Taking IELTS is a must for people who want to study in an English-speaking country. It can also be used for employment or migration. You can take the test as many times as you want. However, the score is only valid for two years.
In order to take the test, you will need a valid passport. You will also need to know your university’s minimum IELTS score for admission. If you are taking the test outside your country, it is important to have a passport with at least six months’ validity.
A number of countries around the world require candidates to pass the IELTS test in order to gain entrance to higher education. Most candidates who take the test are over 18 years of age. However, some schools require an IELTS score for younger immigrants.
Getting a higher score is a good idea if you want to get a good job or study at an English-speaking university. Getting a score that is higher than your universities minimum requirement may help you get admission and visa to study in a foreign country.
Whether you are preparing for the IELTS exam or are just interested in learning how to do it, there are a few tips you can follow that will help you do it successfully. These tips cover everything from the pattern, and study plan to writing instructions. There are four main sections on the test, including a listening section, a writing section, a reading section, and a speaking section. Each section is designed to test different skills.
Listening
Listening lasts for 40 minutes. In the first 30 minutes, you have to listen to the audio and find answer, then 10 minutes will be given to transfer all the answers in the answer sheet. You will be given headphones to listen to the audio. The recording is played once only. So, it is important to concentrate from the beginning until the end for the whole 30 minutes.
The listening section is a test of your ability to understand and comprehend a recorded conversation, detailed information, opinions, purpose. It tests your ability to detect keywords, fathom concrete facts, and differentiate sounds.
While listening, you will be asked to answer questions about the recording. Some questions are fairly easy, while others require more effort.
Practising the IELTS Listening section can be challenging. It’s a multitasking task that requires attention to detail. Candidates should spend at least a few hours on this part of the test. The listening section follows a certain pattern. The more you understand that structure. Watch out for plurals in answers. If the question requires a plural answer, a singular answer is incorrect. Take care when you transfer your answers and pay attention to the word limit for your answers on your answer sheet. Focus on what the speaker is saying not how they say it. Check the spellings. Transfer your answers very carefully. What you hear first may not be the right answer, so watch out for distractors. For example, the speaker may say one thing, but then reverse their answer. Skip over the questions and decide which type of word fits in each gap. Is it a noun, verb, adverb or adjective?
Writing
The IELTS writing test has two separate writing tasks. The IELTS Academic Writing task requires students to describe an infographic in at least 150 words. The infographic can be any type of graph, map, pie chart, or process diagram. The second task requires students to write an essay. The essay should have a minimum of 250 words and a proper conclusion. The IELTS General writing, will present you with a situation and asked to write a letter requesting information, or explaining the situation. In Task-2, You will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem.
Those who are preparing for IELTS writing exam will have to learn several aspects. These include a wide vocabulary, formal and scholarly writing skills, and literary writing skills. In addition, students should improve their grammar and spelling skills. Spelling and clear handwriting is important. A key point is to plan before writing, link ideas and paragraphs. Spelling and clear handwriting is important.
IELTS writing is scored on the basis of some factors;
- Task Response
Answer all parts of the question. Present a clear position/ opinion throughout your writing task. Present your idea about the topic, extend and support your ideas using different examples or through stories. Remember to stay on topic.
- Coherence and Cohesion
You could increase your writing scores by organizing information logically and using paragraphs. Use a range of linking devices appropriately.
- Lexical Response
You should demonstrate a wide range of vocabulary in writing tasks. Use vocabulary precisely. Correct spelling has a vital role in your score.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Demonstrate a wide range of structures. Use some complex structures. Use grammar accurately. Use correct punctuation.
For task-1, re-write or rephrase the title/ task. Try to make it simpler and more straight forward.
Identify the main points described by the data. Look for a pattern in the data and describe it. Describe the data in a clear and organized way. See if you are describing a change or difference. Give a summary statement and write no less than 150 words.
Reading
The academic as well as general IELTS reading section of the exam both last 60 minutes and tests your reading skills. Each has 40 questions. The 60 minutes includes the time you have to fill in the answer sheet.
Reading text is all about reading fast, receiving as much information as you can while analyzing the context at the same time.
To prepare for the IELTS Reading test, you should read different kinds of texts. For example, you can read fiction or non-fiction books or articles from newspapers. You can also read academic journals or magazines. You should choose topics that are interesting to you, and read about them in English. It is important to read these texts in order to increase your vocabulary. You should also practice reading passages from the IELTS Reading test. This will help you to identify essential points.
