To clear the IELTS Exam with a good score, you will need to prepare thoroughly. Before taking up this exam, you must ensure that you learn good English both in terms of vocabulary and grammar. However, being good in English might not be enough for achieving a high score as the exam consists of several sections or parts. Therefore, we have created the following guidelines so that you know how to start your IELTS preparations:

Go Through the Exam Format Properly

It is important to understand the format of the IELTS Exam before starting your preparations. This means that you must know the number of questions, tasks, and types of questions that might be asked in the exam. 

Also, you must go through the rules and guidelines of the IELTS so that you follow them to perfection. These rules and guidelines will be stated in the application form itself. Therefore, do not forget to read the application form while filling it. For knowing the exam format in detail, you can check this https://www.ielts.org/for-test-takers/test-format.

Solve Sample Questions 

You might get an idea about the IELTS Exam format by reading the instructions given on its official website and form. However, it is worthless unless you try to solve the sample questions given in the ‘Listening’, ‘Reading’, ‘Writing’, and ‘Speaking’ tests. 

IELTS preparations are incomplete if you don’t get acquainted to the format by practicing as many sample questions as you can. You don’t have to go anywhere to access these sample questions as they are provided on the official website. To access these sample questions directly, you can click on this https://www.ielts.org/for-test-takers/sample-test-questions.

Attempt Online Practice Tests 

After going through adequate sample questions, you must also check your progress by giving the “Progress Test” designed by IELTS. This is an online test that has been prepared by qualified and well-trained markers. 

Both untimed and timed practice tests are available, and you can gauge your performance in individual sections and in overall tests by checking your scores in respective tests. The score, along with the necessary feedback will be conveyed in the “Feedback Report” that will be sent to you within 5 working tests after taking up the test. 

The indicative band scores of the individual skills, i.e. ‘Listening’, ‘Reading’, ‘Writing’, and ‘Speaking’. The “Progress Test” will let you know your strengths and weak areas which will further help you strategies and plan your IELTS preparations accordingly.

The official feedback sent by IELTS will also prove to be useful if you are preparing for the test with the help of an English teacher as the teacher would know about the areas that need improvement. This test will also prepare your mind by making it familiar to the exam environment. To know more about the “Practice Test,” you can check this https://www.ielts.org/for-test-takers/how-to-prepare/ielts-progress-check

Practice Materials 

There are other practice materials such as mock tests, preparation tips and guidelines provided through CDs and DVDs, etc. that will help you understand the format, time constraints, etc. IELTS provides official practice materials in the form of CDs and DVDs. It contains training and samples for ‘Speaking’ and ‘Listening’ tests as of now. 

The volume 1 CD contains the samples of the ‘Listening’ test and volume 2 DVD contains the recordings of the candidates who have appeared for the ‘Speaking’ Test. To get more details about volume 1, you can click https://www.cambridge.org/gb/cambridgeenglish/catalog/cambridge-english-exams-ielts/official-ielts-practice-materials-1/official-ielts-practice-materials-1-audio-cd and click on this https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/exams/ielts/practice-tests for accessing details about volume 2. 

Apart from these things, you should also develop a taste for reading different types of books, blogs, news articles, etc., for developing your reading skills. Moreover, you should practice how to write grammatically correct English so that you can take up the writing tasks easily during the actual exam. We hope that these tips and ideas will help you strategies your IELTS preparations and motivate you to get higher IELTS scores.