IELTS Preparation - Effective Tips to Prepare for the IELTS Test

Studying in a foreign country is a decision of brave hearts, as leaving the homeland and settling abroad needs courage. Although this will ensure a bright future, for that, you have to overcome numerous hurdles. Thus, one such hurdle is getting a good band score in IELTS, an English proficiency test required for non-native speakers. Passing this will only ensure you get the chance to pursue your higher studies in English-speaking countries. Thus, in this blog, you will explore the most effective tips to prepare for IELTS. But, before knowing the tricks, let's first have a brief insight into the different sections of the test.

Structural Breakdown of the IELTS Exam

IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System, which is one of the most popular tests for non-native speakers of English. This exam is a must for anyone applying to an English-speaking country for higher studies. This exam will examine an aspirant on the four bases:

Sections & Time-Limit	No. & Type of Questions
Listening: 30 minutes	40 Questions: Multiple choice, diagram labeling, sentence, and summary completion
Reading: 60 minutes	40 Questions: Multiple choice, matching features & heading, sentence & summary completion
Writing: 60 minutes	More than 400 words: Task1: reports/letters, Task2: essays
Speaking: 11-14 minutes	Face-to-face interview: Introduction, general discussion, topics & follow-up questions

A candidate has to appear for the three sections of the exam- reading, writing, and listening- on the same day without any gap. Moreover, they will get a leeway for the speaking section. Now, let’s dive into the score criteria for the test that will help you know how to start preparing for IELTS.

What is the IELTS Band Score Criteria?

The listening and reading sections have the same parameters of 40 questions each. All the questions have one mark for a correct answer and no negative mark. However, you must score good out of 40 to get a good band score. For instance, if you score a 30, you will get a 7 band score, and there will be 8 for 35 marks, so must prepare for IELTS accordingly.

For the speaking section, you will be marked on fluency and coherence, Lexical Resource or vocabulary, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation.

For the writing section, you will be evaluated on the basis of task achievement, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, grammatical range, and accuracy.

These are the parameters on the basis of which, you will get a good band score for your IELTS exam. Moving ahead with the IELTS tips to overcome the challenges of each section to score a good band score. So, let’s begin with the writing section.

Band Score	Skill Level
9	Expert
8	Very Good
7	Good
6	Competent
5	Modest
4	Limited
3	Extremely Limited
2	Intermittent
1	Non-User
0	Did Not Attempt

How to Prepare for the IELTS Writing Test?

In this section of the IELTS test, candidates are tested for their writing skills. Moreover, this part works with the basic mantra of keeping it simple and accurate. For this section, you must begin your preparation for the IELTS exam on these parameters:

• Task Achievement
• Coherence & Cohesion
• Lexical Resource or Vocabulary
• Grammatical Range & Accuracy

2 Parts of the Writing Test

• Task 1- You will be asked to summarise a graph, table, or diagram.
• Task 2- You will be asked to write an essay in response to a perspective.

We have listed some IELTS preparation tips listed by the experts to help you score well. So, explore the tricks to complete this section skilfully:

• Use coherence in a way that attracts the reader's attention.
• Skillfully paragraph the text to make it appealing to the eye.
• Use a wide range of vocabulary, but ensure to spell it correctly.
• Develop a compelling argument and support it with evidence.
• Present important ideas in bullet points or in a highlighted way.
• Organize the flow of thoughts logically throughout the content.
• Include relevant answers along with examples to justify them.
• Answer all parts of the questions separately and in the correct sequence.

This section of the blog must have answered your question about how to prepare for the IELTS writing section. So, it is time to move ahead and explore the tips for another section of the exam.
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How to Prepare IELTS Listening Test?

Listening is another section of the IELTS test, where you are judged on the basis of your listening ability and comprehension of the language. For this section, you will get 40 questions to solve, each with one mark, so consider thin while you prepare for IELTS. For every correct answer, you will get one mark, and there will be no negative marking.

4 Parts of the Listening Test

• Task 1 - A conversation between two people about a social context.

• Task 2 - A monologue set in an everyday social context.

