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IELTS Tips: Get the Grade You Need
By Laura Bridgestock
Updated February 2, 2015 Updated February 2, 2015Guest post: Gill Balfour
Getting the grade you need in the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) can seem like a mountain to climb. The wide range of vocabulary you’ll be exposed to, the complexity of the topics used in the reading paper and the fear of the dreaded accents in the listening section is enough to send even the keenest English language student into a panic. Three words are all you need to remember: preparation, preparation, preparation.
This is a high-level test of your English language ability, but it is surmountable and these IELTS tips will help you get the best grade possible.
IELTS writing tips
Part 1 of the IELTS Academic Paper gives you a graph, table or diagram to summarize. Make sure before you go into the exam room that you are familiar with the types of data you might be presented with and that you know the right terminology. Then follow these tips to get you through the IELTS writing tasks:
When examining the information you’ve been asked to summarize, focus on finding extremes and similarities. The word count is only 150 words, so just focus on identifying the main trends.
Make sure you’ve got the vocabulary you need, including:
Think about the structure of your writing. Treat this IELTS writing task as you would any other essay: introduction, main points, conclusion.
IELTS reading tips
Many students find the IELTS reading section the most difficult part of the test, mainly due to the vast amount of text. The topics used are varied and sometimes very technical and the amount of vocabulary can be daunting. The main point to remember is that you don’t need to understand every single word. These additional tips may also help during the IELTS reading section:
Great websites to help with your IELTS preparation:
Use these IELTS tips in your preparation and you will go into the exam with a head start. Good luck!
Gill Balfour is the editor of www.i-studentglobal.com, a resource for international students, their parents and counsellors to guide them through their international study experiences. Gill previously worked as an ESL teacher in the UK and Spain.
This article was originally published in June 2014 . It was last updated in February 2015
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