IELTS Quick Facts

Success in the IELTS exam requires a candidate to know the test format and the specific techniques
for answering questions. Make sure you are fully equipped with this knowledge. ( Please see
Resources on the Internet and Books )
Don't believe people who tell you that IELTS needs no preparation if your English is good. Even if it
is, you still need to learn the right skills for the test. I would suggest a period of two weeks as
preparation time, though this would vary depending on your level of familiarity with English. The test
fees are high and if you don't get the band score you need, you have to wait for three months before
you can take the test again.

Like in all other exams, practice is the key to doing well in the IELTS. Make sure you have plenty of it
before you appear for the test.

Answer all questions. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers.

Preparing for the test

Start by familiarizing yourself with the test format. Then read the online resources I have suggested.
After that you could start with Step Up to IELTS to build the basic skills that you will need to do the
test. Lastly, go on to doing the 4 tests in Cambridge IELTS 3 under test conditions. This should get
you ready to take on the IELTS.

The British Council offers preparatory courses for IELTS. A placement test is held first to assess the
candidate's level of English. This costs Rs 400/-. A four day intensive course is held before the date
of the test. This costs Rs 5600/-. If you can afford the fees, the course might be a good idea as it
gives you an insight into IELTS along with lots of practice. I think it would not help those whose level
is very poor (possibly they would not do well in the placement test itself) or very good (they may not
need the course). It would be most useful for those who lie somewhere in the middle of the spectrum.
Test day

Make sure you have visited the venue of the test a few days before the test date. Arrive at least half
an hour earlier than the reporting time specified. Arriving late could send your tension levels soaring
and the exam requires you to be absolutely relaxed and ready to give of your best.

There is no break between the four components of the test. This means that for around 3-3.5 hours,
you can't eat, drink or visit the restroom. However, water was provided in the test hall where I took the
exam and students were allowed to visit the restroom, but only while the test was in progress ( not in
the period between different modules ). Since time is such a crucial factor in the exam, no one would
want to waste time going to the toilet in the middle of the test. Make sure you visit the restroom before
the test starts.

Carry your original and valid passport as it is mandatory. Also take the letter which gave you the
venue of the test and your roll number. The receipt for the IELTS fee is another document that is
sometimes asked for. Take it too.
Take a number of sharpened pencils, a pencil sharpener, an eraser and pens. Do all the components
of the test in pencil. For listening and reading, use of a pencil is mandatory. For writing, it is much
easier to erase what you write in pencil when you want to modify a sentence. If you use a pen,
deleting sentences or words creates a mess.

Time is a crucial factor in the test. Make sure you take a watch that works and shows the correct time.
Keep it in front of you on the desk as you work. It is all too easy to forget how much time has
elapsed.|

You can write anything you like on the question sheet. It is not read by the examiner. You can
underline words, jot down your ideas for the writing test or write the answers for the listening test.

At our center (Delhi - INDIA), the Listening, Reading and Writing tests were held on one day and the
Speaking test on the next day. The venue and time for the Speaking test are provided on the first day.
Listen carefully to the instructions and remember to take the slip kept on your table which has the
time for the Speaking test mentioned on it. You have to bring it along for the test. At some centers, all
components of the test are held on the same day. This information is provided in the letter sent to you
which gives you your roll number and the test venue.

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IELTS Listening Tips
To get an idea of how this kind of test is conducted, you can try doing the practice tests at Randall's
ESL Cyber Listening Lab . The accent is American so it does not approximate the actual test very
well. Still, it is useful practice for this type of test.

At the center where I did the test, each of us was given cordless headphones to listen to the
recording. This feels very different from listening to the conversation over speakers. Check with the
British Council at the time of registering for IELTS if these will be used for your test. If yes, it might be
a good idea to do the practice tests at home using headphones.
Keep all your attention focused for the half hour or so that the test lasts. A lapse of concentration can
make you lose the sequence of answers and panic sets in fast.

The test consists of four sections. Sections 1 and 3 are dialogues and sections 2 and 4 are
monologues. There are 40 questions to be answered and the test lasts for 30 minutes. Ten minutes
are provided at the end of the test to transfer your answers to the answer sheet.

