How to Pass the IELTS Exam
This is a heavily requested episode on the IELTS exam. Let’s talk about how you can get a high score and reach your goals in the exam.
In this episode, I talk more generally about what you can do to prepare for the exam. In the future, I plan to make more specific episodes on each section of the exam.
Exam Tips
- Start early. Don’t start 2 weeks before the exam. 6 months is more realistic!
- Do practice exams every day and record your scores so you can track your progress
- It doesn’t have to be exam content – any listening, speaking, reading, and writing will be great practice
- Focus on your general English but also exam structure
- Get a tutor if you can
- Time yourself when practising
- Focus on your weak areas
- Look at example answers online to get an idea of what is expected of you
- Study the marking criteria
- Read up on common topics in the exam
- Get in the habit of reading without using a dictionary. Guess word meanings from context.
- Focus on academic texts and subjects you’re less comfortable with
- Practise skimming, scanning and intensive reading
- Practise underlining key information when reading
- Listen to different accents (Australian, British, New Zealand, American)
- Stay calm in the speaking exam. Practising a lot will help you keep calmer
- Get in the habit of expanding your answers. Don’t just say “yes” or “no”.
- Speak English before going into the exam room. Try to ease into it instead of suddenly speaking English with no warm-up
Join Level Up English
Sign up to Level Up English to access online courses and join our global learning community.
Sign Up