You should also practice time management. To get a good score, you should finish each segment of the test within the allotted time. This means you should read each passage in sixteen or seventeen minutes. Then, you should check your answers within three or four minutes. This will ensure that you do not erase any answers. You should also ensure that you read each question.
A good way to prepare for the IELTS Reading test is to take a number of mock tests. These tests simulate the actual exam. They are easy to complete and will test your knowledge of the answers. You can also solve them at your own pace.
You can use skim, scan, and deep reading strategies to increase your reading score. Skimming is reading rapidly in order to get a general overview of the material. From the question, identify the keyword and then scan the text for it, and possible synonyms. This will help you find the answer more quickly. It is important to be fast, focused, and alert. You can’t allow yourself to be slow and relaxed. You should spend no more than 3 minutes skimming the passage for your test. Also, pay attention to spelling and capitalization. Look thoroughly through the text. Any special features such as capital letters, underlining, italics, figures, graphs, and tables are likely to matter. Questions follow the order of the text in most cases. So the answer to question 5 will come after the answer to question 4 and so on. If you saw an answer that you’re sure is wrong, cross it out. This way you won’t get confused and save time.
Speaking
The IELTS Speaking Test is designed to assess your ability to speak English, focusing on correctness and fluency. If you are comfortable with complex words, it is a good idea to use them. However, if you are not comfortable with them, use simpler words. The examiner will assess your ability to make good use of vocabulary, including fillers.
The Speaking Test is divided into three parts. Part one is a conversation between you and examiner in different topics. Part two is an individual long run where you will be given a cue card to prepare for 1 min, and you should talk for 2 minutes. In part 3 the question related to the topic of part 2 is asked. Here are some tips, one for each part.
- Part 1: Medium length answers
For Part 1, you need to get used to giving medium length answers. Many students find it difficult to stop speaking, and the examiner is forced to interrupt. Give your answer, then stop and smile, showing the examiner you are ready for your next question.
- Part 2: Tell a story
In the context of speaking part 2, a story is simply a long example to illustrate a point that you have made. If you are describing a place, you can tell a story on why you like that place. People find it easy to keep speaking for longer when they have a story to tell.
- Part 3: Use conditional and complex sentences
Using conditional sentences helps you to say more, which might help in your grammar score.
The most important tip for speaking part is to add detail. Many students worry too much about grammar. For part 2 and 3, it’s more important to think about the quality of your answer. The best way to improve the quality of your answers is by adding details. By adding more information, better vocabulary and grammar is used.
If you don’t understand the question, you can simply ask the examiner to repeat it. In part 1, the examiner is not allowed to help you, but can repeat the question. If you still don’t understand after repeating, try to say something related to the topic. In part 2, you are given the question in written form, so you shouldn’t have any problem. In part 3, the examiner is allowed to rephrase the question. If you don’t understand, simply ask to paraphrase or clarify the question.
If you don’t know what to say in a certain topic, you can admit you don’t really know what to say and explain why and invent an answer. You could say “Well, I don’t really know much about …. Because…, but I suppose…”
You can use different opening expressions and fluency markers to increase your score. Such as It all depends…., It’s hard to say…., Well, conditions vary…, To be honest…, I’m afraid…, Well, I suppose…, ….and so on.
Study plan
Creating a study plan for IELTS preparation is a significant step. It can help you stay focused and on track. It can also help you identify and correct your weaknesses. Furthermore, it can also allow you to maximize your time.
You should plan your study time based on the areas in that you have the most weaknesses. For example, you might be a good speaker of English, but you may be a poor writer. You should then spend more time on your writing tasks. The IELTS exam has two writing tasks, a letter, and an essay. Practising these tasks can help you gain confidence.
The IELTS exam is a test that tests your English language skills. You need to have excellent pronunciation, word stress, intonation, and vocabulary. You should also pay attention to sentence stress and linking words. Likewise, you can learn these skills by using study materials provided by IDP and the British Council. There are also practice tests online. You can also join an IELTS preparation class in Nepal, where you will be taught and mentored about the IELTS test and preparation.
Time management is a key role to score higher in IELTS. When you are practising try to stick to time. You can use a timer as well. Take as much practice/ mock tests as you can, so you understand the pattern well.