The IELTS exam can be extremely stressful and preparing for it in the correct way is incredibly important. Today, I’m going to look at some common mistakes made by test takers and how you can avoid making the same mistakes.
1. Unrealistic Expectations.
The IELTS exam isn’t easy. Many test takers assume it will be and this is a bad start. It is important to know your current level of English and then check that it matches with the IELTS score you require. If you’re currently a low intermediate and you require a 7.0. you’d be best starting a general English course to improve your overall level of English before starting a specialist exam preparation course
2. Not allowing enough time to prepare
Time is incredibly important when preparing for the IELTS test. You need to familiarise yourself with the test format and this can take some time. You also need to allow some time for any problems you may have when familiarising yourself with the test.
3. Writing
The writing test is often the place where students score their lowest mark. This can be down to a number of factors but one of the main reasons is simply not knowing exactly what the examiner wants. You can write a beautiful essay, show off an array of tenses, wow the examiner with some impressive and still get a low score. How is this? Maybe you didn’t fully answer the question or perhaps in writing part 1 you missed having an overview. These things can make a big impact on your score.
4. Overlooking Vocabulary
Vocabulary plays a huge role in the IELTS exam. In a previous post, I talked about the importance of vocabulary. Make sure to read through that post to get some ideas of how to improve your vocabulary.
5. Pronunciation
As a test of international English, IELTS does not take off marks if you have an accent. Your accent is not important, but your pronunciation is! So, for example, for the word 'probably' don't say probly or prolyl. Make sure you practice and test your pronunciation. A simple trick is to record yourself speaking and listen back. Listen to your pronunciation and don’t worry because everybody hates the sound of their own voice!
6. Choosing the wrong preparation course.
Not everybody needs a preparation course. However, if you do need one then finding the correct course is vitally important. Here at Exam English Prep, we pride ourselves on giving you the course that you deserve. Courses are customised to meet your exact needs.