Are you planning to move abroad for higher studies or better planning? The very first concern that would come to your mind is IELTS and its test preparation. Usually, the time required for IELTS test preparation depends on your English competencies, your goal and your determination.
One of the most important factors of IELTS is the scoring system. Every universities criterion differs and acquiring maximum bands might not be one of them. Thus, even with little time to prepare for IELTS at home, you can achieve your goals.
Three keys to IELTS test preparation: Set realistic goals, prepare a study plan and rigorously follow it.
Table of Contents
HOW TO START IELTS PREPARATION?
Step 1: Understand the IELTS Exam Format
Understand the exam format. Knowing what to expect from the exam, the time needs to dedicate for each section and how to handle each part is the key to successfully passing the IELTS exam. It is divided into 4 main sections described as below:
1.Listening
Purpose: It tests your listening skills and how well you can understand the speaker’s intention and opinion.
Duration: 30 minutes + 10 minutes to transfer the answers.
2.Reading
Purpose: It requires you to read three different texts to judge your general understanding of the passage and its basic idea. It also tests your ability to identify the opinion and purpose of the passage.
Duration: 60 minutes
3.Writing
Purpose: The score depends on various factors including proper use of grammar and vocabulary, organization of ideas and appropriate response.
Duration: 60 minutes
4.Speaking
Purpose: An interviewer will judge your communication skills, your ability to coherently express your thoughts and converse your ideas.
Duration: 11-14 minutes approximately
Once you gain a general understanding of the IELTS exam structure, gathering the study material is easy. From IELTS preparation books and videos to mock tests and IELTS mobile app, lots of study material can be found online.
Step 2: Do you Need A Tutor?
Everyone has a unique learning style and different capabilities. Whether you can prepare by yourself or will need to opt for a tutor depends on two below questions:
1.Can I acquire the required band on my own?
Have you never attempted the IELTS exam but are confident to get the aimed band? Are you struggling with the complicated exam structure? To achieve the band you aimed for you need to invest your energy, resources and time. Determine whether you’ll be able to do it without a qualified tutor or not and you’ll have your answer.
2.Will I be able to afford tuition fees?
The answer depends from person to person. Many students believe that if they study on their own and do not hire a tutor, they’ll save money. However, if you aren’t prepared well and fail to get the required band, you might need to retake the exam resulting in extra time and money. Thus, it’s better to make a small investment in the beginning than to end up spending more in the end.
The choice is all yours! If you are confident that you can prepare it without a tutor, start curating IELTS study material and study them. Also analyzing your strength and weakness is the key to success.
Step 3: Preparing for Writing Task
Even a few native speakers struggle with the writing task. Thus, it’s best in your interest to learn and practice writing from the very beginning.
- Understand the format and structure of every essay type which can be asked
- Go through numerous sample questions and answers
- Learn and improve your vocabulary
- Practice writing on different topics
- Do self-assessment. Ask for peer review for better feedback on your writing quality
Step 4: Start Preparing for Listening
Now it’s time for you to become a good listener. You need to practice and concentrate a lot to ace this section. Below exercises should help:
- Know everything about the format and the timings
- Listen to podcasts and TED talks. Pay detailed attention to the repetitions, pauses, intonation and words
- Practice free IELTS tests available online
- Quickly run through the questions before the audio begins
- Practice writing answers while the audio plays
- Remember the audio isn’t repeated, so don’t waste coming back to the questions missed
- Make yourself familiar with different accents by listening to different English speaking countries
Step 5: Preparing for Reading
Reading is easier as compared to listening and writing but reading long texts and responding within the time limit demands practice. Below are tips that can help ace this section:
- Make yourself aware of the different tasks and time management.
- Start reading various English articles, novels and start paying more attention to phrases, new words and main idea
- Practice online IELTS reading sections
- Go through the instructions clearly and not miss the details
- Divide your tasks into parts and allocate time for them accordingly
- Compare your responses to correct answers and analyse them
Step 6: Speaking Preparation
This is one of the trickiest sections. Don’t let yourself be stressed or else it will become almost impossible to talk to an examiner. Learning the format can help let go of stress.
- Make yourself aware of the speaking assessment criteria and have a look at the sample questions
- Record your speech and evaluate. Pay attention to how to improve the sentence structure and pronunciation
- Notice your body movement. Practice while looking into a mirror will help you become a confident speaker
- Work on your vocabulary
- Ask someone’s help to assess your pronunciation, answers and sentence structure
Step 7: Analysis
Analyse your progress to evaluate how much you have understood the exam formats and progressed in studying the materials.
- Take a practice test and identify your weak and strong section
- Analyse the mistakes made and how you can improve
- Check some credible resources to revise the IELTS format information you might’ve missed
This will help you gain a better understanding of which area you need to work on more and spend the rest of your time improving those sections.
Step 8: Focus on Overall Skills
Work towards improving the skills you lack. After step 7, you are more likely to understand the skills you lack and in which area, so you just need to devote time working on those skills. The 3 main aspects of the IELTS test is:
- Grammar
- Pronunciation
- Vocabulary
Step 9: Practice
Practice every section multiple times to improve your skills and clear the IELTS with the required bands. It is advisable to take multiple full tests to improve your time management, identify the sections where improvement is required and build confidence while appearing for the actual exam.
Remember:
- Time is key in IELTS. Practising full test will help you learn time management
- You need to listen and mark correct answers at the same time
- Create strategies that will help address all the questions in a limited time
Step 10: Revise and Recollect
This is the last and most crucial step where you revise your knowledge and evaluate. While you are ready to appear for the exam day, there are a few other things which you need to take care of:
- You need to bring the photo identity proof provided with the application form
- Check beforehand how to reach the examination centre
- Wear comfortable and presentable clothes
HOW TO KEEP YOURSELF FOCUSED DURING IELTS TEST PREPARATION
Concentration can be tricky at times. The below tips can help you maintain your concentration and focus only on IELTS for that particular period:
- Make a schedule and develop a routine.
- Allocate a proper study place. Don’t study in bed, it will hinder your concentration
- Get rid of all the distractions, such as computers, TV, cell phone, etc.
- Avoid anxious thoughts. While it can appear anytime, it’s better to not let your mind wander somewhere else
- Breaks are important. Schedule small breaks at regular time intervals so you don’t get tired and lose focus
- Sleep well. It will increase your concentration and focus
- Have a proper meal which includes lots of soups, salads, fruits etc.
BENEFICIAL RESTING
When you need to ace your IELTS exams and you opt to prepare for IELTS at home, it’s best to surround yourself with English speaking environment. Here’s how you can do that.
- Listen to English songs, watch English movies and read novels
- Hang out more with English speaking colleagues
- You can even play games in English
- Download IELTS Mobile App and other English practice apps
CONCLUSION:
If you follow the above plan and practice enough with IELTS Sample Questions, you’ll start feeling more confident about your IELTS exam. Clearing the IELTS exam with desired bands is not rocket science. With a little bit of hard work, concentration, time management and discipline, you can fulfil your dream of moving abroad easily! If you need any extra help, you can opt for IELTS online coaching for a personalised consultation and IELTS test preparation program.
