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How to prepare for IELTS Test? A guide for IELTS Test Preparation

How to prepare for IELTS Test? A guide for IELTS Test Preparation

Most of colleges, Universities, or workplaces in English-speaking countries requires proof of proficiency test before applying for a study permit or work permit. Individuals who wish to study or work in countries where English is used as the primary language are required to do IELTS test preparation.

So in this blog, we will be discussing the best way to prepare for IELTS Exam.

Table of Contents

About IELTS

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the English language proficiency test for non-native English speakers. The British Council jointly owns IELTS, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English.

Types of IELTS

IELTS is divided into two categories: Academic and General Training. Both tests evaluate your hearing, reading, writing, and speaking abilities in English.

The two types of IELTS are

IELTS General Training
IELTS Academic Training

1. IELTS General Training

What is IELTS General Training and whom is it for?

Individuals who are willing to work or migrate to English-Speaking countries are required to take this test. As well as someone planning to study there below degree level can go for IELTS test preparation.

Mostly, this type of IELTS test Preparation is focused on basic language proficiency needed to survive in the social and working zone.

2. IELTS Academic Training

What is IELTS Academic Training and whom is it for?

Individuals who wish to pursue their higher studies in English-Speaking Countries are required to take this test.

The motive of this type of IELTS test Preparation is to determine if an applicant is ready to begin studying in English or not. It consists of features that are familiar in an academic setting.

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IELTS Exam Registration

The process for IELTS Exam Registration can be done easily. One can register and pay online. After completing the online application, candidates should provide a clear scan of their passport. Candidates under 18 will need to have their parent’s consent.

Once the application has been processed, the test center will send them a detailed confirmation of the date and time of their test.

The IELTS Exam Registration Fee for paper-based (both IELTS Academic and General Training) is Rs.25,300 and for the computer-based exam is Rs.23,650.

IELTS Score | IELTS Band Scale

Candidates should be aware of the minimum score required in IELTS to apply for their selected institution or workplace. Applicants will receive an individual score for each section and overall band accordingly. The IELTS band scale ranges from 1 to 9. Each scale from 1 to 9 shows the skill level of an individual. Below is the skill level table of English language users according to the band score:

Band Score	Skill Level	Description
9	Expert User	Fully operational command of the language. The use of the English language is appropriate, accurate, and fluent showing complete understanding.
8	Very Good User	Fully operational command of the language with only occasional inaccuracies, inappropriate usage, and misunderstanding in unfamiliar situations. Users with this band can handle complex and detailed argumentation well.
7	Good User	Good operational command of the language with occasional inaccuracies, and inappropriate usage. Misunderstanding in some situations. Users with this band generally handle complex language well and understand detailed reasoning.
6	Competent User	Holds effective command of the language with some inaccuracies, inappropriate usage, and misunderstandings. Users with this band can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.
5	Modest user	Holds a partial command of the language and copes with overall meaning in most situations, although likely to make many mistakes. Users with this band should be able to handle basic communication in their own field.
4	Limited User	Basic competence is limited to familiar situations only. Users with this band frequently show problems in understanding and expression, not being able to use complex language.
3	Extremely Limited	One can convey and understand the only general meaning in very familiar situations. Users with this band have frequent breakdowns in communication.
2	Intermittent User	Users with this band have great difficulty understanding spoken and written English.
1	Non-user	Users with this band have no ability to use the language except a few isolated words.
0	Did not attempt the test	The candidate did not answer the questions.

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IELTS Exam Pattern

IELTS exam consists of four sections,

Reading
Writing
Listening
Speaking

The total duration of the exam is 2 hours and 45 minutes. The three sections – Listening, Reading, and Writing will be taken on the same day without a break while Speaking might be taken on the same day or another day.

IELTS Exam Pattern 1. Reading

The reading section consists of three passages derived from books, magazines, or any other forms of media. With the duration of 20 minutes per passage, test takers are given overall 60 minutes. And the total number of questions is 40. Each question carries 1 mark.

IELTS Exam Pattern 2. Writing

The writing section consists of 2 tasks. With the estimated time of 20 minutes for task 1 and 40 minutes for task 2, the total time for the writing section is 60 minutes. Candidates are supposed to write at least 150 words for Task 1 and at least 250 words for Task 2. It is considered that task 2 carries more marks weightage compared to task 1.

IELTS Exam Pattern 3. Listening

The Listening module has four sections. Candidates are made to listen to the recordings of monologues or conversations. They are given 30 minutes to answer 40 questions in total. The weightage for each question is 1 mark.

IELTS Exam Pattern 4. Speaking

The speaking module has 3 parts in total. And the duration for this part of the exam is 11 to 14 minutes. It is a face-to-face interview of a candidate taken by the examiner.

The first part is all about the introduction and general topics. In the second part, the examiner examines your ability to speak about a certain topic. The final part includes questions related to the topic in the second part.

