TIPS to score more than 7.5 band in IELTS.
- Aditya Kharbanda
- Nov 11, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: May 18, 2021
Just to assure you that you're getting information from not "just a guy on the internet", I have cleared IELTS this year with an overall score of 8 band . Note: this blog will give you tips for cracking the computer based test. Let's begin.
“In order to succeed, we must first believe that we can.”
KNOW THE TEST.
IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System. The test consists of 4 sections: Speaking (S)| Listening (L)| Reading (R)| Writing (W). One must be prepared for all the 4 sections well in advance. I just want to clear a very common misconception: Getting a good score in IELTS doesn't guarantee a confirmed admission in universities around the world. A good score in this exam makes your visa application process for countries like Canada quite easy, if you're going there for higher education. Universities ask the IELTS score as an assurance from you that you can converse and understand English without any hassle, if you don't have English as your primary language.
2. MAKE THE TEST PREDICTABLE.
This is very important for first timers, as you will be giving a professional English language test for the very first time. I believe predictability always helps to brush off any nervousness that you might have prior to the test. You don't need years of experience to accomplish this, it's just a matter of a week. For this, you just need to follow a specific study pattern:
give single day to each section and leave the last three days to give mock test of 3 hours. Following this tip will help you a lot to transition from a good band, to a very good band score. I personally did the speaking section at last as you have to memorize some things that are explained below.
3. How to master the Speaking section.
I have made a specific tip for the speaking section because I believe the speaking section is where you can excel a lot, but you really need to know some important things without which you may miss out on a very good score.
Your daily life English speaking would suffice, but won't be enough to get a better score when you easily have the potential to score more.
In simple terms, you literally have to brag your command on the English language for 20 mins in front of the interviewer. Use uncommon words in place of regular words.
The interviewer will ask you questions about your hobbies, likings, studies, favorites. Prepare the answer to these questions well in advance.
Don't stop speaking until the interviewer asks you the next question.
Don't forget to add idioms in your answers. They are the ones which will help you transition from 7 band to 8 band score, as it is mentioned in the marking scheme given by IELTS as to how they decide what band must be given to a speaker.
Make a list of 7-8 idioms and learn them by heart, and try to include them in your regular conversations. I did the same and used 2-3 idioms in the actual test which I believe definitely gave a boost to my score.
Check on the internet for the topics asked in the IELTS exam and be prepared with at least 10 topics. You should be able to speak for at least 2 mins on each topic.
Try not to fumble.
4. How to crack the LRW.
Practice the LRW from the CAMBRIDGE books for IELTS ( I'll give the pdf below).
Don't use pen and paper to write your answers. Write them on a word document as it gives you the necessary experience for a computer based test.
For the listening section, listen to the audio carefully as the audio won't be repeated. You will listen the audio in parts, so use the break time (which is usually 45 seconds between each part) to read the next 5 questions, it always comes in handy.
The reading section will ask you multiple questions on an unseen passage. It isn't always necessary to read the entire passage. Read every question and pick key words from every question. Try to find the synonyms to the selected key words in the passage as most of the times, you will be able to find the answer there in the passage.
The questions on the unseen passages are not on the pattern of the CBSE board, so you need to have a first hand experience of the questions that are going to be asked.
For the writing section, you need to know your spellings right. As there is no autocorrect when you're writing your essay, you may lose significant marks just to some spelling errors.
Never forget to revise the essay written by you, as some spelling errors always occur. When I revised my writing section, I found a total of 7 errors!
Practice the essay writing in word with autocorrect OFF.
5. MOCK tests.
Mock tests are really important. They help you to get your mind ready, to sit for 3 hours on a chair. Not that you haven't given 3 hour tests before. It's just that this test requires you to not lose patience till the very last moment. Persistence is the key. By my personal experience, I know I get bored while giving an English exam and write the writing part half heartedly for the school exams. But remember, this test will make your abroad education application process very easily and you will get the education visa without much hassle.
I hope these tips helped you to clear your doubts about what is IELTS and how to prepare for it. I personally followed these tips to get a 8 band overall. At last, here are the pdfs of the CAMBRIDGE books for IELTS. Note: these books contain only mock tests. Although answers to the test are given at the back of each book, please refer to the answers widely available on the internet as some answers are wrong.
Hi! You've finished reading my blog!
Feel free to share your IELTS story down in the comments, I'd love
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