
https://youtu.be/qywjKFDMhcM
6)Understand Ielts writing in 25 minutes 
https://youtu.be/FVqSiFUVX78

7)
https://youtu.be/Zx-JcXsbUqQ

Vocabulary is important aspect in writing.
During my exam, I made note of these adjectives and made sure to use them in the essay. Especially, in the ones with graphs and trends. 
1)Soar . Rocket . Leap . Climb . Surge .
2) Plummet . Sink. Drop. Slip back . Dip .
3)Substantial. Spectacular. Significant. Sharp . Dramatic. Degreee of adjectives.
4)Steady adjective. Steady . Consistent. Gradual
5)Small slight. Modest. Marginal

Your preparation might be quite different from yours. The words up there are merely opinions. Use your discretion to get proper material.

So far so much.
Do let me know your inputs.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Experience Based Co Design : BCT Series XXIX

  "Experience-Based Co-Design" we have all witnessed its essence unknowingly . My family home is the example I can reflect on .Growing up I didn't like how my house was designed. We (the whole extended family) wanted my dad to sell the house . Dad let his architect friend design our house and would not sell his house (for obvious reasons!). Mum had to balance out the situation so she decided to make small changes. So, it was one change idea each year .She would talk to us individually and listen to our perspective and review her sphere of influence and the impact /utility the idea had.For my siblings the colors were not welcoming while I pointed the flooring. Mum wanted the stairs to be personalised. My grandparents wanted certain conveniences around the toilets. It took her about 4-5 years to make the house a home that was acceptable . From color preferences to spatial arrangements, each family member contributed insights. The lovely thing about it was , the keystakehold...
6 comments
Read more

" Consulting a psychiatrist would be a question mark on my spirituality " Said the patient.

Hello everybody  I hope everybody is safe and healthy. it's been a while that I've been receiving lot of patients in the emergency with mental illness ,thought of sharing an incident of its kind. Not sure if its the awareness of mental health these days or the pandemic, I am developing keen interest in patients with mental illness .I try to take an extra effort to make them feel comfortable and try to create an insight of what is happening and offer them options of what all can be done.  Since this it seems like a step towards patient care , I thought I'd share it here as well. This would probably not be the best approach but I welcome any type of constructive criticism , additions or subtraction to my approach because end of the day we are here for best patient care. A 50 years plus old gentleman ,presented to the emergency with the complaints of chest pain radiating to left arm , breathing difficulty, choking sensation in the throat, inability to open his ey...
28 comments
Read more

MRCEM OSCE preparation and resources

Hello people Since I have cleared my OSCE in one go, I feel it's my duty to journal what all I have done to make it work.(humble brag).Thanks to ChatGPT for helping me pile up some humble generic sentence to make this blog wholesome.(Just kidding). The MRCEM OSCE exam is an integral part of the qualification which tests the clinical and communication skills of candidates. For Indian students pursuing this qualification, preparing for the MRCEM OSCE exam may seem daunting. However, with a few tips that helped me sail through fine. The thing that helped me the most is acclimatizing myself to the UK Clinical Setting Before appearing for the MRCEM OSCE exam, it is imperative for Indian students to understand the clinical setting in the UK. Sometimes , all they want to see is how you behave , your body language, your tone , and your organising skills. Diagnosis is not a critical thing here. You will not fail if you get a wrong diagnosis provided that you have done it systematically. So ...
2 comments
Read more