How can an average Indian guy get a score of 7 in IELTS?

May 10, 2021

Well, no Indian guys are average, they just lack confidence in them. There are many examples of candidates who did wonders in their IELTS test but looked lame. As it is all about how much effort and hardwork you will be doing to achieve your goal.

For instance, there was an aspirant who was a 4th year engineering student, recently appeared for the IELTS exam and got 7.5 in the first attempt. Let me take you through his experience.

In the beginning he was very skeptical if he could get his dream score or not. Thereafter he had set a goal to get at least 8 in the exam. It is an expensive exam and you can't really afford to make mistakes in the first attempt as it would cost you another INR 13,000 if you don't manage to get the desired score.

He had his speaking test first and as he considered himself to be a good speaker. His exam was scheduled at 5 pm. He was all prepped up for the exam but was late to reach the venue due to some reason, this shook his confidence. During the exam he fumbled a couple of times, but somehow managed to get through it.

He got a 7.5 in speaking. Yes a good score, but he was expecting a 8. So always be ahead of time especially during exam days.

Talking about preparation, getting a score over 6 is a big deal for Indian students. Certain questions might come across your mind, some are discussed below:

HOW CAN YOU PREPARE?

The most important task to do in order to get a good score is to work on the listening part. Listening is the easiest of the four sections in an IELTS exam. What can you do to score well in this section?

IELTS listening tips start with knowing about the exam pattern, the different question types, and scoring. The IELTS listening section becomes difficult as it progresses. Part 1 is the easiest, whereas part 4 is the hardest. Concentration is one of the most required IELTS listening strategies since the recording will be played once. Solving numerous IELTS listening practice papers is another helpful strategy.

Speaking fluent English is a very big deal for Indian guys. Even if you are good speakers, you might hesitate in putting our foot forward when someone asks you to speak a few words. Like listening, Speaking fluently is no rocket science either. One can score well if he/she practices well. Throughout the interview they ask you basic questions like

What is your passion?
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Tell me about your favourite painting/book/wedding experience?

Answering these questions is not difficult. Only thing that you can do is just be normal and go with a clear mind. It will be easier for you to concentrate on the questions that are being asked.

Reading is the toughest section of all four as time given is only an hour. Practice daily reading of journals, books and more. Try to solve as many questions as you can in this section. Try not to get less than 6 in this section.

There is nothing much to discuss in the writing section as it completely depends upon your knowledge about the language. A proper IELTS writing practice is the only way to develop writing skills. Improving your writing skills also means possessing knowledge about additional factors like:

Use your own words in your essay.
Choose your own way to describe a thing without using cliches.
Always write formally unless asked to do otherwise.
Use the right vocabulary and phrases in the right places

Another Indian student scored 8.0 overall. His overall score:

Listening - 8.5 ; Reading - 9; Writing - 7 ; Speaking - 6.5

He shared some tips that will certainly help you in getting a good score in this exam-:

Read English newspapers (such as The Economist, The Hindustan times etc.). Focus on the structure of the sentences written in articles and the vocabulary used.
Watch English movies (without subtitles)
Practice the previous modules of Cambridge English. Practice the modules with a time constraint (this can be done by familiarising yourself with the exam pattern and the time given for completion of each section).
4. Select an exam center which is near your hometown ( to avoid the last minute hassles and to be comfortable for reaching the center).

How long does it take to prepare for IELTS?

Take a diagnostic test and see at what level you are. This will help you to understand how much time you will need. 6-8 weeks should be enough time for IELTS preparation for an English-speaking candidate. If you need to work on your skills and target a high score, you will need more time, 3-4 months. Consider the factors whether you can study at home or you will need IELTS coaching classes, and how long you can study in a day.