Hi Prasanna,
As I took it twice to nail CLB9 I can tell you ...
reading and listening are objective modules - you can nail this only by a little practice, it will be sufficient enough if you browse few web sites with relevant exersices for IELTS. There are even listening parts included in some of them. So download a manual or a book regarding IELTS - do all readings, do all listenings that you can find.
As for the speaking and writing part.. those are very subjective. I can't say I did much better the second time I did the test. Well maybe the speaking was better cause I had two shots to remove the tension (don't do this
). But the score was 1 point more for both modules just because I followed few simple advices from a teacher who taught me 4 lessons before the second IELST.
Speaking - there is a list of many of the speaking topic that have been on previous exams. Print them and start speaking .. to your cat, to yourself, doesn't matter as long as you practise to speak on stupid topic and answer retarded questions. Because the questions ARE retarded ... I went to 4 private lessons for the IELTS. What I learnt about the speaking was: if you are asked "Do you write e-mails" DO NOT answer "Yes". The correct answer would be "Yes, I do that on daily bases because my work requires that. Actually writing e-mails is an essential part of my working day." Never make long pauses. Never leave a question unanswered. Never give an answer that repeats the question for ex. "Do you like to go on walks" - "yes
I like to go on walks because..." - Chose an alternative way to start your answer. Practise fake opinion answers. You don't necessarily need to be honest or believe in what you are saying. They are accessing your speaking skills not the value of your opinion.
Writing - Most people sc**w up on the writing module and I will tell you why. I am pretty good at writing. I did my master degree in English, including the semesters in Germany and wrote a lot of paperworks in English including my Thesis which was a damn good work of 80 pages of research. I had 6.5 the first time I took the exam....on a general training ...
So again after those 4 lessons I got for the IELTS I learnt that: Whatever the topic is, You need to be sure you have an opinion - for that use your imagination, your answer doesn't need to be your real opinion.
Take out an old book that you had in school or a grammar book and LINE OUT essential phrases that sound complex to you. Line out few complex constructions like not only have you bla bla but also.., conditional types 3 and 4, inversions, sentences with Imagine that ... , make a list of synonyms that you can use for commonly used words so you avoid repetition. and mostly - WRITE ON PAPER. Trust me with the computers and phones and autocorrect we have forgotten to write and when you sit down and write you will see how many misspells you will end up with.
**On the exam you can write with pen or pencil - Choose pen because you will end up asking for new pencil every 10 mins ...
Read the discription of the topic, it is very important. Example:
1st topic for 20 mins:
You are studying a short course in another country. Your accommodation was arranged by the course provider. There is a major problem with the accommodation.
Write a letter to the course provider. In your letter:
Say what the problem is.
Describe the accommodation you thought you were getting.
Ask the provider to solve the problem.
Here you should do about 150 words, there isn't time for more anyway. The first topic is usually a letter, so you start with dear Mr/Mrs .. Express you problem and your deep disappointment of what the situaion is. Discribe the discrepansy. you can use the Imagine my disappointment in basically any complaint letter. Do it. Use details in the discription to fill a little space with fancy words. Then explain what actions you are expecting from the provided.
End with yours faifully/sincerely and you are done here.
Topic 2 for 40 mins.
Some people think that human history has been a journey from ignorance to knowledge. Others argue that this underestimates the achievements of ancient cultures, and overvalues our achievements.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Here you should write about 250 words according to the rules.
First of all, as you can see this topic s**cks!! Like most of the TASK2 topics. Good thing is most of them ask you to provide BOTH views. Very good for making the requested lenght.
Start with repeating the topic with different words. This gives you entry words with ease. Just don't repeat the construction. Then start one paragraph with the first view and second with the second view. Best is if you can give your own opinion in the 3rd paragraph. If you don't have one just chose of the points and express how strongly you agree with this point of view, you might repeat what you said in the previous paragraphs but never use the same wording.
example answer: http://www.ielts-exam.net/ielts_writing_samples_task_2/930/
Learn model sentences and expressions, list a lot of synonyms and memorise them.
I am sorry for the long post. I had a struggle with this test and this was deffinitely not because I speak crappy english. It was because of the requirements that no body explains to you. I hope my post will help people who believe that reaching CLB9 is impossible. There is practically no difference in language knowledge between IELTS score 7 and IELTS score 8!!! But there is a difference in point of CLB 7 and CLB 9, right
You should just pay attention. Don't study like crazy .. just study smart.
This is a helpful link - http://www.ielts-exam.net/Download-free-IELTS-resources.htm
