Want to study or migrate to the UK, Australia, New Zealand, USA, and Canada?

You have to take the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) when applying for a visa. IELTS is a language proficiency test which is compulsory for non-native students who apply to foreign universities.
It is mandatory for students/immigrants applying to the UK, Australia, New Zealand, USA, and Canada.

IELTS is one of the two prominent English-language tests in the world. Cambridge English Language Assessment, the British Council, and IDP Education Pvt. Ltd are agencies that manage the same.

This testing system that grades your English language skills based on four critical aspects of a language:

1. Speaking
2. Listening
3. Reading
4. Writing

Preparation means many hours of sitting and reading.

While there are a lot of different kinds of patterns people chose from, sometimes, the simple version helps in achieving better results.

Let’s break the studying process into the four categories you’ll be tested on:

Speaking

The speaking test takes place either before or later than the other three modules. It is a test that checks your confidence levels. If you have a few confidence tricks up your sleeve, now is the right time to get them into action.

The test duration is about 15 minutes and comprises of three sections. These are 

• Introduction
• Individual long turn
• Two-way conversation between examiner and examinee

Here are the top tips to keep in mind when undertaking this part of the test:

Make sure that you start and end the sentences well. How you begin, and end makes an impression on the examiner.

• Try and not repeat the words or sentences. It may not be grammatically wrong, but it doesn’t create a very good impression.
• It’s highly recommended that you practice at home. This can be done by talking to your pals on random subjects & topics. Do ask them to give feedback.
• Ideally, you should try to keep it simple and conversational. This way, your confidence is intact, which helps you create error-free sentences.
• It is critical that you get your pronunciation right. Try and listen to audio files on the pronunciation of difficult words.

All of these are simple activities that you can try at home. From watching sitcoms to connecting with friends or downloading an interactive app, you can quickly improve your speaking skills.

However, if you feel that you require more practice and need some serious training, do enrol for a certified training institute that specialises in IELTS training.

Listening

Though regarded as one of the most straightforward sections to tackle in IELTS, listening requires just a bit of detailed attention. For taking this part of the exam, you have to listen to 4 different recordings. Then you need to answer 40 questions within 30 minutes.

While easy, there is one tricky part of the set. You have to listen and write the answers at the same time. Acing the listening part of the exam has just one solution!

Practice!

 It’s advised that you take as many trial tests as possible before the actual exam. As mentioned above, the key to success is the focus. Listen to every single detail of the conversation that is being played out.

In this exam, if you lose focus for even a second, you will lose focus… And this means, you will miss out answering one or two questions. So, it is here that your score will come down.

What you should also do is master different accents of English. Here are a few quick tips:

• Try and listen to podcasts
• Follow English news channels
• View and hear English shows

For Fluency:

• Try to talk for a considerable long time
• Converse only in English
• Record your voice and hear yourself pronounce the words

For Pronunciation:

• Hear and watch spoken English radio/TV/ films)
• Try to repeat phrases after the speaker in recordings
• Record yourself speaking as much as you can

All of this helps in improvising your listening capabilities. Doing so will also give you an understanding of how native English speakers converse.

Reading

In the reading category, there are three sections with 40 questions. And you have to answer them within 60 minutes.

While listening is about practice, the reading section is all about time management. To excel and ace this section, you have to hone your time management skills.

IELTS is not tricky if you get your basics right. So it’s recommended that you time your trial tests when practising reading sections. This section is more challenging as compared to the first two versions. You have to put in more practice and effort here.

Manage your time in a way so that you save a little time on the first two sections and can focus on the third. But without compromising on quality! To read well, you have to hone your vocabulary skills.

And you have to read fast. Time management would be the determining factor in your success or failure. You have to learn the meaning of complicated words to proceed quickly.

It’s recommended that you:

• Double read the questions before moving to the text
• Make a note of words when reading
• When reading, build a gist of the paragraph in your mind
• Scan to form the picture of a text quickly
• Ensure you know exactly what’s required for each task
• Double-check all instructions carefully
• Read an English newspaper
• Check word meanings on dictionary

Writing

Next comes the writing category of IELTS, which involves two sections, task 1 and task 2.

✓Improve your speed by practising timed writing

✓Do not write answers BELOW the minimum length

✓Task 2 is longer and has more marks, so leave enough time for it.

Task 1

This part of the task comprises analysing a situation. It could be a graph/chart or a diagram.

Note:

✓ Describe information and not just the diagram itself.

• Only choose critical features and choose figures to support these
• Practice at home with diagrams, graphs, and charts
• Watch TV programs and how they use maps and images

 

Task 2

In this part, you need to write a long essay on a given topic.

