It is no secret that clearing an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam calls for utmost dedication, commitment and good preparation. It may seem like a daunting task, but the right strategies can surely fetch you a winning score!
We have tried to compile some of the most tried-and-tested strategies to help you construct a robust and effective study plan to get a high IELTS score.
It may sound like a given, but preparation (even for a native) is the key to success. A good preparation along with focus on building the core English skills is extremely essential. You must engross yourself in the language through newspapers, books/novels, music, and movies. Look for reputed and registered coaching centres or institutes like BetterThink that can help you polish your English language skills besides assisting you in identifying your core areas of strengths and weaknesses.
Time is one of the greatest challenges in the IELTS. Candidates are required to do a lot of tasks in much less time. In Writing and Reading sections, speed is a vital component. Practising with online test such as those provided by TCYonline will help you time yourself. Try to use a stopwatch if you are practising offline and keep a check on the amount of time you spend on a section or even a question. Doing more in less time will leave you with more time to check your work.
It has been observed that many candidates dive into the test without properly reading the instructions that contains essential information required to answer the questions correctly. For instance, the listening test instructions may tell you how to fill the answer sheet – whether you are supposed to write letters or names. Never think you’re saving time by skipping the instructions; it is as crucial as the test.
The usual word count in Task 1 of Writing test is 150 words and that for Task 2 is 250 words. You may write more, but if you are not supposed to, then why write more? If you can provide a high-quality response fulfilling the word limit, you stand to score more than what you would get if you write a poor-quality response using more words. Remember the mantra: Quality over Quantity! You can even start writing the second task first because that is worth twice the mark than the first one.
IELTS is a stickler for improving your grammar. It simply can’t bear people making grammar errors as much as it wants you to use varied grammatical structures in your Writing and Speaking. Know the basic English grammar rules use them well. Use the right punctuation marks and articles in your Writing test to give your responses a cohesive look. All these little things make a huge difference to your IELTS score.
Make newspaper your best friend. Keeping updated on current affairs always helps you score big since the IELTS writing tasks are usually based on items of general interest. For instance, you may know about certain social issues such as unemployment or pollution, but may not have enough ideas to write an essay. Creating more supporting statements such as which country faces it the most and how people voice their opinion about it, is some content that you’d only get from daily reading.
Listen to radio, TED talks, and podcasts in view to become comfortable in accents and pronunciations. Expose yourself to learn new vocabulary and interesting topics. Practise speaking English regularly, or initiate a club with fellow ‘IELTS’ friends to brush up your language skills every day.
With these tips you can brace yourselves for scoring high in your next IELTS.
If you’re aspiring to enrol for IELTS in Ludhiana, make a wise choice that ensures you get the best content, sound practice, and the best score. Join one of the BetterThink institutes.
All the Best!