Success at the IELTS or International English Language Test paves the way for studying English abroad. It can be a little bit different from the usual test routines. The ambience is typically more informal with candidates attending the exams in colourful clothes, and chatting jollily. One may say that it feels really international compared to the lacklustre seriousness of appearing for a Government job, so to say!

Applicants definitely need to tune in to this mood! The people taking tests would check if you quite fit a Western mindset. It is more than just being smart; it is about being confident and comfortable with English, just as someone who speaks it as a native language. Starting with that foundation tip to look forward is to take IELTS Online Coaching , check out the following sections for more.

Prepare for an all-round performance: –

Many candidates may feel confident with reading English, but find it difficult to speak it fluently. It can work in the other way as well. One needs to pay relevant attention to all three areas of learning the language, namely, reading, writing, and speaking. Assess your personal problem areas and then improve upon it accordingly. Devise specific strategies.

Developing Reading Skills: –

• Pre-test: –

If you find reading obstructive, make it a point to thoroughly read the English newspapers. Refer the dictionary more often than you usually do. Use the internet promptly to know the meaning of anything new. Download a cool dictionary app to your cell phone and use it. (Pro tip: Subscribe to fantastic online programs that would send you daily emails with a new word, its origin, and its usage in actual sentences.) Try to devote at least half an hour before going to sleep to read a good English book. It is an excellent habit to form an attraction for the language. Reading the book lying in a relaxed position actually helps you to be comfortable with the language.

• Test day: –

1. Carefully read the instructions. It mentions the word limit for your answers.
2. If any answer is difficult, simply move on to the next without wasting time.
3. Write directly on the answer sheet.
4. Develop your ability to locate the exact answer in the passage provided.
5. Avoid trying to understand the entire passage.
6. Write around the clock. Do not waste time.
7. Use all CAPS for answers.

As for Speaking: –

• Pre-Test: –

Simply improving your vocabulary is not enough. Start using new words and phrases in everyday discussion. If possible, make a study group with others. Help each other with an open mind. Really, there is nothing like open-minded healthy competition to be at one’s very best. Such discussions also help to allay your test room anxiety and encourage each other positively. It is also beneficial in developing fluency in speaking. Even when it is not practical to speak fully in English, include small bits of words and phrases that the other person can understand.

Remember that being grammatically correct is important nevertheless, but do not fret if you miss the proper grammar now and then. Stay focused, learn to identify your mistakes, and improve it. It is a vast subject, but you should try to be conversant with basics such as tense, verb, nouns, adjectives, and use of phrases. Allocate at least an hour daily exclusively for studying and practicing the structure and format of speaking rightly.

• Test Day: –

1. Maintain a friendly attitude.
2. You ought to be prompt with replies.
3. Make your answers informative.
4. Try to continue speaking in so far as the invigilator does not stop you.
5. The examiner may interrupt you but it is not anything serious. Focus on the next question.
6. You can also ask the examiner questions if you do not understand anything. Do not hesitate. Just remember to be smart and polite as you talk.
7. Vocabularies make up 25% of your marking scheme. Try to get full marks there.

Focus on hearing: –

• Pre-Test: –

Listen attentively to English movies and TV serials. Check out Rock music videos on the internet. These serve as fantastic resources to appreciate the fluency of the language. Do not try to imitate any particular accent while you speak. Unless you have experience in proper accenting according to US or UK or Australia, go for the neutral tone that everyone understands. You should not mix up the way people in the US or UK speaks. Simply focus on pronouncing the words as their spellings are. (Keep a note on specific exceptions such as the word ‘read’, which pronounces as ‘REED’ or ‘RED’ according to its applicable tense.) In the listening test, they provide you with a written text before introducing you to the recorded version. Practice fast reading skills to go through the text before the voice over starts.

• Test Day: –

1. Do not hesitate to report technical issues such as non-functional headphones.
2. In case they do not provide headphones, you may need to increase the volume of the speaker. Report it with a raised hand.
3. Concentrate on listening for the exact answer instead of trying to understand everything.
4. As you listen, keep written notes. This is very important.
5. Keep a tab on the specified word count of each answer.
6. You have precious 10 minutes for transferring the answer to the answer sheet once the voice over ends. Practice fast and flawless writing. Try to keep scribbles at a minimum, if not totally unavoidable.
7. Using all CAPS for the answers is a good idea. It delivers a clear page and helps the examiner to read clearly.

 Develop Writing Skills: –

• Pre-Test: –

As for writing flawless English, you need to be practicing daily as much as you can. Apart from completing regular grammar exercises, set your own personal space for creative writing. Write an essay on social issues on your own accord. Write reviews of your favourite books, music, people, cooking, interior decoration, or anything that interests you. Anyone can easily maintain a FREE personal blog. It is definitely a great place for self-practice.

You can simply pen down your own experiences. Apart from forming a practiced hand, it also helps you with an opportunity of self-introspection. Personal clarity is extremely vital to have confident conversations or write well. Do you know that there are amazing online applications to check grammar and spelling on the go?

• Test Day: –

1. Divide the time effectively. Allocate 20 minutes for task 1 and 40 minutes for task 2.
2. Do not waste time counting every word. Simply count the average number of words in each line and the number of lines. Multiply them to get a tentative word count. Task 1 needs more than 150 words and Task 2 should exceed 250 words.
3. Plan the points of the essay on the question paper itself. It does not count as disqualifying.
4. For Task 2, never miss writing the conclusion part.
5. Do not repeat sentences or ideas. Use simple sentences.
6. Keep it informative
7. Do not worry if your answer sheet is over. Raise your hand and get a fresh sheet.

Follow the above tips to prepare confidently. About attending the exam, make sure that you have your ID and Admit card in proper shape. Scout the examination location in advance. Wear comfortable clothing as there are no dress codes. You can carry drinking water or soda in a transparent bottle. Finally, remember to keep it honest. Do not cheat. Do not exceed the time allotted for the test. Any untoward action can cancel your candidacy; so, be careful.

Best of luck!