IELTS is the most popular system of testing proficiency in the English language. IELTS test is conducted to test the proficiency of candidates in reading, writing, speaking and listening English. Candidates seeking admission to foreign universities or working abroad are required to score high in the IELTS test.
There are four sections of IELTS test – reading, writing, speaking and listening. You need to score well in all the four sections to get admission in foreign universities. To score good in IELTS, you should know about the format of the test, timing, and scoring of the test. Also, you should prepare well for all the four sections of the IELTS test.
There are two versions of the IELTS test – Academic versions and general version. The academic versions are conducted for candidates who want to migrate to a foreign country for admission to a foreign university. The general version is for other migration purposes such as working or living abroad.
Most of the universities expect you to score seven band score or above for admission while most immigration laws need 6.5 bands or higher.
The first thing to score high in IELTS is to have a clear idea of the format of the test.
The format of IELTS General and Academic version
The IELTS test has for parts – writing (1 and 2), reading, listening and speaking. The reading and writing tasks 1 are different for academic and general versions. The listening, speaking and writing task-2 are same for both the versions of IELTS.
Solving the tasks
Your score and success in the IELTS depend on how you solve the tasks in all the four sections of the test. Candidates who know the right way to solve the tasks are sure to score high in the test. You should know how to find the answers in the reading task, how to write the answers in writing task and how to attempt the speaking and listening sections. Moreover, you need to know how much time you should spend in understanding the text and how much on answering the questions.
Reading Task
You should not read the text before reading the questions. Instead read the questions first and keep them in mind while reading the passage. First, find the keywords in the questions and circle them, then look for their synonyms in the passage. Reading the questions before reading the text helps you find the answers quickly and saves time while solving the task.
Writing Task 1 and 2
The writing task 1 is different for both the academic and general training IELTS tests. In the general training version of IELTS writing task 1, you need to pay attention to detail and write a personal letter in which you have to include the information given in the writing task 1 prompt.
In the academic version, you are required to read the infographic carefully and write the important information in your writing. You should practice reading the infographics given in the IELTS tests so that you can read every detail when you appear in the test.
IELTS Writing Task 2
The IELTS writing task 2 is same for the academic and general versions. In this section, short questions are given to answer. Usually, your opinion is asked in these questions, and you need to justify your answer. To score high, you need to write the correct reason for your opinion.
IELTS listening test
The IELTS training test is same for the general and academic versions. You need to listen to the audio very carefully as you are given only one chance to listen. To improve your skills in listening, you should practice a lot. While taking the listening test, it is good to underline the keywords and look for the synonyms while listening to the audio. You should practice listening to different types of situations such as lectures, chats and telephonic conversations, etc. Also learn the synonyms of the words as much as you can.
Speaking Test
Speaking can be the toughest among all the four parts of IELTS for non-native English speakers. If your mother tongue is not English, you need to practice speaking the language until you become fluent in it.
The speaking test consists of three parts. In the first part, you are asked to introduce yourself and questions are asked about your education, work, experience, and hobbies, etc. the examiner may also ask you questions on familiar topics like your home, family background, and interests.
In the second part, you are asked to speak on a topic for two minutes. The second part is to test your proficiency to speak without hesitation and repetition. You are also given one minute of time to prepare yourself for what to speak on the given topic.
In the third part, the examiner a two-way discussion is held between the examiner and the candidate. Usually, the discussion is related to the topic given in the second part of the speaking test. This is a two-way discussion, but still, you will be expected to speak more than the examiner.
Grammar and Vocabulary
Grammar is not directly asked in the IELTS test, but you need to know the grammar rules to score high and answer the questions correctly. You should know the correct use of tenses, prepositions and modal verbs to answer the questions correctly. You need to have a strong vocabulary to score high in IELTS. Vocabulary does not mean that you should know the word meanings, but you should also know how to use words in the sentences.
Final words
English is not a test, it is a language, and you need to practice to learn it. You should learn the grammar rules and vocabulary. Then study the format of IELTS and practice all the four parts as much as you can as practice will make you perfect and help you get a high score in the test.
Author Bio
Stephen Charles is a renowned blogger, passionate to share amazing and helpful information with people on multiple niches. He loves to share his experiences with healthcare, news, technology, and sports enthusiasts from around the world.