Introduction to IELTS Strategies for Good Score

IELTS is a competitive exam and there are some ways which can help you conquer the exam. We are going to give you the best IELTS strategies for your success.

It is rightly said-

“A vision without a strategy remains an illusion.”

                                                                          -By Lee Bolman

Not only to win any match or a battle but a good strategy can also help you to score high in IELTS.

But before we can discuss the effective strategies that can help you to achieve your dream to have a good IELTS score, let’s have a brief introduction about the IELTS test.

IELTS, the International English Language testing system is the English proficiency test designed to evaluate your linguistic skills.

This test is usually taken by the candidates who are either ambitious to study and work or to migrate in the English speaking countries where this IELTS test is an utmost requirement.

This IELTS test was first conducted in 1989. Since then it is effectively and prominently conducted and managed by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment together.

In order to make a good strategy and to play safe, it’s important for us to get familiar with the types of IELTS test before approaching the main agenda of this article.

Types of IELTS test

Depending upon the purpose of interest to take IELTS test, the exam is further categorized into IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training.

1.IELTS Academic Test

This exam is suitable for students who want to pursue a bachelor or postgraduate degree programme or the ones who are seeking professional registration in the UK.

2. IELTS General Training

This exam is taken by ones who are either planning to study, work or train in an English native land like Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the U.K.

In this exam, you will be evaluated on the basis of everyday usage of the language with the content or questions focussed on workplace and social situations.

You will be glad to know that, even after having the complete two different types, still, in both the test of IELTS, you are going to be evaluated on the basis of same testing skills.

IELTS: Test of four skills

IELTS is a task-based test which not only analyses your reading or writing skills but listening and speaking too.

Meanwhile, when we have already discussed the IELTS types and grounds on which you are going to be evaluated, it’s time to discuss some essential strategies that are going to help you to have good IELTS Score.

Though, I am aware of the fact that maybe you have already heard about the points that I am going to make here.

Still, the tried and tested should always be given the consideration, isn’t it?

Let’s start with the three magical keys to unlock your IELTS test.

1. The foremost thing to remember is that this IELTS test is for your English language ability.
2. The better your English skills will be, the easier it will be to reach your goal.
3. Concentrating only on IELTS books alone is not the best way to prepare for the exam.

This may sound obvious, but the emphasis should be on improving your linguistic skills at a first place rather than the setting of the record of how many IELTS practicing test you have already solved.

So, here we have consolidated 7 strategies that can help you at every step to score high.

1.  Be Calm

As you are already aware of the fact that IELTS is an English language test that requires fluency and expertise at the same place.

But as we all are humans, there might be an arrival of a situation where you are unaware of some words. At that time, don’t panic but stay calm.

The more apprehensive and uncomfortable you are, the more it will be difficult for you to keep up your fluency and maintain the grounds of coherence.

Chant and remember one thing throughout,”I can do this. Nothing can stop me.”

Maybe at times, you will feel the “robotic” aroma with the examiner but its just due to the scripted format of the IELTS test.

Just forget everything, just forget the surroundings and answer the questions like nobody knows better than you.

In the very last part of the IELTS test, there will be a conversation between you and the evaluator. At that time, try to smile and even make the evaluators feel that you are really enjoying this.

2. Get familiar with the IELTS test

Once, Boris Pasternak, a writer said

 “Only the familiar transformed by genius is truly great.”

In order to reach your destination, you must be familiar with the roads. That’s how it’s going to help you. Though, we all love surprises but not in every case.

Rather get astonished with every next knock of the IELTS test, you should be aware of:

• What is the test duration of each IELTS testing module?
• How many sections are in each IELTS testing module?
• What does each part of IELTS module consist of?
• What are the areas of the English language assessed?

This will apparently help you to deal with the situation well.

Here you can have a detailed knowledge about each IELTS module subsequently:

IELTS Listening Module

IELTS Reading Module

IELTS Writing Module

IELTS Speaking Module

3.Answer Every Question

Never leave a box blank. The most fortunate fact and the wonderful opportunity is that there is no negative marking for an incorrect answer but better be careful with the spellings as that has a negative marking.

Never forget, something is always better than nothing, who knows the next miracle is your guess only.

Answering every question has two benefits one it helps you to build your confidence and the second, it will help you to score more.

4. Build Vocabulary

As the IELTS test is an English testing test, the area its emphasis on more is your vocabulary.

Whether it’s the IELTS Listening Module or IELTS Reading Module or IELTS Writing Module or IELTS Speaking Module, your vocabulary plays an important role in each area.

Let’s get to know how strong vocabulary help you to score well in IELTS Reading and IELTS Writing Module.

In the IELTS Reading Module:

It is more likely of a vocabulary test than the reading test. They generally use synonyms and paraphrase sentences to know how wide your vocabulary is.

So, read and review, try to build a strong vocabulary with the continuous read and review them on regular basis.

In IELTS Writing Module:

Writing requires a wide academic vocabulary. This will surely help you to write more prominently as well as effectively.

5.Pronunciation

As IELTS is a task-based test which is going to evaluate on four testing skills. That obviously includes your IELTS Speaking Module that requires a good pronunciation in every case.

Let’s see how a good pronunciation will help you to score well in IELTS Speaking Module.

In the IELTS Speaking Module:

Being a one to one interview, it’s necessary to have a good pronunciation.

As this IELTS Speaking module is about how well you pronounce words.

As well as considering the communicative effect of candidate’s pronunciation, there is an evaluation of how much strain you cause to your listener.

6. Read the Instructions carefully and don’t be afraid to ask questions

As we have already discussed sections of each IELTS module.

Let’s start with the point of reading the instructions carefully.

The first thing that you should keep in your mind is to read each and every stated instruction very carefully.

This is one of the reasons that many candidates lost the chance to score well.

They used to give very specific instructions. If you don’t follow these instructions exactly, you will often get the question wrong.

Now coming to the point of asking questions.

The only time when you will get the privilege of asking questions is only in IELTS Speaking Module.

There will be words in some questions that you might not understand at that very instant.

The rule is that you can ask the meaning of one word, but be aware you are not allowed to ask them to explain what a whole sentence means.

You might ask them to repeat the question if it didn’t click your mind.

So make it a good advantage of this opportunity and try to use it rather stuck between your inner turmoil of May I or May not.

7. Time Management

This is the foremost tip in each IELTS Module. Try to give each and every question an equal and a reasonable time.

For instance, if you will give more time for some questions, then it will leave you with lesser time for other questions which may also be responsible to create panic situations.

Among the four testing skills, let’s see how we can manage time in the IELTS Listening Module and IELTS Writing Module.

In the IELTS Listening Module

In this 40 minutes of IELTS Listening Module, the first 30 minutes are for listening and the rest 10 minutes are for transferring your answer in your answer sheet.

So, it’s better while practising IELTS test, you give major attention and make effective strategies regarding towards this important ground.

In IELTS Writing Module

It’s necessary to attempt both the task of IELTS writing module. In contrast to Task 1, Task 2 is more time consuming and have a high score.

But that doesn’t mean you will leave the task 1. You have to attempt and complete both the tasks, no matter how.

So, above we have shared the essential strategies that will eventually help you to score high in IELTS.

Good luck!