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Test Preparation Services (TPS)
IELTS information for those living in Toronto including issues, test centers, taking group classes, self-study and how to find a tutor.
Toronto
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TPS - IELTS Exam Prep in Toronto (City)
Issues to Consider
If you are living in Toronto city, you have many options for studying IELTS and taking the test. Whether you are considering taking classes, doing home tutoring or just self-studying IELTS, there are a number of factors of the exam that might influence your decision.
1) The test is expensive (all are over $300 now). Although you can take it many times, it could hurt your pocket.
2) There is quite a bit of variability in the scoring among examiners. Your scores in the sub-skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) can bounce up and down particularly in writing and speaking, which relies more on the judgment of a marker who spends little time with you or your essays.
3) You should combine skills and strategies. If you only learn strategies, you may find it difficult to focus on learning language skills that you can use in any situation.
4) Although you may score equally in each of the 4 sub-skills (reading, listening, writing, and speaking), no one will get exactly the same score in every section of the test. The reality is that in English, there will be strengths and weaknesses. You need to determine what they are so that you can organize your study appropriately.
1) The test is expensive (all are over $300 now). Although you can take it many times, it could hurt your pocket.
2) There is quite a bit of variability in the scoring among examiners. Your scores in the sub-skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) can bounce up and down particularly in writing and speaking, which relies more on the judgment of a marker who spends little time with you or your essays.
3) You should combine skills and strategies. If you only learn strategies, you may find it difficult to focus on learning language skills that you can use in any situation.
4) Although you may score equally in each of the 4 sub-skills (reading, listening, writing, and speaking), no one will get exactly the same score in every section of the test. The reality is that in English, there will be strengths and weaknesses. You need to determine what they are so that you can organize your study appropriately.
Home Tutoring
If you would prefer to study IELTS in the comfort of your home with a tailor-made program, please check the IELTS tutor Toronto city page for availability. If you would rather purchase books, you may wish to order them through Amazon instead since they are far cheaper. If you are looking for online information, browse through our IELTS exam page for study tips, strategies, skills and topics, and information on recent exams. I have also posted practice exams in speaking and writing where you can take a mock test and receive a score. There are links to other blogs such as IELTS Blog, British Council IELTS DC IELTS as well as IELTS Essentials and IELTS-exam.
Taking Classes
There are a growing number of institutions opening up new centers in Toronto. Many are roll-over programs, meaning students can enrol at any time, but this reduces the program's quality. There are colleges that offer IELTS programs. However, just because a big institution offers IELTS programs does not ensure quality. Colleges are usually more credible, but the enrolment dates and times are a drawback. Although I am pleased that the option of "free IELTS classes" is more available now for low-income students, I can only warn that you usually get what you pay for. When offered free, you usually do not receive much.
Self Study
Self-study help in Toronto city area is possible and affordable. IELTS has a number of free resources on the Internet, so check out those options before spending on books. I would advise that your first stop be the public libraries in Toronto. The IELTS test has not significantly changed since 2001, so do not worry about using older books.
Test Taking
For those taking the test, unfortunately, there are many locations in Toronto. It is important to shop around because fees and services do range. For more information, go to IELTS testing center locations in Toronto.