How to prepare for IELTS is one of the first questions candidates planning to take the test usually ask.
It can be difficult to know where to start as there are four modules and there are a lot of tips and strategies to learn. So where do you start?
This advice takes you through 5 essential steps on how to prepare for IELTS and some important questions you need to ask yourself before you start.
5 Steps on How to Prepare for IELTS
Step 1: Choose the right test
Before you think about how to prepare for IELTS, the first thing that you want to do is to make sure you know which type of IELTS test you need to take.
There are two versions: IELTS Academic and General Training. They are slightly different so you need to make sure you prepare for the right one!
You take IELTS Academic if you are intending to apply to study abroad in an English speaking university or school, or some other form of education. General Training is for those intending to work abroad or immigrate to another country.
A lot of the elements of the tests are the same but the reading modules are completely different and part of the writing module is not the same.
Step 2: Understand the test format
The next thing that you want to do to know how to prepare for IELTS is to get to know what the general format of the test is.
First it’s useful to know how the scoring of IELTS works. It’s based on band scores and you need to know which one you are aiming for and how they are calculated across the modules.
You can check that out here:
Also have a look at the official IELTS public band descriptors so you know what the examiner uses to grade your speaking and writing (you can find them with an online search as they are public).
Then you should go through one practice test for each of the modules so you know exactly what you have to do in each part of the test. You can do by using the official Cambridge tests which has one practice test for each module.
When you first do this, don’t worry about timings or specific skills, just have a go at a reading and listening test so you know what it involves.
Have a read through some speaking tests to see what the format is and what kinds of questions you are asked.
Look at some sample writing questions and try writing an essay and graph (academic) or letter (general training).
Step 3: Study sample questions & answers
But there are lots of different types of questions so it’s a good idea to get to know more about the different question types and the ways that people answer the questions.
There is no point in looking at model answers for reading and listening as they are fixed answers that are right or wrong. But for the speaking and writing there are a variety of ways that you could answer each question.
So for these it is a good idea to look at sample answers and models. We have many on this site which you can go to from the navigation menu.
Step 4: Learn strategies and tips
Now it is time to delve deeper into the specific strategies of how to answer specific question types for all modules of the test: speaking, writing, listening and reading.
IELTS buddy has prepared a great set of lessons for you to learn how to do well in the test, with all the strategies, tips and techniques you need to get a high score.
Check them out here: IELTS Lessons
Try to work on a different skill each day so you don’t get bored with the same thing, or if you have the whole day free, spend the morning on one skill and the afternoon on another.
And of course it is ultimately an English test so don’t become obsessed with just studying IELTS.
Immerse yourself in other English activities as these will all help with the test, such as watching English speaking films and You Tube videos, reading books and magazines, and of course speaking English if you can.
You don’t need to spend all your time on IELTS based activities and if you do you will get very bored.
Step 5: Practice under timed conditions
It is essential that once you have started to understand the test format and the strategies you can use to get a high score, you practice under test conditions.This is an essential part of how to prepare for IELTS.
Finishing on time is one of the major problems that candidates have in the reading and writing tests. So get some reading practice tests and writing task 1 and task 2 questions and do a lot of practice keeping strictly to the times allocated in the test – one hour for the reading, and one hour for the writing (with 20 minutes spent on task 1 and 40 minutes spent on task 2).
We have plenty of practice tests on the site.
Candidates have particular problems finishing the writing in the allotted time so make sure you spend plenty of time practising the Task 1 and 2 using a variety of question types.
Source: ieltsbuddy.com
