How Studying Abroad Can Change Your Life

Students from different parts of the world always are on the lookout for the next best thing in education. There are several different universities all over the world that specializes in various subjects. This is one of the best possible ways in which you as a student will be able to gain a wide velocity of knowledge and excel in a particular field.

For many students, going abroad for education can be a life-changing experience.

The students who study abroad may get opportunity to conquer new challenges and solve new problems. You may encounter unfamiliar situations and learn to respond in an efficient way. Studying in foreign land also provides you a chance to make friends from around the world. The interaction with people of diverse cultures enables you to see your own culture through a new outlook. You may return home with new beliefs and ideas about yourself that may boost up your confidence. You become familiar with a completely new academic system. Studying abroad may set you apart from the competition of other job applicants.

Studying abroad is a long cherished dream of many students. Different universities offer different opportunities based on their areas of emphasis. An online analysis of the College stats can help you in selecting the best college.

 College dorm living can give students the first taste of independence. The students who study away from home undergo an adaptation process that can be very advantageous for them in future.

 Besides the enthusiasm of travel, another reason to study in a foreign country is that you can experience new customs, foods, holidays, art and music. You can learn about different people, cultures and their languages. There is no more effective way to learn a language than to immerse in the culture that speaks the language. Students who personally experience the cultural differences can know the origin of the other cultures. By studying abroad, you are much closer to places that you might not have visited otherwise. Academic breaks as well as weekends allow you to venture out and explore new places. Some of the study programs even plan field trips in or around the curriculum.

 Studying abroad is quite affordable and practical way of getting good exposure and experience. This exposure and experience helps students in landing in great jobs.

 Today, almost every student who wants to achieve something in life wishes to go abroad for pursuing higher studies. There is so much that one gains from studying abroad in terms of experience and exposure that a student can certainly reach great heights in his or her career. The experience that you get when you study in Canada, for instance, changes your perspective from being local to global. Your attitude also changes and you become more practical in your approach. 

 There are students who are under the false notion that study in abroad is quite expensive and that they cannot afford it. They also believe that going abroad for pursuing higher education is quite a difficult thing to do and they cannot do it. On the contrary, the fact is that studying abroad is not very expensive. It is also not very difficult as some of the students assume it to be. Hiring the services of an education consultant can make things quite easy to organize and also quite affordable. 

 Most of the companies today are looking for people who have good command over at least two languages. The market value of those students who can speak a second language fluently is much higher than those who cannot. This is one thing in which you can greatly benefit from studying abroad. You get to know another language of another country and mastering it will certainly enhance your market value. For instance, if you already know English and learn French while you study in Europe, you will easily be able to get good jobs as soon as you pass out.

 Getting practical experience while you study in UK can be of immense value. This can help you in gaining some invaluable experience, which could land you in great jobs. Some countries such as Australia permit the students to work and earn in their country while pursuing their education. This helps the students in significantly reducing the expense of studying abroad while providing them with great practical experience of working overseas. Earning also significantly helps to increase the confidence level of a student who performs better and is able to organize the available resources in a much better way.

Therefore, studying abroad should not be considered to be expensive and unaffordable. On the contrary, it is quite affordable and not as expensive as you think it to be. The benefits of studying abroad certainly outweigh the drawbacks of it and the student gets a chance of landing in the best possible jobs.

Most of us dream to study abroad but only few eventually realize it. Reason: the tedious formalities involved in the admission process. We at Edwise identify your interest and strengths, channelize them and help you reach your goal. With 25 years of experience in overseas education we are an all round solution for all your overseas education needs

For any queries on Study Abroad, visit the nearest Edwise office or contact us on 1-800-200-3678 / 08600911333.

