12 Ways to Score High in Your IELTS Exam

The International English Language Testing System is a form of a test designed to determine the English language proficiency of an individual opting for higher education or migration to native English-speaking countries.

Typically countries such as Australia, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand are countries requiring IELTS test scores and English proficiency to migrate to their country.

IELTS exam is based on reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Each test is graded from 1-9 (band score). 

The band score can differ from one another according to the individual’s performance during the test, but the overall final score is calculated as one average band score. The overall score is also graded from 1-9.

Below are 12 of the best tips and tricks for scoring high in your IELTS exam and why it is important to prepare before appearing for the test.

Understand The Test Format

Reading, writing, listening, and speaking are the four sections of the IELTS exam. 

Each section has its own set of questions and a time limit. The reading, writing, and listening portions of the test must all be completed on the same day. 

The speaking portion of the test can be arranged for the same day’s afternoon. However, it can be arranged within 7 days before taking the exam in some situations.

Overview of the IELTS exam:

Reading 60 minutes 40 questions to complete

Writing 60 minutes 2 tasks to complete

Listening 30 minutes + 10 minutes transfer time in the writing sheet  40 questions

Speaking Approximately 11-14 minutes  3 sets of interview/Q&A

Improve Your Listening Skills

Individuals interested in learning how to acquire good scores in the IELTS exam should listen to English-language news, TV shows, and online videos. 

Familiarize yourself with all of the test questions in the listening part, including multiple-choice, labeling, matching, and other types of questions.

Because the audio instructions are not included in the handbook, pay close attention to the conversation in the audio. 

Read the test instructions carefully regarding the word limit, as candidates who go above the limit may lose points. 

Before you listen, read the questions. To read them ahead of time, you’ll have about 30-60 seconds. 

Listen for synonyms and paraphrases while underlining the keywords. Visualize the concept before formulating a response.

Pay attention to negative terms like not, no, never, and so on. Make sure to double-check your answers during the 30-second pause period provided after each section. 

Within 10 minutes, transfer the answer to the answer sheet. In your answers, make sure to use proper spelling and grammar.

Tips For IELTS Reading Test

Examine English-language texts, journals, and books. Students must also underline the less common words while reading and try to find the meaning for the word later on. 

Practice guessing an unknown word’s meaning based on its context. If you’re still unsure, look it up in the dictionary. 

Keep up to date on the differences between the general training and academic IELTS exam formats.

Individuals interested in learning how to acquire a good IELTS score should continue to practice reading material within a time limit. 

Use reading tactics including intensive reading, skimming, and scanning to improve your reading skills.

Read the instructions carefully, underline important details, and make notes in the reading passage. 

With appropriate time management, divide the time evenly for reading the passage and answering. 

Ensure that all answers have been transferred to the sheet and that no blank areas remain.

Tips For IELTS Speaking Test

As much as possible, practice speaking in English. Read English books, watch English movies, shows, documentaries, etc. 

Individuals must also consider why they like or dislike a particular topic when viewing or reading some material.

Keep your cool, and don’t hurry your words. Make an effort to provide detailed explanations that are pertinent to the issue. 

If you make a mistake, correct it without panicking. If you’re having trouble comprehending the question, ask the examiner for clarification in the IELTS exam room.

Tips For IELTS Writing Test

Individuals who want to learn how to acquire a good score in the IELTS exam should work on improving their grammar skills. 

Examine previous IELTS essays for essay structure, answers, sentence variety, and vocabulary on the internet.

Analyze each task thoroughly and highlight the keywords. Use the language of the questions carefully. 

Candidates should try to construct their own sentences and terms, but they should connect with the question. 

Before we move ahead with some more tips and tricks, it is important to remember that the IELTS Academic and General examinations are the two types of IELTS exams. Even though the content of these modules is similar, the format of their writing and reading assessments differs. As a result, candidates should follow these guidelines to learn how to get good IELTS scores.

For IELTS Academic Module

Candidates preparing for the IELTS exam academic module should go online and look for model charts, graphs, or diagram descriptions, then examine them for vocabulary and ideas. 

