The IELTS, or International English Language Testing System, is an English language proficiency exam for overseas aspirants. If you wish to study or immigrate to an English-speaking country, you will need to prove your language capabilities. The IELTS tests your proficiency in each of the 4 skills Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking.
In this blog, we give you tips to improve your IELTS scores, ace your exam and get the scores you need! By scoring well on the IELTS Academic test, you can get into the University of your choice. If you’re worried about the test pattern and wondering how you will score, focus on the test itself, prepare well and let go of those fears!
Here, we address five of the most common fears that most students have. Confidence is the key to success in any exam. Focus on your strengths, sharpen your weaknesses, and you will sail through the IELTS without any problem at all!
The listening audio is running too quickly for me to grasp. What if I lose focus?
You’re not alone in this! Even someone with exceptional English skills could lose track of the audio. There are 4 sections with 40 questions which will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. Practice makes perfect, so keep doing practice tests as much as you can to understand the format better.
The trick is to be completely focused, be prepared with a pencil and your answer paper, and mark answers on the question paper itself when you are listening. After finishing the audio you will get 10 minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet. Make sure you use a pencil and not a pen. Stay focused, stay calm, and leave your worries behind! For more IELTS Listening tips, consult a counselor at MWT Global Academy.
Can I take a pause while speaking during the IELTS Speaking Test? Should I speak fast, without any gaps?
Of course, you can take a pause! What is being tested is your ability to speak using clear and concise language and not to test your behavior. Taking a small pause can give you time to think and frame your answer in a better manner, and it is perfectly okay to do that.
My vocabulary is not up to the mark. Will I be penalized if I repeat words in the Writing module?
The IELTS is designed to test the level of a non-native English speaker, and while you can impress the examiner if you have an excellent vocabulary, that is not what is being tested here. You are not expected to use very difficult words in your essay, but your grammar and sentence construction should be correct.
Learn a few synonyms to common words. For instance, instead of using ‘Interesting’, try using ‘Impactful’, ‘Thought-Provoking’, or ‘Fascinating’. Get more IELTS Writing tips from the experts at MWT Academy and get the confidence you need to write concise and clear paragraphs.
My spoken English has an accent. There is a touch of my mother tongue in my pronunciation. Will it affect my scores?
Most students worry about their accents, but it really does not matter! IELTS Examiners are not looking out for a flawless accent during the IELTS Speaking Test. What is being tested is your language, not your accent. As long as you are speaking in a way that others can understand, the accent does not matter at all.
What if I do not achieve the scores I need in my first attempt?
You can retake the IELTS any number of times till you achieve the scores you need. Also, retaking the IELTS does not produce any disadvantages in the university admissions process. However, you will have to pay every time, and this might be difficult for many. If you are not comfortable with a computer-based test, you can always apply for a pen-and-paper-based test.
Even though retaking IELTS is allowed, attempting an IELTS retake without preparation is not wise at all, as you might lose your self-confidence with every successive attempt. There are no shortcuts, and practice makes perfect. To ace the test at your first attempt and to clear it with the scores you need, sign up for an IELTS Preparation course from MWT Academy. We wish you all the best in your IELTS Test!