The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is used to test the English language proficiency of international people wanting to study or work in another country where English is the dominant language. 

The IELTS exams are two types: the IELTS Academic and the IELTS General Training. The IELTS Academic is for international students applying to study abroad for their undergraduate or postgraduate degrees while the IELTS General Training is for those who wish to work or migrate to another country.

This article will cover how you can score well on the IELTS Academic test for pursuing your studies abroad.

• Exam Format

The first thing you have to know to score well is the exam format. Below is the format for the IELTS Academic test:

Reference: https://www.ielts.org/about-the-test/test-format

• Set Realistic Goals

You might have certain colleges in mind that you want to get admission to and to be able to apply to them, you’ll need to match their entry criteria in terms of English proficiency test scores. If the colleges you’re applying to require 6.5 bands and 7.0 bands, aim for 7.5 bands or 8.0 so that you won’t feel bad if you score less than what you expected as you’d still be meeting the criteria.

• Start Early

When you want to score well on the IELTS exam, you must start preparing early so that you have enough time to revise and score well on your first attempt. Even if you’re not satisfied with your scores, you’d have enough time to sit for a retest just because you started early.

• Watch the News and Movies

As crazy as this may sound, watching English movies or TV series and the News will have a positive impact on improving your English. Not only will you get better at listening and understanding, but you’ll also come across words that you’ve never heard before. While watching movies, note down vocabulary you come across, learn how to pronounce certain words, and most importantly, find ways to learn from the movie.

• Take Practice Tests

Practice tests are extremely helpful when it comes to testing yourself on where you stand in your preparation. If you feel you’re confident enough, take a few practice tests, and improve in areas where you’re lacking. You can go through some sample test questions by IELTS here: https://www.ielts.org/about-the-test/sample-test-questions

• Get Help

If you feel like you need help or advice while preparing for your IELTS test, reach out to people who have already taken the test or your English teacher. You can even take the help of a tutor if you think preparing on your own isn’t helping.

• Don’t Stress

A few days before the exam, don’t stress over what you haven’t studied. Revise only the things that you’ve already know. On the day of the exam, don’t think about anything except the exam. There’s no point in studying on the day of the exam unless you want to panic.

You can watch this video on the IELTS exam to get a better understanding:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMoSEASuj98

Also, don’t take the IELTS exam as something you score well on and forget after you get the scores. Take it as a way to improve your command of the English language because you’ll be using it to communicate on campus and during your job search if you plan on settling in another country.

You can talk to UniRely’s student mentors studying at top colleges around the world and get to know how they prepared for the IELTS test and get into top colleges around the world. Sign up at UniRely for free!