6 Tips To Prepare For And Ace The IELTS

Choosing your dream course and study destination might be exciting but are you fully prepared for the IELTS test?

The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test is an examination that is required by many universities in English-speaking countries, from the UK to Australia, for enrollment into their programmes.

While you might be thinking that it is just another English test, the IELTS is much more than that! Understanding how to prepare for IELTS is vital as it is a comprehensive test that assesses your language ability through four separate tests:

- The speaking test

- The writing test

- The reading test

- The listening test

Whether you are confident in your preparation for the IELTS or starting to read up on the test, we have compiled a list of 6 IELTS tips and tricks that will help you to ace the test!

Tip 1: Familiarise Yourself With The Test Format

Knowing the test format is not only crucial to understanding how to prepare for it but also helps to calm any nerves you might have.

With four different segments of the test comes various aspects that you would need to be familiar with. Understanding the different types of questions and tasks required of you beforehand will allow you to strategize how to allocate your time and pay extra attention to your areas of weakness.

You can learn more about the exact test format here as well!

Tip 2: IELTS Reading Tip - Be Exposed To A Range Of Topics

From TED Talks on Youtube to Magazine articles and news articles online, it is essential to get exposed to a variety of topics that include current events and popular topics such as history, business, and lifestyle.

While you might not encounter the same topic during the test, exposure to this wide variety will allow you to understand the examination topic better and look out for critical facts and figures that you will likely be tested on.

Tip 3: Do Timed-Practice For All Sections Of The Test

One of the best ways to be prepared is to take a sample or mock test of the IELTS itself! The key here is to ensure you fully understand the format, the time allocated to you and how best to answer each question within the time limit.

At IDP we help our students get prepared with various samples that they can try. You can even try out our sample listening tests for the automated IELTS test!

Tip 4: Practice Speaking Naturally

While you might be tempted to rehearse for your speaking test, don’t! Rehearsed speaking will come across as unnatural and will cause you to be more mistake-prone, not to mention feeling more nervous in the process.

A much better way is to practice speaking naturally with family and friends for a wide range of topics. Go back and forth with them over questions and answers and learn to let the conversation flow naturally!

You do not need to be an expert on the topic assigned to you. Your examiner will be assessing your ability to communicate smoothly and coherently.

Tip 5: Build Your Vocabulary & Practice Writing

Putting the right words into the proper context is key when it comes to the written test. One step you can take to ensure you use the right words is to improve your vocabulary.

To improve your vocabulary, start to read as extensively as you can to expose yourself to as many words as possible. Pay attention to words that you do not know but avoid spending too much time learning words that might be too specialized.

While learning new vocabulary, take this chance to write and form sentences consistently with a word count above the required length for the IELTS test. This will help to increase your writing speed and ensure your answers stay within the necessary word count zone.

Tip 6: Practice Your Listening Skills

To prepare for your listening test, team up with a friend and read to each other passages from a book or a magazine (preferably about current affairs).

Then get your friend to quiz you on the passage by asking you questions which you will answer to the best of your ability.

To take this a step further, wake up every morning to the English news and wind down your day with an evening news session to improve your listening skills and pay attention to the facts conveyed by the newscaster.

Practice Makes Perfect

Taking the IELTS test is the first step in opening doors to your university aspirations, and with these six preparation tips, it's time to ace the test!

Remember that consistency is the key to success, from improving your vocabulary through reading to writing down sentences, practicing every day before your test is the best preparation you can have.

Are you looking to book your IELTS Test? IDP is a co-owner of IELTS, and all our test centers are UKVI approved.