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The goal of this article is to tell you everything you need to know British Council IELTS test and how you can ace the test on your first attempt. This will be useful for anyone looking to get the highest score bands across all the modules but will be particularly beneficial for people looking to write the IELTS General Training module for Immigration purposes.
What is the IELTS Exam?
The British Council IELTS exam is probably the most popular English language test required for applicants intending to immigrate to Canada under the Federal Skilled Workers Express Entry Program. The Module requires for immigration is called General Training. The IELTS exam is very important in the process because it is your best bet of increasing your points in order to reach the cutoff. The difference between few points in the IELTS can be a major determinant of whether you reach the cutoff or not. While this test is not that difficult, it however requires a lot of practice to master the question patterns and how to answer them.
The IELTS exam is divided into four parts; Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. You are required to get well above average in all of them to increase your chances of reaching the CRS cutoff score. I will be sharing some of the tips that worked for me as I discuss each of the different parts of the test.
Speaking: The speaking test involves a 15-minute interview between you and an interviewer. The goal of this test is to rate and score you proficiency in speaking. You are asked some questions by the interviewer and are required respond and most likely explain. Trick questions are not asked during the speaking test as the aim is to actually hear you speak. You could be asked questions like:
- Tell me about the town you grew up in
- What was your favourite toy as a child
- What is the difference between socialization from when you were growing up and now? etc.
You will also be given a topic to speak about for two minutes but will be given one minute to scribble down your thought to enhance your flow before you start. To pass your IELTS speaking test, try to watch as many YouTube videos as possible to get you prepared and the sort of questions that are asked and how they are answered. Go to YouTube and type “IELTS Speaking General training videos” and several results will appear.
Listening: The listening test involves listening to a number of recordings and answering questions simultaneously. The recordings are not repeated so the idea is to listen attentively and tick or write your answers as quickly as possible. To completely get a hang of the listening test, a lot of practice is needed. Thankfully, you can find several resources online to help you practice. Check out IELTS Liz, IELTS Buddy, IELTS Blog and several more you can find by running a Google search.
Tip: Look out for Map reading type questions in the listening test and familiarize yourself with them.
Reading: The Reading comprises of four sections of passages you would have to read and provide answers to. As you progress, the passages become more complex than the previous one. This is similar to the listening test as it would require a lot of practice to master the format of the questions asked and how to answer them. The resources I recommended for the listening test can also be used for the reading.
Writing: The writing test as the name implies requires that you write two different pieces. The first is usually relaxed and mostly comes in the form of an informal letter. The word count for this is 150 words. Never write less than the number of words required. An example of a question for the first part could be “Write a letter to your friend who you just visited telling her you forgot your laptop Thank her for her hospitality and let her know how she can send you the laptop.” The second part of the writing test is a bit more complex than the first. It requires you to write an essay of 250 words. A topic will be given to you and you’ll have to write on the topic. Visit IELTS Blog to see several sample writing test questions and essays.
Preparing for the IELTS Test
The biggest misconception about the IELTS test is that it should be a walk in the park. While this supposedly makes sense, this is not entirely correct. Even though English might be your first language, it’s important to note that ample effort will be still be required to pass the test. Here are some tips to help you better prepare for the test.
Book the Test a Month Prior: A minimum of two weeks is advisable to prepare for the test. If you happen to have a lot of free time, two weeks is more than enough to practice for the test. But if you’re like most applicants who have jobs and businesses that take up most of their time, it is advisable to apply at least a month before the exam. This will allow you set out at least two hours daily to study for the test.
Create Time to Study: It is understandable if you have a full plate. The IELTS test will never become priority if you do not make time for it. You have to discipline yourself to create time to study. Start with one hour a day and gradually increase it to at least two. If you are unable to study for up to two hours during the day, do not beat yourself up about it. Instead, take more hours during the weekends to study. Remember, no pain, no gain.
Find a Study Buddy: Sometimes that extra motivation to study might just come from having a study partner to hold you accountable. You do not have to be in the same location but can check on each other’s study progress. Hearing a different perspective from yours could help bring fresh insight and open locked ideas.
Take Practice Tests: The IELTS test like many others is a timed test. Taking mock tests can help you pace yourself and prepare you for the real exam scenario. This is particularly beneficial for the writing and speaking modules. You can practice your pronunciations and sentence structure in front of a mirror. Practice writing will also help you get accustomed to the style of writing required for the writing module.
Taking the IELTS Test
After all the hard work of studying and practicing for the test, the last and the most important part is actually taking the test. It’s not uncommon to have exam jitters and nerves flying around everywhere. You however need to remind yourself that you’ve got this! These tips will make you be in complete control throughout the test.
Arrive in Time: Being late to an exam is the fastest way to forget everything you studied for. The last thing you want is the panic of missing an exam on the exam day. It it’s an early exam like many are, start by getting out of bed early and making it to the venue in good time. Leave early enough to allow time for unforeseen events like traffic and missing your stop or turn. Arriving early also gives you an opportunity to internalize your environment be in control.
Relax: Try not to panic or begin to think about those questions you found difficult cracking. This is the time to breathe in and remember you are prepared for this. Taking deep breaths could help you relax if you’re tense. Also remind yourself that you can do this!
Test your Headphones: Make sure you have all your writing materials. These are typically pencils, pens and erasers. The exam centre will provide you with headphones for your listening test. Before the exam begins, you will be asked to test your headphones. Ensure you test them and notify the examiner if they aren’t functioning properly.
Focus: A lot of attention is required while taking the IELTS test. This is especially true for the listening module. Apart from the fact that the test is timed, the listening test does not give you an opportunity to rewind the recording to listen to a question you missed.
Generally, the key to passing your IELTS General training test is a lot of practice. The Listening, Reading and Writing test are written in one sitting for about 3 hours while the Speaking test is taken few days before the rest.
All the best!
Check out my YouTube video to help you further.
