Preparing for IELTS: Tips & Strategy

IELTS stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language. It is a test required to be taken by international students who are interested in undergoing higher education in the United States. 

It focuses on using English in academic contexts, and judges all four academic skills in English: 

1. Reading

2. Listening

3. Speaking

4. Writing 

Why is IELTS so important? Well, your score in IELTS decides whether or not you are allowed entry into a US university if you are an international student who lives in a country where English isn’t recognized as a foreign language.

Some countries in the West don’t even care if English is an official language. They require students from specific countries where English is recognized as an official language to take the test to prove that their English is at a sufficiently good level to study English-based university courses. 

So, if you are an international student who wants to study university courses or programs in English in the USA and other countries, you should care about IELTS.

There are four steps to follow to make sure that you ace the test: 1. Familiarize with the format of the test; 2. Get a IELTS tutor; 3. Learn test-taking strategies; 4. Do constant practice tests

1. Familiarizing yourself with the IELTS test

The IELTS iBT test is made up of reading, listening, speaking, and writing sections. The table below breaks down what goes into each section: 

Section	Description	Estimated Time	Score Scale
Reading	Two 700-word passages Compare-Contrast Cause-Effect 10 questions each	35 min	0–30
Listening	Three lectures  3-5 mins long  Six questions each Two conversations 3 mins long 5 questions each	36 min	0–30
Speaking	Four tasks One independent task expressing your opinion on a familiar topic Three integrated tasks based on what is read and heard	16 min	0–30
Writing	Two Tasks 120-min Integrated task based on what is read and heard 110-min writing task for an academic discussion task	29 min	0-30

As can be seen in the table above, the test in all is about three hours long. Each of the four sections are equally weighted with a score ranging from zero to thirty. This means that the highest score that can be attained in this test is 120. 

2. Get a IELTS tutor

You need a IELTS tutor to help you with this test. This exam can be quite expensive to take. Plus, there is no guarantee that you will pass. Therefore, proper preparation is crucial. 

This includes a tutor who can help you prepare for the test. This tutor should have a number of attributes that you should look for:

• They should have knowledge of academic writing principles

• They should be familiar with the IELTS test format

• They should have credible experience teaching IELTS test preparation

• They should have credible experience teaching academic writing

There are some cultures in foreign countries who focus on the wrong thing when it comes to hiring IELTS tutors. For example, some believe being a native speaker from the United States is the main requirement.

Some even go as far as discriminating against native English speakers from countries like Nigeria, Jamaica, or even Great Britain itself. This is obviously wrong. 

However, these attitudes are reinforced by tutoring platforms that favor tutors who look a certain way or who are from certain countries over others. 

The main requirement for being a IELTS tutor is a competent teacher, who is preferably a native speaker or who has expert level English and knowledge of academic writing principles. 

This is a specialist skill and knowledge. Being a native English speaker from the United States and looking a particular way will not cut it. Bear in mind this is an expensive and difficult test. You would want to spend your time and money only on those who are qualified. 

3. Learn test-taking strategies

Being knowledgeable about each of the four sections of the IELTS test won’t be enough. Each section needs to be completed on time because of time limits. 

What does this mean? You have to implement strategies to make you more effective and efficient when taking this test. Let's take a close look at some effective strategies: 

1. Learn to take notes.  IELTS allows you to listen to audio clips once before answering questions. This means good note-taking ability would be advantageous. Begin practicing with easier English language passages. Then work your way up to more challenging writing or speaking passages that are on the same level as the academic English in IELTS. 

2. Read frequently and extensively. Don’t limit yourself to passages directly associated with the IELTS tests. Expand your reading to include material that is more than IELTs textbooks. You should strive to make reading English a daily practice. This will help you to recognize principles that you learn in your IELTS lessons. 

