Hi everyone. In May 2018 I sat for IELTS.
My scores are
L 9
R 9
W 7.5
S 8 (was considering a re-mark, but didn't go it as the requirement was already met for immigration)
And here's my advice:
My background:
I have a full time job and work around 60 hours a week or even more so I couldn't give it as much time I wanted. I prepared for around 45 days. But I had already taken PTE 2 years ago and had done extensive writing practice then, so the foundation for writing was already laid.
I consider myself above average in intelligence and I have indeed studied from one of the best schools in my city. Because life is not fair, your background and school definitely plays a part in how good your English can get and how well you can subsequently perform in tests like IELTS. Without sugar coating it, if you lack in these things in your background (good schooling, intelligence, English speaking environment), you'll have to work that much harder to compensate for it. But it sure is possible.
My advise is very simple:
For reading and listening do as many tests as possible until you start to score 8.5-9 regularly in tests. If you start to come across words that you can't understand, it means your vocabulary is weak. Consider getting books like Collin Webster vocabulary and consistently learn new words and use them daily. Even I learned like a fifty new words during my preparation. You might need to learn more than fifty depending on your current level.
For writing, first adopt an essay structure from one the leading tutors like Ryan or Liz or Mike or Simon. The structure is of paramount importance because it helps in organising your essay and gets your cohesion score a boost.
Then start practicing with that structure. Get a paid subscription from one of these writing marking services (I hired tutor Mike's from Australia and Manjusha from India) but better to stick to just one tutor. Get them to check your essays and letters and incorporate their feedback. Do as many as you can afford because their advise can be invaluable. I repeat pay attention to their feed back and incorporate them in your essays like your life depends on it. Feedback is one of the things due to lack of which most candidates fail to achieve their desired outcome in writing. Unless you don't know what your weakness are, you can't improve
For speaking, once again things are pretty simple, you've got to have good fluency, pronunciation and vocabulary. If you don't possess these traits then you've just got to work on that there's no way around it. Watch sample band 9 videos on YouTube. I used Ann Cooks American accent training course to improve my pronunciation. I followed that course like a gospel and paid special attention to words being pronounced in TV shows like how I met your mother. Get speaking partners in Skype if you don't live in an English speaking environment.
I'm just looking to give back to this forum and other communities that were of help to me during preparation.
My scores are
L 9
R 9
W 7.5
S 8 (was considering a re-mark, but didn't go it as the requirement was already met for immigration)
And here's my advice:
My background:
I have a full time job and work around 60 hours a week or even more so I couldn't give it as much time I wanted. I prepared for around 45 days. But I had already taken PTE 2 years ago and had done extensive writing practice then, so the foundation for writing was already laid.
I consider myself above average in intelligence and I have indeed studied from one of the best schools in my city. Because life is not fair, your background and school definitely plays a part in how good your English can get and how well you can subsequently perform in tests like IELTS. Without sugar coating it, if you lack in these things in your background (good schooling, intelligence, English speaking environment), you'll have to work that much harder to compensate for it. But it sure is possible.
My advise is very simple:
For reading and listening do as many tests as possible until you start to score 8.5-9 regularly in tests. If you start to come across words that you can't understand, it means your vocabulary is weak. Consider getting books like Collin Webster vocabulary and consistently learn new words and use them daily. Even I learned like a fifty new words during my preparation. You might need to learn more than fifty depending on your current level.
For writing, first adopt an essay structure from one the leading tutors like Ryan or Liz or Mike or Simon. The structure is of paramount importance because it helps in organising your essay and gets your cohesion score a boost.
Then start practicing with that structure. Get a paid subscription from one of these writing marking services (I hired tutor Mike's from Australia and Manjusha from India) but better to stick to just one tutor. Get them to check your essays and letters and incorporate their feedback. Do as many as you can afford because their advise can be invaluable. I repeat pay attention to their feed back and incorporate them in your essays like your life depends on it. Feedback is one of the things due to lack of which most candidates fail to achieve their desired outcome in writing. Unless you don't know what your weakness are, you can't improve
For speaking, once again things are pretty simple, you've got to have good fluency, pronunciation and vocabulary. If you don't possess these traits then you've just got to work on that there's no way around it. Watch sample band 9 videos on YouTube. I used Ann Cooks American accent training course to improve my pronunciation. I followed that course like a gospel and paid special attention to words being pronounced in TV shows like how I met your mother. Get speaking partners in Skype if you don't live in an English speaking environment.
I'm just looking to give back to this forum and other communities that were of help to me during preparation.
