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PTE Preparation Course
January 13, 2022
January 13, 2022

PTE Test Preparation

PTE Academic is an English language test, the scores of which can be used as English proficiency proof for international studies. The test is online computer-based and is conducted throughout the year.

Preparation of the PTE exam

The PTE exam preparation involves understanding the question types and training each section individually. Practising more questions and honing time management can help you score the perfect score.

PTE Academic and PTE academic

PTE entails two types of tests, including PTE General Training and PTE Academic Training. These courses have four components which are reading, writing, listening, and speaking. These four components are used to identify a student’s English language skills.

Both these types of tests have varying differences. The PTE General general test does not expire after the result is obtained. On the other hand, the PTE Academic test expires two years from the date of issue. 

Also, the PTE Academic test is for students interested to study in international universities/ colleges. This test can be taken throughout the year based on the exam slots available.

The PTE General test is for those planning on working abroad. It can only be taken only thrice a year.

Exam fees, cancellation, and rescheduling fees

The exam fee for PTE in India is $ 170, and an additional 15% tax is coupled with bank charges. In case of cancellation of the application before 14 days of the exam, the candidate will be refunded the entire sum. The cancellation seven days before the exam can cost you 50% of the sum. Similarly, rescheduling charges are nil if done 14 days before the exam date and 50% of the sum if done between 14-7 days before the exam.

Registration process

Registration for PTE is done online through the official website – PTE academic. Create an account on the website and include the details, test centre, and date of choice. Once this is done, you can proceed with payment and conclude the registration process.

Time required for preparation

The time required for preparation depends on your current English language fluency. An applicant with average fluency requires about 5-6 weeks of preparation to score fairly on the PTE test.

Study material and course books

The PTE test preparation in India can be done with the help of an institute or by self-preparation. The study material available for the preparation is The official guide for PTE Academic, Practice Test Plus of Pearson Test of English Academic, PTE academic 79 plus I, two full-length practice tests with keys. You can also log in to ptestudy.in to get access to practice tests.

How to prepare for the Reading section

The reading section has the following parts:

  • Multiple-choice questions with single and multiple right answers 

The multiple-choice questions with single answers have no negative markings, while the ones with multiple right answers have negative markings, so it is important to answer accordingly. Your PTE preparation course should involve a mixture of both types for better practice. For both types, make sure to read the comprehension carefully, and the answer is mostly hidden in the first two lines of it. 

  • Filling blanks 

There is no negative marking in this section which gives you the liberty to make the most probable answer. Look for synonyms in the passage to find a close clue.

  • Reordering paragraphs 

Read carefully to get a general idea of the paragraph. A few things to remember are that sentences with pronouns do not come first, and contradictory sentences beginning with words like ‘but’ follow a positive sentence.

How to prepare for the Listening section

The listening section is further divided into:

  • Summary 

The summary should not cross over 70 words for the algorithm to interpret well. Listen carefully to find the gist of the audio and summarise it with appropriate grammar. Comprehension comes with practice, and good PTE training can help you with that. 

  • MCQs 

Marking answers to all the questions in this section can be tempting but make sure to only answer the ones you are completely sure of. This section has negative markings and can cost you additional mark loss in case of wrong answers. 

  • Filling the blanks 

For this section, make sure to note down the relevant words while listening to the audio to avoid wasting time. 

  • Highlighting the correct summary 

The best way to tackle this section is by elimination method. Comprehend the audio carefully and eliminate the incorrect options to find the right one.

  • Highlighting the incorrect words

This section seems comparatively easy but can be a bit tricky due to the negative marking feature. Make sure to double-check before selecting the option. 

  • Noting down from dictation 

The dictation section requires taking notes appropriately. Practice by listening to podcasts and audio from YouTube and taking notes.

  • Choosing the missing word

Listen to the audio carefully first and try to interpret the general idea. Then it would be easy to identify and fill in the missing word.

Tips to prepare for the PTE exam

Preparing for the PTE exam is necessary for both, those who are not so fluent versus those who are fluent in English. This is because the exam has a certain format of attending to it as explained above. So, if you are not prepared, you might not get the ideal score that you deserve.

Here are a few tips you can use to prepare for the PTE exam:

  1. Plan and categorise how much you will learn at a time
  2. Keep attempting practice papers to understand the format and boost your confidence
  3. Study vocabulary thoroughly and focus on the subjects
  4. Make sure not to ignore the other subject
  5. Use good materials for studying
  6. Understand the types of questions that will be asked

How to prepare for the Writing section?

