Top 20 IELTS Tips
Listening
1. Make sure you’re familiar with your letters and numbers
Chances are you’ll have to take down a name, number, or address being dictated by one of the speakers in Recording 1, so you need to know what letters and numbers sound like to let you to write them down quickly.
2. Read all questions carefully, making sure you know what type of answer is required
For example, if the instructions tell you to write no more than one word, if you add an article before a noun, that counts as two words and your answer will be marked as incorrect. Likewise, if the instructions tell you to write either a word or a number as your answer, and you write both, you'll also lose points.
3. Familiarise yourself with different accents
This is an international exam, and the likelihood is that you’ll hear an array of different accents, just as you would in most English-speaking environments. Practising with previous listening tests can help with this, as can listening to the television and radio.
4. Answer every question
Remember, an uncertain answer is better than no answer at all. Leaving answers blank could also confuse you when it comes to transferring your answers to your answer sheet.
5. Practise!UK Practice!US
This is a no-brainer, and there many online resources which will help you to practise. No matter how good your English is, you’re unlikely to do very well if you’re not familiar with the different sections of the test and the tricks that the examiners play. Bear in mind that the answers that you’re listening for are rarely worded the same way in the questions as they are in the recordings. Remember, you’ll hear each recording only once, so you need to know what you’re doing and how to handle the questions.
Reading
6. Get into the habit of skimming and scanning
Mastering the art of skimming a text for general meaning, and then going back and scanning it for key words/information relevant to the questions will really save you time. Remember, you should spend no more than 20 minutes on each text and its questions, so you don’t have time to go rereading the entire passage.
7. Familiarise yourself with the different question types
There are at least ten different question types (question types, not questions), and you need to know how to tackle each of them. These questions are not always in the same order and can appear after any of the three texts. Practising these on a regular basis will help you understand what's expected of you and will familiarise you with the sneaky tricks that the examiners play.
8. Look out for synonyms and paraphrasing
Remember that, as with the Listening paper, you’re unlikely to find the exact same wording in the texts as you are in the questions. This is where a good vocabulary will help you out, as it is vital that you be able to understand the small but significant differences between words.
9. Don’t try to understand every word in the text
This will only waste valuable time. The texts contain a lot of obscure, topic-based vocabulary that even native speakers may not be familiar with. You should be able to grasp the meaning of some of them though through the sentences surrounding them (the context). This is one of the ways you pick up new words in your own language, and it’s no different in English.
10. Don’t spend too long on one question.
Remember, each question is only worth one point, and if you spend too much time trying to find the answer to one of them, you may not have time for the others.
Writing
11. Follow the instructions carefully
This applies to both tasks, but especially the essay. For example, if the question is "State whether you believe that crime is only going to get worse in the future", you need to make sure that that is what you write about, rather than crime in general.
12. Pay attention to spelling and punctuation
You’ll lose points for words spelled incorrectly, and for not punctuating your sentences, so it’s important to check your work over and make sure there are no mistakes.
13. Make sure you plan your essay
Remember, you’ll need a good introduction, evidence to back up your ideas in each of your arguments, and then a decent concluding paragraph to end the essay and confirm all that you’ve said.
14. Make use of linking words
This applies to both the Academic and General Training tests. Linking words provide sequence to your writing, and help it sound more cohesive. Make sure you use them correctly, and don’t overuse the same ones.
15. Pay attention to timing
You should spend approximately 20 minutes on Task 1 of the test and 40 minutes on Task 2. You will not be reminded of this during the exam. But there’s no point in spending too much time on the first task, which is worth half as many as the second.
Speaking
16. Be yourself
Although you’re bound to be nervous, it’s important to stay calm. If you let your nerves get the better of you, you’re more likely to stutter and make foolish mistakes. Speak as you would in your own language, and don't repeat the examiner's questions in your answers.
17. Avoid short answers
Remember, this is a speaking test, so answering the examiner's questions with a simple ‘Yes, I am.’ or ‘Yes, I do.’ is not really going to show them that you're a capable English speaker. Instead, try to extend your answers by giving a bit of information. For example, if the question is ‘Are you a student?’, instead of simply saying ‘No, I’m not’, say something like ‘No, I graduated last spring, and I'm currently looking for a job.’
18. Use vocabulary you are comfortable with
While using a wide array of expressions, phrasal verbs, and big words in your answers is likely to impress the examiner, using them incorrectly will have the opposite effect and lose you marks, so it’s better to stick with what you know, and use these words and expressions correctly.
19. Brush up your grammar
The examiners expect you to be able to use a variety of grammatical structures. This means answering in tenses that are relevant to each question. For example, if the examiner asks you about a habit you have, don’t answer in the past tense.
20. Don’t speak in a monotone
You’re not a robot, so the examiners expect you to use intonation as we do in our everyday speech. Adding emphasis to words and adjusting your tone of voice makes what you’re saying easier to understand, not to mention much more interesting.
Of course, the above tips are mere suggestions to get you on the right track. It’s up to you to practise and prepare yourself for the exam. Fortunately, there are many resources available to help you do this, including apps, books, and free online materials. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day, so don’t expect instant results. However, practiceUK/US is the key, and by taking time out each day to do this, you should soon see some improvement.
Good Luck!