2024 IELTS Preparation Guide – Forbes Advisor – Technologist

If you apply to universities as an international student, you likely need to demonstrate your English language proficiency. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is one of the most-used English language tests in the world. Every week, 60,000 test-takers measure their skills with IELTS, and over 12,000 institutions around the globe accept scores from this exam.

But what is IELTS? Can you take IELTS online? And what are the best IELTS preparation strategies?

Your IELTS score can determine which colleges accept your applications or whether you qualify for a work visa. Because IELTS assesses your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills, it can be challenging to study for the exam.

What Is IELTS?

IELTS is a standardized test that assesses your English language competency. Designed for nonnative speakers, IELTS determines whether your language skills meet the requirements to work or study in the United States and other English-speaking countries.

In the U.S., over 3,400 academic institutions accept IELTS to admit international students. That includes top-ranked colleges, law schools, medical schools and boarding schools.

IELTS offers three exam formats:

• Computer-based testing: Visit an approved IELTS test center to take the exam on a computer
• Paper-based testing: Complete the test by hand at an IELTS test center
• Online testing: Test-takers can complete only the academic version of the exam at home

The test includes multiple-choice, completion, short-answer, written and spoken questions. Because of the variety of question types, it’s important to study for the IELTS exam and take practice tests.

Who Needs To Take IELTS?

Thousands of academic institutions around the world use IELTS to assess students’ English proficiency. If you apply to an American college as an international student with a first language other than English, you probably need to send scores from a test like IELTS with your application.

Many test-takers also take IELTS as part of the immigration process. The U.S., the U.K. and Canada all accept IELTS results when issuing visas.

However, your reason for taking IELTS will determine which version of the test you should take. The IELTS academic test measures English language skills for academic study, while examinees can use the IELTS general training test for visa applications or to apply to non-degree-granting programs.

IELTS Test Sections

IELTS measures your English language competency in four areas: listening, reading, writing and speaking. Test-takers complete the listening, reading and writing sections on the same day. They can also schedule the speaking portion for the same day, or for any time a week before or after the other sections.

The test requires 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Listening

The 30-minute listening section includes 40 questions about four recorded texts. The recordings include two monologues and two conversations in different accents. After listening to the recording once, test-takers answer questions about the recordings, which cover English language use in everyday social interactions, educational settings or training contexts.

Reading

The 60-minute reading section differs depending on whether you take the academic IELTS or the general training IELTS. On the academic test, you read three long reading passages from sources including books, journals and newspapers. Then, you answer 40 questions about these passages.

On the general training test, you read 5-6 texts on everyday topics and work drawn from books, newspapers, official documents and advertisements. Then, you answer 40 questions about these texts.

Writing

The 60-minute writing section requires at least 400 words of writing. The academic test provides visual information in a graph or table, which examinees have 20 minutes to describe in at least 150 words. In contrast, the general training test gives test-takers 20 minutes to write at least 150 words in response to a provided situation.

Additionally, both tests ask examinees to write at least 250 words about a problem, point of view or argument in about 40 minutes.

Speaking

The speaking section, which takes 11 to 14 minutes, tests candidates on their ability to communicate effectively. In the first part, the examiner asks general questions about family, school and other everyday topics. The second part presents you with a topic and gives you one minute to prepare to speak on the topic for up to two minutes. The examiner may ask one to two follow-up questions. The third part includes additional questions on the topic from part two, with an opportunity to discuss abstract ideas.

How Is IELTS Scored?

IELTS scores range from 1 at the low end to 9 at the high end and use half-point increments. Many colleges and universities require a score of 7 or higher to enroll in an undergraduate or graduate program, according to the British Council.

You receive a score of 1 to 9 on each section of the exam, plus an overall band score based on the IELTS scoring chart:

Test-takers receive results quickly: within 3-5 days for computer IELTS exams, 6-8 days for online tests and 13 days for paper tests.

IELTS Preparation Tips

Preparing for IELTS can feel intimidating. The unique test format, which covers diverse skills, poses challenges when it comes to studying. These IELTS preparation tips can help you structure your study sessions and hit your score goal.

Study the Test Format

Few standardized tests measure reading, listening, writing and speaking skills. Make sure you understand the format of the test and the types of questions you’ll see. For example, the reading section uses multiple question formats. Read the directions thoroughly to ensure you understand what each question asks. In the speaking section, you can ask the examiner for clarification without penalization to make sure you’re answering the question fully.

Set a Goal

Review the minimum IELTS score you need to get into the U.S. schools on your list or to receive a visa. Aiming for a perfect score of 9 on each section may require intensive studying, but you can get into most U.S. colleges and universities with at least a 7. Once you establish your goal score, figure out which areas of the test are most likely to lower your score and target them accordingly. Sometimes, focusing on polishing your strengths can pay off more than studying your weakest areas.

Create a Study Schedule

Determine how much time you need to prepare for IELTS test day and create a study schedule. Break your time down by section type to make sure you cover each section. Draw on resources such as videos, test preparation books or classes to organize your schedule. You can also listen to recorded lectures or television shows to practice for the listening section of the test.

Take Practice Tests

Taking practice tests is one of the best ways to improve your score and focus your studying. Free practice questions and tests can help you identify the areas where you need more work. When taking practice tests, make sure you choose the format that aligns with the format you signed up for on exam day. To practice the speaking section, review common conversational topics to test your skills.

Avoid Memorization

It may be tempting to memorize answers, but doing so can hurt your score. On the speaking and writing sections, for example, the examiners assess your coherence, vocabulary, grammatical range and accuracy. If you provide answers that sound rehearsed, this can impact your score negatively. Similarly, if your answers don’t fit the prompt well, it can hurt your score for task achievement and task response, two factors that evaluate relevance and appropriateness.

IELTS Online Resources

Test-takers can use many online resources to prepare for IELTS test day, including free resources offered through IELTS itself.

Official Practice Materials

IELTS offers free resources on their website that can help you prepare for the academic or general training tests. These include sample questions for reading, writing and listening as well as a practice exam that simulates the test-day experience.

IELTS by IDP App

The official IELTS by IDP app gives you access to expert-guided tutorials, practice questions and interactive quizzes. You can personalize your study sessions using the app, which offers a 14-day free trial.

IELTS Intelligence

Cambridge University, which helps develop the IELTS exam, offers the IELTS Intelligence prep program. This resource includes self-study lessons and sample questions. You receive detailed feedback, including a breakdown of your strengths and weaknesses, on sample questions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About IELTS Preparation