The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a widely recognized English language that measures the English language proficiency of non-native speakers.
It is essential for people who want to study or work in countries where English is the primary language to prove English language proficiency.
Preparing for the IELTS exam can be difficult, but with the right tools, resources, and guidance, it is possible to get a good band score in the exam.
In this blog post, I will discuss how to prepare for IELTS exam at home. But before that, you must understand the IELTS exam and its types.
What Is IELTS?
IELTS is the most taken English-language exam to prove English language proficiency. The IDP now conducts the IELTS test worldwide. Even the last year, around 3.5 million students took the IELTS test.
This test is accepted by more than 11,000 organizations (universities, professional groups, businesses, and migration authorities) worldwide.
This test measures test takers’ ability to speak, write, listen, and read in English. So, there are a total of 4 modules in the IELTS exam.
- Listening
- Reading
- Writing
- Speaking
Students can take the IELTS exam in two formats,
- Pen-paper-based
- Computer-based
Now let’s shift our focus to the main point of the blog, “how to prepare for IELTS at home,” without wasting any more time.
How To Prepare For IELTS Exam At Home
Students spend huge amounts of money to join institutes to prepare for the IELTS exam. But you can easily save that money by preparing for the IELTS exam at home.
Here we will discuss the best tips on how to prepare for IELTS at home. Let’s read!
Keep Distractions Away
Distractions are the biggest hurdle for you when you are preparing for something at home.
So while preparing for the IELTS exam at home, the first thing you have to do is to get rid of all the distractions you have.
The most common distraction every student face is notifications from social media. Imagine you are taking an online lecture or searching for something important for your study, and suddenly you get a notification from your social media such as a message from a friend then there are chances you click that notification, and you can waste your precious time doing that.
So, while preparing for the IELTS exam at home turn off all unwanted notifications to avoid distractions during the study.
Also, you must find a quiet place where you can study by not to get distracted by any type of noise.
So this is the most important and must-follow tip on how to prepare for IELTS exam at home.
This is the first tip on how to prepare for IELTS exam at home.
Decide the test format you want to take
Before you begin your online IELTS preparation, you must understand which IELTS format you will be taking.
If you want to work in abroad you should take IELTS general training exam.
IELTS Academic is for students who want to enrol in full-time courses at a university or college. It is the second tip on how to prepare for IELTS exam at home.
This is the second tip on how to prepare for IELTS exam at home.
Understand the exam Format
It is very important that you must know the exam format, tasks, and questions for each of four parts.
It’s also a good idea to review the IELTS exam rules and regulations.
The essential information can be found in the Notice to Candidates and Declaration attached to the application form. It is another good tip on how to prepare for IELTS exam at home.
This is the third tip on how to prepare for IELTS exam at home.
Create A Study Plan
Once you decide which IELTS test you want to take and understand its format, the next step is to create a proper study schedule. You must create and follow a study plan for preparing for IELTS at home. You should give some extra time to the module in which you think you are weak and need improvement.
There should be proper break timing in your study schedule. Your break should not be too long. You can add a break of 10 to 15 minutes to your study schedule in a 1-1 hour gap.
This break will help you feel relaxed and increase your productivity.
This is the fourth tip on how to prepare for IELTS exam at home.
IELTS practice materials
You should study from the IELTS official online guide material website and also other video platforms. It will help you to understand the IELTS test format. It will also help you to understand the types of question that can come in the IELTS exam.
For your online IELTS preparation, practise test answer keys, recorded scripts, sample writing and reading responses, as well as examiner comments, are also helpful. It is the fourth tip on how to prepare for IELTS exam at home.
This is the fifth tip on how to prepare for IELTS exam at home.
Also, read IELTS exam syllabus 2022 – CourseMentor
Online courses
Various online courses can help students enhance their English language skills by building on the language basics. This allows students to correct their mistakes while also assessing their weaknesses.
Students can also use various mobile applications to help them improve their speaking skills. It is the fifth tip on how to prepare for IELTS exam at home.
This is the sixth tip on how to prepare for IELTS exam at home.
Improve vocabulary
Reading newspapers and articles is an excellent way for students to learn new vocabulary.
Students can learn about the contexts and applications of unique words by watching news networks and English shows.
Learning their definitions and putting them into practice while writing or speaking.
It’s also important to remember that improving your vocabulary doesn’t necessarily require Writing complex words. Instead, it’s about maximising impact by using the best-suited words. It is the sixth tip on how to prepare for IELTS exam at home.
IELTS Progress Check
You can take an IELTS Progress Check if you want to improve your IELTS. IELTS-certified specialists will grade your responses.
You will obtain an overall band score whether you take a timed or untimed test. Additionally, you will receive individual scores for each section, which will assist you in planning and understanding your areas of focus. It is the seventh tip on how to prepare for IELTS exam at home.
Also, read CELPIP vs IELTS: Which One You Should Choose
Take Online Sample Paper For IELTS Preparation
For students, it is very important to practice through mock tests. When you will start your IELTS preparation online, you need to take the sample papers which are available online on a lot of platforms. After getting sample papers, look through the pattern and types of questions which are frequently asked. You need to learn those lines and practice them daily. It will help you to improve your mistakes and weak areas.
