The IELTS Exam is always a cause of stress and anxiety for most students. As the exam date approaches, hundreds of questions arise, such as whether you will be able to achieve the needed band, if you are adequately prepared, and so on.
Every year, millions of students take the IELTS exam in the hopes of receiving a high band score that will allow them to immigrate to an English-speaking country. As the number of individuals interested in immigrating to English-speaking nations grows, so does the difficulty level of the IELTS exam. However, achieving a band of 9 on the IELTS exam is feasible; all you need is a well-thought-out approach.
1. Don’t get swamped by too many materials or references
The IELTS exam is used to evaluate applicants’ English language abilities. Individuals are evaluated in four sections: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. Taking a practice exam before you begin your preparation might help you understand where you stand now and where you need to improve. Going through references and a lot of study material, on the other hand, can only cause confusion, so stick to a few resources and go over them thoroughly.
2. Begin your preparation early and plan well
Start your preparation early from the IELTS exam dates. IDP offers the choice of selecting from any of the 48 fixed dates throughout the year. Candidates can select any day from the list of dates and any place from 55 different test locations, all of which are covered. Academic IELTS exams are usually held four times every month, while General Training IELTS exams are held twice a month. As a result, make sure you have enough time to prepare for each IELTS section. Plan your schedule carefully and provide enough time for modifications.
3. Make a Schedule
Create a strategy and stick to it! Making a plan and then not following it makes no sense and is a self-defeating goal. A schedule should include the number of hours you plan to study each day and when you intend to finish topics. Make a weekly micro-goal and make sure you’re on track to meet it. A target offers you a goal to work for and provides you with the necessary dopamine once you reach it. Preparing for IELTS necessitates a detailed study regimen that must be properly followed.
4. Strategize how to solve the different sections
Concentrate on areas where you are weak rather than practicing areas where you already excel. Additionally, there is no negative marking in the IELTS exam. As a result, make an effort to answer all of the questions. While attempting the answers, begin by answering the questions for which you are certain of the answers, then leave the other questions and return later. Make a list of all the areas you want to learn about, then evaluate your strengths and weaknesses and attempt to bridge the gaps.
5. IELTS practice tests are your best friend
Mock tests and practice tests are one of the most crucial keys to mastering IELTS. After the initial diagnostic practice test, taking numerous mock tests and preparing for the exam might help a lot. You can also learn about your strong regions by taking practice examinations, after which you can develop techniques or shortcuts to handle these sections quickly.
6. Evaluate yourself
Don’t re-read material, highlight it or do any of the things you have already done. After you’ve learned something, you should evaluate your knowledge. Self-testing is a highly effective approach to accelerating your learning. If you assess yourself and, in the process, respond erroneously, you will not only recall the correct answer after looking it up, but you will also remember the information you forgot. Therefore, self-evaluation can help you acquire confidence in your abilities and enable you to learn more rapidly.
7. Summarize and share it with someone
Summarize the knowledge you’ve learned about a certain topic, such as a movie you saw today. Prepare crucial points in English, then share and discuss them with others. Speaking about broad information or topics might aid in your knowledge improvement. You can learn new phrases or ways to convey your thoughts and ideas as a result of this experience.
8. Learn how to approach the exam
It is strongly advised that you skim over the entire text/exercise first and highlight the terms that you feel will draw the most attention. This will aid you in later navigation to the question-answer and instinctively separate the material into sections. To determine the solution, use the question’s keywords. Create a framework for your written responses and stick to it. Write an outline for the written answers – and follow it every time. Structured writing gets more points on the written part.
9. Concentrate on your grammar
To make your idea understandable to the examiner, you must use correct grammar. Thus, improving your grammar is critical to conveying a coherent message or concept to the examiner and improving your IELTS score. The use of perfect grammar also aids you in communicating your ideas with confidence and fluency. It will boost your confidence in writing and speaking, making the IELTS exam easier to accomplish.
10. Time management is crucial
To achieve a 9 band score on the IELTS exam, you must deliver accurate answers within the time limit. It’s essential to strike the correct balance between solving the answers and the time it takes to answer each question. Don’t spend too much time on any one question. If you don’t know the answer to a question, go on and return if time allows.
Conclusion
You should relax and mentally prepare yourself for exam day after you are certain that you have put out your best effort in test preparation. You will frequently hear incorrect IELTS advice. Don’t pay attention! Myths regarding the test’s difficulty are untrue. Instead, study for the exam, improve your English and use the suggestions mentioned in the article.
