Resources like books, practice materials, and test prep courses can help students prepare for the IELTS exam
TO PREPARE FOR the International English Language Testing System, or IELTS exam, Harshapriya Prasad, an Indian national, says she used various online materials, including many free resources. Her preparation paid off, and she achieved a high score.
Prasad, who is planning to apply to graduate school in the U.S., says, “Practice. Practice. Practice. This is the key to achieving the desired IELTS score.”
Many U.S. universities require international students planning to study undergraduate and graduate programs to demonstrate their English proficiency through standardized tests like TOEFL, or Test of English as a Foreign Language; Duolingo English Test; or IELTS Academic. The IELTS test can be taken on paper or on a computer, and students receive scores ranging from 1 to 9 for each section (listening, speaking, reading, writing). IELTS test fees vary by country as they are set in the local currency of each market and can cost up to $250 if taken in the U.S.
Here are three tips for prospective international students considering taking the IELTS:
Understand the test format.
Experts advise international students to familiarize themselves with the IELTS by reviewing the content, questions, and task types.
Simone Braverman, founder of the IELTS preparation website IELTS-Blog.com and author of several IELTS practice books and tests, wrote in an email: “Understanding the structure of the test is crucial to achieving a high score because you can’t score well if you don’t understand the requirements of each task and have a clear plan for handling all the task types you might encounter.”
The test is 2 hours and 45 minutes long, with sections on listening (30 minutes), reading (60 minutes), writing (60 minutes), and speaking (11 to 14 minutes).
The listening section has four parts with question types such as multiple-choice, matching, and sentence completion, among others. Amy Carter, director of partnerships and communications, says the reading test has three extracts from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers, and students “are assessed on their ability to read for main ideas, details, and understand inferences from the text.”
The writing test has two tasks: one requires summarizing or explaining data displayed in a chart or diagram in 150 words, and the second, Carter says, “is an essay responding to an argument or viewpoint that needs to be explained in 250 words.”
The speaking test is a two-way discussion with the examiner, similar to a real-life conversation. It has three parts, and English speaking ability is measured based on factors such as the range of vocabulary used and pronunciation.
Utilize study materials.
Experts suggest international students take advantage of all available resources, from books and practice materials to test prep courses, to help them prepare for the IELTS exam.
Tarlok S. Chauhan, director and advisor at EdFlight, an India-based educational consultancy, wrote in an email.
Prasad, who achieved an overall score of 8, says, “I highly recommend subscribing to the IELTS blog. This blog sends you daily updates with questions posted by students who have taken the IELTS exam.”
She says she prepared by doing many practice tests and timing herself using the blog and IELTS Liz and British Council websites. These sites provide useful resources for all four parts of the test. The British Council co-owns the IELTS, along with IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English.
Sonam Sherpa, a Tibetan from Nepal, studying computer science at CUNY — City College in New York, says, “My advice to any IELTS candidate is to find a good IELTS coaching center for training and to practice as much as possible.”
Sherpa says that coaching centers, though requiring a fee, can help you review the basics tested in the IELTS exam, such as grammar. He added that the British Council also offers helpful practice materials and time management skills for the test. Sherpa used these resources along with the IELTS blog; after several months, he took the test and received an overall score of 8.
Braverman notes that although the IELTS sections are very different, each requires active time management and allocation.
Braverman says, “The IELTS is a time-intensive test with a lot of tasks to complete, so for those who aren’t good at managing their time, it can feel like an impossible mission. But think of time management as your superpower that will get you safely across the finish line.”
Joseph Bleazard, an IELTS teacher and learner system manager and special programs coordinator at Kaplan International Languages, says that the reading section of the exam is where having key strategies is most important.
Bleazard gives an example of a strategy for filling in the blanks with words found in the reading passages.
“Read as many strategies as you can or watch them on YouTube and try those strategies in the latest practice tests to see which one works best for you.”
Know the test options.
Experts say that preparing for the IELTS also involves understanding the available test options.
While the coronavirus pandemic has impacted the administration of standardized tests, including the IELTS, online testing has been conducted in over 90 countries, according to the IELTS website.
There is also the IELTS Indicator, an online test that can be taken at home in more than 40 countries due to COVID-19, Carter says. She adds, “The content, format, scoring, and assessment of the test are exactly the same as the in-person test, and the speaking test is a video call conducted by qualified examiners.”
Before deciding to take the IELTS and choosing a test option, prospective international students should first ensure they know which schools accept or require this test. Carter says students can find information about which U.S. colleges and universities accept IELTS scores, including score requirements, on the official IELTS website.
Once test-takers decide whether to go to a test center or take the online test, the next step is to register for the IELTS. Based on her experience, Prasad recommends students register early to ensure adequate preparation time and to choose a test date that fits their schedule.
Jan Bond, a former IELTS examiner and online teaching assistant for English Teaching Live, says prospective international students should rely on information from the official IELTS website.
Bond wrote in an email, “Everything candidates need to know is available at IELTS.org.”
