IELTS INTRODUCTION
When English isn’t your first language, most study abroad programmes or work visas require you to take an English Language Proficiency Test like IELTS or TOEFL as part of your application. And while this may sound like the easiest step in the process, it is usually where most people often struggle. So how do you go about preparing for this without a hitch? Is taking a preparatory class all you can do? Surely not. There’s more you can do to increase your band score and organically improve your linguistic skills.
With just a few tips, tricks & new habits you can develop skills to use English as a first language more effectively, confidently communicate with other native English speakers and improve your IELTS band score in all 4 areas!
Listening:
The first step to improving in this area is being an active listener. Pay attention to the world around you, especially when people communicate in English. However, a very effective way of going about this is watching English movies and listening to podcasts & radio stations. Pro Tip: Get a free Spotify or Youtube subscription and listen to music while simultaneously glancing at the lyrics.
If you’re still very much new to this, it’s worth turning on movie subtitles so you can get a better grasp of the language. Some of the movies we recommend are classics but quite the effective teacher. For instance, The Lion King, The Godfather, Forrest Gump, Dead Poets Society, Fight Club, The Notebook, Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind and the Harry Potter series are a good way to start.
Make sure to sign up for online streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney Hotstar. A yearly subscription is well worth it and you can also enjoy a wide range of movies & TV shows in all your favourite genres!
Speaking:
This is probably the hardest part for most people in general, especially when English isn’t a language they often speak. This is why one must seize the opportunity and engage in conversations with other English speakers. This way you’re also likely to pick up slang and other conversational phrases that you might miss in the classroom.
Participating in community events and enrolling in activities that require you to take some form of leadership often helps with the confidence one needs to display language skills in conversation. Try public speaking, involve yourself in debates & discussions or simply play fun speaking games (Two Truths & One Lie, Never Have I Ever etc). Taking up call centre jobs has effectively helped several people and could do the same for you.
It’s also rather fun to imitate native English speakers which could potentially help you improve your pronunciation. We all love someone who does a great accent!
Writing:
Nobody becomes a good writer overnight. But with constant practise there’s always a way to improve your writing skills. First things first, get yourself a grammar book like Wren & Martin, a must-have for all English learners. You can also invest in a pocket Oxford dictionary if you prefer things old-school. If not, there are other ways to brush up your vocabulary these days. Word games like Wordle have taken over the internet and generate quite the buzz with the game which teaches you a five-letter word every day.
However, if you’re already a bit comfortable with writing and just want to improve a little then make sure you practise writing exercises, read other people’s work and make sure to use a grammar assistant to proofread yours. Why not try Grammarly?
Reading:
The reading section in an IELTS test can be tricky and requires you to do your best. Perhaps you can start practices like using context clues and sequencing i.e creating an order of events for your passage to make it easier to remember. It is also advised to practise retelling stories or events that occur and inferencing (drawing conclusions from text) to stimulate critical thinking. Get into the habit of reading newspapers, blogs and books (especially ones that contradict your belief systems or anything unusual from what you’re used to). This allows you to widen your perspective and critically analyse different ideas.
That said, it is guaranteed that with these tips you’re very likely to improve your skills and achieve that perfect band score on your IELTS test.
For more information on the IELTS preparatory courses & tips log onto https://www.britishcouncil.in/
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