Tips and tricks to crack the IELTS entrance exam

When planning to move overseas, from earning a degree to gaining a job, the IELTS is a standard exam that everyone must take. Being one of the most recognised examinations globally, IELTS might be your ticket to travel abroad.

Particularly for nations like the United Kingdom, where IELTS is the only secure English test recognised by UKVI for visa applications inside and outside the UK. Although getting a good score on the IELTS exam is generally a difficult task. All you have to do is prepare appropriately.

Many students desire to pursue higher education in nations like the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and others. Aspirants from non-native English speaking countries must now take an English language exam to admit to international universities.

IELTS, or the International English Language Testing System, is one such test approved in the nations indicated above and several others for admission to international colleges or institutions in native English-speaking countries. Learn more about IELTS below.

What is IELTS?

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is one of the most widely acknowledged English Proficiency Tests, and nearly everyone who travels internationally is required to take it. So, why is this so important? This exam checks your ability to understand and speak fluent English, which is a need when applying to study or work in an English-speaking nation.

The IELTS exam is divided into two categories: Academic and General. They are fundamentally the same IELTS examinations; only the aim of the test and a small portion of the syllabus differs. Whereas Academic IELTS is usually taken by people who want to go abroad to finish their secondary education, gain work experience, or migrate temporarily, General IELTS is typically taken by people who want to go abroad to finish their secondary education, gain work experience, or migrate temporarily.

Tips for Speaking section

1. Talk to people around you in fluent English rather than just practising.
2. Questions should be answered with information, detail, ideas, and valuable opinion. It is critical to prepare answers that are pertinent to the topics.
3. When responding to the examiner, try not to appear overly enthusiastic or even nervous. Respond calmly and wisely. If you don't know the answer to a question, try not to ramble incomplete answers with broken facts. Respond as much as you know, and if you don't, tell the examiner.
4. Pronunciation is essential for passing the speaking section. Do not use too long or complicated language in which you are unsure. Use short and brief words that you can pronounce correctly and fluently.

Tips for Listening section

1. Before the audio clips begin, carefully read all of the questions at the beginning.
2. When watching videos to prepare for the exam, start with those that have subtitles because they will help you comprehend them better and will also help you enhance your vocabulary.
3. Listen to podcasts and watch movies or TV shows in American or Australian English, not just British English, to become acquainted with the accents. 
4. Keywords and word indicators are crucial. Word indications are indicators that the listener understands the vital and important features and information about the characters or circumstances in the audio clips.

Tips for Reading section

1. Read English every day as much as possible. Fiction, Non-Fiction, newsletter, magazine and more.
2. Work on vocabulary. The best way to do this is to go through old sample papers or good IELTS books.
3. Applicants must improve their English grammatical skills. The responses must be grammatically correct.
4. Learn how to skim through a section because it will come in handy when looking for answers to all of your questions. Be detailed and specific about each answer when writing it.

Tips for Writing Section

1. Practice grammar thoroughly. Read several essays and assess not only the substance but also the title and overall message they are trying to make.
2. Learn how to comprehend graphs and tables completely. You must thoroughly understand the concept expressed by the given diagram. Furthermore, comprehend the values provided and construct your description based on the comparison of these values.
3. It is crucial to write a proper introduction and conclusion for both writing tasks. A good, snappy, and intriguing start and conclusion are required for both the letter and the descriptive essay.
4. Keep track of the time even if you have no clue what to write about, write something.

For more IELTS preparation tips, check out episode 8 of our podcast ask amber!

Things to remember while preparing for the IELTS

Complete Understanding of the Format of the Test

It is critical to have a clear and comprehensive grasp of the test structure, which is the most significant advice for passing virtually all exams. Candidates are evaluated on four distinct characteristics of the IELTS exam: reading, writing, listening and speaking.

As a result, applicants need to understand the test's format to crack it thoroughly. Any applicant wishing to pass IELTS must demonstrate competency in all four parts within a time limit of 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Thirty minutes, 60 minutes, 60 minutes, and 11 to 14 minutes are allowed for the listening, reading, writing, and speaking parts, respectively. The listening, reading, and writing portions are done on the same day. However, the speaking sections will be conducted a week after testing the other three areas.

Practice as much as you can

Practice is undoubtedly the most critical factor in achieving success on any exam. It is essential to practice regularly to pass the IELTS exam on the first attempt. The development of linguistic abilities in all four modules is critical. Following a regular study, the schedule can help you improve these essential abilities. Cracking the examination gets simpler when a regular study schedule is maintained, precisely what candidates should do to pass the IELTS exam.

Developing test-taking skills

Test-taking abilities are required for high IELTS results. The applicant must be patient and grasp each word completely uttered to enhance their listening abilities. Candidates can read aloud to improve their reading abilities and improvise their pronunciation.

Practice writing by composing articles on numerous themes so that you may improve writing fluency without having to stop frequently, as time is of the essence.

Fluency does not happen overnight. Thus continual practice is required. To achieve the needed IELTS scores, a complete skill development exercise on your own is always sufficient.

Avoiding writing too much

When preparing for the writing test, it is essential to remember that too much writing should be avoided. Time management is critical for success in the IELTS exam, and each applicant should keep in mind that finishing on time is vital. For example, a 300-word essay with similar lines, repetitive thoughts, and poorly written sentences is preferable to a 400-word article with parallel lines, repetitive ideas, and poorly built phrases.

Proper guidance

One of the essential things of passing the IELTS exam is getting proper advice. The IELTS examination is indeed challenging to qualify for. As a result, practical skills in all four distinct modules as assessed in the examination and good test-taking skills are developing. However, advice from experienced and professional instructors will always assist you in adequately recognising your potential and boosting your confidence before taking such life-changing exams.

Don’t leave any questions

IELTS is an exam that evaluates your language abilities. During the speaking examination, the examiner wants you to speak, and while assessing your writing skills, you should write. They won't tell if you're qualified to pass the test if you leave them with silence or blank spots. As a result, leaving/skipping any question is not beneficial to either the examiner or yourself. The listening and reading assessments follow the same rule. Any queries you leave will be marked as wrong.

Don’t stress yourself

When taking the IELTS test, it's natural to feel under pressure. It's crucial to realise that no one performs well when they're under a lot of stress—expert advice on how to keep your anxieties in check so you can reach your full potential. Before the test begins, you can do some breathing exercises. Additionally, eating healthily and sleeping well the night before the exam is beneficial. The secret to a stress-free exam experience, on the other hand, is proper test planning and preparation ahead of time.