Top 10 tips to improve your IELTS score

Thinking of taking the IELTS exam and want to maximize your score? These are my top ten tips based on my many years of teaching IELTS to a variety of students in different countries. They are presented in no particular order.

top tip one

Prepare, prepare, prepare… yes, I know it sounds obvious, but I have met many “overconfident” candidates who take the exam with little or no preparation. One candidate told me that he had lived and studied in the United States for more than 4 years, so he considered his level of English to be that of a native speaker. He expected to get at least an 8.0; Unfortunately, he only got a 6.5 because he didn’t understand how the test works. A good preparation course will prepare you for the exam and allow you to achieve a score based on your true level of English. Look for accredited schools or online courses.

tip top two

Speed! One of the criticisms of the IELTS test is that it asks candidates to do too much in too little time. Many candidates find that they don’t have enough time, especially on the reading and writing sections. So what can you do?

Start by doing an internet search for speed reading techniques; there are many good sites with some excellent advice. Once you’re sure you’ve mastered the techniques, read through some IELTS practice papers and take your time. Are you taking too long? If so, why? Maybe your vocabulary needs improvement or maybe you need more practice with speed reading techniques. In general, try to read as much as possible before your exam.

Speeding up your writing can be just as daunting, especially when you have to come up with your own ideas during the test to answer the question. To help speed up your writing practice, write paragraphs from a book and time yourself, make sure you don’t squeeze the pen too hard, but use a relaxed grip with a fluid motion.

Listening takes practice: listen to English as much as possible so that your ear becomes attuned to the language. Listen to the radio in English or turn off the subtitles on a DVD movie. Try having an English night with friends to practice both your listening and speaking skills – a group I knew used to have a small fine for anyone who used a non-English word during the night and donated the money to charity every week.

top tip three

Be sure to read the exam instructions – too many candidates simply dive into the exam without taking this important step. The instructions may contain vital information needed to answer the questions correctly. For example, listening comprehension test instructions may contain details about where the ‘conversation’ takes place. for example, the student dormitory. You may think you’re saving time by skipping the instructions, but it may cost you in the long run.

top tip four

Stay up to date on the listening test: Unlike reading and writing, on the listening part of the test you have no control over time. If you notice that other candidates are writing and you are not, you may be lost; don’t panic; listen to the sound of other candidates turning to the next page and do the same. You may find that you can get back on track simply by following what the other candidates are doing.

tip five

Don’t Leave Blank Spaces – In both reading and listening, you need to answer a variety of question types, including multiple choice, short answer, etc. If time is short or you have no idea of ​​the answer then GUESS. When you guess, use logic to try to calculate the answer and make sure to insert the appropriate answer style. You don’t lose points for the wrong answer and you can get lucky and earn some extra points.

top tip six

On the speaking test, it may not look like it, but this is the part of the test that you have control over. To be in control, you must be willing to talk and be positive. As with any interview, first impressions count: if you’re asked a question, give more than a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. Be helpful and be willing to answer questions. As a general rule of thumb, you should talk 70-80% of the time. Show the examiner that you speak fluently and have good grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. Be careful with your body language – your body can take on a life of its own when under stress. Sit comfortably, with good posture and keep your hands together in your lap in ‘formal style’. Keep in mind that your examiner may not come from the same cultural background as you, so controlled body movements are often the best strategy.

tip seven

In most speaking test interviews, you will be asked to introduce yourself. Be careful not to become a robot: my-name-is-George-and-I-graduated-from-xyz-university… try to be natural and friendly, a person who is willing to talk and has things interesting to say To get better at introducing yourself, write a “Me in 2 minutes” on a piece of paper. Include information that you think is interesting and maybe a little different from other candidates. Then go out and practice, first with people you know and then with people you don’t know. Is the content interesting? Does it sound natural when you speak? and so. How do people react when they hear it? Adjust the content as appropriate.

council top eight

Articles: Many candidates consider the use of articles to be one of the most difficult tasks in English. There are two kinds of articles in English, the definite and the indefinite. The definite article (the) can be singular or plural. The indefinite article (a or an) is unique. Check your writing to make sure you have included and used the articles in the correct format. Use a good grammar book to practice using the articles before the test.

tip nine

Stay up to date with current affairs. Make sure you read a newspaper every day because the IELTS writing tasks are based on items of general interest. In theory, no special knowledge is required to answer the questions, but it is always useful to have knowledge of topics that are of interest, especially in English-speaking countries. For example, you probably know about global warming, but do you have enough ideas and vocabulary to write an essay arguing for or against banning cars in city centers?

top ten tips

Writing Word Count: Writing task one typically requires you to write 150 words and writing task two 250. If you don’t write much less than the correct number of words, the maximum score you can get is 5.0. If you write too many words in one task and not enough in the other, you will be penalized. The best strategy is to keep an eye on the clock: divide the time by the total number of words required for each task, usually 20 minutes for writing task one and 40 minutes for writing task two. However, as stated above, please read the questions carefully and be sure to follow the instructions on your test.

Good luck with your IELTS test and remember, get ready, get ready, get ready!