The writing section of the PTE is divided into two main components – summarising section and the essay.

In summary, you need to read the text carefully and provide a short 40-45 words summary with perfect grammar and spelling. The summary should be kept short for the algorithm to read and score better. Practice reading more for this section and work on your grammar nuances to ace this section.

For someone proficient in grammar, scoring a perfect 90 in this section is easy. If you are worried about your grammar part, just ensure that you do not make simple mistakes like not capitalising proper nouns or not using appropriate punctuation. With eventual practice, it is very much possible for anybody to score at least 70 in this section.

The essay section requires crisp writing with perfect grammar and punctuation. Practise all three categories, pros-cons, opinion essay, and problem essay, well to be able to easily appear in this section. Identify the type of essay, build a framework, and start writing; this is the best strategy for the essay section. The framework should include an introduction, body, and conclusion section with examples or statistics in the body section. The total word count should not exceed 300 words.

The whole details of the test can be a bit overwhelming for a new applicant. But with practice and guidance, you can score well in the exam. Expert Education can help you with exam preparation by guiding you all through.

IELTS Modules
January 13, 2022
January 13, 2022

IELTS Training Centre

IELTS, or International English Language Testing System in India, is a commonly applied examination by students applying for international universities. The exam scores are accepted in most English-speaking countries like the United States, Canada, Australia and the UK.

Expert Education helps with IELTS preparation and has several branches nationwide. 

IELTS Exam- types

The two types of IELTS exams include IELTS academic and IELTS general. The first type is for anyone wishing to study in English-speaking countries, while IELTS general is for candidates wishing to relocate to English-speaking countries.

IELTS – Eligibility

Any candidate over the age of 16 can apply for IELTS. There is no prerequisite for any educational qualifications as such to be eligible for the exam.

Exam fees, cancellation, and rescheduling fees

The exam fee is approx 15,500 rupees. The cancellation fees with a partial deduction are only applicable if the applicant cancels five weeks prior to the exam date. An amount equivalent to 25% of the total paid amount will be deducted as cancellation fees if cancelled five weeks prior to the exam date. 

Rescheduling the exam is possible if done five weeks prior to the applied exam date. The candidate can reschedule within three months of the current applied date by paying 3000 rupees.

Syllabus and paper pattern

The exam is particularly divided into reading, writing, listening and speaking sections. The syllabus for these sections is mostly based on current happenings and general texts. The exam focuses on judging the understanding and usage capability of the English language of the applicant to be able to thrive well in the English native countries.

Registration process

Registration for (IELTS) the international English language testing system in India, can be done online and offline. 

The online registration process is easy and involves only three steps. Create an account on the official IELTS website, select the date and slot of choice for your examination and make the payment to complete the registration.

Download the form from the website for offline registration and fill in the details, including the exam centre and slot choice. There are over 80 centres spread across India, so select the nearest one from your location. Then submit the form along with the fees in the form of a demand draft in favour of the official IDP office or make the payment in cash in any ICICI branch.

Preparation tips for the IELTS exam

IELTS preparation is more of a habitual one than a one-time preparation. The major chunk of the exam is based on our day-to-day life. Reading newspapers and articles and listening to podcasts is a great way to start preparing for the exam regularly. 

The best way to gain a good score is to work on weaknesses. And practice is the only way by which you can find your weaknesses. 

  • Speaking section 

This section assesses your English language speaking skills, mainly concentrating on the fluency and expressibility factors. Since English isn’t the first language of most residing Indians, a little practice with consistency is required to ace this section. The students are assessed for about 11- 14 minutes on their conversation skills across the themes decided by the examiner. 

It is ideal for warming up at least 15-20 minutes before the assessment by talking about some relevant topics in the English language and consciously noting the grammar and pronunciation. Try listening to podcasts in English and talking only in English for at least a day before the exam to be in the same zone. 

Focus on making no mistakes rather than trying to show off your vocabulary with exemplary words and making silly mistakes. This conscious speaking is critical and must be included in your IELTS preparation course. 

  • Reading section 

The reading section of the exam judges how well you can comprehend the given text. Make a habit of reading different tests every day, whether blogs, newspaper articles, books, or blog posts, for at least half an hour. While you read, try summarising the text, quick reading, and finishing important points. To cultivate your interest in the beginning, stick to the topics you are fond of and then diversify eventually. Also, do not leave out practising the exam format; this will save a lot of time on exam day.

