Get Ready For Your IELTS Test

6 months before
Make sure you know what IELTS score you will need to get.
Do you know what your current level of English is?
o If you are B1, it might be a good idea to do a General English course before
doing an IELTS preparation course.
o If you are B2 or higher, think about taking an IELTS preparation course to
make sure your IELTS score truly reflects your level.
Register for your IELTS test well in advance to make sure you get a place.
Tell the British Council if you have any specific needs, e.g. if you are a wheelchair
user or you suffer from dyslexia the British Council can make the necessary
arrangements. Make sure you get a doctors note, too!
Start speaking in English, listening to English and reading and writing in English as
much as possible and start NOW rather than leaving it until the last minute!

3 months before
Start doing some serious exam practice. Theres plenty of material on the
Internet, for example:
o the British Councils free LearnEnglish resources;
o Take IELTS (http://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/), which includes free practice
tests;
o Road to IELTS, which is free if you register for your test with the British
Council.
Think about the topics which frequently occur in the speaking test.
Do you know, and can you pronounce, the important or key words? Use a
dictionary, look them up, write them down, practise saying them.
Do you find some accents more difficult to understand than others? For example,
Australian. Find examples of these (e.g. news reporters on Al Jazeera) and listen as
often as you can.
Time your reading. Can you answer 40 questions in 60 minutes?
Which questions types do YOU find most difficult? Give yourself more time to
practise these.
Time your writing. Can you write:
o 150 words in 20 minutes?
o 250 words in 40 minutes?
If you are writing too little, ask yourself what information have I left out?

www.britishcouncil.org/takeielts IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council. IDP:

IELTS Australia and University of Cambridge
ESOL Examinations
 If you are writing too much, ask yourself what irrelevant information have I
included?

Last minute
Make sure you know:
o what the 4 sections of the IELTS test consist of;
o how long each section lasts;
o the order of the sections.
Immerse yourself in English! Read anything (and everything) in English. Turn your
TV, radio and computer to English-medium programmes. Have English music
blaring from your speakers in your room!
Finally, dont panic. It is the last minute, but you can do it!

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