How to Prepare for IELTS at Home

By Ashi Jain

The IELTS is International English Language Testing System that assesses an individual’s language skills to migrate country which has English as their native language. It is a language competency test widely accepted by students who wish to study abroad. The test evaluates non-native English speaker’s proficiency in the English language.

The British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English oversee administering it. Four language skills—reading, writing, listening, and speaking—are the main topics of the test. IELTS assesses a person’s English-language proficiency in various academic, professional, and social contexts.

In addition to this, IELTS Exam depends upon two modules: Academic and General Training. IELTS Academic is for those students who wish to complete their undergraduate and postgraduate levels or seeking professional registration.

On the other hand, IELTS General Training is for those who wish to migrate to an English-speaking country such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and so on or those who wish to train below degree level.

Why Should You Take IELTS Exam?

The IELTS exam is advantageous for several reasons. First, IELTS is internationally recognized, so it can be utilized in many nations for professional certifications, immigration, and entrance to colleges and universities.

Second, it evaluates a student’s proficiency in all four language skills: speaking, reading, and listening. This enables test-takers to assess their English language skills in a specific way. And last, because the IELTS exam is meant to mimic real-world circumstances, it might be a helpful tool for people who want to enhance their English language proficiency for everyday use.

How To Pass IELTS Exam?

The IELTS exam has no official pass or fails option. The student’s performance is judged on a scale from 0 to 9. To get admitted to any university or institution in the UK, Australia, Canada, or the US, you must receive an overall band score of 8.0 or above.

IELTS Score Scale

Band Score	Skill Level	Description
9	Expert Level	The test taker has a complete understanding of the English Language.
8	Very Good	The test taker completely understands the English Language with occasional unsystematic inaccuracies.
7	Good	The test taker has an operational command of the English Language with occasional inaccuracies and misunderstandings in the situation.
6	Competent	The test taker effectively understands the English Language despite their inaccuracies, misunderstanding, and usage of the sentences.
5	Modest	The test taker has partial command of the English Language, and they are likely to commit mistakes.
4	Limited	The test taker is not able to handle the complex situations of the English Language and is limited to familiar situations.

Countries Accepting IELTS Score

Various countries accept the IELTS Score, which includes the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and many more. According to the British Council, with over 420,000 applicants taking the test in 2019, India is the second-largest source of IELTS test takers worldwide.

Most IELTS test takers in the Asia Pacific region come from India. The United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the United States are the top countries for Indian students taking the IELTS exam.

Eligibility Requirements for the Exam

In this section of the article, let us discuss the basic eligibility requirements which students need to keep in mind while preparing for the IELTS exam. Given below are the eligibility need for this exam:

1. Minimum Age of Candidates

Those Candidates preparing for the exam must be of 16 years of age. Moreover, they should have a valid passport or national identification document. They must provide proof of identity during the registration process.

2. Test Pattern

The four components of the IELTS exam are speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Each element is graded from 1 (non-user) to 9 (excellent) (expert user).

Listening: There are four components to the listening test, which takes about 30 minutes to complete. There is a total of ten queries in each section.

Reading: There are three portions of the reading test, which should take about 60 minutes to complete. There are several types of questions in each area.

Writing: There are two tasks in the 60-minute writing section of the test.

Speaking: There are three sections to the Speaking test, which takes about 11 to 14 minutes to complete.

3. Minimum IELTS Score Accepted by Leading Universities

Different prominent universities have different minimum IELTS requirements depending on the institution and the program. In general, most universities accept IELTS scores of at least 6.0. Yet, although some colleges might be more stringent and accept a lesser score, others might be more forgiving.

Tips To Prepare IELTS Exam At Home

If you are willing to prepare for IELTS exams at home, follow these tips to score 8 bands in your exam and get admission to your desired university.

1. Create a Study Plan

It’s crucial to create a study plan before beginning your IELTS training. Make a schedule, set a reasonable objective, and establish how much time you will allot for each exam segment. You will be able to stay motivated and organized as a result. You can even plan to listen to English music and watch English television and movies to enhance your vocabulary.

2. Learn About the Format of the Test

The format of the test and the kinds of questions that will be asked should be familiar to you. To learn what to expect, take some time to study the IELTS website.

3. Practice

The secret to passing any exam is practice. Take as many practice exams as you can. This will make it easier for you to comprehend the arrangement and the kinds of inquiries that appear in your exams.

4. Understand the Language

To perform well on the IELTS exam, you need to be literate in English. Brush up on your vocabulary and grammar. Moreover, work on your English writing and speaking.

5. Take Mock Tests

You can gauge your degree of readiness with the use of practice exams. You can enhance your preparation by enrolling in online classes. The exam format will become more familiar to you because these courses offer helpful advice and study techniques.

6. Proper Rest

To stay attentive throughout the exam, make sure you receive adequate sleep. You will be more awake and energized throughout the exam if you get a decent night’s sleep.

7. Stay Positive

Finally, remain upbeat during the entire procedure. You will be more driven and laser-focused if you have a positive attitude.

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How To Register for IELTS Exam?

In this section, we will discuss the steps you must follow to register for your IELTS Exam:

Step 1: Choose the type of IELTS test you wish to take: Academic or General Training.

Step 2: Find a registered IELTS test center near you.

Step 3: Visit the website of the test center and register for the IELTS test.

Step 4: Pay the IELTS test fee.

Step 5: Receive confirmation of your registration and wait for your test date and time.

Step 6: Prepare for your IELTS test by familiarizing yourself with the test format and practice sample tests.

Conclusion

We hope this article is quite helpful for you to understand what IELTS is and the tips you must follow to prepare for IELTS at home without taking any coaching. Moreover, the results of the IELTS will be available 13 days after the test, and the results will be available online for 28 days. No test centers are allowed to send screenshots either on their phone or by email. Keep practicing and make yourself fluent in the English Language to crack exams with good bands.

Frequently Answered Questions

Ques-1: How long will it take to prepare for your IELTS Exam?

Ans-1: It completes depends upon the student’s ability and learning abilities to prepare themselves for the IELTS Exams. Generally, it takes 6-8 weeks to prepare for all four parts of the paper: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking section. The focus of the students is to grasp the full command of the English language.

Ques-2: Is the test available Online?

Ans-2: Yes, you can take the IELTS test online in the comfort of your home. It gives the flexibility to take tests when and where you are. Moreover, you need to download Inspera Exam Portal before you take a test, as the IELTS test runs on it.

Ques-3: What is the level of the IELTS test?

Ans-3: The level of the IELTS exam depends upon the individual’s language skills assessment scored between the scale 0-9 band. Moreover, if a student scores above 7.0 band, it is considered a good score.

Ques-4: What is the Format of the IELTS Exam?

Ans-4: In the IELTS Exam, there are four parts: Listening, Speaking, Reading & Writing. Moreover, there are two modules: Academic & General Training. Listening and speaking remain the same in both modules while reading and writing are different.

Ques-5: How much does it cost to take the IELTS exam in India?

Ans-5: In India, the total cost to do registration for the IELTS exam is Rs 15,500, which is subject to change. Candidates must confirm the amount before taking the test and must make the payment by using a digital payment option.