Pay special attention to the dialogues sections (Sections 1 and 3). I found it more difficult to focus on
these and the conversation tends to be faster than a monologue (Sections 2 and 4).

At the beginning of each section of the recording, time is provided to read the questions. Use this time
to read the questions pertaining to that section (the voice on the tape tells you how many questions to
read ) and underline key words in each question on the question booklet like "when", "where", "who"
and "what" which tell you what to listen for. Time is also provided at the end of each section to check
your answers. Use this time also to read the questions for the next section.
Read the questions carefully. If the question says mark the answer as A, B, C or D on the answer
sheet, make sure you don't write the phrase that A, B, C or D correspond to. Just write A, B, C or D. If
the question specifies that you must not use more than three words in your answer, writing 4 words
will get you no marks for that question.

The answers usually appear in the conversation in the same order as the questions.

The speakers often correct themselves. They will say something initially and then change the
statement. For example, "we will go in March" is said first and then "No, let's make it May". The
correct answer is the final statement i,e. May and not March. Watch out for this and make sure you
write the final correct answer.

If you miss an answer, don't panic. Keep listening for the next answer.

Write your answer immediately on the question sheet itself. Don't try to memorize the answers or to
write on the answer sheet. The ten minutes provided at the end of the test are quite sufficient to
transfer your answers to the answer sheet.
For detailed information on Listening go to:

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IELTS Reading Tips

Answer all questions. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers.

The reading test is considered by many to be the most difficult part of IELTS. And with some
justification. You have to read 3 long sections, each with multiple paragraphs, and answer 40
questions (13 to 14 per section). Unlike the listening test, no extra time is given at the end to transfer
your answers to the answer sheet. Time can be a major constraint since you only have an hour to
finish the test.

The key to doing well in this part is practice. Read newspapers, magazines and books. Try and
improve your reading skills and speed. Do the practice tests in Cambridge IELTS 3.

The most important thing to understand is that the test does NOT assess your comprehension of the
paragraphs. It does NOT test how well you have understood the passage. It tests specific skills called
Scanning and Skimming.
Scanning is what one does, for example, when looking for a phone number in a directory. You know
the specific information you are looking for and you go down the page quickly to find it. This technique
is used when answering questions such as multiple-choice and matching. You scan the passage to
quickly find the information mentioned in the question. Once you find it, you get the answer from the
passage and write it against the question.

Skimming refers to reading a paragraph quickly to get an idea of what it is about, without trying to
understand its details. This technique is part of the initial reading (see below). It can be modified
(reading a little slower) to answer "Provide headings for the paragraphs" , "In which paragraph does
this information appear in the text?" and "Author's views" type of questions.

The sections get progressively more difficult. Aim to spend about 15 to17 minutes on Section 1, 20
minutes on Section 2 and 23 to 25 minutes on Section 3. If possible, keep some spare time to check
your answers.

I would suggest ( and this is how I did it ) that you first read all the questions quickly to get an idea of
what type of information is required and whether scanning or skimming (or a combination of the two)
is called for. As you read the questions, use a pencil to underline important information such as dates,
places and names.

Once you are through with reading all the questions, skim over the text and underline / mark
important parts. If you see any information relating to the questions, mark it straight away. You may
even be able to answer some questions as you read.
Answer the questions one by one with the help of the underlined parts of the text. Having read the
text once, you will find it easy to find specific information by scanning.

The answers usually appear in the text in the same order as the questions. That is, the answer to
question 4 will be earlier in the text than the answer to question 5. This need not always be true. It
may apply to each question type rather than to all the questions taken together. The answer to MCQ
2 will appear before that to MCQ 3 and the answer to Matching question 2 will usually appear earlier
than that to Matching question 3. However, the answer to MCQ 3 may appear before the answer to
Matching question 2. This will not apply to questions like "In which paragraph does this information
appear?" and "Yes / No / Not given". For these question types, the information may be scattered
randomly anywhere in the paragraphs.
As soon as you find an answer, write it against the question on the question paper. It is not always a
good idea to try answering questions in the order in which they are asked.

