This article will guide you on how to prepare for IELTS as you read on-
There are various means to go about preparing for different examinations, this article, however, is aimed to provide you with great tips on how to prepare for IELTS and secure good grades on your tests.
Preparing for tests sometimes seems daunting, this is understandably possible probably because the test taker can be overwhelmed with different fears which include the fear of failure and their likes.
From our past experiences, we got to find out that the reason for these overwhelming fears is mostly because most test-takers don’t know how to prepare for their tests. This is the reason we have come up with these 10 great tips to help you get started and succeed in your IELTS.
see Also- Lexis and Structure in English Language
Table of Contents
What is IELTS?
IELTS is the acronym for the International English Language Testing System. It is originally an international test designed to help you migrate to live permanently, study, or work in any country whose official language is spoken in the English language.
This includes countries like the USA, UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. IELTS is used to assess the intending test-takers proficiency in English on a scale of 1-9.
How to Prepare for IELTS
The following steps will help prepare you for the IELTS
- Taking IELTS mock test
- Familiarizing yourself with the test pattern
- Taking note of the test time constraints
- Developing your English proficiency and IELTS strategies
- Learning to multitask yourself when listening in English
- Developing a wide range of reading skills
- Use appropriate English terms when writing
- Be fluent and incoherently speak when having a direct communication
- Explore and immerse yourself in English language knowledge
- Be confident and avoid fears
1. Taking IELTS mock test-
Mock tests are usually taken ahead of every exam, it is the type of test that gives you an insight to the pattern, type of questions, and time frame of the original exam.
It is like a dub provided by the examination body for students and every other test taker aimed to serve as a preparatory guide for their upcoming exams/tests. This will enable you to identify your weakness as well as make you realize where your strength actually lies.
Taking the IELTS practice test will help you to properly plan how to manage the time given to finish up the test.
Once you identify your weakness during the IELTS practice test, it is expected of you to start planning on how to improve on it before the official test date.
Seek the help of an expert to help provide tips on how to tackle such questions. Enroll yourself in tutorials and focus on making you’re your weaknesses your strength as well.
Taking the IELTS practice test is one of the great ways to help prepare you for the IELTS test and we strongly recommend this for every IELTS test-takers as its main focus is to you ready for the exam.
2. Familiarizing yourself with the test pattern-
Naturally, one the great ways to ensure you succeed in any examination and not just the IELTS is to get familiarized with the test pattern and to know the formats that is expected of you to tackle the questions.
Every IELTS test taker needs to be aware of and knows the type of pattern and formats used in the IELTS test, you have to properly understand what the test is all about and the format used in setting the tests questions.
This can be done by reviewing the test content and understanding the type of the tasks ( matching, labeling, diagram, note, and sentence completion ).
3. Taking note of the time constraints of the test
Taking the practice test, familiarize yourself with the question, and understanding them will help you to adequately utilize the time frame allocated to finish up your test.
Taking note of the test timing is as important as every other preparatory tip cited in this article. You should be cautious of the time constraint for your test and this can be easily achieved by consistently setting up a time for yourself when practicing.
However, In order to avoid losing focus, you do not have to allow this to put a lot of pressure on you as that might only make you lose concentration.
Make sure you understand any question before you attempt to provide an answer for it. You should note that the IELTS allocates time to each module and if you are unable to provide an answer to any question within the allocated time, the question is as good as being done with.
4. Developing your English proficiency and IELTS strategies
You should improve your English. This can be achieved by enrolling yourself in an institution or by employing an expert in the language.
Every test takers are to note that passing IELTS is a process and that IELTS is not some kind of test anyone can prepare for within a day. Averagely, it takes up to 12 weeks to move up a score band by one point.
We strongly recommend an early preparation for your IELTS test, at least 3 – 6 months prior to your examination date to help ensure you adequately develop in English and IELTS strategies.
5. Learning to multitask yourself when listening in English
IELTS demands you provide appropriate answers to 40 questions throughout 4 recordings, the recording will be played only once. That rings a signaling bell, right? Yeah, IELTS can be very demanding, these questions include sentence completion, summary completion, form completion, and multiple choice.
This is aimed to test how fast your retentive memory is. You will be expected to hurriedly write down your answers on the question paper given as you listen and will be given an average of only 10 minutes to transfer your answers to your answer sheet.
Maximum care should be taken when copying your answers into the answer sheets as you might be penalized for wrong spellings and every grammatical blunder. You are also expected to understand what particular type of answer is expected you supply depending on the type of question given. Either a name, number or address.
6. Developing a wide range of reading skills
The main purpose of the reading module is to test your reading skills and understanding efficiency. You are expected to have a wide range of reading skills and put all of the processes of listening into practice within a very short while.
So, learn to integrate the act of assimilating quickly and knowing the most vital aspect of a sentence to focus on in order to help ensure you scale through the reading module task.
7. Use appropriate English terms when writing
Basically, there are two types of tasks that are to be written in a formal style in academic training.
The first task requires the description and explanation of data, you are expected to include either line graphs, bar charts, tables, pie charts, diagrams, and their likes to represent the proper analytics of the given data
The second task comes with varying challenges and could even involve writing essays on topics you are unfamiliar with. However, you are to make justice to the following headings in your essay- the introduction and conclusion of the topic.
Study the IELTS common essay topics to be familiar with how to use the appropriate English terms when composing an essay. Below are some of the different types of essay that usually comes up in IELTS tests-
- Agree or Disagree
- Discuss two Opposing Opinions
- Advantages and Disadvantages
- Causes and Solutions of a Problem
- Causes and Effects of a Problem
8. Be fluent and incoherently speak when having a direct communication
Work on your pronunciations as the examiners will be taking this into consideration as well. One of the best ways to help you achieve this is the avoidance of fears and improving your confidence, this of course, will be augmented with how good your spoken English is.
It is important for you to remember that what the IELTS is aiming to test is your proficiency in the English language, incoherence in your speech may hinder your chances of being awarded your full score. therefore, you have to speak fluently, confidently, and incoherently. Pay careful attention to your words when communicating with the examiners.
9. Explore and immerse yourself in English language knowledge
Explorations in English are needed to help you get acquainted with various forms of English language sentences. Reading newspapers, magazines, and blogs on the internet is one of the great ways to explore yourself in English.
You can also explore yourself in the English language by making sure you compose and write essays, filling in your diary, reading novels, and storybooks, and chatting with an online community every day.
Another way to go about immersing yourself in English is to not be afraid to speak in public gatherings, you might get corrected for a grammatical blunder by a concerned soul and that is one great way to learn as well. Listen to native English speakers’ speeches and try to take note of the manner in which they present their speeches.
10. Be confident and avoid fears
As we earlier stated, avoid fears and shift your focus to giving the IELTS test to the best of your ability. This will help you conquer blunders to questions you could easily provide the right answers to.
Conclusion on How to Prepare for IELTS
IELTS test can be understandably demanding, but if you follow the above steps provided in this article, your dream of performing great and excellently in your IELTS will come true.
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