Learn IELTS Academic Reading with Free Lessons & Tips

It is not easy to get a band of 8 in all the four sections in the IELTS test. It needs utmost dedication and a perfect practice regimen.

You need to make a time table about your study schedule and follow it at least for five weeks straight. However, the duration might vary from one person to another, depending on their grasping power and speed of learning. To perform well in all the four sections, you'll have to practice all the parts every day. Or you can even follow a schedule of practising two sections per day so that you can give your full concentration on those two sections for the day.

If you're already good at speaking English, then you don't have to spend a lot of time preparing for that module. Having said that, if you want to score 8, then you'll have to be extra careful and answer to the point. Make sure you answer the question in the first line itself and elaborate it in a very focused manner in the remaining lines.

Taking about the writing module, it is pretty challenging to score a band of 8. However, it's not impossible either. This means that there's absolutely no room for errors. Read the dictionary and learn new words. Make sure your grammar and language are to the point. Improve your overall vocabulary to make a positive impact on the examiner.

Common mistakes include:

1) Not revising the topic the same day they attended the class for

2) Not completing their homework and no regular practice

3) Not asking questions during class

4) Learning the topic just before the exam

5) Not preparing notes and highlighters

IELTS is a kind of test where the more you practice, the better you score. Since there are four sections to it, each section requires ample practice so that you can nail all the four parts, without any hurdles. Coming back to your question, there are many practice materials for this English language proficiency test. 

For this, there are mock tests conducted. These mock tests have the same difficulty levels and time limit as the actual IELTS exam. Hence, candidates appearing for it will find it very helpful, and certified IELTS trainer or educators also evaluate these mock tests.

Apart from online mock tests, there are also a few practice/reference books such as the Cambridge IELTS practice book. iPhone and Android users can download this book for reference. There is also a book called "Road to IELTS"; this book helps candidates to prepare themselves for their IELTS exams. They have a practice section for all the modules, be it Reading, writing, listening and speaking.

There are also applications on your iCloud or google play store, where you can have a quick practice session on the module that you want to learn or practice. Besides all these, You can easily find several mock tests videos on YouTube as well. You can practice those whenever you get time. You'll also receive a reference book when you book your exam slot, be it from IDP or British council.

Improving score from 6 to 7 is important for candidates who are willing to find permanent residence abroad. Scoring band score 7 in IELTS is tricky as it takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Moreover, you need to understand where you're losing marks. It is, in fact, crucial to tackle this particular problem first before you re-appear for the ILETS. You need to check whether it is writing section or not first; it is because of the fact that many test-takers struggle to achieve their desired band score due to less scoring in the writing section. 

If you lack behind in the writing section, then here are some points that need to be considered. When you're given a topic to cover, then you'll have to answer or write about it in a very diplomatic manner. It is advisable not to take sides when you're writing for that particular topic. However, if you are asked to give your opinion on a specific topic, then it is advisable to write about your thoughts and views.

Before you start writing, make sure you take out first few seconds to jot down your points on what you're going to write about. This is going to give a proper direction to your thought process. The most important is your spellings and make sure you don't mess up the tenses and make any grammatical errors.

Make sure there is a flow in your wiring. Moreover, DO NOT deviate from the topic that is given to you.

The writing section is only for 45 minutes, and you have to cover 250 words in this duration. If you're smart in managing things, then you'll have time to give a beautiful introduction and a conclusion. A good introduction and conclusion will set the tone for the reader, and it will prevent you from deviating from the topic.

Hope this helps!

CELPIP is the abbreviation of the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program, and IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System. Both of these tests are conducted to evaluate the proficiency of the English language. It consists of four sections Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening sections. 

If you're applying for a Canada Immigration, then both of these tests are valid. However, the CELPIP is conducted to test the ability of candidates who are willing to immigrate to Canada. Also, to become a permanent resident there.

IELTS has two parts to it: academic and General. Academic IELTS is conducted for studying purposes, and General IELTS is conducted for immigration purposes.

1. The score breakup is 1 to 12 for CELPIP, whereas for IELTS it is 1 to 9 for each section.

2. The listening section duration is 47-55 minutes for CELPIP, with components and 46 questions each, whereas for IELTS, it is for 30 minutes which includes three parts and 40 questions.

3. The reading section of CELPIP is for 55-60 minutes, four parts with 38-45 questions. Whereas for IELTS, it is 60 min with four parts which include 40 questions.

4. The writing section of CELPIP involves email writing, and IELTS involves letter writing.

5. The speaking module in CELPIP is almost 20 minutes, and it includes eight components, whereas, in IELTS, it is about 15 minutes and has three parts.

If you're a working professional who's looking to appear for the IELTS exam, then the first thing you need is patience, dedication and passion. If you have these things, then you can achieve anything in life. First of all, you'll have to start taking up mock tests for all the four sections. This will give you an idea about the examination pattern. It will also help you understand your strengths and weaknesses so that you can work on your weaker parts.