Now, this doesn’t mean you should read everything and expect benefits from it.Social media postings will likely not improve your academic English.  The focus should be on the following publications:

• BBC NEWS

• CNN Magazine

• Discovery

• New York Times

• New Yorker

  
  

This is the level of English that is used in IELTS, and this is what you ought to be focusing on. These sources will educate both in vocabulary and cultural fluency in American matters. 

This means you should be an active reader and consciously make a decision to search for and find academic writing principles when you read material like news or magazine articles in English. 

Such a strategy can help you against surprises. By reading daily and widely, you might come across concepts and ideas that don’t show up on IELTS textbooks but that show up on the day of the test! 

3. Listen to podcasts. Podcasts are an excellent way to learn how to listen and mimic how native speakers speak in English. Again, with this activity, the goal should be active listening. It’s not enough to use these podcasts as background noise. You should pay special attention to how people on these shows speak. Lastly, you can always  combine your note-taking skills with this activity. 

4. Do constant practice tests

Practice tests make sure that you are prepared for the real thing. This includes past tests or special tests that are designed to predict or measure how skilled or prepared you are for IELTS. A good resource in that regard is the British Council, the governing authority for IELTS. They offer free IELTS tests. 

For these practice tests, you should really treat them like the actual tests. This means you should time yourself properly. You know what they say: Practice makes perfect. The more you make yourself familiar with the format and conditions of the test,  the more you’ll be ready for the real thing. 

The difference between TOEFL and IELTS

TOEFL and IELTS both have similar function: They help international students qualify for study English language programs abroad in countries, such as Great Britain and the US. 

However, there are major differences between the two. 

Both TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and IELTS (International English Language Testing System) are standardized tests designed to assess English language proficiency for non-native speakers. They are normally required for university admissions, visas, and immigration. Here's a summary of  how they differ from each other:

1. Test Format. TOEFL is mainly internet-based and is carried out wholly on a computer. The questions take the form of multiple choice options. On the other hand, IELTS is available in two formats: Academic and General Training. Furthermore, Listening, Reading, and Writing can be either in paper or computer formats. However, the Speaking section is always conducted in person.

2. Speaking Section. For TOEFL, the Speaking section is recorded with a microphone. After this, it is assessed using both AI and human raters. This contrasts with IELTS Speaking, which relies on a live, face-to-face interview with a human examiner.

3. Duration. TOEFL takes about three hours to complete. On the other hand, IELTS takes approximately two hours and forty-five minutes.

4. Scoring System. TOEF is scored out of a total score of 120, and each of the four sections is worth 30 points. IELTS uses a band scoring system that ranges from 1.0 to 9.0 in 0.5 increments.

5. Preferred Regions. IELTS is more commonly accepted in the United States and Canada. On the other hand, IELTS is typically associated with the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Europe.

6. Availability. Both tests have wide availability in common. They are available around the world and offer frequent and flexible test dates.

7. Governing Authority. The governing authority for IELTS is the British Council. On the other hand, the governing body for TOEFL is the Educational Testing Service (or ETS).

EminentEdit IELTS tutoring services

EminentEdit offers tutoring services for IELTS. Our tutoring services are comprehensive, reliable, and based on a fundamental understanding of how academic writing works. We know how IELTS works and what you need to succeed.

As a result, we offer personalized tutoring services that are: 

• Affordable

• Reliable 

• Taught by competent and experienced teachers

Our services include face-to-face tutoring online. You don’t have to go through annoying third-party platforms. You have direct access to a tutor who is reliable and flexible to your needs. 

IELTS tutoring services include:

1. Prepping for Reading

2. Prepping for Listening

3. Prepping for Speaking 

4. Prepping for Writing

In short, we have you covered for every section of the test. We do not limit ourselves to the confines of the test. 

We aim to ensure that you become a competent academic writer and speaker, who can go on to do well at university or college. Get in touch, right now to learn more: Learn About or IELTS Tutoring Services. 

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Cite this EminentEdit article

Antoine, M. (2025, April 25). Preparing for IELTS: Tips & Strategy. EminentEdit. https://www.eminentediting.com/post/preparing-for-ielts