The Ultimate Guide to IELTS Preparation (…First Timer or Repeater)

• November 11th, 2022
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The IELTS exam is key to the dream of studying abroad, working abroad, or migrating to a developed country. Globalization and the rapid advancement of technology have made it easier to achieve this dream of a better career and living standard for many youngsters. An individual’s route to a foreign country and a bright future might be similar or different depending on the score secured in the four modules in the IELTS exam.

A person starting IELTS test preparation for the first time may feel like he/she is doing something new. It can be overwhelming, too, like how you might feel when you go to a new place or start interacting with new people. The IELTS exam preparation can be a unique experience. You need a month or two to prepare yourself to do well in the test. Planning and sticking to a schedule helps you complete the preparation. A friend of mine once told me, “Failing to plan is a plan to fail!”

How to prepare even if you’re a First timer or Repeater

1. Understand why the IELTS exam is to be taken, i.e., Study, Work, or Migration. Understand the score requirement to complete the documentation.

Most Candidates, for the first time, apply for IELTS to study at a foreign university. Some will be for Work Visa requirements and migration. 

To submit the score to a university, IELTS Academic is to be chosen. IELTS General Training score can be used to process your application for migration or other work-related prerequisites.

2. Make a Decision and be sure that the IELTS exam is the top priority

It doesn’t become a priority if you don’t make it an absolute must-do. We often tend to get diverted from our goals and, as a result, end up procrastinating. Hence, making it a part of your daily routine is crucial. Prioritizing and preparing a timetable to study will help you stay focused and complete your preparation. 

It takes a month or two to prepare well and practice. It is better to write the exam a week or two (but not any longer) after the preparation. This helps you focus on all that needs to be focused on. It is essential to make sure not too much time has elapsed and that you forget what you have worked on.

3. Know the structure of the IELTS exam – Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking

There are four modules in the IELTS test: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. The test is conducted in two parts. The main exam comprises the Writing, Reading, and Listening modules. The speaking test, which is an interview, is held separately. You may opt to take a computer-delivered test or a paper-based test as suitable. 

IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training are the two types of IELTS tests. The listening and speaking questions are the same for Academic and General Training. The pattern/questions are different in Reading and Writing tests. 

 Reserve the Listening, Reading, and Writing date when you book the test. All IELTS tests’ Listening, Reading, and Writing modules are completed on the same day, with breaks. This test is for 2 hours and 45 mins (approximately).

The Speaking test, an interview, may be scheduled up to a week before or after the other tests. The speaking test is for 11-14 minutes. 

4. Be calm and don’t worry too much about the result since you can sit for the test any number of times as a repeater. It is better to clear the test on the first attempt, but if you can’t, that’s ok!

Being calm helps you think better, and undoubtedly you will perform well in the speaking test. Imagine being all nervous and fumbling while speaking in a speaking test! One of the great secrets of achievers and top performers is: Having a calm-minded approach and letting it go. Focusing on the present moment. You might think it is easily said than done! Some excellent anxiety management techniques can help you in these situations. 

5. Make it a daily practice to study for the test and take numerous mock exams from reliable sources. These will give you a simulated environment for the authentic IELTS exam.

Make it a habit to practice vocabulary, learn in-depth about each skill, and attempt at least 1-2 mock exams weekly.

6. Have an end in mind – The worst case is you consider the exam a mock exam. Hence, there’s always one more time you can try it and do thorough research about Average Scores, which are accepted by most Universities or Countries.

The More clarity you have about the Average score accepted in various Universities/countries, the better you can focus overall.