International language tests, such as TOEFL and IELTS, are a general requirement for admission to foreign colleges, schools, universities for undergraduate or graduate programs, as well as for employment abroad and beyond. In this article you can find tips on how to properly prepare for English tests, and also learn how to get a high score.
If you want to be proud of an internationally recognized master’s degree or graduate from a world-famous university postgraduate course or maybe get a decent high-paying job, you need to know English and be able to prove it.
What are these exams for?
Just understanding English and knowing some phrases is not enough. Students must demonstrate a level of English proficiency sufficient to successfully participate in various activities, such as class work, research, presentations, group meetings, team work on projects and interaction with classmates and professors.
For this reason, business schools and other educational institutions have established an English test as the first entry requirement. In order to master the program as much as possible and become a participant in the educational process, all who are not native speakers of English must prove their possession.
Where to start self-preparation for IELTS? First you need to soberly assess your abilities. Maybe you don’t need it, because then it will be very disappointing if you make every effort, but in the end you still get a low result. However, it’s quite realistic to start preparing for the IELTS surrender. Moreover, if you have time, you can prepare from scratch.
What exams should I take?
There are two main internationally recognized tests in the English language, successfully passing which you can go to educational institutions abroad or get a job. This is a TOEFL and IELTS test. Both tests are intended for people who are not native speakers of English, but who wish to receive an international level education. These two tests are the most "respected" English proficiency tests in the world, recognized by thousands of colleges, universities and agencies in more than 130 countries around the world, including Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA.
Business schools establish the level of English proficiency required for admission to educational institutions and job placement for all who are not native speakers of this language. Students from countries where English is recognized as the official language, such as India, Singapore, the Philippines, etc. are not even exempted from them. The only exception is made for students who have received a bachelor's or Ph.D. in schools in the United States, Great Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or the English-speaking parts of Canada.
IELTS surrender
The test duration is 2.5 hours, plus 15 minutes for an oral test. There are two versions of the test: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. Both are divided into four parts. The tests for reading and writing skills differ in these tests. The academic version focuses more on English in the context of higher education, while the general knowledge test focuses on work and social situations. The IELTS test consists of:
- listening
- reading
- letters;
- spoken language.
Listening
Includes questions based on four recordings of conversations and monologues with various topics. Recordings are played twice.
Reading
Includes questions based on three passages from any text, they can include graphics or illustrations, or can be taken from books, magazines and newspapers. There are several tasks of different formats for testing knowledge.
Letter
It includes two tasks: write a short official essay and describe or explain a table, diagram or philosophical statement. One of the most difficult sections of the exam, requires a large vocabulary.
Oral speech
A personal interview in which the testers must answer simple questions, speak on a given topic and participate in a structured discussion. This section may be commissioned at any other time within 7 days after the completion of the remaining three sections.
Exam grade
Each of the four sections is rated on a scale of one to nine. Educational institutions set their own targets. There are no restrictions on the number of attempts to pass the exam. The test is valid for two years. The cost of the test varies depending on the location, but is about 200 US dollars, 190 euros, 115 pounds or 12,500 rubles.
Since English is officially recognized as international, many people are eager to learn it. But the basic level of language, which is enough to maintain a conversation with a foreigner, is not enough to get an education. Therefore, before applying for the test, you should really assess your strengths, knowledge and capabilities. Without preparation, passing the test for a high score will not work in any case.
Preparation Tips
Need to get a high score? Follow these tips to boost your score and show your language skills. It is important to remember that there is no universal IELTS preparation program, but each student needs to remember a few tips:
- Do not leave the exam preparation until the last minute.
- Get ready every day. 10 minutes of preparation per day is better than 30 minutes of preparation once a week.
- Do what you like - when preparing for the oral or written part of the tests, start by using words and phrases that you are familiar with best. It is important to use the largest possible vocabulary.
- Criticize yourself, take preparation seriously. Try using new words and phrases, as well as new grammar.
- Use internet / television / radio. Watch videos, movies and TV shows in English; read newspapers, books and scientific publications; listen to audio books; Perform grammar and vocabulary exercises.
- Try to think in English - do it during your short daily practice.
- Try to communicate with native English speakers.
- Take time to practice your test work, which you can easily find on free Internet access.
- Make sure you know a little more than you need to pass the exam.
- If you see ads on the Internet with the following content: "Help in English, preparing for IELTS yourself", then it’s better not to waste time familiarizing yourself with these paid methods, but to continue to follow the tips presented.
- And finally, one warning. Keep in mind that self-confidence can fail you. For this reason, you need to prepare for the test regularly, making every effort.
And of course, before taking an English proficiency test, be sure to check which tests are taken by the institution you want to go to. Carefully check the number of points that you need to get in order to enter, as each university sets its own requirements.
IELTS Self-Study Plan
Be sure to plan a daily routine. In order for the material to be absorbed better, it is recommended that you pass the same lesson at least twice. Only by repeating and practicing the material you have learned, you can achieve a good result.
- Learn practical details. Where and when will the English test take place? What is allowed and not allowed to bring to the assessment center?
- Practice. Most English tests follow a clear and predictable format, with each document a variation of the previous one. To achieve the highest scores, you need to familiarize yourself with the format and requirements of the exam.
- Get a tutorial or test preparation guide. Consider investing in preparatory material designed specifically for the English test. If you want to reduce costs, look for used copies of official materials sold on sites such as eBay or Amazon.
- Learn new words every day. This is a good method to expand your vocabulary while preparing for the English test. You can try to make your task easier by limiting yourself to just a few words a day. Learn them using mnemonic devices. If you are an active user of social networks, there is one very unusual method for you - to create a special Tumblr or Instagram account and update it with new words every day, as Portuguese illustrator Ines Santiago did.
- Test your listening skills by listening to podcasts. About a million free online podcasts are hosted on iTunes and the BBC website. Take time to immerse yourself in an English-language podcast, for example, before going to bed or while traveling.
- Watch TV shows or movies (no subtitles). Everyone knows that many learn English by watching Friends or Game of Thrones without subtitles! Write down any words or idioms whose meaning you did not understand.
- Read English-language newspapers and magazines. Ability to read news in a foreign language is a very good indicator of your level of language proficiency. Read newspapers and magazines in English and mark all words that are not familiar to you.
- Use the app. There are many free language learning apps to help you get ready. Using a mobile application, you can expand your vocabulary, learn basic grammar rules. But to learn to write essays and speak the application, unfortunately, will not teach you, so do not limit yourself to this teaching method.
For independent preparation for IELTS materials are in the applications: Memrise, Open Language, Duolingo, Rosetta Stone and FluentU. These are just some of the many great language learning apps available to users for free! Each application has its own approach to learning the language, so try working with several to see and evaluate which one is best for you. The IELTS exam preparation process itself can take days, weeks, or even months. It already completely depends on your abilities, level of self-discipline and, of course, knowledge of the language.
Conclusion
It is important to remember that fully preparing for IELTS on your own takes a lot of time from scratch. But to prepare and pass the test, while receiving a high score, is quite possible. You just need to set a specific goal and strive to achieve it. It’s never too late to learn, so if your dream is to become an international class specialist, then you should not be afraid of anything and nobody, and begin to regularly devote time to self-education.