It is a dream of innumerable students to receive education from the top ranked and well reputed universities abroad. Studying in the best universities provide them with a lot of opportunities which millions of people wants to seek. One among those opportunities is a better position in their future with high pay cheques.
Studying from the best universities of the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, etc can flaunt every individual’s career, as a result, a good number of students wants to visit these countries as they provide high quality education, best faculty, perfect learning environment and infrastructure to study there.
And, if you are planning to go abroad especially in the English speaking country for receiving education, then you have to go through IELTS examinations. But what is IELTS and how to prepare for it are some of the common doubts that often pops up in the minds of the majority of the international students. As a result, we will discuss some tips and steps that can help you to qualify IELTS with the highest band.
What is IELTS?
The International English Language Testing System, also abbreviated as the IELTS, is a widely accepted test of English proficiency for those who want to study or work in an English speaking environment. This exam is given by the non-native English language speakers. It is the test for migration and how much score you need is totally depended on the requirement of your Visa. The governments of the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc accepts IELTS results.
In this exam, your listening, reading, speaking and writing skills will be assessed which will be graded on the scale of 1 to 9. Hence, preparing for the IELTS can be a daunting task, but if you get the right approach, then it is possible to achieve a high score.
How to Prepare for IELTS and Ace the Exam?
If you want to qualify the IELTS exam with the highest score, then you need to follow some steps in a very careful manner. These steps are mentioned below:
- Understand the Test Format: You need to understand about the format of IELTS examination before starting your full-fledged preparation. The IELTS examination has four sections, Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The listening section consists of four recorded videos/ monologues which you need to listen and answer the questions. The reading section will include three texts with variety of questions asked. The writing section will be of two tasks which you need to complete in one hour. And finally, the speaking section will consist a face to face interview with the examiner. If you are well aware of the correct format of the IELTS examination, then you will be able to prepare for it in a more targeted way.
- Regular and Consistent Practice: The key to success in the IELTS Examination is the regular and consistent practice. Make a schedule, prepare a time table for everyday to practice your English skills. Practice all the four sections of the IELTS examination in a coherent way. Get help from the IELTS experts who will assist you throughout your examination procedure.
- Improve Your Vocabulary: You need to have a good command in the English language and vocabulary if you want to do good in the IELTS exam. Try to learn new words every day, and practice using them in context. When reading or listening to English material, make note of any words you don’t understand and look them up in a dictionary. And, try to use these words in your speaking and writing practice.
- Learn Grammar Rules: Good grammar is essential for the IELTS exam. If you are not confident on your grammar skills, then you must enhance them before taking the exam. Learn English grammar rules, and practice using them in sentences and paragraphs.
- Focus on Your Weaknesses: Everyone has those areas in which they struggle the most. You need to identify those areas and focus on them during your practice sessions. For example, if you feel speaking difficult, then try to communicate with any foreigner whose native language is English and if you find reading difficult, then try to read books or articles in English language. Doing this will help you to improve these weaknesses and slowly and gradually it will become your strength.
- Take Practice Tests: IELTS practice tests or Mock tests are the best way to prepare for the IELTS examination which will help you to become familiar with the test format and the types of questions which will be asked. Taking practice tests will help you to identify your areas of strengths and weaknesses. Start your test without limiting the time and after some time set a timer for each section, and try to answer the questions as if you were taking the real test.
- Seek Feedbacks: If you want to improve you English Language skills, then getting feedbacks from a qualified English teacher/ professor/ tutor/ mentor is really important. When receiving feedback, be open to criticisms, instructions and suggestions and use it to improve your skills. Take note of your strengths and weaknesses and work on improving them. Remember that the more feedback you receive, the more you will improve.
- Build Your Confidence: Confidence is crucial when taking the IELTS. The more confident you feel about your English language skills, the better you will perform on the test. Try to build your confidence by practicing speaking English with others, reading and writing in English regularly, and setting achievable goals for yourself.
All these above mentioned points will help you in preparing for the IELTS examination. Make sure to follow and adhere to these steps. If you are still facing difficulty in preparing, then talk to the best IELTS trainers who will help you to stand out.
IELTS Bands Scores
You can refer to the table below in order to understand better about the IELTS Bands Scores.
| Listening | Academic Reading | General Reading | |||
| Correct Answers | Scores | Correct Answers | Scores | Correct Answers | Scores |
| 39 to 40 | 9 | 39 to 40 | 9 | 40 | 9 |
| 37 to 38 | 8.5 | 37 to 38 | 8.5 | 39 | 8.5 |
| 35 to 36 | 8 | 35 to 36 | 8 | 37 to 38 | 8 |
| 32 to 34 | 7.5 | 33 to 34 | 7.5 | 36 | 7.5 |
| 30 to 31 | 7 | 30 to 32 | 7 | 34 to 35 | 7 |
| 26 to 29 | 6.5 | 27 to 29 | 6.5 | 32 to 33 | 6.5 |
| 23 to 25 | 6 | 23 to 26 | 6 | 30 to 31 | 6 |
| 18 to 22 | 5.5 | 19 to 22 | 5.5 | 27 to 29 | 5.5 |
| 16 to 17 | 5 | 15 to 18 | 5 | 23 to 26 | 5 |
| 13 to 15 | 4.5 | 13 to 14 | 4.5 | 19 to 22 | 4.5 |
| 10 to 12 | 4 | 10 to 12 | 4 | 15 to 18 | 4 |
Conclusion
Last but not the least, preparing for the IELTS exam takes time, effort, and dedication. If you are well aware of the exam format, practice regularly, improving your vocabulary and grammar, focusing on your weak areas, taking practice tests, getting feedback, and building your confidence, then you are able to qualify the exam with the highest score.
Always remember that IELTS is just an exam and will not set a margin of your worth as a person or your intelligence, hence take the exam with positive and calm mind-set. With the right approach, you can achieve a high score on the IELTS and open up new opportunities for yourself abroad.
If you are struggling and facing difficulty in preparing for the exam, then it’s better to take help than to take risk. Contact the professional IELTS trainers who will help you to reach your destination and achieve your goals.
