IELTS Preparation Tips: Study Materials, Coaching, and Sample Papers

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 why 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. The exact time for IELTS preparation will depend on your English language proficiency. IELTS syllabus will evaluate your English reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. You can effectively prepare for IELTSexam by reading books, joining online or offline courses, and regularly solving sample papers. IELTS online classes allow you to prepare for the exam at your convenience place and also offer flexible timings. Many best coaching centers provide effective IELTS training in online and offline modes. On average, most candidates require a minimum time of 2 to 3 months of effective IELTS exam practice.

This article will ontain IELTS speaking test tips, IELTS writing test tips, tips on listening IELTS and reading tips and tricks for IELTS. We have also included IELTS exam tips, IELTS preparation tips, IELTS Study plan and many more. 

IELTS Preparation Time

Take a diagnostic online IELTS test and see at what level you are. This will help you to understand how much time you will need. IELTS preparation time for an English speaking candidates is 6-8 weeks. If students need to work on your skills and target a high score, he/she will need more time of about 3-4 months. Candidates must consider the factors whether he/she can study at home or will need IELTS coaching classes, and can study in a day for how much long.

IELTS Study Plan for 1 Month

One month is enough time for IELTS test preparation. After completing IELTS registration, you will receive an online preparation course. As soon as you register for IELTS, an activation link will be sent to your respective email ID. Your one-month IELTS exam practice online content includes: 

• Watch videos explaining how to approach IELTS questions.
• Taking at least one IELTS preparation exam every day.
• Candidates having good reading skills, focus on developing IELTS listening skills because it may get tricky.
• Practicing vocabulary every day.
• Practise exams for chosen module
• A maximum of 25 hours of online study time
• Sample responses and criticism
• Study techniques and test-taking advice from experts

Score Band 8 in 10 Days

IELTS Preparation can take a lot of time for mny students. However, if you prepare effectively, you can score above band 8 – band 9 in IELTS withnin a week. You need to follow few strategies such as:

• Start preparing as early as possible
• Understand which sections you are weak in
• Learn the structure of answers and different types of questions
• Time yourself during the preparation
• Keep a track of Listening section as audio will be played only once
• For Reading, practice consistently
• The answers for reading questions are in sequence as per paragraphs. Suppose first paragraph will have answer to first 3 questions, 2nd paragraph will have answer to next 4 questions. 
• Use professional words for IELST Writing part
• In IELTS Writing task 2, select for or against and stick to the point
• For Speaking, you need a friend or someone whom you can talk to for practice
• You can record yourself or stand in front of  mirror to access your bilities
   

IELTS Preparation at Home

“How to start IELTS preparation at home” is one of the importantly asked questons of students. IELTS preparation at home can be completed with a proper study plan, updated study materials, and practice tests. You can access free materials or can join free IELTS preparation online coaching classes. Improving your time management skills are important to achieve a good IELTS band score. IELTS preparation at home can be a self-paced preparation course where you can focus on weaknesses as per the score of the mock test.

IELTS Preparation Tips for Writing

Students can check below-mentioned IELTS writing tips for both Academic and General Writing Tasks:

1. Reading questions thoroughly and forming an outline of answer mentally.
2. Avoid redundancy and practice paraphrasing newspaper and magazine articles.
3. Practice writing IELTS writing task 1 in 20 minutes and IELTS writing task 2 in 40 minutes. Students must also keep tracking the time simultaneously.
4. Practice writing within the word limit of IELTS writing task 1 (150 words) and IELTS writing task 2 (250 words).
5. Write to the point and relevant answers is importnt for IELTS exam writing tips.
6. Write short sentences using active voice.
7. Writing IELTS practice test module can be very helpful.

IELTS Writing Practice Papers

IELTS Writing Task 1 Samples

• Different Sources of Air Pollutants IELTS Writing Task 1 
• Different Types of Crime in England and Wales From 1970 to 2005 IELTS Writing Task 1
• The Graph below shows the Total Births and the Total Deaths in a European Country from 1950 to 2050 IELTS Writing Task 1
• Line Graph Showing Percentage of Car Ownership in Great Britain IELTS Writing Task 1
• Number of Books Read by Men and Women at Burnaby Public Library IELTS Writing Task 1
• Journeys made by Different Forms of Transport in Four Countries IELTS Writing Task 1
• Population Aged 65 and Over of Three Countries IELTS Writing Task 1
• Plan A & B shows a Health Centre in 2005 and in Present Day IELTS Writing Task 1
• Automatic Photo Booth IELTS Writing Task 1
• Life Cycle of the Salmon IELTS Writing Task 1
• Water Usage in Australia IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
• Production of Potato Chips IELTS Writing Task 1
• A Table Showing Social and Economic Indicators for Four countries in 1994 IELTS Writing Task 1
• Noise Pollution IELTS Writing Task 1
• Internet Use in Six Categories by Age Group IELTS Writing Task 1

