Today you’ll learn 5 things you may be doing that actually decrease your IELTS scores!
You probably get a lot of advice about what to practice and how to prepare, but do you know what not to do in your test preparation?
#1 Grammar
- Stop studying grammar rules and completing worksheets. The fact is, if those haven’t worked to improve your grammar score to a 7 or higher so far, they’re not going to change anything before the test.
- Don’t stress out about producing very complicated sentence structures. The more complicated you try to be, the more mistakes you make.
- Focus on learning a few complex structures (conditionals and relative clauses), and make sure to use these as well as compound sentences in your Speaking and Writing.
#2 Task 1: Comparing Information
- Don’t mix up the information in order to compare it. That is simply disorganized writing, and lowers your score.
- By dividing the information into 2 clear groups (such as males and females), and writing a separate paragraph about each one, you are comparing the information and fulfilling the Task requirements.
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#3 Task 2: Including Many Impressive Ideas in Each Paragraph
- You aren’t graded on your impressive ideas. You are graded on your ability to communicate clearly and strongly.
- Jamming too many ideas into a paragraph means that you are not getting into specifics about any of them. You must provide strong specific support for your ideas.
- Try this in your body paragraphs: one reason followed by a strong example and details about that example.
#4 Perfect Pronunciation
- You can get an 8 for pronunciation and still have a first language accent.
- Focus on improving your expressiveness. This is done through stress and intonation.
#5 Understanding Every Word
- You won’t understand every word on the IELTS Reading and Listening tests.
- Practice reading really challenging materials so you grow comfortable with not understanding every word.
- Keep expanding your vocabulary by reading and listening widely.
- Know that the answers you need will not be advanced vocabulary. They will be words you know.
So, what SHOULD you be worrying about?
Ensuring solid, efficient, balanced practice.
In order to score highly, you need simple strategies for each part of the exam, and an overall high level of English.
Schedule time for yourself 5 days a week, 2-4 hours each day, to fulfill the balanced practice needed before your IELTS Exam date.
What do you think of today’s advice?
Leave us a message in the comments section below!
