There are a multitude of elements to consider while studying for the IELTS exam. It would be best if you practiced a wide range of abilities to achieve a high IELTS band score, and there are several methods for doing so. If you have been studying for IELTS for a while, you are probably aware that it’s a demanding test, and it requires a lot of time and work to prepare. However, if you have not yet begun your study for the IELTS exam, you should begin by familiarizing yourself with the syllabus and exam structure, along with figuring out which IELTS online training is suitable for you.
Table of Contents
IELTS exam format
It is quite beneficial to have a good understanding of your syllabus and test format. It not only aids in wise preparation but also in achieving your desired score.
| IELTS Academic | IELTS General Training |
| Those applying for higher education or professional registration in another country should take the IELTS Academic test. | Those who intend to relocate to English-speaking nations such as Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom should opt for the IELTS General Training exam for work or settlement purposes. |
| SECTIONS | IELTS ACADEMIC | IELTS GENERAL TRAINING | TIME ALLOTTED |
| Reading | The IELTS Academic exam’s reading section consists of 3 long reading passages and 40 questions. | The reading component of the IELTS General Training consists of 3 reading passages (2 short and 1 long) and a total of 40 questions. | 60 minutes |
| Writing | The Writing section of the IELTS Academic test consists of 2 writing tasks. Task 1 is report writing, and Task 2 is essay writing. | The IELTS General training Writing section comprises 2 writing tasks. Task 1 is letter writing, and Task 2 is essay writing. | 60 minutes |
| Speaking | The Speaking section of both the IELTS Academic and General training test consists of 3 parts with some questions on topics such as home, work, study, etc | 11 – 12 minutes | |
| Listening | The IELTS Listening section of both the IELTS Academic and General training test is divided into 4 parts and 40 questions. | 30 minutes, plus additional 10 minutes to transfer the answers |
IELTS preparation tips
Overall knowledge of any test format will not help anyone until one has a proper preparation plan for each test section and knows how to make learning effective. So, for IELTS, if you are not confident of how to begin your practice, have a look at the tips given below:
1. Give Yourself Ample Time to Prepare
Set aside enough time before registering for the IELTS to study for the exam and ameliorate your English language abilities. If you are already fluent in English and merely want to learn how to prepare for the IELTS exam, you would require less time for preparation. In this instance, it’s essential to concentrate on understanding the IELTS structure and testing yourself on a regular basis with high-quality practice questions. If you don’t speak English well, you’ll need more time to prepare for the IELTS. Make a concerted effort to enhance your general English abilities.
2. Personalize Your Study Plan
Focus on what you don’t know rather than what you do know when studying for the IELTS. You’ll spend more time improving your weaknesses and have a higher chance of achieving good marks on all four IELTS parts if you do it this way.
The following are some of the most typical weaknesses for test-takers incorporate:
- If you are having trouble understanding particular concepts or question types, it must be because of the inability to understand specific content structures. If you have trouble with vocabulary and grammar, learning more vocabulary phrases and grammatical patterns and incorporating them appropriately can help you boost your IELTS score.
- Another common difficulty is with structural parts of the IELTS, namely recognising the right question types. Some students frequently get their speaking and writing questions wrong. As a result, you’ll need to adjust your study strategy so that you practise certain question types more frequently than others.
- The other weakness students generally have is following an incorrect strategic approach or test-taking method. Certain students struggle with pace in the Reading section, and it simply implies that they are following an incorrect approach to completing the test. For example, students start the examination by reading the passages rather than the questions, implying that they are unable to focus on the nuances that are crucial to the topic.
3. Practise for knowledge acquisition
Solve as many questions from each topic as you can. This will assist you to comprehend the types of questions that each topic has to offer, as well as how close you are to reaching your target score. Moreover, keep an error log and resolve any doubts as soon as possible. It will assist you in identifying your weak spots.
Everyone has an area they excel in and one in which they struggle. Therefore, make an effort to answer more questions on your weak topics, which will assist you in overcoming your weaknesses and transforming them into strengths. Additionally, make it a habit to time your efforts when answering questions. For instance, practice for the IELTS writing section in 55 minutes. This will aid you in increasing your speed and managing your time throughout the IELTS exam.
4. Seek advice from someone knowledgeable
When learning a language, you will quickly reach a moment where development slows and becomes more complex, typically due to a lack of sufficient supervision. Therefore, proper guidance necessarily entails constructive feedback, which can be achieved through IELTS classes.
Conclusion
Learning English is complex, so preparing for the IELTS test can seem like an arduous journey, but there are definitely ways to make it easier and more rewarding. Finding out what you’re doing correctly and wrong and then using that information to direct your preparation is maybe one of the most crucial things you can do. It allows you to pinpoint your errors and devote your time to far more productive activities, increasing your chances of getting a high IELTS band score.
Also read: 7 Best Online Classes for Adults for Free