Since you have 4 hours a day to prepare for the exam, you can dedicate one hour for each module. For speaking, practice each day by recording your own voice and ask someone to correct your grammar and your accent. Keeping your mind calm in this round will work miracles. Make sure you process your thoughts correctly.

For listening, you should be calm and try to listen to the question carefully, sometimes the examiner stress on certain words. This indicates that the answer lies in those words.

For the reading section, learn to skim through the article and still manage to get the necessary points. Taking a couple of mock tests will help you achieve this very soon.

For the writing part, learn to understand that there are different types of letters and essays that you'll have to write. Practice writing every day so that it'll increase your pace. If you do this for 4 hours every day, then I'm sure you'll nail this test.

There aren’t any unusual or unexpected topics in IELTS or TOEFL exams. When it comes to IELTS speaking section topics, these questions are generally repeated. IELTS  question bank is renewed every four months. As a test taker, you must comprehend the fact that a large number of questions comes from a core bank. There aren't any unexpected topics as such but just the normal ones. For example, tell me about the food you like etc. 

Some of the most common questions or topics of IELTS part one are work, hometown, childhood, birthdays, family & friends, food. Computers, daily routine, music, internet, shopping, hobbies, reading, sports, movies etc. If you talk about part two, then questions are like describe a book you have read? What is it about? etc.

To prepare thoroughly, you'll have to read the books of IELTS for reference. Also, do some research on Google as you’ll find several other topics to practice with. 

When the examiner asks you to go ahead and start the speaking test, you'll have a choice of jotting down the points and making a summary of it. This will give you a chance to process your thoughts and give it some direction so that you don't stammer or forget your points.

The topics used for both IELTS and TOEFL only cover a broad spectrum. These are English exams, not knowledge quizzes. Stick to the ranges you have seen and read about.

Are you expecting to see topics such as nuclear physics or a similar subject? No way…..

Everyone must have told you to practice more for sure since you have already got a reasonably good score. But, there is a limit too much improvement which you may do at your end. If you need to improve your score to band score eight from six, then you will need to improve in all sections uniformly.

First of all, you must focus on visual learning as IELTS is nothing but improvising on how you speak and comprehend. Always remember that the person evaluating you is also a human being and is just marking you, based on how well you understand and write what you have followed. There are a lot of people who can listen well and speak well too, but what makes the difference in how well you can pen your thoughts.

The best way to do this is to practice each section independently. Give importance to all areas within the section and focus on understanding the concept behind the questions being asked. This should help you greatly in your test prep. You can also seek experts’ guidance to improve your band score since your next attempt is in 2 months from now. If you want, you can join a coaching academy to help reach your goals.

All the best!

Statistically speaking, the difference between 7 and 9 is huge. As we university know, Canada has the option to get entry or admission into a university without writing language proficiency exams like IELTS and TOEFL. However, having score 9 to enter to Canada has a higher advantage. Arriving with a score of 9 makes the transition to Canada faster, and you can be "settled" more quickly and easily. Here stats come to the rescue.

When you immigrate to Canada, you enter the vast statistical population that Stats Can feeds off. Each year, when you file your tax return, they prepare charts and graphs showing how immigrants are doing. Assuming making money is equivalent to "doing well". There are other data points they can check at census time which happens every five years.

Immigrants face different challenges when they land in Canada, such as recognition of foreign credentials or the ability to speak at least one of the official languages. Although increasing over the last few years, the median wages of recent immigrants remain lower than those of the Canadian population. So this is why they are cherry-picking the applicants who have stretched and are well-prepared with good IELTS scores.

Also, as this study shows, the better your English is, the better your health will be! 

Whenever you think about flying abroad for higher studies, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Yes, it is the language proficiency tests. There are a lot of such tests, and the most popular among them are the IELTS and TOEFL. If you're already proficient in English, then it is a piece of cake for you. But, what if you're not? And what if you don't clear these tests in the very first attempt? Then it is an added cost for tutoring or coaching and applying and appearing for the exam. But there are countries that do not require you to write any of these languages proficiency testes, like Germany, the US, Canada and the United Kingdom.

If the students want to study abroad without IELTS, then they have to check the requirements of the universities thoroughly they're applying for and shortlist the colleges. This will make their process less complicated. However, if the students want to get admissions in these counties, then they'll have to undergo a pathway program, which lasts anywhere between 10 to 15 months.

UK: If a candidate wants to join a university in the UK, then he/she should have at least 70% in their 12th and should possess excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Canada: To gain access in any of the Canadian universities without IELTS, then you should've attended a school whose primary language is English and bound to have language proof. 

US: Students who have completed one-year full-time study at any US institution are exempt from meeting the criteria of applying through IELTS or TOEFL.

European countries:  If the candidate possesses excellent communication skills and can prove that their prior education was conducted entirely in English, then they can avail the privilege of not going through IELTS.