Important tips & techniques for IELTS Academic
The first thing you need to do is to buy Official Cambridge IELTS Books (5 to 16+) or print the downloaded pdf files. You will get the idea and feelings of real IELTS Exams.
Before sitting for the IELTS exam, give mock tests under a real exam condition. You must analyze your practice test which you have just completed. Don’t make the same mistakes again. Practice, practice, and practice.
Listening
Instructions: It is very important and you must read the instruction before starting. For example: “No more than two words”.
Pronunciation of Singular or plural: Be careful with the word with s/es (or not). They are confusing.
Pronunciation of Words with ‘ing’ form
Pronunciation of Numbers: 13/ 30 or 15/50
Spelling: your answer will not be regarded as correct if your spelling is wrong.
Prediction: Use your knowledge and common sense to predict and write the answer. Watch the surrounding words for your conjecture.
Map: one of the difficult parts of the listening section is the direction in map completion. You should practice more on the map.
A conversation between two or more people in the 3rd part: People often discuss their projects or talk about some other issues and you need to be extra careful. They tell about all options and it needs more attention.
There is no pause in the 4th part of the listening section.
The spelling of the name and cell number are quickly told and notice.
Focused & give continuous attention to listening.
Answers can be changed and write each answer which you have just heard.
Be familiar with a range of accents.
Speaking
Discuss with a partner who will also sit for the IELTS exam.
If you cannot find a partner:
Use a mirror – you can watch yourself.
Speak yourself and record and then listen for your errors.
Read loudly any good passage.
Listen and sing English songs simultaneously.
Don’t stop in the speaking test. Fill the sentence with any meaningful words.
Don’t say um, Ummm etc.
Don’t repeat the same words. Use different words.
Different tense and sentence (Simple-Complex-Compound).
Intonation (the way someone’s voice rises and falls as they’re speaking) your voice.
Practice on Cue Card samples.
Reading
Skim and Scan
Underline keywords (and dates, names, and concepts) when you read.
Read continuously and make a habit of reading. You will need energy and concentration for the 1-hour reading test.
Speed reading – don’t read loudly because it will slow you down.
Don’t try to pronounce words
Read 3 words at a time instead of one word.
Don’t try to understand the whole passage and the exam is about strategy not for English knowledge.
Learn more vocabulary.
Complete real tests from Cambridge books
Concentration & practice
Try to remember what you have just read.
Difficult: T/F Not given questions, Matching Heading and ‘Matching Information to Paragraphs’.
After completing the reading task, solve the problems with detailed analysis and work on your weakness.
Matching Heading and ‘Matching Information to Paragraphs’ should be given at last.
Follow the instructions – not more than two words …
and practice & practice.
Transfer your answers to the exam script in time.
Writing
Use different types of sentence structure (simple-complex-compound – conditional- question – passive – different tenses) in paragraphs.
Utilize different vocabularies which are suitable to sentences.
Use linking words and adverbs (Moreover, however, firstly, secondly …).
Before starting the task, you must plan for 2-5 minutes (keywords, instructions, question type).
Understanding the topic.
Practice writing part one and give emphasis on each type of graph.
Formal writing for academic IELTS and no contraction. (No etc., e.g.: for example and no etc. type words)
Avoid: there are/ it is
Write more words than the given number
Author: Shoukot Ali, a full funded MA Student at SFU in Canada