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How to Prepare for IELTS TEST? Best Way to Prepare for IELTS Test.

Preparing for IELTS Test can be overwhelming at times. So we have put together a set of useful steps to prepare for IELTS Test.

Steps for the best way to prepare for IELTS Exam are:

Take practice tests
Understand the test format
Be aware of the exam time constraints
Develop your English capabilities and IELTS strategies
Multitask when listening in English
Develop a wide range of reading skills
Use appropriate and assertive English terms when writing
Speak with fluency or coherence in direct communication
Immerse yourself in English

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IELTS Test Preparation Learning Tips

Preparing for IELTS might leave an individual full of questions about how and where to begin. IELTS preparation tips surely help candidates to score a good band by making them familiar with question patterns. Understanding the test strategy itself is a huge help for an applicant. Moreover, IELTS learning tips prepare them in case of timing, guidance, and applying the right tricks at the right time.

Following are some tips for each section as follows:

IELTS Reading Tips

Candidates can find the Reading section in IELTS quite difficult because of tricky synonyms. The Reading section is challenging and time-consuming as an examinee has to go through 3 passages and find 40 correct answers.

Some of the tips for IELTS Reading Test are:

Read Every day and Note down Strong Vocabulary
Practice Synonyms on a Daily Basis
Read all the Instructions thoroughly
Reread the Question

IELTS Reading Tips 1. Read Every day and Note down Strong Vocabulary

Reading does not only mean babbling but you should try to get the main idea out of it. It happens when you read with curiosity. You will develop a habit of reading to get to the core purpose of it. With regular practice, you will improve your timing. Noting down a strong vocabulary will help you to be familiar with it. Chances are it might save you in the exam hall.

IELTS Reading Tips 2. Practice Synonyms on a Daily Basis

As synonyms have a major role in finding out the answers. It is very important for a reading module to be familiar with synonyms. There is no other way to be good with synonyms except practicing them on a daily basis.

IELTS Reading Tips 3. Read all the Instructions thoroughly

Most of the time, candidates lose the band because of not following the given instructions even when the answers are right. So to avoid such a situation, candidates must read the instructions thoroughly before writing an answer on their answer sheet.

IELTS Reading Tips 4. Reread the Question

As reading can be tough with time management, sometimes in rush candidates do not try to understand the question. And they end up losing a point. It is necessary to be calm in the examination hall so you could reread the question if you don’t understand it and find the correct answer.

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IELTS Writing Tips

Most individuals find difficulty in securing a good band in the writing section due to a lack of knowledge about the set parameters. Candidates should be aware of the mark’s weightage of both tasks and manage the time accordingly.

Some of the IELTS writing tips are:

Writing should be to the Purpose
Keep Checking the Time
Organize Writing into Body Paragraphs

IELTS Writing Tips 1. Writing should be to the Purpose

Task 1 is factual writing so there is no need of adding personal opinion. It should be written as instructed in the question. And Task 2 is free writing where you should only discuss the things relevant to the given topic. Writing to the purpose can help you get a good band.

IELTS Writing Tips 2. Keep Checking the Time

It can happen very often that you spend more than 20 minutes of your time on Task 1. Well, try to undo it because you will only have 40 minutes to complete task 2. Task 2 carries more marks weightage than task 1. And you need to gather ideas, and write them down in more than 250 words in 40 minutes. It could be challenging so try to manage your timing.

IELTS Writing Tips 3. Organize Writing into Body Paragraphs

It is mandatory to organize your writing into a body paragraph i.e. Introduction, the main idea, and the conclusion.

IELTS Listening Tips

Listening can be a tricky one too as the tape will be played for once only. Examinees should fully focus on the recording without any distraction.

Some IELTS Listening Tips are:

Read the Questions thoroughly
Do not get Stuck
Watch out for Plurals and Singular
Be Careful Transferring your Answer

IELTS Listening Tips 1- Read the Questions thoroughly

You will be given some time to read all the questions thoroughly before playing the recording so this is the time you can be familiar with question types. If you didn’t pay attention to it at first, then you will not have time to acknowledge the type of question in the first go as the recording will be played once only.

IELTS Listening Tips 2- Do not get Stuck

It is quite common to get distracted in between the conversation but you have to recover as soon as possible. Because if you don’t you are about to miss out on the questions afterward. That would be a nightmare. So, if you miss out on any question, move on to the next one without a second thought.

IELTS Listening Tips 3- Watch out for Plurals and Singular

Answers in plurals and singular can be tricky too. It is no surprise we can be mistaken sometimes while listening to others. For that, you need to be alert while listening to the sentences they are saying. It will make it easy for you to point out singulars and plurals in answer.

IELTS Listening Tips 4- Be Careful Transferring your Answer

Be careful with spellings or numbers while transferring your answers to the answer sheet. And if you have time, check your answers again.