• Task 3 - A conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context.

• Task 4 - A talk

This section can be made easy with the tips listed below by the experts. Read ahead to uncover the tricks for how to do IELTS preparation:

• Read the questions beforehand, listening to the audio to have an idea of where to focus more.
• Do not try to understand each word you listen to in the audio; instead, know the gist of the thought.
• Try to listen to crucial words or synonyms, as they will help you to identify the answer.
• Familiarise yourself with the various accents so understand the tone the speaker is using.
• Think in English as converting thought from the native language can change the meaning.
• Do not wait to listen for the second time; rather, listen in the first attempt and revise in the second.

These are the tips that can be useful while preparing for the listening section of the exam. Moving ahead with the next section and perceive how to start preparing for IELTS speaking test.

How to Prepare for the IELTS Speaking Test?

Speaking is one of the four sections of the IELTS for beginners, where you have to showcase your skills to speak fluently and make sense. In this part, you will be in an interview setup where you must speak and convince the interviewer. For this section, you will be evaluated on these parameters:

• Fluency and Coherence
• Lexical Resource
• Grammar and Accuracy
• Pronunciation

3 Parts of the Speaking Test

• Task 1- Introduction and questions on familiar topics

• Task 2- Individual long turn

• Task 3- Two-way discussion

Read ahead to learn how to prepare for the IELTS speaking section:

• Speak fluently without focusing on the dialect.
• Use vocabulary that you can pronounce correctly.
• Do not repeat words or thoughts frequently.
• Use different verbs and tenses to answer any question.
• Listen carefully to what is asked by the examiner.
• Do not give one-line answers; rather, extend them.
• Note down the key pointers to ensure you are not skipping them.
• Keep the discussion simple yet meaningful.

These are some tips to answer your query about how to study for the IELTS speaking section in an ideal manner. Move ahead with the last section of the test and explore the tricks to ace this as well.

How to Prepare for the IELTS Reading Test?

It is the reading section of the test, where you will be evaluated on the basis of how you read something to comprehend the information. In this section, you must prepare for IELTS according to the 40 questions to solve, each with 1 mark. For every correct answer, you will get one mark, and there will be no negative marking.

3 Parts of the Reading Test

• Task 1- Contains two or three short factual texts, one of which may be composite

• Task 2- Contains two short factual texts focusing on work-related issues

• Task 3- Contains one longer, more complex text on a topic of general interest.

Here are the tips for how to do IELTS reading effectively:

• Skim the content to have basic ideas for it.
• Scan the text to search for a particular information.
• Read the document for a detailed understanding.
• Look for the details carefully, like capital, bold, and underlined texts.
• Correctly spell the words from the content while answering.
• Do not use your understanding of the topic; rather, go with the data in the content.
• You read the questions before you read the content.

Lastly, we hope that you have an idea about how to prepare for IELTS after reading the blog. These tactics will not only help you handle the test effectively but will also improve your way of looking at several things. Moreover, you must not forget that practicing something numerous times will build perfection. Thus, the more you repeat the steps and tips, the more closer you will be to your dream. So, implement all these tips and embrace the opportunity of scoring a band score of 8 on the IELTS test. All the best for your journey ahead.
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Frequently Asked Questions about IELTS

Q1. Is One Week Enough for IELTS Preparation?

Preparing for such a competitive exam requires time, so one week is inappropriate. Thus, start early to ensure you are well-prepared on the test day.

Q2. Can I Only Take the Speaking Section of the IELTS?

Yes, as per the new update in the IELTS guidelines, you can retake any particular section of the test.

Q3. Is It Possible to Get an 8 Band Score on IELTS?

Yes, it is possible to score a band score of 8 in IELTS, but it requires a lot of hard work and dedication.

Q4. What is a Good Score for IELTS?

According to the British Council, a band score of 9 means you are an expert, 0 is for non-users, and so on. Generally, a band score between 6 and 9 is considered good.

Q5. How Many Times Can I Take the IELTS Exam?

Gladly, there is no time limit to retake the test. Thus, you can appear for the exam as many times as you want and get the preferred band score.