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International students looking to study abroad in English-speaking countries like Australia, the United States, the U.K, New Zealand and Canada are required to take English proficiency exams. One of these exams is the IELTS, which stands for International English Language Testing System. This exam is used by universities, colleges, higher educational institutions worldwide and employers to test the language proficiency of applicants before they are granted admissions, given jobs or allowed to migrate.
Now you know what IELTS is, how do you prepare to take the exam? Here are five easy and simple steps to help you prepare for your IELTS exam:
CHOOSE THE RIGHT TEST
There are two versions of the IELTS, the General Training and Academic IELTS. The Academic IELTS is geared more towards international students who wish to study at postgraduate levels or seek professional employment in a foreign country. General Training, on the other hand, is for international students looking to study at a below-degree level, work, train or emigrate to an English-speaking country, or get a better job in their own country.
Before you start burying textbooks or reading materials online, it is vital that you choose the right test. For example, the listening and speaking sections of the IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training exams are the same, but the reading and writing sections are completely different. The IELTS General Training reading and writing exams are composed of content that is more appropriate for the workplace and everyday life. But the IELTS Academic reading and writing section can be scholarly and more difficult to answer.
KNOW THE TEST FORMAT
One of the most important things every international student must do before taking the IELTS exam is to get to know the format of the test. Doing this will help you familiarize yourself with sections of the exam so you’re not taken by surprise.
The IELTS is comprised of four parts (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking). Every part is allotted a time limit to be spent on, they are:
- Listening: 30 minutes (4 sections and 40 questions)
- Reading: 60 minutes (3 sections and 40 questions)
- Writing: 60 minutes (1 letter and 1 essay)
- Speaking: 11–14 minutes (3 parts - talking with an examiner)
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
It’s a phrase every student is familiar with and although it may be cliche, it rings true in this instance. You can do this in two ways, by practicing using sample questions, online resources or taking IELTS prep classes and you can also practice your English in your everyday life. We recommend both.
One mistake many IELTS exam takers make is focusing mainly on IELTS practice tests without actually putting in the effort to practice their English daily. Yes, the practice tests are important and will help greatly but you also need to practice using English every day. These are some tips that can help:
- Read English literal materials such as newspapers books, journals
- Listen to English-speaking audiobooks, podcasts, radio and even music
- Start speaking to colleagues, friends, classmates and family in English
- Download a dictionary on your phone or laptop and try to learn a new word every day and practice using it in a sentence in your daily conversations
Practising your English language skills will help you answer questions more naturally as you can read them as if you were in a natural setting. It is also a way to ensure that you have your basis covered and can adequately express yourself in the interview (speaking) section of the exam.
RELAX
One factor many IELTS exam takers always forget is to breathe, relax and sleep well. Many international students are filled with anxiety and stress so they tend to forget that getting a good night’s sleep actually helps the brain stay focused, improves concentration and aids academic performance.
In the weeks and the days leading up to your exam, you should do your best to get a minimum of 8 hours of sleep every night. Getting the right amount of sleep ensures your consolidation of memory, which is essential for learning and retaining new information. Not doing so will only lead to unnecessary anxiety, stress and self-doubt which will most likely interfere negatively with your exam performance.
EXAM DAY PREP
Following up on the previous point of relaxing, exam day prep is equally as critical. Feeling stressed is normal but once you’re prepared mentally, physically and psychologically, you have the exam in the bag. So, what do you have to do before the big day? Start by decluttering your mind and one way to do this is to arrive early.
Arrive at the exam centre at least 30mins before it’s time to start, sit down quietly or take a walk (if that works for you); try to meditate and recall most of what you’ve learned for the past couple of months or weeks. You can use this time to scan through some of your textbooks if you have them with you or have a short exam walkthrough with a friend on the day of just to calm yourself. Finally, drink some water, cool down and take a mental break.
ARE YOU READY TO ACE THIS TEST?
Taking the IELTS is hard and many international students struggle to pass this exam in their bid to study abroad. However, the truth is, this exam is not as daunting as most think, a lot of students get overwhelmed with anxiety and fear. And for most, it simply is a lack of preparation.
Are you an international student looking to study abroad but haven’t taken the IELTS exam? Do you have sufficient information or resources available to you to make sure you succeed on your first try? Do you need help with your IELTS exam preparations? We have just what you need. Watch our webinar on “The Best English Exam for International Students” with Dr Scott Smith, it's informative, educational and most importantly, it's free.
And if the webinar isn't enough, you can also schedule a free consultation with our educational experts and counsellors who are eager to help you through this process.
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