Want to Score 8+ Bands in the IELTS Test?
How to Prepare For IELTS for 8+ band score?
When we asked students who have already cleared the IELTS exam what tips they would give to people who are just starting on their journey of IELTS preparation the first thing they talk about is doing as much practice as possible. At the end of the day, the IELTS exam is a test like any other and as such you need to work on all the skills and understand the components, tips, techniques, and specific IELTS marking criteria before you should even think about registering for the IELTS exam. Let’s see a breakdown of the top 5 tips from our recent IELTS class attendees and hear their insights and secrets for success
IELTS Tips for Success with 8+
IELTS Tip #1: You should leave ample time for preparation when choosing an IELTS Exam date.
Plan in advance instead of rushing to give the exam, the IELTS test happens 4 times a month for the IELTS academic module and 2 times a month for the IELTS general training module. As such, you have plenty of opportunities to choose from so don’t rush to make decisions, the minimum time for preparation that is recommended is before IELTS registration is one month, taking more than that is good for your high band score but less should only be done if this is your second attempt or you are already quite confident after your initial free IELTS placement test that the gap between your current level and the desired score. Future Target Institute provides free IELTS sample tests to help your practice and see your potential, just ask a course coordinator and they will be happy to provide the links for such practice material to you. Such resources will help you crack the exam in no time and achieve the band score you need for immigration and study abroad. To look for upcoming IELTS test dates, please click here
IELTS Tip #2: Find your weak areas in each module: Listening, Reading, Writing & Speaking
As we mentioned before, the time you need for preparation is around at least one month to practice tests and then only can you think of going for the actual exams. In each module of the IELTS test, there are specific parts to the exam. To get a good IELTS score you must first understand how many IELTS questions there are in each section of the test. This will help you prioritize which sections to pay special attention to and in doing so you will also help improve your understanding of specific question types such as the Fill-In-The-Blanks, Maps, MCQs, etc, and then you can identify which area you are good in. For example, some people might be good at IELTS Writing Task 1 but might find themselves struggling with IELTS Writing Task 2. If you are good at the IELTS Speaking Part 1, you might find Speaking Part 2 (the individual long turn) to be a bit daunting but that is a natural part of the process for all people preparing wither it be through an IELTS course, taking online IELTS training or preparing by yourself through different practice tests. However, getting the insight of an expert instructor into how to improve on these weak areas can be vital, at Future Target Institute the British Council trainer teachers help you spot your difficulties at the start of the course so you can spend your time wisely preparing for each module.
IELTS Tip #3: Prepare in a group along with like-minded individuals
Taking the time-out to study and maintaining the motivation to keep doing so is essential for the journey towards your dream IELTS Band score and finally, your destination, be it Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or the UK. Like in a school or at the gym, being with other people with similar goals and targets in mind will help inspire you towards a path straight to success. Living in a place like the UAE, giving the IELTS exam in Dubai is relatively easy with all the relevant support being provided but finding the right place to study before the exam can be a difficult choice. This is why we place all students in groups according to their level so they can find friends who are in the same boat as them, starting from similar points and going towards the same destination of IELTS for immigration or study.
IELTS Tip #4: Identify if you are more competent in the input or output skills and polish that skill
In preparing for the IELTS Exam, planning is key. As we discussed identifying weak areas before, you must also identify your strengths and use those to your advantage. Some of us will have greater command over the output skill (writing and speaking) compared to input (listening and reading) and that is what you should aim to leverage to score higher in them and increase your overall score. That doesn’t mean you should not care about these modules, however, you can keep these as your bricks to build the foundation of your IELTS score. For example, practice complete IELTS reading tests for these modules instead of starting out with individual IELTS Reading Sections as it will give you a broader overview and understanding of the exam.
IELTS Tip #5: Make sure to practice speaking with an actual instructor
Even if you do it once before your exam, ensuring you have an idea of how you sound voicing your answers out and fit the criteria for the IELTS speaking exam in terms of length, content, and vocabulary for the IELTS exam. You can also record yourself while speaking and listen back to spot your own mistakes.
These are our candidate’s top tips for the IELTS test, you can see more practice material here and the IELTS test dates in Dubai here. Stay tuned for more exclusive tips and practice material.