If you know your next step will be a period of study abroad (UK / Australia / Canada), you will first need to pass an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam. Here are some steps to make it live up to your expectations.
Steps
Step 1. Start by searching the internet
You will find a lot of information about the exam, the form in which it is presented, the modalities in which it takes place, the number of sections and so on.
Step 2. Go to your nearest British Council to get plenty of material to help you prepare for the test; alternatively you could also choose to sign up to take practical lessons functional to the exam
Step 3. Find out what your weaknesses are and start working on improving them
For example, if you don't do so well in the written part you could start there (and maybe you will like it in the end), while if you have difficulty speaking you should start talking and thinking in English, as there is no better way to practice it. Only by thinking directly in English, in fact, will you be able to express yourself adequately.
Step 4. Start reading newspapers, magazines and articles; you should be well informed on topical issues for written and oral topics
Step 5. Listen to BBC and CNN, watch films, TV series and TV shows in English
Try to spend at least 30 minutes a day listening to BBC news if you are not a native English speaker.
Step 6. Choose a realistic and achievable goal
To get a satisfactory score according to the IELTS tables you need to be realistic. If the goal is to achieve a certain level of English proficiency, successfully achieving it necessarily implies skills, abilities and commitment. It is important to know the meaning of the IELTS scores for each section the test is divided into, before setting a goal to achieve.
Step 7. Do exercises, practice, exercises, practice
Set a maximum number of hours that you can devote daily to practicing your English for all four sub-categories of the test. Don't just focus on the parts you find most difficult and give yourself a break between exercises. Take at least one day off a week to rest and completely forget about the test. The secret to successfully passing the exam is to work towards your goals slowly, consistently and regularly. It is best not to leave any considerable time lag between practice and exercise periods and the exam itself.
Step 8. Increase your comprehension and response speed
During IELTS, time will be your enemy. Candidates who took the test without achieving the desired results often complain that they were unable to answer all the Listening questions because the registration went too fast or that there was not enough time during the test. Reading (written comprehension exam). For starters, don't worry if you don't finish all the tests. Remember, the exam is designed to evaluate candidates based on a score from 0 to 9 (0 means the candidate did not show up). Candidates who have near perfect English can expect a 9, but even native English speakers would hardly be able to complete every single answer of the Listening perfectly or finish the Reading well in advance of the end of the test.
The Listening, Reading, and Writing tests are given in this order and usually take place in a single morning. The overall duration of the three tests together is 2 hours and 30 minutes. The Speaking test (oral production) is instead carried out in an interview in the afternoon at a set time. Only one break is allowed between Reading and Writing, so you will need to be at your best for a fairly long period of time, which means you will need to rest and eat well before the exam. The tips and guidelines in this article should help you reach your "maximum speed". The more effort you put into it, the faster your speed will be on the day of the exam
Step 9. Develop an English memory
In Reading it is really useful to remember as much as possible of what you have just read, in this case, however, at least the words can be read again. In the Listening, however, you will not be able to go back, since the recording will only be played once. If during the recording, the answer to the test question comes before the keyword / phrase in the question, the memory of what you just heard is even more important. However, the answer usually follows the main keyword / phrase you hear and is also close to it in time.
Advice
- If you are shy, try talking in front of the mirror; it will help you. Alternatively, you could also ask your teacher to help you.
- Set your goals. If you want to pass the exam after three months, be consistent in your practical lessons; 3 months of IELTS exercises is more than enough.
- Studyau.com is a good site for anyone preparing for IELTS.
- Try to speak English freely at home, with parents or with friends.
Warnings
- Do not try to mix IELTS preparation with TOEFL study; although they are both English language exams, they are different in all respects.
- In IELTS it's all about accuracy. Test examiners penalize every single grammar or punctuation error they find.
- Avoid contracted forms of words.
- Signing up for a course and talking to an experienced person is the smartest way to pass the exam successfully.
- Don't put off your lessons for a hypothetical future or let them stay just for your teacher. Always remember that you will be going to study abroad and you will have to pass the exam.
- Be prepared for any accent and variation of English (British, American, Australian, etc.).
- Avoid using special accents or jargon (use a university register and tone).
