A teacher from Hanoi achieved an IELTS score of 9.0 four times.

Taking the IELTS exam multiple times to verify the teaching method.

Having achieved a 9.0 in IELTS Academic three times in 2022 and 2023, Luyen Quang Kien (31 years old), a test preparation teacher in Hanoi , continued his success by achieving a perfect score for the fourth time on May 16th. This also marks the first time the Hanoi teacher has scored 9.0 in the writing skill.

"My emotions were overwhelming when I finally fulfilled my dream. Before this, I doubted my abilities and teaching methods because after many years I still couldn't achieve a perfect score on the written exam," the male teacher confessed.

Mr. Luyen Quang Kien recently achieved a score of 9.0 in reading and writing, 8.5 in listening and speaking, and 8.5 in writing, for a total IELTS score of 9.0 in his latest attempt.

Having taken the IELTS exam for the first time in 2014 to complete his job application and achieving a total score of 7.5, Kien said he "shifted direction" from teaching conversational English to preparing students for international certification exams in 2017.

From that experience, Kien estimates he takes the IELTS exam about 5-10 times a year. According to Kien, test preparation teachers need to constantly test themselves with real exams to validate their teaching methods, especially since IELTS has many different question types. "Therefore, I still retake the exam even though I achieved a 9.0 IELTS score on my first attempt in March 2022," he shared.

Given the increasing trend of students taking the IELTS exam early, Mr. Kien advises each student to create a study plan that suits their level of urgency, goals, strengths, and weaknesses.

Because the amount of knowledge taught in school is quite large, according to him, exam preparation schedules need to be designed with "breaks" for absorbing information through memorization and application, avoiding continuous studying which leads to inefficiency. "Students should study all skills equally – listening, speaking, reading, and writing – and pay attention to reviewing vocabulary," the male teacher advised.

Avoid making drastic measures.

To achieve optimal IELTS results, Mr. Kien advises candidates to master the different skills for each section of the test. Candidates should also focus on simplicity and sophistication rather than using sophisticated vocabulary or complex structures.

IDP congratulates Quang Kien on his IELTS score of 9.0.

Meanwhile, a teacher in Hanoi believes that if candidates want to improve their English skills, they need to learn, enjoy, and work with it—that is, live in the language every day instead of just focusing on studying.

Specifically, to improve English listening and reading skills, the owner of the 9.0 IELTS score noted that the first step is to learn pronunciation well, possibly by practicing on reputable YouTube channels. Reading habits should also be developed to improve vocabulary, which Kien recommends for 20-30 minutes each day. "When vocabulary and pronunciation are strengthened, listening skills will develop accordingly," he concluded, adding that he often entertains himself by watching news channels, television programs, and movies in English.

When it came to the listening test, the male teacher asserted that the key to achieving a perfect score was understanding the questions. For the reading section, candidates had various approaches, such as reading the entire passage and then finding the answers, skimming, scanning, or comparing their answers to the questions as they read. "Each method has its own advantages, and candidates should apply each to find their own 'truth.' Personally, I support the last approach because it saves time and avoids missing any answers," he explained.

Quang Kien (in the black shirt) taught an IELTS preparation class in 2019.

In terms of speaking skills, the Hanoi teacher practiced singing and rapping in English to learn how to naturally reduce sounds, connect sounds, and use intonation. He also read aloud and imitated actors' voices in movies to learn how to pause and stop when speaking. "Once I was able to communicate, I would often retell or silently repeat what I had heard or read to practice thinking fluently in English. And I still regularly practice these habits to this day," Kien said.

During the speaking test, the male teacher commented that one shouldn't think about impressing the examiner with sophisticated vocabulary because this can easily lead to many negative consequences, such as the examiner looking confused because they don't understand.

"Think of the exam as a pleasant exchange and focus on clearly expressing your point of view using easy-to-understand vocabulary that is relevant to the topic. Another important point is that almost everyone will make mistakes, even those aiming for a 9.0, so don't panic if you make a mistake," Kien advised.

After dozens of attempts at the IELTS exam, Quang Kien finally achieved a perfect score of 9.0 in the writing skill.

Writing is the male teacher's favorite part of the exam. According to Mr. Kien, a good essay requires logical thinking, multi-faceted observation, critical thinking, and, most importantly, precise and subtle writing. "My essays almost never use advanced or rare vocabulary, or long sentences with complex structures. What I focus on is choosing words and grammar that can emphasize or soften an opinion to convey the right nuance, sometimes even with just a very short sentence," he explained.

Regarding the writing section, the Hanoi teacher advised candidates to learn how to handle each type of question. For the first part, with questions containing data, Mr. Kien advised candidates to summarize the information, add data to clarify, and compare necessary points such as highest, lowest, equal, or surpassing. For the essay section, candidates need to know how to present evidence and draw conclusions. "Many students write 2-3 sentences without drawing a conclusion, or use examples that are irrelevant to their argument," he warned.

After achieving an IELTS score of 9.0 four times, Mr. Kien said he will continue to read more specialized materials and take the exam again in the future to improve the effectiveness of his teaching methods.

Having taught alongside Quang Kien in his IELTS preparation courses since 2020, Pham Thi Thu Huyen (23 years old, residing in Thai Binh City) is most impressed by the male teacher's thirst for knowledge and his never-ending pursuit of learning. Huyen says that in some months, Kien takes the IELTS exam twice in a row to test new teaching methods. "Therefore, the materials and lectures in class are always updated to be as effective as possible," she shared.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/thay-giao-ha-noi-4-lan-dat-90-ielts-185230601142857448.htm