How to ace your IELTS exam

How to do well in IELTS!  For many years we have been preparing students for IELTS exams and have examined numerous candidates.  These are some valuable tips to help you get through the IELTS exam.

To have an overview of the IELTS exam – have a look at our website.

Here are some tips for increasing your grade at IELTS

1. Banding – The IELTS tests both your communicative ability which are banded from ‘0’ (basically you only wrote your name) to ‘9’ which  is an educated native speaker.  A band 6 is usually required if you are taking a Master’s degree and doctor’s require a 7 in all skills (papers)
2. Time Keeping – One of the most common complaint about the IELTS is the lack of time – especially in the reading.  Therefore, it is important to watch timing closely.  The reading is 1 hour with 3 sections so each should be 20 minutes i.e. move on to the next section after 20 minutes even if you haven’t answered all the questions from the previous section.
3. There are 60 minutes for writing so 20 minutes for part 1 and 40 minutes for part 2 – as part 2 carries greater weight.  For instance if you get a 5 in part 1 and a 6 in part 2 you will get a 6 for the writing…and vice versa.
4. Marking scheme – The reading and listening are given one mark for each correct question.  Correct spelling and grammar are important!
5. The writing is marked under 3 categories – Task fulfillment – arguments, ideas and evidence (Have you answered the question fully or described the diagram or chart with the information presented?  Coherence and Cohesion (does the text follow a logical order and does it flow?).  This criteria looks at your fluency in writing…Can the overall massage be understood? Are you clearly presenting your key points, Are you using a range of linking words and expressions? Grammar and Vocabulary – the remaining 33% of the marks to measure you range and complexity of grammar and vocabulary.
6. The speaking is again marked under 3 categories, much like the writing – testing both your accuracy and fluency.

The interview has four main sections:

1. some general questions about yourself
2. a discussion of topics of general interest
3. a role play
4. a discussion of your future plans and a conclusion

In part 1 – What is being tested is your ability to:

In this part you are answering questions such as:

• Your country of origin
• Where you learnt English
• How long you have been learning English
• Level of education achieved
• Interests and future plans

You should be prepared to use the past, present and present perfect

tenses to describe your current situation. For example, ‘I have been

studying English for two years since I moved to the city’.

In part 2 – What is being tested is your ability to:

• take longer turns in a conversation
• give information involving description and explanation

In part 3 – What is being tested is your ability to:

• give in-depth answers to questions about your future
• use the language of speculation
• explain and defend your actions, plans, assumptions, predictions, reasons etc

The next blog will be on how to pass the speaking – with examples of good and bad practice.

There is no pass or fail in IELTS. Candidates are graded on their performance, using scores from 1 to 9 for each part of the test – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The results from the four parts then produce an Overall Band Score.

This unique 9-band system measures scores in a consistent manner – wherever and whenever the test is taken. It is internationally recognised and understood, giving you a reliable international currency. IELTS scores are valid for two years.

The IELTS 9-band scale

Each band corresponds to a level of English competence. All parts of the test and the Overall Band Score can be reported in whole and half bands, eg 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0.

Band 9: Expert user: has fully operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding.

Band 8: Very good user: has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well.

Band 7: Good user: has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning.

Band 6: Competent user: has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.

Band 5: Modest user: has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field.

Band 4: Limited user: basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language.

Band 3: Extremely limited user: conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication occur.

Band 2: Intermittent user: no real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English.

Band 1: Non-user: essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words.

Band 0: Did not attempt the test: No assessable information provided.