How to Prepare for IELTS in 30 Days

Summary

In this video, Jay and Mark discuss how to effectively prepare for the IELTS exam in just 30 days. Mark, an ex-examiner, emphasizes the importance of seeking guidance from a teacher, building healthy reading and listening habits, and practicing with purpose. They explain how reviewing mistakes, particularly in reading and listening, helps improve performance. In writing, it's crucial to focus on task achievement and get constructive feedback, while in speaking, building confidence and getting feedback are key. The session wraps up with tips on reducing anxiety and preparing with mock tests for success.

Takeaways

• 😀 Seek assistance from a teacher or tutor for faster and more efficient preparation.
• 😀 Build healthy reading and listening habits to improve overall language skills.
• 😀 Practice and review test materials to understand why your answers are right or wrong.
• 😀 Focus on internalizing feedback, especially for speaking and writing sections.
• 😀 Do not memorize templates for writing tasks—focus on understanding the task and crafting an appropriate response.
• 😀 Organize your writing first, then focus on fixing grammar mistakes over time.
• 😀 Start with practicing writing as early as possible to receive valuable feedback and improve faster.
• 😀 Avoid just obsessing over your test scores. Pay attention to the feedback for improvement.
• 😀 Practice speaking in mock tests to get comfortable and reduce test-day anxiety.
• 😀 Relax during the speaking test and focus on expressing your thoughts naturally, rather than providing the 'perfect' answer.
• 😀 In the final month of preparation, prioritize understanding test structure, building habits, and getting consistent feedback.

Q & A

How should I start preparing for IELTS if I only have 30 days?

The first step is to seek assistance, ideally from a teacher. Trying to prepare on your own can work, but having a teacher will save time and help you avoid last-minute realization of needing help. A teacher can guide you through the test structure and give you valuable feedback.

Why is it important to have strong reading habits when preparing for the IELTS test?

Reading habits build vocabulary, improve grammar, and help develop ideas. These skills are essential not just for the reading section, but also for speaking and writing sections. It’s important to read a variety of materials like newspapers and magazines to build your reading speed and comprehension.

What’s the best way to prepare for the IELTS reading section?

In addition to reading regularly, you should practice the actual test questions. Understanding the structure of the reading test and practicing with a teacher can significantly improve your performance. After each practice test, review your mistakes to understand why the answers were right or wrong.

How does listening practice help in other sections of the IELTS test?

Listening practice helps not only in improving listening skills but also in developing reading and speaking skills. For instance, strong reading skills are needed to understand multiple-choice listening questions, and listening helps build familiarity with vocabulary and grammar, which can assist in both writing and speaking.

Why is it important to review mistakes during practice?

Reviewing mistakes helps you identify patterns in your errors, enabling you to correct them. Understanding why certain answers were wrong is more important than just getting them right. This reflection helps ensure that you don't make the same mistakes in the future.

How can I prepare for the IELTS writing section in a month?

Focus on understanding the different types of writing tasks and practicing them with a teacher. A teacher can give you feedback on your task achievement, grammar, and organization. Instead of memorizing templates, focus on answering the questions properly and organizing your ideas effectively.

Is it a good idea to memorize writing templates for the IELTS test?

No, memorizing templates is not recommended. The IELTS exam can have a variety of questions, and using a template may cause you to miss the specific requirements of the question. It’s better to practice writing different types of tasks and get feedback to improve your skills.

What should I focus on when I receive writing feedback?

Focus on the feedback regarding your mistakes, particularly in areas like grammar, task achievement, and organization. Pay attention to what you did well, but make sure you understand and address the areas where you made errors, as that will help you improve more effectively.

How does practicing speaking with a teacher help with the IELTS speaking test?

Practicing speaking with a teacher gives you the opportunity to get feedback on how to organize your ideas, extend your responses, and correct any grammatical mistakes. It also helps you get comfortable with the speaking test format, so you're more relaxed on test day.

What is one way to improve your speaking test performance?

One way to improve your speaking performance is by using sentence stress and practicing dynamic delivery. For example, emphasizing important words in your sentences (like ‘DON’T’ in 'don’t like it') can make your speech more engaging and help you score higher.