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The Official Top Tips for IELTS gives you essential advice for each part of each of the IELTS exam for those studying the General Training module. It is written by Cambridge ESOL examiners with many years' experience of setting and marking the IELTS exam and includes clear examples and explanations to show you exactly what each tip means, general tips for each paper and sections on how to revise and what to do on the day of the exam. The CD-ROM contains a complete, authentic IELTS exam paper so that you know what to expect when you take the exam.
Preparing and sitting for your IELTS can make you feel nervous and stressed. We understand what you may be feeling, so here are the top 10 IELTS study strategies that can help you prepare , gain confidence, and do your best in your test.
1. Utilise free resources
2. Create a study schedule
Discipline is the key to any successful study schedule. It can be all too easy to postpone study if you’re busy with other tasks, but creating a study schedule that you can stick to is critical to making sure you’re prepared on test day.
Sit down on a Sunday and think about any gaps in your schedule for the next week where you could fit in some studying. If you find it difficult to set aside larger chunks of time, start with a few blocks of 10 or 15 minutes throughout your day that you can use as mini-study sessions.
3. Get some one on one coaching
There’s no better teacher than someone who knows the IELTS inside and out. Connect with a personal coach who can assess which areas you need more focus on and help you develop your skills quickly. You can find a personal coach by speaking to other IELTS takers or searching online.
To provide you with full confidence that your coach is an expert in all things IELTS, consider IELTS Assist . It allows you to organise mock writing, reading or speaking tests with an official IELTS expert. You’ll receive personalised feedback on your strengths and weaknesses, as well as a tailored action plan to help you improve.
4. Immerse yourself in the English language
Not all study has to involve textbooks and pens. One of the best ways you can prepare for the IELTS is to simply immerse yourself in the English language as much as possible.
By watching movies and TV shows in English you’ll improve your listening comprehension. You can work on your reading skills by checking news sites or even scrolling social media in English. Take a few minutes to chat with the checkout operator at the supermarket or say hello to an English speaking neighbour to help develop your speaking skills .
You can even make a game out of this exercise by inviting fellow test takers to an ‘English only’ dinner; whoever forgets to speak English has to buy the next drink or appetiser!
5. Join a study group
Joining a study group is a great way to hold yourself accountable while having fun!
Connect with other test takers in your area and organise regular get togethers to study, quiz each other and provide helpful feedback in person. If you can’t find any study groups in your area, consider looking for [or starting!] an online study group that can meet via zoom, skype or google hangouts.
A good study group should have a plan for which skill they focus on each week. Spending one week on a particular skill and moving on to another skill the next week is a good way to ensure you’re getting a balanced study experience.
6. Study the assessment criteria
In order to score well on a test, you must understand what the test examiners are looking for. Take some time to read up on how the IELTS results are calculated and what kind of answers will help you achieve a higher band score.
IELTS provides the speaking test band descriptors which allow test takers to see in detail what sort of answers are marked highly by officials. Print out copies of the band descriptors for the skills you’re needing the most improvement on and consult them while you study.
7. Download podcasts and YouTube videos
When you want the perspective of former IELTS test takers, podcasts and YouTube videos can be a valuable resource. There are many IELTS focused YouTube videos and podcasts episodes that you can listen to while cleaning, commuting or even just taking a walk.
While you can gain interesting insights, it’s important to get them from credible and trusted sources. We recommend that you make the most of your free access to our official IELTS preparation materials on our website, IELTS by IDP app and our social media platforms.
8. Read a diverse range of articles
It’s important to be comfortable with written English in a variety of formats. The passages you may be asked to answer questions about in the IELTS test could be from a wide range of sources. To improve your chances of demonstrating competent reading comprehension on your IELTS, you should expand the English language reading materials you’re using to study.
Read as many varied materials as you can including books , newspapers, gossip magazines, online blogs and current affairs articles. If you’re taking the IELTS Academic test it’s a good idea to read from as many science or academic based journals, sites and articles as possible before test day.
9. Review your mistakes
When you receive feedback from a coach, fellow test taker or friend, don’t simply file it away and try again. Take the time to carefully review the mistakes you’re making and make a plan for improving that skill.
Are you mispronouncing words ? Perhaps you could incorporate more English language podcasts or TV shows into your day and repeat what they’re saying to practise pronunciation. If you’re consistently using the wrong verb tense , create some flash cards you can review during any small breaks you have, or spend your next study session reviewing how to correctly use verb tenses.
10. Play games
Finally, make studying fun! While the IELTS is serious business, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the preparation. If you enjoy your study schedule, you’ll be more likely to stick to it and therefore be more prepared on test day.
Read up on fun games to play to practise English comprehension and turn your study group into a party!
How can I get 8.5 in ielts academic?
My 3 Step Tips for IELTS Band Score 8.5 – Go through the test format. – Spend some time and understand the question patterns in each segment. – Keep in mind the time limit for every segment. – Do an initial sample test [download from IELTS official website] just to see where you stand.
How can I get good score in IELTS general training?
review techniques & review strategies for each and every question type..
learn to identify keywords and issues..
develop skimming and scanning skills for reading..
learn to focus on identifying answers in listening..
prepare topics: ... .
learn to manage time..
learn about the requirements of the test..
What is the best way to prepare for the ielts academic exam?
The best way to prepare for the IELTS exam.
Take a practice test. ... .
Understand the test format. ... .
Be aware of the exam time constraints. ... .
Develop your English capabilities and IELTS strategies. ... .
Multitask when listening in English. ... .
Develop a wide range of reading skills. ... .
Use appropriate and assertive English terms when writing..
How can I get 7.0 in ielts academic?
In order to get a band 7, you need to answer 30-32 questions correctly. That means making no more than 10 incorrectly! The best way to ensure this is to work on your reading skills prior to the exam. Practice reading quickly, because time is the biggest difficulty.