Clearing the IELTS exam will bring you one step closer to fulfilling your dream to study, work, or live abroad. With so much information and guides available on the internet, one can be completely well equipped with the best books and resources for IELTS. For expert assistance and guidance, you can always enroll in a reliable IELTS coaching center. If you plan to take complete charge of it by opting for self-study, here are some tips and advice that might help you clear IELTS like a piece of cake.
Before you start studying, it’s essential to gather reliable and potential study material that will aid your study plan effortlessly. Here are some preparation guides and books that you must check out-
The official Cambridge guide to IELTS: Practical and easy to use, this guide is filled with tips and advice
Before you start with the preparation, you need to be clear in your head about the exam structure and syllabus. Many students fail to do this and end up spending a lot of time wandering away from the subjects. It is expected that UPSC aspirants must have a little knowledge on every topic rather than being an expert in one subject only. Each subject has a distinct element, and understanding that well will help you follow the right path.
- Online practice assessment: The British Council experts have shared videos and downloadable practice tests to help the candidates overcome the apparent challenges faced while studying.
- FREE IELTS preparation material by IDP. IELTS essential pack by IDP includes examiner approved test preparation tips, checklist, and information to help you clear IELTS effortlessly.
Self-Study tips
Make a study plan:
You are your own master. Based on your potential, time available, and your routine, do a study that best suits you. Always start slow and then build up your pace accordingly. The goal is to be consistent.
Study smart:
Focus on every section equally. Study vocabulary, read, improve your pronunciation, and practice your listening skills. Your preparation must cover every aspect of the topics mentioned above.
Practice:
Practice makes a man perfect. Practice every day to polish your skills. This will help you leave no error on the test day. The more you practice, the more you will explore your strengths and weaknesses, which will help you prepare accordingly.
Assess your performance timely:
Indulge in regular online tests. This will help you assess your performance and the scope for improvement. Additionally, this will boost your confidence and motivate you to study harder.
Keep up with the updates
The goal is to be smart and optimize on every piece of information that would help you clear the IELTS exam. Check online for regular updates, tips, and information about the IELTS exam.
Stay motivated
The journey isn't easy, but worth the destination. There will be days when you feel bored and want to quit. Keep the fire burning within you. Check out the UPSC topper interviews to know more of their struggles and highs and lows of their journey.
Section-wise preparation tips
Enhance Vocabulary
English learners are taught to put words into the proper context as much as possible. The more words you are exposed to, the better your vocabulary will be. As you read, pay close attention to words you do not know and underline or highlight them with a marker. Using new words frequently will help you to learn to speak English fluently. Research shows that it takes from 10 to 20 repetitions to make a word part of your daily speech.
Checklist
- Record expressions that can be used in a variety of academic contexts.
- Record phrases (rather than individual words)
- Use a good monolingual dictionary to check proper word arrangement
- Avoid spending too much learning highly specialized words
- Record useful expressions related to these topics
- Practice talking and writing about them in English
- Use newspapers, magazines and news websites to learn more
Read a lot
There’s an old saying that “listening helps you speak better, and reading helps you to write well.” Reading will help you to get better at writing in English when you get exposed to a different style, tone, and nuances of writing. You need to have a credible English-English dictionary and work out the meanings of new words, making sure that you do not translate back to your language.
- Skim and scan to form a general picture of a text quickly
- Make sure you know exactly what’s required for each task
- Check all instructions carefully
- Use the work for further clues about the content and organization of the text
- Remember the key vocabulary may be explained for you in the text
- Don’t use a dictionary until you’ve done the task and checked your answers. You can read an English newspaper every morning and listen to the news in English.
Exercise pronunciation and fluency
TThe speaking component is divided into three parts. The areas include a structured interview, a short talk, and a free interview. You will be asked about 2 to 3 brief concerns on familiar topics that will last 4 to 5 minutes.Be ready to give a talk for 2 minutes in the brief talk section. You will be provided 1 minute to get ready for your discussion. The whole section will take 3 to 4 minutes. The following are tips on what is examined in IELTS speaking and how to prepare for it.
Consistent practice can only help you to get better at it and using words correctly while speaking will give you an edge in the speaking section.
For Fluency:
- Practice talking for a considerable long time
- Talk aloud in English to hear yourself pronounce the words
- Record yourself speaking on different topics as often as you can
For Pronunciation:
- Listen to spoken English (e.g. on radio/TV/ films) as much as possible
- Repeat phrases after the speaker in recordings to help you speak in word groups and use stress and intonation appropriately
- Record and listen to yourself speaking as much as you can
Enhance your writing
Record words as a consistent part of your English lessons. Compose both the definition and a sentence utilizing the word on a file card that you can check later for reference. You ought to say the word resoundingly to initiate your sound-related memory and relate the word to words you definitely know. For instance, “immense,” which implies tremendous, has a comparable intending to the words colossal, enormous, and expansive.
- Practice timed writing to improve your speed
- Never write answers BELOW the minimum length
- Remember that Task 2 is longer and has more marks, so leave enough time for it
Practice listening skills
One can listen to the news in English every morning and try to write them down and analyze later. The following are tips on how to prepare for listening skills.
- Use the preparation time to think about the task content and focus
- Make sure you know exactly what’s required for each task and check the instructions
- After checking your answers, listen again, and try to work out the cause of any problem
How to improve:
- Remember that you only hear the recording once. Don’t pause the CD when you’re practicing
- Finally, listen once more to the tapescript and highlight useful expressions
These helpful tips will equip you to be ready for the exam. However, your success rate depends on your commitment and practice. A combination of the two will give you a high chance of getting the desired grade for IELTS.