Important information for IELTS Exam

The International English Language Testing System is recognised as a means of assessing the language ability of candidates who need to study or work where English is the language of communication. The IELTS is further divided into four parts Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking

What Is The Test Format

IELTS consists of four components. There is a choice of Reading and Writing tests according to whether a candidate is taking the academic or general training module. However, the listening and speaking tests remain the same for all candidates

The test is taken in the following order:

• Listening has four sections, and 40 questions, with a total of 30 minutes allotted for this section

• Academic Reading/ General Reading consists of 3 sections, with 60 minutes for this task

• Academic Writing/ General Writing consists of 2 tasks, for which a time of 60 minutes is given

• Speaking is divided into three parts and a time of 11 to 14 minutes is allotted for this task

Listening consists of four sections, with ten questions in each section. These questions can range from multiple choice, matching, to plan/map diagram labelling, form completion, summary completion, short answer questions. Candidates can listen to the recording just once and are required to note down the answers as they listen. The candidates have ten minutes to transfer their answers to the answer sheet

Academic Reading consists of three sections with 40 questions. These texts are based on topics of general interest. One text contains a detailed argument. This section has a variety of question types that include multiple choice, True/False/Not given, matching information, matching headings, matching features, sentence completion, table completion, diagram label completion, short answer questions

General Training Reading consists of three sections with 40 questions. These texts are taken from notices, advertisements, leaflets, newspapers, instruction manuals, books and magazines. The question type for this section is similar to that of the academic reading

Academic Writing consists of two tasks. Candidates are required to spend 20 minutes on task 1, which requires them to write 150 words, and 40 minutes on Task 2, which requires them to write 250 words

In Task 1 requires candidates to present information by looking at a diagram or graph. They are assessed on how well they organise and compare data, describe the stages of a process

In Task 2, candidates are presented with a point of view. They are assessed on their ability to present a solution to the problem, while at the same time express their own opinions and provide reasons for the same

General Training Writing consists of two tasks. Candidates should spend about 20 minutes on task 1 and 40 minutes on task 2, with a word count of 150 words and 250 words respectively

In Task 1, candidates are asked to respond to a situation with a letter requesting information or explaining the situation. They are assessed on how well they engage in personal correspondence and provide general factual information, express needs, complaints, opinions etc

In Task 2, candidates are presented with a point of view. They are assessed on their ability to present a solution to the problem, while at the same time express their own opinions and provide reasons for the same

Speaking consists of three parts, and assesses how effectively candidates can communicate in English. It takes into account the fluency, grammatical accuracy and pronunciation

 In Part 1, the candidate is asked to introduce themselves. They then answer general questions about themselves, their family, job, studies, interests and a range of similar topic areas

In Part 2, the candidate is given a task card and is asked to speak on a particular topic. The candidate has one minute to take down notes if they wish to and has to speak on the topic for about two minutes

In Part 3, the examiner and the candidate engage in discussion which are linked to the topic in Part 2

How Can A Candidate Decide Which Training Module To Give

• Candidates who wish to study at an undergraduate or postgraduate level or those seeking professional registration take the Academic Training Module

• Candidates that wish to migrate to an English speaking country like Australia, UK, Canada, New Zealand and for those who wish to study at below degree level take the General Training Module

Edwise provide coaching on IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, GMAT, GRE and SAT. For complete information & enrolment, contact us on 1-800-200-3678 / 08600911333.

Tips on SAT Verbal

How is the Test organized?

The redesigned SAT has four tests, the essay is optional. The breakdown is as follows

• Reading consists of 52 questions with a time of 65 minutes alloted for this section
• Writing and Language consist of 44 questions, with a time of 35 minutes alloted for this section
• The Essay is optional consists of 1 task, with a time of 50 minutes for this task
• Math consists of 58 questions, and has a total of 80 minutes for this section

Reading Test Passages

• The SAT will have passages from a wide range of subject areas, devote more practice time to the types of passages you're less comfortable reading

• Two passages on the SAT Reading Test will include one or two informational graphics- tables, charts or graphs. These questions will assess your skills in locating and interpreting information within the text

• Always ensure that you base your answer on an option closer to the reading

• All the information you need to answer the questions can be found in the passage themselves or in supplementary materials. Be careful not to apply outside knowledge to the passage or questions, as this may interfere with your intepretation of the text

• Keywords in the question will often clue you in on whether you're being asked about a detail that was mentioned in the passage or suggested by the passage

• While interpreting words and phrases, do not rely solely on your vocabulary knowledge. Words often have multiple definitions, so be sure to consider the context in which the word of phrase is being used

Writing and Language

Each passage will be headed by a title in boldface type. The passage is spread across multiple pages. Most questions are anchored to a particular location in the passage via a boxed question number in the passage. If the boxed number stands alone, the associated question will tell you what to do, such as consider adding a sentence at that point. At other times, this boxed number will be followed by an underlined text; for these you will have to consider which of the four answer options is correct in  terms of standard written english

