6 Tips to Perform Better in IELTS Test

The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test is one of the globally acknowledged entrance tests for higher education and global migration which is jointly administered by the British Council, IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment Test. This test helps enables the educational institutions, employers, professional registration bodies and government immigration agencies to assess the English language proficiency of the candidates applying for higher education in abroad as well as international placement. IELTS is recognized by 6000+ institutes in 135 countries across the globe and are held around four times in 1000+ locations every month.

Here we have listed down top 6 tips to perform better in IELTS:

1. Understanding of the Test Structure

There are two types of IELTS tests,

1. Academic IELTS: For those who are planning to take up higher education in abroad, and,
2. Training IELTS: For those who are looking for job opportunities and acquiring immigration & work visas.

Therefore, you should be clear enough about your career goals & objectives, and deliberately focus on the type of the test whichever is applicable.

1. Understanding of the Test Sub Categories

The IELTS is further sub categorized into 4 different sections, viz.

1. Listening Comprehension
2. Reading Comprehension
3. Writing Skills
4. Speaking Skills

The IELTS tests are mostly held on Saturdays and Thursdays, and are taken in two parts. The first part comprises of a written test includes the listening, reading and writing sections followed by the second part which is a spoken test. The spoken test happens either before or after the written test. Therefore, you should find someone who coaches and trains you rigorously in your areas of improvement besides boosting up your strengths too.

1. Practicing Effective Listening

Listening Comprehension is common for both the sections, academic as well as training. It comprises of four recordings wherein the test-takers have to answer the questions as they listen. The first and third recordings are conversations, while the second and fourth are monologues. The total duration of this section is 35-40 minutes, out of which 10 minutes would be given to transferring the answers into the listening answering sheet. Therefore,

1. Enhance your English vocabulary by reading English Newspapers, watching to English TV News and listening to English Music on a daily basis.
2. Observe the pronunciation difference between ‘P’ and ‘B’, ‘T’ and ‘D’, ‘M’ and ‘N’ in the British as well as Australian conversations. This would help you build more clarity in listening and avoiding common mistakes.

1. Practicing Effective Reading

The Academic Reading Comprehension is comprised of 3 lengthy passages with 150 words approx. You are expected to develop a blend of good reading speed and comprehension skills to wrap up this section within the allotted time frame of 1 hour. On the other hand, the General Training Reading Comprehension is less lengthy and technical, however the difficulty level is same in both the cases. Therefore,

1. The reading section requires a lot of strategic thinking, planning and implementation. A casual approach could be severely threatened.
2. ‘Read and Consolidate’ is one of the best applicable strategy for answering most of the questions viz. MCQs, summary making and short answer questions.

1. Practicing Effective Writing

The writing section comprises of 1 hour and time management could be one of the troublesome factors. A proper understanding of the subject matter and conceptualizing the same into meaningful sentences would give you an edge to score higher in this section. Therefore,

1. Do not overwrite anything
2. Avoid repetition of sentences and concepts
3. Think, plan and write

1. Practice Effective Speaking/ Oral Communication

The speaking section comprises of 10-15 minutes and has three components. Initially, you would be given a specific topic to speak about which would end up with a more difficult interview vogue query. Therefore,

1. Try to give answers tactfully as you would be tested on your communication abilities
2. Practice articulation of ideas into more comprehensive sentences on a daily basis
3. Try to be more convincing, confident and approachable.