The results for the official IETLS test held by UGM Language Center on Saturday, June 8, 2024 are out, and the UGM Language Center proudly congratulates all students for finishing the test with flying colors.
We interviewed one student of UGM Language Center, Prientananda Ghina Salsabila, who achieved a significant milestone by scoring an overall band score of 7.5 on the IELTS exam. Her journey is not only a testament to her dedication and hardwork but also highlights the broader implications of education in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This article will summarize Prientananda’s preparation, journey, her challenges, and how her success aligns with the global objectives of sustainable development.
During the interview, Prientananda expressed how blessed and grateful she felf after receiving her score that is in line with her target. However, she still has a strong desire to aim higher and improve her score, especially in writing. Prior to the test, Prientananda utilized English on a daily basis to familiarize herself and applied different approaches for practicing each IELTS skill. For reading, she read numerous academic texts, such as journals or news articles in international newspapers. During the test, she applied skimming before reading the full text. For listening, she watched multiple English movies without subtitles and listened to English songs while taking note of unfamiliar vocabularies. For speaking, she practiced with her peers and do a lot fo mock test to recall idioms, collocations, and advanced vocabularies. Lastly, she utilized linking devices and complex sentences during the exam in her writing to achieve maximal score. “To be able to write we have to read, to be able to speak we have to listen,” she shared. She also advised to learn and study long before the d-day to avoid anxiety and perform optimally during the test.
Like many non-native students, Prientananda found the writing section particularly challenging. She shared her difficulties as non-native speaker to get a high score despite already fulfilling the specific requirements, which she attributed to the difference of sentence arrangement between native and non-native as well as many unfamiliar academic vocabularies. However, she also mentioned how studying at UGM Language Center improved her initial score. “Fortunately, after the course, since a lot of mock tests have been given, I now know all the sections well, and so I don’t experience the same difficulty as I did anymore,” she shared.
Lastly, Prientananda also shared her gratitude for UGM Language Center that assisted her in improving her score. She expressed how IELTS is different from other tests and how one needs to understand many technical rules and tips/tricks beforehand to achieve desirable score, which are taught in the course. She also mentioned how the schedule is sometimes to tight to her liking, but nonetheless, learning at UGM Language Center has facilitated and prepared her for the test. Furthermore, she stated how UGM Language Center is flexible and willing to accept student’s suggestion and objection, which enhance the effectiveness of the course.
Prientananda’s journey exemplifies the impact of quality education on personal growth and success, aligning with SDG 4: Quality Education, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
