Top IELTS Test Tips from Exam Takers

by Robert Muster
(Bucharest, Romania)

Hey, I just want to thank you for this great website!

It really helped me score higher in my writing part in IELTS exam!

I was at 6 and after following your IELTS lessons I managed to score 7 (7.5 overall).

So, BIG thank you for this incredible website and for the outstanding quality of the resources posted here.

Moreover, I wish to contribute by sharing my experience with IELTS Academic exam and why not, by giving some IELTS test tips:

Writing

1. When you are preparing for the writing part always use the paper format from the exam (you can find it in any test book) and do not use plain white paper (using their format means that you will know after how many rows you'll have 150/250 words and also you'll be used to the exam format)

2. Also when you're preparing for the writing part try to get used to finishing the 1st part in 15 minutes (instead of 20) and the second part in 35 minutes (instead of 40). This way you'll have 10 minutes to check the work - it really helped me.

Reading

For the reading part - you must read a lot (anything if you can) in English for at least 2-3 weeks before the exam.

Listening

For the listening part try to listen to BBC 5 live (or any other radio broadcast in full English) for at least 2-3 weeks before the exam.

This way you're ear will get used to English language, accents and pronunciations (5 live is great because they have all sorts of interviews with people for any part of the globe - therefore you'll have the chance to hear a wide range of accents. Also don't focus on understanding everything you hear - just listen.

Speaking

For the speaking part -> first of all you must speak to somebody (or to yourself) in the last 2 weeks before the exam.

Concentrate on finding some answers to a wide range of problems (ecology, environment, work, school, entertainment, technology, sport, music, literature, family) but do not memorize the answers! Just practice with them in order to have some ideas to speak of when you'll be facing the examiner.

Also, the best advice that I could think of for the speaking part is: do not focus on grammar or accent or pronunciation -> just speak fluently - a few grammar mistakes are always allowed - the examiner will be looking for fluency and coherence (so try to stick to the subject - do not deviate because you'll lose points even if you'll be very fluent).

However, if you want scores over 6 you'll need a wide range of grammar usage and good control over sentences.

For the speaking part try to remember the ABS: Always Be Speaking - don't ever give short answers -> let your ideas evolve and try to use complex answers - for example if the examiner asks you if you like to live in your city don't just say "Yes, i do" but more like "Yes it is a beautiful city, noisy, full of life and cultural events and therefore I love living in the big city. I fancy the Opera every Friday evening".

That's it! Hope these IELTS test tips will make the difference to somebody and once again a BIG thank You for this website!!

Kind regards, Robert

Practice a lot

by Rohit Sharma
(Bangalore, India)

IELTS First Attempt -

Speaking - 8.5
Writing - 7.5
Listening - 7
Reading - 7

I would advise a lot of practice in all areas and follow the basic instructions given in most of the sources online.

For Speaking - Try and use Smart words and try to answer what the examiner asks you but not in 1 or 2 words. Try to use good sentences, use all tenses, pronounce words correctly and show confidence by maintaining regular eye contact.

For Writing - Structure your Letter and Essay properly by using at least 3 paragraphs in the letter (for general training) and minimum 4 paragraphs in the Essay. The essay has maximum marks so do focus on that.

For the Essay structure:

- Para 1: Intro and summary of topic in your language

- Para 2: The Argument you don't agree with much

- Para 3: The argument you strongly agree with

- Para 4: Conclude

Also give examples for your arguments.

Listening and Reading - Is pure practice.
Just practice as much as you can, try to use additional sample exams and it should help.

IELTS Test Tips from an 8.5 Candidate

by Charlie
(Preston)

Having recently sat my IELTS exam I now realise how difficult and pressured the situation can be.

I am a native speaker and passed with an overall band score of 8.5.

I will also admit i would not like to sit the test again as i found it an awkward experience.

My tips in exam order -

Listening:
underline key words and think of synonyms for that word.

Reading:
Read first paragraph and the first sentance of every other paragraph, then read the questions. (check time and go to the toilet as you do not want to eat into your writing time).

Writing:
Start on task 2 as it carries twice as many points as task 1.

To clear up a few threads on the forum -

I wrote the full writing exam in pencil and also in capital letters. I did not write the full 250 words for task 2, I probably got 215 words down on paper and still achieved a band score of 8.

My tasks for writing -

Task 1: Write a letter to a hotel manager asking for thr use of one of their function rooms, state whatthe room is for, ask for something to be included in the room and ask about a food menu.

Task 2: Some people think more roads in city centres are the answer to cities congestion problems, what's your opinion.

Tips from a successful IELTS candidate

by Michelle

I passed the IELTS academic test last Dec. 13 and got the following scores:

L - 8.5
R - 7
W - 7
S - 7.5

OBS - 7.5

My advice to everyone is to keep on practicing.

Listening and Reading

Listening and reading can only be practiced by you ownself. So be sure to have sufficient time to focus on these tasks.

Writing

Moreover, writing can only be improved with the help of an English tutor. There are many blogs whom you can ask for essay correction.

Speaking

Last but not least, speaking exam will be enhanced through a number of ways. You can read newspapers or any English academic texts, listen or watch news, and speak the medium almost everyday.

Good luck everyone!

Reading, Movies and You Tube

by Rishu Wadhwa

Hello Guys...

I hope you all are doing well..

I have recently appeared for the IELTS exam in December 2013. So would like to share some tips for the exam.

1) Before actually preparing for the exam, you should start reading newspapers, novels etc.

2) You should start watching English movies. If you are new to the English movies then start listening to the short conversations in English on you tube. It will definitely help you a lot.

Before practicing for the IELTS exam for academic, I started following these two points which helped me a lot to score band 6.5 in IELTS. In every module I got band 6.5.

Help me with advice

by sampath
(vijayawada)

I have exam in 10 days please help me with IELTS test tips and tactics that help in exam....

Cannot get above IELTS 6.5 - how can I motivate myself?

by Ana
(Serbia)

I have received my ielts test results this morning and i got a 6.5 on writing part for the 13th time. I really do not know what to do?

I payed attention on every segment important for achieving band seven, but again 6.5. I have been studying for the ielts academic version for more than two years period and I really have become desperate and do not see reason to continue something which seems to me unachievable.

Can you please give me some advice or motivation to continue with my further studying?

Thanks in advance!

How can I prepare for IELTS?

by Premkumar
(Pune)

Hi There,

I am completely new to IELTS exam. Can someone provide a general outline on how should I plan myself to prepare for this exam?

I have booked to appear for this exam in the month of Dec 2015. Currently, am working so how many of hours of preparation should be good enough? What study material I can follow?

Please share your IELTS study tips

by monaliza
(Philippines)

Can anyone share any tips regarding your study habits and techniques on each of the subtests. thanks

Can you advise me how to get a band 7?

by illiana

I have scored overall 6 and I am not satisfied with my result.

I am looking for some tips that can really help in my academic growth and could score each band 7.

Can any one please suggest me about the routine and the ideas about the practice? I have only 13 days left for my test.

Your help is much appreciated.

Free official IELTS resources: a large list

by Ray
(Sydney)

http://www.slideshare.net/thefreeschool/free-official-ielts-preparation-materials

Hi forum community

I found this presentation useful. It lists all the free official IELTS resources in one place. These practice test and preparation materials are published only by the official IELTS companies: IDP, the British Council and Cambridge University.