IELTS Writing Task 2 Samples

• It is Very Difficult for People to Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle IELTS Writing Task 2
• Nowadays People Becoming Parents in Late Life is Not Good IELTS Writing Task 2
• Coins And Paper Will Soon Be Replaced By Credit And Bank Cards IELTS Writing Task 2
• It is Convenient to Watch Movies on Television IELTS Writing Task 2
• Keeping Pets IELTS Writing Task 2
• Many People Visit Museums When they Travel to New Places IELTS Writing Task 2
• Each Member of Family have their Own Piece of Modern Technology IELTS Writing Task 2
• Success in Pen and Paper Examination is Seen as a Sign of Intelligence IELTS Writing Task 2
• People Used to Wear Their Traditional Clothes Depending on Their Culture IELTS Writing Task 2
• More People are Trying Out Varieties of Food IELTS Writing Task 2
• Learning a Language Still Could be Advantageous IELTS Writing Task 2
• Older Adults Are Not Given Enough Respect and Facilities in Many Countries IELTS Writing Task 2
• Some Schools are Very Strict about Their School Uniforms IELTS Writing Task 2
• Advertisements on Toys and Fast Foods Lure Children IELTS Writing Task 2
• Visual Images Provide Enough Evidence for a Crime IELTS Writing Task 2

IELTS Preparation Tips for Reading

Students can check below-mentioned tips of IELTS Reading section, and prepare effectively:

1. If a student follow online IELTS classes, he/she will find IELTS Reading section contains 14 types of questions. Practicing to handle each type of question is important .
2. Candidates will get 2 minutes to read one IELTS reading passage and must practice reading at home regularly. Scan for important information while reading and that will speed up the process of answering questions.
3. Simply locate the answers without trying to understand the entire passage.
4. While IELTS reading preparation at-home practice spotting keywords in IELTS reading passage.
5. Learn new words and phrases. Practice paraphrasing.
6. Materials for IELTS reading are available online on many websites for practice. 

IELTS Reading Practice Papers

IELTS Reading Samples

• The Birth of Our Modern Minds Reading Answers
• Music Language We All Speak Reading Answers
• Emigration to The US Reading Answers
• TV Addiction Reading Answers
• Doesn't that Sound Terribly Yellow to You? Reading Answers
• The Face of Modern Man Reading Answers
• The Decoding of Memory Reading Answers
• Groucho Marx Arthur Sheekman Reading Answers
• Children’s Literature Reading Answers
• A Guide To Womenomics Reading Answers
• European Heat Wave Reading Answers
• A Library at Your Fingertips Reading Answers
• Private Schools Reading Answers
• Wealth in a Cold Climate Reading Answers
• Children Tested to Destruction? Reading Answers

IELTS Preparation Tips for Speaking

You will face an interactive interview on IELTS speaking section, and you have to answer questions about yourself, discuss familiar topics, and elaborate on a given topic. IELTS speaking tips includes:

1. Reading and listening to English every day at home during IELTS preparation.
2. IELTS speaking preparation practice tests are very much helpful.
3. Practice speaking in front of a mirror. This will build up the confidence during IELTS speaking test practice.
4. Speaking in English with friends and family can also be practiced and is useful.
5. Using informal and easy language in own speech for IELTS speaking exam practice.

IELTS Speaking Practice Papers

IELTS Speaking Samples

• Describe a Person Who Contributes to Society Cue Card
• Describe a Natural Calamity that you Fear Cue Card
• Describe a Foreign Country You Have Never Been To Cue Card
• Describe a Film/Movie that You Watched and did Not Enjoy Cue Card
• Describe a Family Business Cue Card
• When Was The First Time You Admired The Sky Or A Beautiful Sky You Enjoyed Cue Card
• Talk About A Talkative Person Cue Card
• Describe a Subject that You did not like in the Past, but Now you Like it Cue Card
• Interesting Places Cue Card
• Describe Something Interesting You Learned From The Internet Cue Card
• Describe An Exciting Book That You Enjoy Reading Cue Card
• Describe an Educational TV Programme that you have Seen Cue Card
• Describe a Useful Website You have Visited Cue Card
• Describe a Useful Plant You Know About Cue Card
• Describe A Time When You Felt Awkward Cue Card

IELTS Preparation Tips for Listening

Applicants must check below-mentioned preparation tips for IELTS Listening section, and prepare accordingly. The tips on listening IELTS are:

1. IELTS Listening test is of 30 minutes duration. It needs an immense amount of practice to concentrate on audios for 30 minutes at a stretch.
2. The recording will be played only once and students need the practice to remember all the necessary information to answer the questions.
3. Listening IELTS test practices are available online.
4. Candidates needs to practice IELTS listening, reading questions, and pointing out answers all at the same time.

IELTS Listening Practice Papers

IELTS Listening Samples

• A Lecture About A Crater In Australia IELTS Listening Sample Answer
• Job Hunting IELTS Listening Sample Answer
• Jane and Sally discussing Janes preparations for Abroad tour - IELTS Listening Sample Answer
• A Conversation between Two Students deciding on a Course - IELTS Listening Sample Answer
• A Conversation between a Housing Officer and a Student-IELTS Listening Sample Answer
• Turtles IELTS Listening Sample Answer
• Central Cinema Lost Property Form Listening Answers
• A Lecture on the Great Barrier Reef IELTS Listening Answers
• A Lecture On Earth Sciences - IELTS Listening Sample Answer
• A Monologue By Dr. Jespersen About Children’s Language Acquisition - IELTS Listening Sample Answer
• Monologue on Scholarship and Funding - IELTS Listening Sample Answer
• A Conversation About Cell Phone Packages IELTS Listening Sample Answer
• A Monologue on the Social History of the East End of London IELTS Listening Sample Answer
• Lecture About Customer Psychology - IELTS Listening Sample Answer
• Monologue about Preventive Medicine - IELTS Listening Sample Answer