IELTS Speaking Tips

IELTS Speaking is formal speaking. So, the chances are we might not be fluent when it comes to speaking in English. But with enough practice and some helpful tips, it will not be much of a problem.

Some IELTS Speaking Tips are:

Practice Speaking English
Practice Speaking about certain Topics
Consider Pace-Control
Try to Speak More

IELTS Speaking Tips 1. Practice Speaking English

Fluency in English comes from practicing speaking more often. Try to speak in English with friends as you might spend most of your time with them. For a non-native speaker, it is quite tough to speak even when they can write and read in English easily. Practicing it with your instructor not only helps you to improve your fluency but will also help you to improve your weak points.

IELTS Speaking Tips 2. Practice Speaking about certain Topics

Practicing talking on certain topics will prepare you for part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test. As you are given a topic to speak about for 2 minutes straight. Try not to pause a lot in between. The IELTS Speaking test is all about seeing your speaking ability so try not to stop until your examiner tells you to.

IELTS Speaking Tips 3. Consider Pace-Control

When you speak, make sure you are making your examiner understand what you are saying. If you speak too fast, they might not be able to understand you. Or if you speak too slowly, you will not be representing your speaking skill very well. Make a good speaking pace.

IELTS Speaking Tips 4. Try to Speak More

Do not stop even if you have no exact answer to the question. You can keep on speaking about the things related to it. The examiner will not stop you from doing so as it is your speaking test. And your speaking skill is being tested. The examiner will let you know when your time is up.

Top Reasons to choose Consultancy dAh for your IELTS Test Preparation

1. IELTS Certified Experts Faculty

At dAh, students will be guided very precisely by our IELTS certified experts who have been in the field for more than a decade. They will instruct you with the best IELTS Learning Tips and tricks to get a higher band.

2. Access to free Resources and Materials

We provide you with free study materials for IELTS test preparation. When you are equipped with the right materials, you can do your IELTS Test Preparation for the best performance on the IELTS test date.

3. Flexible Timing for IELTS Classes

We run our IELTS coaching and classes at different times. So, students can choose the class according to their availability time. Timing will not be an issue for students wanting to join the IELTS class at dAh.

4. Free Mock Tests for your IELTS Test Preparation

We provide free mock tests and practice resources to our students to let them know their strengths. It focuses on getting students exam-ready for IELTS.

5. Counseling Session

Along with IELTS Test preparation, we have a counseling session for our students. And our experts will engage with students clearing their doubts and showing them the right way.

6. Free SOP Writing Classes along with IELTS Test Preparation

Writing SOP is one of the most important steps while applying abroad for further study. Considering the role of SOP in the journey to study abroad, we also provide students with free SOP writing classes. With proper instruction and practice, one can be able to write a good SOP.

Conclusion: IELTS Test Preparation:

Getting a good band is everyone’s top priority in the whole IELTS Test preparation process. But landing on the class that delivers you with everything you need to get a higher band can be a big deal. The right instructor, right resources, and practice will surely help you obtain the marks you want.

The IELTS preparation class at Consultancy dAh is considerate of the requirements needed to secure a higher band. If you are someone looking for the right IELTS Preparation Classes and consultancy for IELTS guidance, Consultancy dAh is here to help you with it.

FAQs on IELTS Test Preparation:

Can I prepare for IELTS in 1 month?

Of course, you can find out a lot in a month, especially new terms. You can also prepare for the IELTS test in one month if you give your major time in IELTS preparation. However, it solely depends on you how much effort you put in. Some exam applicants believe that 15 days of preparation is sufficient, while others may require more time.

How long are IELTS classes in Nepal?

Normally, IELTS classes in Nepal are for 6 weeks, 5 days a week, and one hour per day. However, it can be customized as per students’ preferences.

How much do IELTS classes cost in Nepal?

If you join the best IELTS Training Institute in Nepal, you might have to pay around Rs 5000-Rs 10000 per month. And if you are going to continue it for 2-3 months, the cost may rise as per institute policies.

What are the things allowed and not allowed during the IELTS test?

During an IELTS test, candidates are only allowed to bring a pencil, pen, ID, and an eraser. Besides this, candidates are not allowed to bring any valuable items. They cannot take mobile phones, any electronic devices, wallets, bags, keys, food, watch/smartwatch/fit-bit, and other belongings in the exam hall.

Can I postpone my IELTS Test Date?

Yes, candidates can postpone their IELTS Test Date to the next available Test date. If a candidate needs to change the test date from the originally booked date, they can request a test day transfer up to five weeks before the test day, free of charge.

What is the difference between academic and general training in IELTS?

The Reading and Writing tests in academic and general training in IELTS are different. The Reading and Writing tests in academic is based on the topic suited for studying in University or any other professional institution. While the Reading and Writing tests in general training are more suited for general interests.