The category tests your language and writing skills in real sense. Before you make an attempt to solve this part of the paper, mentally plan your composition. Like you’ve done in school, think about what you want to write. Give a thought on the structure of the essay before putting it on the paper.

Note:

✓ Analyse the question before starting

✓ Have a plan before you write

✓ Ensure all parts of the question are addressed

✓ Make sure you leave time to proofread and edit

✓ Keep a note of common mistakes and double-check

Here are a few more tips:

It’s suggested that you sectionalise your content into 4 to 5 short paragraphs:

• Always begin with an attractive introduction
• Do end with meaningful conclusions
• As with conversation, don’t repeat the words. If needed use synonyms

General IELTS Prep Tips

Those who’ve studied English since childhood are taught how to put words into the proper context. However, it is not too late. You can still achieve and reach this level by reading frequently. An enhanced vocabulary can be achieved when you are exposed to more words. Reading, viewing TV or English programs and listening to songs are a few of the aspects that can help you in the same.

However, when you are doing this, you should note or underline or highlight them with a marker. Keep track of the same and figure out their meanings from the supporting context. You can look the words up in the dictionary or on the internet.

The idea is that you should always challenge yourself. You can do this by reading and watching more news on channels that are European or American. This way, you will be exposed to many new words.

How to use new words?

There are multiple ways to use new words for IELTS. You can do the needful to speak English fluently and perform better in your IELTS exam. In fact, research reveals that it takes from 10 to 20 repetitions to make a word part of your daily speech.

Here are a few tips:

✓ Record expressions you can use for a variety of academic contexts

✓ Record phrases and not just individual words for better understanding

✓ Use a good monolingual dictionary which can help you align word arrangement

✓ Don’t spend time learning highly specialised words

✓ Record useful expressions that are relevant in this context

• Try to practice talking and writing about them in English
• Read newspapers, magazines, and news websites

Taking practice tests

Whenever you feel you are ready with the four aspects of these tests, you can try the practice exam format. Taking sample tests and getting real-like scores gives you a more definitive idea that you can perform on D-day.

It is advised that you should try and take the sample or practice test within a period of the actual test. And mare sure that there are no breaks in between just like the main or real IELTS test.

There are multiple ways to take these tests, both online and offline. Let’s review them:

Many online tests are available where you can complete the test at one go. Finish the given task on one webpage. Then move to the next after finishing one section.

The good thing is that you can also take these tests offline. However, it is advised that you don’t take too much time to do them first. One has the option to download them offline along with:

• Blank answer sheets
• Transcripts
• Answers from introductory pages

There are a whole lot of free practice tests. Taking these practice tests is advised so that you can get the hang of IELTS. You get to experience of handling the questions and also evaluate your answers by checking them in the model answer sheet.

Main takeaways for taking the IELTS

Sign up with a teacher or a training centre

Find a teacher or sign up with a training centre. They can guide you best on how to prepare for the IELTS exam and learn good general English. Remember that tips and strategies are a guiding light but not a full-fledged system that offers special preparation for the IELTS exam in Dubai.

Do learn from mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes — and so can you. However, the idea is to correct them and learn from it. Ask friends and family to help you or hire a professional teacher for the same.

Not everyone is same

There’s a learning curve for this, which is usually different for everyone. In IELTS, someone who’s a native English speaker will find preparation to be easier as compared to a non-English speaker. But with practice, you can get there. It’s advised to start at least 4-6 months in advance if English is not your forte.

Learn new skills rather than just doing tests

Remember that at the end of the day, language is a skill. Think of IELTS preparation as if you are learning a new skill. You have to focus on quality and not just quantity. And while all skills need practice, you have to practice them in the right way.

Don’t just focus on taking the exam practice. Think of improvising your skills and nurturing yourself. You should focus on reading and listening. Once you ace this aspect, you will be able to nail communicating in English. Anything beyond this will make you lose focus on the examination.

Do not memorise words. Practical application of English can help you score better. For example, you may forget a memorised word in the essay. But if you know its application, it can be used in multiple places.

The top 10 mistakes to avoid when taking the IELTS are:

• Talking too much – it ruins your focus
• Talking to less – shows you lack confidence
• Too much focus on the test rather than your ability
• Studying hard but not improving
• Not learning band descriptors for writing/speaking
• Leaving out data in writing Task 1
• Implementing too many ideas in Task 2
• Not improving pronunciation
• Unclear idea for writing a paragraph – writing task 2
• Misunderstanding the questions

Keep the above in mind. Prepare with focus and a goal to improve rather than just passing the test — and you should be able to ace the IELTS in no time!