Candidates should make an effort to comprehend the essay question. They must understand whether they are being asked to compare or contrast, offer an opinion, or offer problem-solving alternatives. 

Individuals must stick to the word limit in their essays. They should, however, attempt to keep their word count around 350 words. 

The emphasis should be on quality rather than quantity. 

Another crucial component in determining how to acquire a high score in the IELTS exam is keeping track of time. Revision time for writing assignment 1 should be around 3 minutes, and revision time for the essay should be at least 5 minutes.

For IELTS General Training Module

Candidates who wish to take the IELTS general training module should ensure that the essay is well-planned and written. 

In writing task 1, individuals must write at least 150 words and try to keep the word count under 200 words. 

Again, keeping track of time is critical to achieving a high score in the IELTS exam. Candidates should allow 3 minutes of revision time for writing assignment 1 and 5 minutes of revision time for writing task 2. 

The word count for writing task 2 is limited to 250 words. 

Mentally Prepare For Your IELTS Exam

Do not be overwhelmed by the amount of information and questions for any IELTS exam that you appear for. 

Passing the IELTS exam depends not only on how strong your English is but also on how attentive you are while reading the tasks and how quickly you answer and prioritize your time during the exam. 

Before you do anything else, familiarize yourself with the test format and patterns.

Practice Every Day

Organize your studies into chunks and set out time for them. Set aside 45 minutes of concentrated study time and 15 minutes break time. 

Put away all of your distracting devices and log off of social media. Don’t overlook any of the modules. 

As much time as possible should be set aside for listening, reading, writing, and speaking. 

It is highly recommended that you concentrate on the Writing and Reading modules a little more because they will help you improve the other courses. 

When you take IELTS practice exams, you’ll learn how much you’ve studied and what level you’re at right now. 

Practice multitasking, such as listening to the tape while reading the questions and taking notes so you can create responses later.

Read Everything That is English

Make sure you’re up to date on current events and topics. 

Consider yourself ready once you’ve become used to reading a daily newspaper. 

While reading, your vocabulary and grammar will improve exponentially and it will aid in scoring high in your IELTS exam. 

To employ synonyms, improve your vocabulary. Make sure you’re familiar with them. 

Using simple phrases and repeating words will not earn you extra points and may even result in a poor score. 

Memorize 10 of your greatest practice words, phrases, and connecting words and have them in your thoughts at all times. 

This will assist you in all of the test modules. Increase the pace with which you read.

Set a timer for yourself when practicing the reading module at home. Don’t get too excited about the time; it will fly by quickly during the exam. 

You will automatically score higher in the IELTS writing exam if you excel in reading first. The more you learn, the more you’ll be able to express yourself.

Improve Your Vocabulary

You don’t have to write down every unfamiliar word you come across, only the most common ones will do. 

The Academic Word List that is available online contains a list of the most commonly used words in the IELTS exam. 

These are terms you are likely to hear in Listening, come across in Reading passages, and use in speaking and writing, so you should know their meanings and how to spell them before the test. 

Knowing the core terminology for the most popular Speaking and Writing tests will also aid you in these areas. The key is to practice every day as stated earlier.

Speak English Out Loud (Don’t Be Embarrassed)

Make a recording of yourself and listen to it. Record yourself on video if necessary. You will hear your own pronunciation mistakes while listening to your recording. 

Use everything you’ve learned about your speaking to help you get better. Find a native speaker to practice with if you can. 

There are several free applications available online for finding a language partner.

A high IELTS score significantly increases a candidate’s chance to get their VISA approved to migrate to their desired foreign country. 

It also assists in getting admission into the top-tier universities in the world. We have provided you with all of the tips and tricks to ace your IELTS exam here in this blog.

It is a tough decision to move abroad in one’s life, and knowing about the IELTS exam alone would not be as beneficial. 

Try to learn about the country that you are traveling to. Their living standard, their way of speaking, their way of learning, and their way of life in general. 

Planning to study abroad, but dont know where to get IELTS coaching and registration? Visit Chhundu Training Institute opposite to RICB office and get all your doubts cleared and pave your way towards a bright future!