Complete preparation guide for IELTS 2020
Complete preparation guide for IELTS 2020
IELTS or the International English Language Testing System is a standardised test of English language which gauges the proficiency of non-native English speakers and is recognised internationally. It is managed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English. In this article, we will cover the Complete preparation guide for IELTS 2020.
The test is one of the most popular proficiency tests taken by people all around the world for both work and migration. More than 3 million applicants have taken this test in the past year and the results are recognised by more than 10,000 organisations globally. Other than educational institutions, IELTS has an impactful presence professionally as well; employers, governments and multi-national corporations are in huge favour of the IELTS test in almost 140 countries globally. Complete preparation guide for IELTS 2020
CEFR Assessment Test

The IELTS test can be conducted in one of two mediums-either on paper or on a computer. This is an important decision to make since it is based on your convenience and knowledge of handling a computer and how well-versed you are with one.
The decision of choosing the medium should be made keeping in mind the comfort you have with using the device and not due to any kind of external pressure since the medium is not said to have any impact on the marking of the paper attempted. There is no difference between the two mediums in the content, format or the level of the question paper that the applicants receive, but rather only differs in the output of the applicant.
Importance of IELTS – Complete preparation guide for IELTS 2020
Another important thing to understand is that there are 2 modules within the framework of the IELTS paper. One is the IELTS Academic Test which is for people who are applying with the purpose of higher education or for any professional purposes. It is a reflection of some features of the academic language and assesses whether the applicant is ready to be accepted into the English speaking environment of the organisation they will be joining. The second type is the IELTS General Training which is for those people who are going to predominantly English speaking countries for secondary education, work experience or training programs. This version of the test is also integral for people who are to migrate to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK. The test focuses mainly on the basic survival skills in an English speaking country, which help the applicant in the broad social and workplace contexts.
Practice Mock-Exams in Real Time!
With Exam-Practice you can train for all the sections and also practice for real-time mock exams. Get access to study materials and lots of training exercises.
The IELTS test encompasses all four language skills to gauge applicants proficiency. These are: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The reading, writing and listening sections happen on the same day whereas the slot for the speaking section needs to be booked by the applicant online, on the basis of their convenience. Failure to choose a slot will lead to a time slot being allocated to you automatically. The total time for the test is less than 3 hours.
IELTS Vocabulary 1

Here is a breakdown of the various sections of the test:
IELTS Listening test (30 minutes): The applicant will have to listen to four recordings and then answer the questions asked. The recordings are of native English speakers and the duration of the test is 30 minutes.
IELTS Reading test (60 minutes): The IELTS Reading test requires you to answer 40 questions and is designed to test you on an array of reading skills. You would have to read for gist, main ideas, details, logical arguments, skimming, and figuring out the writers’ attitudes, opinions and intentions.
IELTS Writing test (60 minutes): The IELTS writing test requires you to complete two tasks and covers topics of general interest based on the module you are taking.
IELTS Speaking Test (11-14 minutes): The IELTS Speaking test assesses your spoken English skills. The test is recorded and conducted in three parts.
The following steps can be used by the applicant for better preparation of the IELTS examination:
Understand the format of the test that you have applied for
Try to familiarise yourself with the format of the test paper by reviewing the contents of the paper and the type of questions you have for each section. Read the rules of the test very clearly to ensure that there is no confusion in your head regarding any aspect of the test and that you can be at ease about the fact that you are in touch with your test. Complete preparation guide for IELTS 2020
- Practise with sample test questions: There are a number of test material available to aid enhance your confidence once you have studied the various parts in detail. Since it is an English language test, regular practise and constantly polishing the mistakes in these papers helps the applicant identify their weak areas and improve upon them.
- Consider a preparation course at a test centre: To aid your understanding of how you can go about studying and how to begin, one can take short preparation course that sets the foundation to begin your hard-work on. There are a number of organisations and centres which offer IELTS coaching and a number of applicants feel that the preparation course gives them more clarity and helps improve their performance.
- Register as soon as possible: Whenever you feel ready to take the test, you need to register yourself since the number of applicants who want to take the test at the same venue is a fixed and thus applying early can help your chances with the date you had in mind. Moreover, having a fixed date helps focus on your end goal and motivate you to push harder and perform even better.
Practice Mock-Exams in Real Time!
With Exam-Practice you can train for all the sections and also practice for real-time mock exams. Get access to study materials and lots of training exercises.

IELTS is thus an important test for every applicant who takes it but it should not be considered as an impossible task that requires sacrifice, rather it is an opportunity to excel in a language that always been around you. It is important for the applicant to be comfortable and not nervous while attempting the various segments of the paper, and to be level-headed throughout the stages to ensure the best results. This can only be achieved if the applicant focuses on what they have studied and stays calm.
Now get scores instantly, in just SECONDS!
Evaluate your IELTS/TOEFL writing and speaking scores with detailed breakdown and suggestions. Practice in realtime and improve your score.
Trusted by thousands of students worldwide for evaluating their scores