• All questions on the Writing and Language Test are multiple choice with four answer options

• All questions are passage based, consider each question in the context of the passage before selecting your answer

• Some questions include a “No change” option; choose this option if you think the original text is the apt choice

Essay

The redesigned SAT essay requires candidates to analyze an argument in order to explain how the author builds his or her argument to persuade an audience. You  are not asked to take a stance on the topic. The support that you provide for your analysis will not come from your own prior knowledge, opinions or experiences, but rather found in the reading passage

• The essay does not ask you to take a stand on the issue

• The scores that you receive will reflect your criteria in reading, analysis and writing

• Ensure that you understand what the essay is asking you to do

• The main focus of your essay should focus on how the author develops an argument that is persuasive

• An essay that provides strong analysis of well chosen points is likely to score better

Edwise provide coaching on IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, GMAT, GRE and SAT. For complete information & enrolment, contact us on 1-800-200-3678 / 08600911333.

Can you work and study… and still have a life?

Many students take on part-time work to earn extra cash for travel to make new friends, improve their language skills, or network their way into a new career. But is it really possible to combine work with study, do well in your course… and still have a life?

What are the secrets to work-study-life balance? Can you really fit it all in?

Finding balance

To be successful, you need to set clear goals and find a balance between work and play. Every person has 168 hours a week. It sounds like a lot, but a full-time degree course may take up 30 to 40 of those hours.

Studies have shown that students who work between 10 and 15 hours per week can manage their full-time study and their work. If you work longer, you may find it more stressful – and your study and results may suffer. So even if your student visa allows you to work 20 hours per week, this may not be ideal.

Finding the right type of work

What is your main goal for working? If it is to earn money, you’ll want to find a job that pays reasonably well, even if it is flexible or part-time. Temp jobs, where you may fill a short-term position full-time during the summer holidays, may be one option. If you already have skills and experience you may be able to freelance – as a research assistant or graphic designer, for example.

If you want something less stressful, an on-campus job (especially an office admin position) may be more suitable. It will save you time commuting, and you may feel safer working on campus.

If you’d rather leave your work to the weekends, and focus on study during the weeks, you might be able to pick up work in a café or bar, or in a retail store, or even work on seasonal events or festivals. This may be less lucrative than an office job, but there are other benefits such as staff discounts. It may also be more sociable, which is great if you want to make new friends or learn more about your new country’s culture.

There are other types of temporary jobs during holiday breaks, such as seasonal fruit picking or farm work. It can be physically hard work, but it is a great way to see a different part of the country.

If your main goal is to network in your industry, meet people and improve your CV, then an internship may provide great experience and hands-on training – but it may not be a paid one.

Six Tips to Fitting it all in

1. Plan your time. Use one calendar only, for all your personal, study and work commitments. Make a note of all your due dates and exams.

2. Write down how much time you need to spend each week on each activity, and enter all your regular weekly commitments into your calendar – even the really obvious ones.

3. Leave some free time. Sometimes things don’t go to plan, and you need to be flexible. Research for an assignment could take longer, the train may be delayed, or you may need to see a doctor.

4. Set yourself a homework hour every night. Attend classes; keep on top of the small stuff, so it won’t pile up into big stuff. Got a spare half hour? Do some quick revision – don’t go on Facebook!

5. Wake up half an hour earlier. Sounds so simple. But that gives you an extra 3.5 hours a week!

6. Set yourself small achievable goals every day or every week. And reward yourself with some personal time when you achieve them. Because it’s not all just about work and study – it’s also about you and your life!

Have you now realized you can’t actually fit it all in without sacrificing sleep? Don’t panic. You need to assign a level of urgency and a level of importance to every activity.

For example, an assignment worth 40% and due tomorrow is both urgent and important. But if it is due in 4 weeks, it is not so urgent. Answering an email straight away is urgent, but of lower importance than that assignment. Cleaning the house before studying is neither important nor urgent.

This lets you prioritize. And then you may decide you don’t need to do that task at all!

Prioritizing can be difficult. Accept that you’re doing the best you can, and feel positive about the choices you make.

If you give unimportant things a high priority, you might prevent yourself from achieving your important goals. And the most important reason you are studying abroad is just – to study and succeed.

For any queries, Contact Edwise on 1-800-200-3678 (Toll Free) / 08600911333.