Are You Ready for IELTS?

Posted by ieltsidp on July 20th, 2017

Have you just registered for the IELTS test thinking you’re well prepared to take the test? Before you take the test, consider the following to assist you in your IELTS test preparation.

Have you practiced the format of the test?

Understanding the format of the IELTS test is vital for your best result. Do not just rely on your ability of English, you will need to practice, and manage your time as you progress through the test.

Have you tried doing a preparation test? IELTS offers many free preparation materials to allow you to prepare for your IELTS – Academic or General. – including past test papers that will familiarise you with the format and the question types. You can access them at IELTS.org. Be sure to mimic the test conditions as much as you can with a silent room and a timer for each section.

Are you familiar with different English accents?

English is spoken in over 300 million people worldwide. Your familiarity with the various English accents is considered by testiners when assessing your IELTS score. A lot of words sound different in different accents, and so make sure you’re able to understand accents including British, Australian, New Zealand, American and Canadian.

You might like to broaden your exposure to different accents by using movies on platforms like Netflix, listening to podcasts, or watching TED Talks published on YouTube.

Are you familiar with the Reading test format and questions?

The reading section of the IELTS test is designed to test your reading comprehension, and ability to answer the questions from the information given in the passage. If you are sitting for an Academic IELTS test, the reading test becomes more challenging to reflect the rigour of the academic world.

Doing sample reading practice tests to ensure familiarity with the format and questions will allow you to better prepare for the IELTS test. You might like to consider asking a friend to quiz you on items in a reading passage every week as a way to improve.

Are you using words that truly reflect your speaking ability?

A lot of test takers are worried about speaking fluently in grammatically correct English. This is a skill that improves with practice. Don’t make the mistake of preparing answers, instead, think about the words and phrases that you are familiar with, to demonstrate to the examiner your abilities. If you’re spontaneous and confident in your answers, expressing your opinions well, you’ll demonstrate your capability well.

Is your writing error free?

The writing test can be challenging for many test takers, due to lack a familiarity with writing regularly – so pick up your pen and paper and get writing! For General Training, you’ll be asked to follow a basic structure and create a well-balanced write-up. For Academic IELTS tests, you’ll need to include some more technical terms in your essays, so ensure your vocabulary is rich. We recommend doing Practice tests, and aim to complete both the tasks to your satisfaction within the time given.

Finally….

You’ll have guessed we’re very keen on recommending you complete practice tests before you take the test. The best advice is to be confident in your abilities, manage your expectations about what you can accomplish, and do you very best. We wish you all the best in your IELTS test.

Apart from the above listed factors, you need to have a good level of confidence before you take the test. Your performance depends upon the confidence with which you take the test. Have faith in yourself, stress less and give it your best shot.