Guide on IELTS

A small guide on what IELTS is

If you are going to take IELTS this year then first familiarize yourself with it. IELTS test is in two forms IELTS academic and IELTS general. It will really be difficult to get through the test if proper concentration is not given during the time of preparation.

Which IELTS is easier?

Well, many of the experts say that general IELTS will be easier compare to Academic IELTS. It should be mentioned here that in both the exams there will be only four modules related to speaking, writing, listening and reading. The only difference that which is there in both the exams is this: reading and writing modules will slightly be different. For those who are aiming to continue their study abroad (graduation / post graduation / masters etc) need to apply for IELTS academics and those who are aiming to apply for a vocational course need to apply for general. Do not assume that this general exam would be easier and that it would not pose any sort of difficulty for you (It is true that the reading passages will be easier in general compare to academics and that even writing task(s) are easier but one should not take the tests lightly. Although they may look easier yet a lot of practice may require for a good score).

Summarizing the differences between General and Academic IELTS

Academic IELTS Test	General IELTS Test
If you are the one who is applying for graduate / post graduate studies abroad in an English speaking country then Academics is required.  Even for professional reasons, you will have to prove your level of proficiency by taking this test.	If you are the one is who is looking forward to gain an entry in one of the vocational colleges in English speaking country then this general is needed. It is necessary for those who are even looking for immigration purposes.

IELTS Test modules:

Total Time Allotted: 2 Hours and 44 Minutes
Module – 1 (Listening)
This module will have four sections. Thirty minutes of time will be given.
Module -2 (Academic Reading)	Module – 3 (General Reading)
This module will consist of only 3 sections. There will be a total of 40 questions that examinees will have to answer. The time given would be 60 minutes.	This module will also consist of only 3 sections. Reading passages here will be easier. Finding answers won’t be that difficult. There will be 40 questions in total. The time allotted would be 60 minutes.
Module – 4 (Academic  Writing)	Module -5 (General Training Writing)
There will be two tasks. Examinees will have to be very careful in writing because a small mistake can lower down their band score. Total allotted would be 1 hour.	General IELTS will also consist of two tasks but in comparison to Academics these tasks will be easier. An hour’s time will be given for the completion of both the tasks.
Module -6 (Speaking)
Here, the examinee will have to appear for the interview. The interviewer will ask a few questions related to their personal / professional life. They may ask questions related to why they would like to study in a particular country or so. This interview session will last for only 11-14 minutes but you will have to be very much prepared for the interview so that you can easily impress the interviewer and get a good score in your IELTS.

Advice for IELTS examinees

Often, many of the test takers feel difficulty in getting the right kind of info on IELTS preparation. They really feel diffident when they do not find any way to prepare for the exam. Here, in this article we have made an attempt to help the examinees by guiding them to the right path. If you are looking for an advice related to how to prepare for the exam or how to get a score which can let you get the admission in your desired college or university then this article is truly for you. Remember this that if you follow what we have actually stated in our article then you can cross the hurdles and be a winner.   

First let us talk about the IELTS reading.

If you are the one who has completed his / her education from an English medium school then surely it won’t be too much difficult for you to tackle with the difficulties that may arise in this module but if you have pursued your secondary education from your “local language medium” school then definitely you are going to face a lot of problem. Well, do not assume that it will be impossible for you to get through it. No, it will be possible for you to pass but there will be difficulty too. So, here comes the first thing. You will have to polish your English language. You will have to focus on reading material. Yes, make it a habit of reading whatever you find in front of you. You will have to be a voracious reader (this way, it can be possible for you to gain a large number of words). Your word-bank will have a greater number of words and you can comprehend well whatever you read (Whenever you read anything, try to comprehend that well. Always keep a small dictionary with you Whenever you find any word which is difficult to understand even in relation to the context then you can have the chance to look it up into the dictionary and the let yourself know the meaning of it. This way, you will learn a lot of words).

Improve your reading skills by reading news papers, by reading magazines, science journals etc.

One things that which is worthy of mentioning here is this that the paragraphs which the examinees will get in their exams are often taken from the popular news papers or the magazines or the science journals. So, if the test takers make it a habit to read those from time-to-time then they will come to know of a lot of what they can expect or how the content of the passage would be.  

What you should do if you do not understand anything in the paragraphs during your IELTS reading test?

Well, many of the examinees talk about the problems that they sometimes face when they take this IELTS reading test. Most of the times, problems arise because of the lack of IELTS reading test preparation. If you are the one who has not opted for the training classes (be it offline or online) then it is quintessential that you should first apply for the classes because only by attending classes you can have the chance to  get to know about it well and you can do well in the exam.

If you are stuck anywhere during the time of IELTS reading then do not just be tensed

At times, it may happen that you come across certain words, the meaning of which is just not known to you. The word can just simply be a new one for you or you may not have heard of it.  At such times, you will have to focus on the context. If you try to focus on the context of the paragraph(s) then it can be easier for you understand what it can mean. Many of the examinees do not just focus on what they are reading. They just read superficially and try to answer the questions that which are there. If you too do the same thing then you are also going to fail at the exam like them. Because, IELTS reading tests require a lot of concentration form the examinees and if you, as a test taker, do not display highest level of concentration during the exam then you will certainly get a low band score.

IELTS Listening Practice is crucial- whys and wherefores

Let us now talk of the biggest hurdles in IELTS. Yes, in view of many of the test takers they believe that the biggest hurdle would be this listening test. This test will have four sections. In each section there will be a set of questions. The examinees will have to carefully listen to the running tape and will have to answer accordingly. If they miss the chance of listening to the audio properly then they will not be given any second chance to listen to the same audio again. They will have to be able to answer the question while listening to the audio. There will also be a voice guiding the examinees to what to do or in other words what not to do.  

To be able to get through this test of listening, it would be necessary that you first brush up your listening skills. Try to know more about different types of accent in English, how a particular can be pronounced differently in different types of English language. Listen to English audios, watch videos which can help you in differentiation one accent from the other.

The most important thing

Take sample IELTS listening tests. Yes, this is mandatory. You will come to know of how these tests can be only by doing a little bit of IELTS listening test practice. Listen to the audio and take exactly the same amount of time to complete the test which is required by real IELTS listening test.

Preparation for other IELTS modules

Similarly, you will have to focus on other modules too.  You will have to spend some time on IELTS speaking practice and IELTS writing practice. If you take some sample IELTS speaking and writing tests then this way you can effectively teach yourself and get to know well of how to get the score you are aiming at.  

Source & Written by the Authors of the website http://www.ielts4u.net