Preparing for your test can be daunting and leave you feeling incredibly overwhelmed about where to begin. The following tips could be useful to get you started.
Take a practice test
Start preparations by taking a practice test to begin with and identify your weaknesses. This is a critical part in your initial preparation that will help establish where your strengths and weaknesses are. Not only is it necessary to improve on your weaknesses, but it is equally essential to build up on your strengths to create a solid foundation for the examination.
However, if you struggle to refrain from these mistakes or are unable to clearly identify them, you definitely need an expert by your side.
Most test-takers consider taking an IELTS preparation course, one of the easiest ways to approach the test, as it focuses solely on getting you exam-ready for IELTS.
Understand the test format
Before you begin practicing, it’s extremely important that you know what to expect of the test format. Familiarize yourself with it by reviewing the content of the test, as well as the question and task types for each section.
Remember the key to success in any examination and not just IELTS is a sound familiarity with the test pattern and format.
Be aware of the exam time constraints
The clear understanding you develop regarding the test structure, the higher your chances are to completing it successfully within the allocated time frame. Conduct your preparation under timed conditions, so you become accustomed to the pace of the test.
Remember the IELTS test has a time limit and you will only have the time given for each module. If you are unable to complete the modules within the allocated time or if you cannot concentrate accordingly due to the timing pressure, you are unlikely to succeed.
Develop your English capabilities and IELTS strategies
One of the biggest mistakes students often make is to focus only on IELTS. They do a lot of IELTS practice tests but they forget to improve their English. As such, your English is expected to be top-notch. Keep in mind that learning IELTS is a process.
On average, it takes 12 weeks to move up a score band by one point. Start preparing for your test at least before 3 to 6 months. We highly recommend finding an institution which will help you with English development and IELTS strategies.
Multitask when listening in English
It’s obvious that the IELTS test is demanding and the listening module is no different. You will have to provide answers to 40 questions throughout four recordings. The recordings will be played only once. Typical questions include sentence completion, summary completion, form completion and multiple choice.
It is not surprising to get lost during a conversation, but you need to recover fast or you will miss all the questions of that task afterwards. Hence, it is essential to understand how to follow a conversation, even if you miss something and how you can recover to continue answering the next questions.
You are also expected to understand what type of information to supply depending on the question type.
Develop a wide range of reading skills
The sole purpose of the reading module is to test a wide range of reading skills. You should read for gist, main ideas, detail, skimming, understanding logical argument, and recognizing writers’ opinions, attitudes and purpose.
Test takers have to provide short answers, match information, complete sentences, match headings or complete diagram labels. Use appropriate and assertive English terms while writing.
Both tasks in the academic training must be written in a formal style. Speak with fluency or coherence in direct communication. This test is less than 15 minutes long and is split into three parts. The first 5 minutes are reserved for introduction and general topics between the test taker and the examiner. The second part assesses the test taker’s ability to speak about a random topic given on a task card.
The last part merely adds complexity to the second. At this stage, the examiner will also pay attention to pronunciation, lexical resource and fluency. Practicing each part under exam conditions is essential to your test preparation and will get used to the pressure you will have during the test. Remember that your knowledge is not assessed but your English language proficiency is.
Immerse yourself in English
Expose yourself to as much language as you can alongside your test preparation. Read things that interest you in English, online magazines or blogs can be a great place to start.
Write some English every day, by writing a diary, keeping a blog or communicating with an online community such as people on a Facebook group that share an interest with you.
Listen to native speakers talking to one another and if possible join in. Try the ‘shadowing’ technique. This involves repeating what someone has just said in English. This will help with pronunciation, intonation and stress.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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