[clivehawkins]

I don't think so.
A student who understands how the exam is structured and what the examiner is looking for will almost always score better than a student of a reasonably higher level without the exam preparation.

This is based on experience of TOEFL, Trinity and Cambridge exam preparation experience.

[Denis DNT]

Quote clivehawkins

I don't think so.
A student who understands how the exam is structured and what the examiner is looking for will almost always score better than a student of a reasonably higher level without the exam preparation.

This is based on experience of TOEFL, Trinity and Cambridge exam preparation experience.

How would you feel if your best student in class failed to get even a 5 in any of the sections of an IELTS exam?

[michèle 2]

[A student who understands how the exam is structured and what the examiner is looking for will almost always score better than a student of a reasonably higher level without the exam preparation.
I agree with you. I've a student who is training to take a TOEIC test next week and we've done 5 complete tests so far. the more she trained the better she is and her score is much better than two weeks ago. So I'm sure she will get a good score next week but her level in English isn't high. And she knows that even if she gets a good score for the TOEIC she will have to study English afterwards. Personally I think that a student should be tested on his /her speaking abilities and perhaps an essay on current topics to test writing.