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The full form of IELTS is “International English Language Testing System”
The IELTS test is designed in such a way that it fairly assesses a person’s English language proficiency based on four factors: listening, reading, writing and speaking. These sections are commonly known as modules. The IELTS test is taken in more than 600 test centers around the world.
The number of people taking the IELTS test around the world is increasing. People take this test for various purposes. It has become a mandatory test for everyone who plans to go abroad either for studies, immigration or with a work permit. There are also people who simply take the IELTS to see how well versed they are in English. IELTS opens doors to many students and workers from all over the world. The candidate who has passed the IELTS with the desired band score is eligible to take advantage of the opportunities offered by foreign universities and immigration consultants. Most test takers prefer to go to English-speaking countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia.
How to prepare for the IELTS exam?
If you are planning to take IELTS, you can follow the guidelines below that will help you in the process of your IELTS preparation.
IELTS training centers
If you have decided to take the IELTS test, you should try all the possible ways to achieve a good band score. The first thing you need to consider is a suitable place where you can study well. You can find many IELTS preparation centers in your area where you can sign up for the preparation. These training centers are well equipped with all the necessary facilities for complete preparation. These centers have separate classrooms for each module. If you are not completely sure of your English and you frequently make grammatical mistakes while speaking and writing, then you should join some training center that will train you from beginner level, covering fundamental English grammar. In addition to this, you will also have the opportunity to participate in a group discussion where you will exchange many ideas with your fellow batch members, broadening your horizon. You will definitely learn many skills that you will need in the real exam.
online tutoring
With the growing popularity of the Internet, online tutoring has also gained a lot of momentum in recent years. Due to the scarcity of time, people who belong especially to the working class can now take advantage of this modern technology. They can prepare for the IELTS test simply by sitting in the comfort of their room using a personal computer or a laptop connected to the Internet. There are several websites that offer online tutoring, especially for IELTS. You can submit your written and oral assignments to these websites and they will assess, grade and return them to you. You can also have audio interaction or communicate face to face with your online tutors through various messaging tools like Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk and Skype etc. But not all websites provide this service to their customers.
Study materials
There is a wide range of study materials available both in the market and on the Internet. You can visit your nearest bookstore/market and ask about the relevant books required for IELTS preparation. Currently, the most popular books available are Cambridge Publications volumes 1 to 7. These books contain the exams of yesteryear. However, you can also find many other books compiled by other authors. If you have a computer with internet, you can also search for IELTS-related eBooks and buy them online. This saves a lot of time as you don’t have to go to the market, wasting your time, money and energy. However, most of the books usually contain complete tests with no tips and tricks and these books may not be of optimal use for beginners.
self-tutoring
You should try every possible way to improve your command of English. You should read newspapers and magazines in English every day. Try writing down any new words you come across as you read in your journal or notebook and look them up in a dictionary. Highly recommended dictionaries that you can refer to are “Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary” or “Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary”. These dictionaries not only give you the satisfying meaning of the words but also give you sample sentences in plain language. This way you can enrich your vocabulary. In addition to that, you should listen to BBC news or watch other programs or movies in English and try to learn the foreign accent and speaking style. Also, you should not hesitate to speak in English with those who can handle this language very fluently. This will certainly increase your confidence level, bringing you one step closer to your goal.
Taking feedback from qualified test takers:
Collecting feedback from recent IELTS takers can bring you immense benefits. They can tell you about the latest trends happening in IELTS. Any of your family or friends who have recently taken IELTS can provide you with the latest writing and speaking topics. People who have more than 7 bands can be very informative and can give you certain tips and tricks to follow during your exam.
points to remember
You should always keep in mind that it is your persistent effort and practice that will help you achieve your desired band score. Whichever method you adopt, you must not forget to take regular mock tests and complete each module within a certain period of time. By doing so, you’ll be able to tell which module you’re falling behind on and need to work hard on. It is always recommended that you start practicing the module that is most difficult for you. Last but not least, IELTS preparation certainly requires devotion, dedication and hard work. By acting according to the strategies mentioned above, you will surely live up to your expectations and those of your loved ones.
HAPPY PRACTICE!