How to Prepare Well for Your IELTS Exam

The International English Language Testing System is an examination that proves one’s English language proficiency. There are two kinds of examinations: the IELTS Academic and General Training. Both are comprised of reading, writing, listening, speaking, and comprehension tests for non-native speakers of the official international language. The only difference between the two is the subject matter of the reading and writing sections

Typically, those who take this exam hope to study or work in English-speaking countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. However, apart from being a requirement to qualify for study and career programs available in such countries, obtaining an IELTS certificate is also deemed a smart strategy for personal development.

Get Proper IELTS Training

If you will be taking this exam to pursue a career abroad, the smartest thing you can do is to enroll in a reputable IELTS Center and receive proper training from certified coaches.

The center will not just tackle everything that will be included in the exam; it will pay close attention to your ability to practically apply everything that you have learned as well. This way, all the new knowledge will be retained better and your English skills will manifest easily and naturally.

Essential Tips for Getting the Results You Want from IELTS Training

While improving your English skills with the help of certified professionals is the best thing to do, other strategies can enhance your understanding and application of the language further. Our experts at REI, the most trusted IELTS coaching center in Abu Dhabi, share with you these helpful strategies:

1. Complement your IELTS course with a Spoken English one.

Taking Spoken English classes will not only increase your experiences in using the language, but it will also grow your confidence. There’s nothing like having solid confidence in what you know to help you perform well in an examination.

2. Take a lot of practice tests.

Taking mock tests is another effective way of increasing your experiences in utilizing the language you are learning. Remember: Practice makes perfect. Taking tests frequently will let your memory juices flow. At the same time, it can help you identify the areas that you still need to work on.

For instance, many people are confused about the appropriate times to write you’re and your. By taking different mock IELTS tests, which are often available online, you can address this issue. You will also be able to determine if you need to try even more ways to master the skills that can prove your proficiency in the English language.

When you take these practice tests, be mindful of the amount of time you use up for every section of the test. Time is of the essence when it comes to taking the IELTS exam.

3. Use English as often as possible.

There’s no better way of mastering a new language other than to use it as often as possible. You may feel a bit self-conscious about it, especially if you live in an environment where you’re the only one who needs to learn, but this will pay off in time for your exam. These are just some of the things that you can do:

• Watch English language shows and turn off the subtitles
• Speak in English with your family and friends
• Read to your pets (child development specialists highly recommend this strategy in boosting speaking, listening, and comprehension skills)
• Listen to music in English
• Read more books in the English language

4. Stay up to date with global news.

Do not restrict your lessons to the English language. Make sure that you know what’s going on in the world as well. Get your news in English to see if you fully understand all the reports. Plus, this will help you grow your vocabulary, which will then improve the way you comprehend English messages as well as construct your thoughts in English.

Also, global news and trends often come up in the IELTS exam. This is why those who take Spoken English classes in preparation for the exam often have news-sharing and discussions during sessions.

5. Focus on pronunciation and not the accent.

Quite often, those who study for the IELTS get so fixated on sounding American or British when accent has no true value in the test. For the speaking part, you need to know the correct pronunciation of words to know their true meaning and how they fit into the thought of sentences.

For example, the word lead can be a verb and two different nouns. In the test, you need to pronounce this word according to the thought of the sentence. Otherwise, marks can be taken away from you.

You can get help for this online. There are pronunciation apps that will teach you the correct pronunciation of the words you find tricky.

Bonus Tip

Take the exam as soon as you feel prepared for it. According to some IELTS portals, the topics change every four months. However, whether this is true or not, it’s best to take the exam while everything you have learned is still fresh in your memory.

All in all, preparing well for an IELTS exam is all about observing the smart practices: continuous learning or studying, correcting mistakes, focusing on what’s truly important, applying knowledge as often as possible, and getting help from the experts, such as the teachers at REI.

If you are required to take the IELTS exam for your future pursuits, feel free to reach out to REI. We offer the best IELTS training and Spoken English classes as proven by the high success rate of our students.