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Studying abroad is a dream come true for many youngsters. However, to secure admission to a prestigious university abroad, you must clear the IELTS paper. IELTS is an English proficiency test. It is essential to clear the exam if you want admission abroad. The main aim behind conducting the test is to see whether you can match up to the English level taught in other countries. Also, if you can blend with the people already staying there. However, cracking the exam is not an easy task. It requires immense hard work, dedication, and patience to sail through. Here we will tell you how to complete your IELTS preparation in less than 15 days.
Sections of the IELTS exam
We would like to tell you that the IELTS exam is divided into four sections.
- Writing
- Speaking
- Listening
- Reading
The weightage of all these sections will be as follows:
| Section/Duration (minutes) |
Description |
No of questions |
| Listening/ 30 |
You have to listen to four recorded monologues and answer questions based on them |
40 |
| Reading/ 60 |
There are three reading passages followed by instructions for tasks |
40 |
| Writing/ 60 |
There are two writing tasks- Writing task 1 Candidate will have to write 150 words and describe a graph, chart, etc. Writing task 2 Candidate must write an essay of 250 words on the topic given |
2 |
| Speaking/ 11-14 |
An interview is conducted face to face, which is followed by a detailed discussion, introduction, and a cue card |
3 |
How to prepare for each section separately
We will now explain how IELTS preparation for each section.
Writing section
The IELTS exam involves two writing tests. Therefore you will have to practice fast and effective writing skills. Every day, practice writing for at least one hour. However, while writing, it is difficult to find out if you have written the desired number of words or not.
So practice writing a paragraph and then count the number of words. Within no time, you will know what speed to adopt to finish the writing in the required time.
Some more tips to follow for acing the writing section are as follows:
- Try and add new words to your vocabulary that you can add to the text. However, avoid learning new words four to five days before the exam. You might forget their exact meaning and usage and get stuck in the process.
- Get an idea of the IELTS essay writing structure. To ace this exam, your essay writing skills need to be perfect. There is a structure you must follow, i.e., Introduction, body, and conclusion.
- Learn how to write grammatically correct sentences. Read grammar books and practice mock tests that would hone your grammar skills.
- Be aware of the word limit. The first writing test is 150 words, and the second one of 250 words. If giving the exam online, you can know if you are exceeding the word limit. However, if the test is handwritten, you must count the words.
Visit our another Blog on How to Prepare for IELTS Writing Section to get a detailed understanding of IELTS Writing Section Preparation.
Listening section
Next is the listening task, which could be tough to tackle. Here are some tips that would help you:
- The passages given are very formal. If you do not listen carefully, you might miss out. Hence you have to learn how to be attentive.
- You can watch TV programs or documentaries. First, see the program and write down the dialogues. Later you can turn on the subtitles and check if you have done that correctly.
- Listen to the radio as they have many similar programs, podcasts, and shows with difficult language. Doing that would make you adept at listening and grasping what is being said.
- You can also listen to the radio while completing other jobs.
- During the test, you not only have to listen to the content but answer the questions at the same time. Make sure you do not lose focus when listening to any program or podcast.
- In the listening task, the speaker might talk in various accents. It is best to watch YouTube videos that would inform about the standard accents. Having knowledge of the accents would ensure you do not miss out on any word.
Reading section
The thing about the IELTS exam is that they do not allow you to use the dictionary. You will have to assess the meaning from the context in which the word is used. For IELTS preparation in just 15 days, you will have to follow the below tips:
- Read one or two articles daily to increase your reading speed. If you can add book reading as a regular habit, you are going to do rather well in the test.
- Do not limit yourself to reading just one niche. Find a variety of topics and keep reading. It is possible that the paper might have something that you have never read about.
- If you find a word you do not know, try tracing its origin, synonyms, antonyms, suffixes, prefixes, etc. That way, you can get an idea of what the word means.
- You will have to face 14 different questions while giving the test. So you must know what kind of questions are usually asked.
- Read paragraphs and understand the context and meaning of each. Find out the essential statements in each and see what the paragraph is trying to convey.
- Learn the trick of skimming through the paragraph and grasping the main points. This technique helps determine the headlines, names, and titles that make up the main content. Instead of reading the entire content, you should know how to pick up what the writer is trying to say.
- You should clearly read the instructions for each task before attempting it. Some of the tasks are identified and given with the aim of tricking you. For example, in a True/false question, you can answer true only if the statement is absolutely correct. The question also has a Not given option which you might want to consider.
Speaking section
Just like writing, speaking is a physical activity and requires immense effort. You have to be fluent in English and your pronunciation impeccable to get good grades. During the IELTS speaking test, the candidates would have to talk about their skills, future plans, and past experiences. Here are some ways in which you can master your speaking skills.
- Talk to people and make sure you sound convincing enough. Generally, others are more capable of telling us where we lack in our speaking skills. Be spontaneous while talking, so the listener won’t feel you have crammed the responses.
- You have to be enthusiastic while talking to the other person. This excitement shows how keen you are to make good of the opportunity. However, being excited does not mean that you keep talking. What you say should show your confidence but do not try to overpower the discussion.
- Notice the speaker’s accent, as each person has a different one while speaking. Knowledge of accents is helpful for the speaking test as well. You must also practice the same accent as the speaker. Moreover, if you do not know the accents, you might get confused about what is being said. This can lead to wrong responses, which hamper your chances.
- Provide lengthy answers to the questions asked. Unlike other tests here, you have to do more than what is expected of you. So if the other person asks you a question, you have to make sure you speak enough for them to assess your punctuation, clarity, and fluency in the language.
- Your overall behavior will matter too. The person who is taking your test will analyze you based on the etiquette and attitude you show. Therefore it is always wise to remain reserved while giving your responses. This is a trait you will have to practice well as it is easy to get carried away when discussing your aims and aspirations.
- Be expressive enough to convince. An expressionless face leaves the impression that the answers were rehearsed well. Your face should reflect your interest in the topic. Try and maintain eye contact while talking. This shows your confidence and also how serious you are about the exam performance.
- If there are any queries, be prepared to ask them. That should be in case you want to clarify something. However, do not ask them to repeat if you do not understand the question. Try and answer to the best of your ability basis what you have understood.
Visit our another Blog on How to Prepare for the IELTS speaking section to get a detailed understanding of the IELTS Speaking Section Preparation.
