IELTS language exam – Tips to help you prepare
The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) – as the name suggests – is an international language exam that you may need when you want to study at a university in a foreign country, when you are applying for a visa or residency permit or when you are working abroad.
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It is widely recommended as it is accepted in all countries and the results are communicated quickly (5 days for computer-based exams). Scoring is on a scale of 1-9. A score of 4 corresponds to a basic level, intermediate to 5.5 (yes, it is possible to get half a point) and advanced to 7.
What does the IELTS exam consist of?
It assesses writing, reading & listening comprehension and speaking skills. Basically, like any other language exam.
IELTS Academic versus IELTS general?
The former is mainly required for those who wish to study abroad at tertiary level, or to undertake post-graduate or master’s courses.
The latter is sufficient if you are employed abroad.
While the reading and writing tests are different, the listening comprehension and speaking tests are the same for the Academic and General exams.
How difficult is the IELTS exam?
It depends on your current level of knowledge. Our experts offer the possibility of an IELTS level assessment, which will be evaluated by a knowledgeable colleague after a 1-hour consultation.
However, we recommend that you prepare with a teacher. It’s more expensive than doing it alone, but it increases your chances of passing the exam and saves you time. Also, this exam is more expensive than a normal exam, so it is worth considering how much it makes sense to spend. Our colleagues specialises in preparing students for the IELTS exam for those looking to settle abroad, so it’s worth reading the testimonials.
How long does it take to prepare for the IELTS exam?
This also depends on where you are starting from at the moment, so it varies from person to person. Some people have taken 1 month but others have taken 5 months to reach the level of requirements expected by their employer/university. A good prep teacher will carve out the time you would need on your own without help.
The decision is up to you, but in any case, here are some tips from our students who have successfully passed the IELTS exam:
- Read the text twice. Start solving the problem only after the second reading of the text.
- Try to focus on the main ideas, the logical arguments, the writer’s point of view and purpose. Create concise, short but grammatically correct sentences.
- In listening comprehension, say what is said once. Don’t try to understand every word because you won’t need to.
Immerse yourself in English!
Watch series, movies in English, watch YouTube videos, read articles on topics that interest you and if you don’t know a word, look it up and spell it out.
For me (says the writer), this advice is my personal favourite. Back in the day when I was doing my A-levels, I didn’t want to go alone, so I persuaded a friend to take the exam with me. I knew he had a knack for English, but he was not the studious type. So he studied English from the movies and passed with a straight 80% pass rate.
Practice, practice and practice!
Take the time to get better. Don’t be discouraged if you do badly on tests at first. Believe me, with practice and persistence, your results will improve significantly. Most tasks have a logic to them and if you put in the time, you will get the results you want. A teacher with experience can help you master this logic.
Improve your vocabulary!
When you are learning a new language, one of the first pieces of advice they give you is to learn the 100 most popular words in that language. Of course, in our case this is not enough, but new words and phrases can give you confidence. The more vocabulary you have, the more effective you will be in all four main areas. You’ll be more fluent in both written and spoken language, and you’ll be able to understand text better in both listening and reading. If you just follow these tips, you’ll find that the IELTS exam isn’t so difficult if you use English every day.
If you’re interested in studying abroad or require an IELTS language exam for your settlement visa, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with Eva. She specializes in teaching with a unique approach: with lessons that prioritize conversational English and communication rather than grammar.
Did you know?
The shortest grammatically correct sentence is “GO!” The English language is the proud winner of the award for the shortest grammatically correct sentence. The command “GO!” instructs a person to take action – here the subject isn’t written or spoken, yet it is immediately understood.
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Source(s):
Original article: IELTS nyelvvizsga – Tippek a felkészüléshez Translated by: BOGI – CONTINENT SURFER
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You will help us to come up with useful information regularly, so please support us every once and a while or even on a monthly basis! Thank you!
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