Read the instructions for each question very carefully. If the question specifies that you must not use
more than three words in your answer, stick to three words.

The toughest questions are the True / False / Not given and Yes / No / Not given ones. Practise doing
these questions till you are confident. Make sure you do not answer True / False for a Yes / No
question and vice versa. Such an answer will be considered wrong and fetch no marks.

Do not get stuck on any one question. If you can't get the answer, move on. You can always come
back later.
For Detailed Preparation on Reading Skill, visit the following link
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IELTS Writing tips

Actually sit and write out tasks 1 and 2 while practising. It is very tempting to think of what you would
write and not do the actual writing. You will appreciate the importance of using a structured format
and avoiding being repetitive only if you practise writing.

Task 2 carries more marks. Spend more time on it. Twenty minutes on task 1 and 40 minutes on task
2 would be a good balance.

Since task 2 is more important, it may be a good idea to do task 2 first and task 1 later. However,
make sure you write for each task in the allotted area since the answer sheet has separate areas
designated for each task.
For both writing tasks, it is a good idea to jot down your ideas on the question sheet so that you know
the outline of what you will be writing. It may take 2 or 3 minutes but the time spent is worth it.

Writing task 1 requires you to describe a graph / table / diagram in AT LEAST 150 words. I had
practised on a lot of graphs but the task we had was to describe the data in a table! So practise
describing all kinds of graphs / tables. See how much of your writing is 150 words. If you write less
that 150 words, you lose marks. If you write more, you are likely to make more mistakes. Try and
stick to around 150 words.

For task 1, first spend some time looking at the graph / table and understanding the information given.
Don't start writing immediately. Make sure you know what each axis of the graph represents and in
what units. The following structure is

suggested for writing:

A sentence describing what the graph / table shows.
Another sentence describing the broad / important trends shown.
Description of the data. It may not be possible to describe all the data as there may be too much data
presented. Describe the relevant and most important parts. If there is more than one graph / chart,
describe any comparisons or trends that can be made out.

A concluding sentence which sums up the data / trends.

Practise using a variety of phrases to avoid being repetitive.

The best practice for task 2, which asks you to present an argument, is to read newspaper editorials
and magazine articles on current topics. This will help you develop your ideas. A suggested structure
for writing is:

1. Introduce the topic and state your stand, whether you agree or disagree.
2. Give arguments in support of your viewpoint supported by relevant examples.
3. State the contrary viewpoint and give reasons why you don't agree with it.
4. Conclude with a short concluding paragraph.
5. If there is time left at the end, revise your answers and correct any spelling or grammatical
mistakes.

4
IELTS Speaking Tips

The test consists of three parts. In the first part the examiner introduces himself and asks you your
name, address, interests and occupation. This part, lasting 4 to 5 minutes, is fairly simple if you are
not nervous and your conversational English is adequate.

In the second part you will be given a sheet of paper with a topic written on it. You have to speak for 2
minutes on this topic. You can't ask for another topic. You are given 1 minute to write down your
ideas. A sheet of paper and a pen are provided.

1. Make sure you read all the questions relating to the topic, written on the paper. It usually has
two or three parts which you will have to talk about. Don't miss out any question or you will lose
marks.

2. Take the one minute provided to write down all the ideas you get about the topic. You lose no
marks if you use up the one minute. Two minutes can be a long time to talk solo and the notes
you make will help you keep talking for the full two minutes.

Once you finish your two minutes, the examiner will stop you and then ask you some questions on what you
have talked about. The second part lasts a total of 3-4 minutes.

The third part involves a discussion between you and the examiner on a topic related to what you spoke about in
part 2.
You will be marked on fluency, vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation and ideas.

The most important thing which will help you in the speaking test is to use English in your everyday
conversations. Avoid using your native language for a few weeks before the test and converse only in English.
This will make you confident and you will talk fluently in the test. Watch English movies or English
programmes on television to improve your pronunciation and to expand your vocabulary.