  • Listening section 

The listening section assesses your comprehension skills. Listen to the audio carefully and try to understand the gist. Toggle between the audio and the questions to find the appropriate answer quickly. Practice listening to different audio types every day to gain quality marks in this section. Since most of our first language is not English, the IELTS preparation class you choose should acquaint you with different accents and dialects to avoid confusion. 

  • Writing section 

The IELTS preparation course in India generally includes providing different topics to write and practise on. The quality of the written material is assessed, and suggestions are made for improvement. Practising regularly to write on different genre topics and reading more to be able to write better is the best way to train for the exam.

How to prepare for the exam- online and at home?

The IELTS exam can be prepared at the convenience of the home by accessing thorough right materials or joining a good course. Online IELTS preparation in India is the most opted kind due to its flexibility in class, test timing, and good quality. This allows the applicant to work and simultaneously prepare for the examination. By focusing on the right direction and practising, you can surely get the perfect score on the exam. 

  • Books available for preparation 

There is nothing better than a good book to supplement the course or self-preparatory aids. Some books that you can count on for IELTS preparation are English Vocabulary In Use, Road to IELTS, The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS, and Barron’s IELTS super pack. 

  • Score and validity 

The score for the exam applied is generally available within 14 days after the exam day. The candidates are scored based on their performance in each section, with each having a weightage of 25%. All the scores are culminated and drawn to a single-digit band score of range 0-9. The score is valid for two years after the result. 

  • Band score 

The band score is obtained by considering the marks of each section. For example, if the total market of all sections combined is 39-40, your band score is given 9. The entire scoring system is mentioned on the official website.

The band score describes your skill in the language. For example, if you scored a perfect 9, you are deemed to have mastery of the language, while a score of 6 indicates you have good command over the language but have yet to master it. 

Expert Education is a prominent education consultant in India. We have been helping many Indian students with their international study process, including the training for the IELTS exams. Contact us to get the right guidance and ace the exam.

Why prepare for IELTS with Expert Education?

Expert Education will ensure that you study with the objective of both learning the English language efficiently and getting a high score. You will be provided with experienced faculty to teach you in a classroom with a small size for an undivided attention and learning experience. You may register now with us to book your seat for IELTS test preparation.

What should student health insurance cover
January 11, 2022
January 11, 2022

Student Health Insurance

Now that you have secured admission, looking at the other aspects of the process is important. Visa application, health insurance, and accommodation arrangements are all as vital as university admission for you to study well and thrive there. Expert Education is the best education consultant in India, handling all these services with great efficiency for years.

Why is health insurance important for students studying abroad?

Healthcare is a very expensive affair abroad. Managing these expensive hospital bills without insurance coverage can be a huge burden. To secure the right treatment option without any compromise, students must get health insurance for the country they are applying to. The sudden climate change and food habits might not be an easy transition for all. Especially for Indian students starting to study in cold climate countries, the temperature switch can easily make them ill. Hence having health insurance is important.

University requirements for students’ health insurance

Health insurance is one of the many documents that are mandatory in most universities for admission. Many countries require valid health insurance during the visa application process. The criteria for different universities and countries are different, and these basic requirements should be fulfilled if you need your visa approval and admission into the university applied. 

The insurance cover plans range from $300 to $1000 a year. Finding the right insurance plan that is not very expensive but at the same time covers the basic requirements and meets the criteria of the country and university you are applying to can be tedious. Several insurance policies are available in the market for students planning abroad studies. Study the offer and the services covered and compare them with the other plans to find the right one. 

Many universities also provide health coverage for students in their scholarship scheme. Check with the university and enquire whether health insurance is provided along. Many consultants also provide study-abroad health insurance from a company they have a tie-up with. But this is not always a good option to choose, considering the additional monetary expense in most cases. Making a planned comparison and arriving at a conclusion can help you be on the winning side. 

Some important aspects your student health insurance should cover

As mentioned earlier, different universities and countries demand different covers in health insurance. But here are a few must-haves that need to be included respectively.

  • Doctors’ appointment 
  • Scans and Xrays 
  • Emergency hospitalisation 
  • Ambulance service 
  • Emergency dental treatment 
  • Other emergency services 

Pre-existing diseases like diabetes, genetic disorders, high blood pressure, and a history of any surgeries performed should be revealed while applying for health insurance. In case of failure of disclosure, the insurers will not pay for the claims of those related treatments. 

Expert Education has been guiding students with the admission process, their stay and insurance requirements for many years. Contact us to get a clear idea of the insurance and other processes.