Top Tips on How to Prepare for IELTS
Here are some of the best tips to help international students prepare effectively for an IELTS exam: familiarize yourself with the test format, practice consistently to improve your English skills, take official practice tests to assess your progress, work on your time management skills during the test, and consider seeking guidance from experienced tutors for personalized assistance. By following these tips, international students can enhance their preparation and boost their confidence for the IELTS exam.
Understand the test format: Familiarize yourself with the test structure, including listening, reading, writing, and speaking sections.
Improve your English skills: Work on your vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension through reading, listening, and speaking in English regularly. For Academic IELTS, mature vocabulary is essential if you want to make a 6.5 band or better. And ideally, international students want to strive for a minimum of 6.5 or better overall, as this is the minimum requirement for most major Canadian universities for their undergraduate programs. Some programs like Nursing and graduate studies require a 7 or better.
University of Alberta - minimum IELTS band is 6.5 overall with no band less than 6 in any module meets their ELP requirement.
University of Waterloo - to meet their ELP requirement, international students need a minimum IELTS band of 6.5 overall with no band less than 6 in any module
University of New Brunswick (UNB) - minimum overall band of 6.5. That means a module could be less than 6 bands but an international student would need to make it up in another module and get a 7 or higher.
Practice regularly: Take practice tests to gauge your progress and identify areas for improvement. Focus on weak areas and practice regularly to strengthen them. There are many online sites where you can practice for free. The British Council is one such place that has lots of free IELTS preparation material.
Develop time management skills: Practice completing each section within the allocated time to ensure you can answer all questions effectively. Some IELTS preparation sites give good tips on how to make good use of your time when writing the exam.
Work on your writing and speaking skills: Practice writing essays and speaking on various topics to improve fluency, coherence, and accuracy. Make sure you know how to write both kinds of essays asked for in the exam. Task 1, though worth less points than Task 2 is actually harder to write, unless you are already used to writing “white papers” for an employer, or summarizing tables and charts.
Seek feedback: International students should get feedback from teachers, tutors, or peers to identify areas where you can improve and address any weaknesses. This is especially true for your essays. Getting feedback is a great way to improve your skills.
Stay calm and focused during the test: Manage your stress levels and stay focused during the exam to perform to the best of your ability.
Remember, consistent effort and dedicated practice are essential keys to successfully achieving a high score in the IELTS exam. It is crucial to stay focused on your preparation and commit to regular study sessions to improve your skills and confidence in all sections of the test. Setting specific study goals and following a structured study plan can greatly enhance your performance on exam day. Keep in mind that perseverance and determination will ultimately lead you to reaching your desired score in the IELTS exam.