Keep your general English Level Up
Don’t just focus on IELTS, also do some fun stuff. If you want to improve your english, then you should use online mobile apps where you can talk to strangers. It will help you to gain confident. And you can improve your english.
Practice Makes Man Perfect
You should do practice question at home daily. It is very important part of the preparation of IELTS. Because it will help you to know your weakness and strength. It can help your test taker to work on your weakness.
Learn Time Management
You can take your IELTS exam within 2 hours 45 Minutes. So, it is important to practice IELTS within the set time frame. For this, you have to do more practice it will help you to get better with time management.
Start the preparation before the time
If you want to give IELTS exam, then you must be ready for the exam atleast a weak before the date of the exam.
Improve Writing Skills
If you want to get a good score in the IELTS exam by preparing for it at home, you must have to improve your writing skills.
To improve your writing at home you must have to write 1 writing task for both the tasks in IELTS writing.
You can ask any of your friends or your online tutor (in case you are taking online classes) to check your tasks and let you know your mistakes. You should also learn from the mistakes you are making and try not to repeat those mistakes.
By doing this, you can easily improve your writing in the IELTS exam can get a high score easily.
So this is the most important tip on how to prepare for IELTS exam at home.
How to Prepare for IELTS at Home in One Month
Preparing for IELTS reading online
The IELTS Reading section has 40 questions divided into three sections. There is a 60-minute time limit for answering these questions. This section necessitates a thorough understanding of the nuances of time management.
- You can improve your reading sections By timing your trial tests during practice.
- The first and second sections are more complex than the third. So, it’s best to finish the first two sections as quickly as possible. This will allow you to have as much time as possible for the final segment.
- Vocabulary is the key. When you come across a complicated word, a well-honed vocabulary allows you to go on without wasting time figuring out the meaning or context.
Preparing for IELTS writing online
Task 1 and task 2 are the two consist of the writing section. Analyzing a situation, a photograph, a graph, or even a diagram is the first task. To complete your second work, you will need to compose an extended essay on a given topic.
- Written essays show your command of the English language. As a result, before you begin writing, you must outline and structure your essay.
- As necessary, divide your essay into four to five paragraphs. Avoid writing paragraphs that are overly long since they will become monotonous.
Preparing for IELTS listening online
One of the easiest among the four sections is listening. In 30 minutes, you must listen to four different recordings and answer 40 questions. You’ll have to listen and write the answers simultaneously in this round. As a result, the following is recommended:
- Practising is the key. The more practice exams you take, the more likely you will pass this round.
- It’s critical to concentrate on the recordings. Even a few seconds of missing out can deprive you of important information and lower your score.
Preparing for IELTS speaking online
This module has a 15-minute time limit, during which you must provide an introduction, talk on a specific topic, and have a personal one-on-one with the examiner. The Speaking test will take place a few days before or after the other three-module assessments. So, you need to:
- Plan your online IELTS preparation so that you can construct sentences without making any mistakes.
- During the test, make sure you start and conclude your statements correctly.
- Avoid using the exact words or phrases over and over again.
Also, read: – IELTS Speaking Questions to Get 8+ Bands in First Attempt
How Can I Start Preparing For IELTS At Home For Beginners?
As it is always said that if your base is strong in a field, you can easily achieve success in that field. You must learn everything from the start if you are a beginner. So, for that, you must follow some specific steps.
Familiarize Yourself With The IELTS Exam Format
It is important to understand an exam format before taking an exam if you want to crack that exam on the first attempt. So if you are a beginner and do not know anything about the IELTS exam but want to take the exam, your first step should be to become familiar with the exam.
Take A Practice Test
Take a practice test after knowing the format of the exam. This will be helpful for you to understand your current English level, and you will know which part you need more improvement on.
Focus On Building Vocabulary
If you don’t know the vocabulary, then it is advised to you to start reading newspapers or magazines in English daily. Try to find 15 to 20 new words daily and create a list of those words.
Try to make sentences using those words and ask any friend or teacher who has a good command of English to check your work.
Watch English Movies Or TV Shows
It is advised to you that you should watch movies or TV Shows in English, in starting you can watch the shows with subtitles. Watching movies in English will help you to understand the accent, and it will be helpful for you in your IELTS listening.
Scoring System In IELTS Exam
It is important to understand the scoring system for the IELTS exam to understand how to prepare for IELTS at home.
The IELTS exam is scored on a scale of 0 – 9, where 0 represents a non-user, and 9 indicates an expert user of English. The overall score is the average of students’ scores in all the sections. Each section is scored separately, and the scores are combined to generate the overall band score.
In the Listening and Reading sections, each correct answer is awarded one mark, and there is no negative marking for incorrect answers. Here is a table below, according to which your score is converted into bands.
Band | Listening Score | Reading Score (Academic) | Reading Score (General Training) |
9 | 39 – 40 | 40 – 39 | 40 |
8.5 | 37 – 38 | 38 – 37 | 39 |
8 | 35 – 36 | 36 – 35 | 37 – 38 |
7.5 | 32 – 34 | 34 – 33 | 36 |
7 | 30 – 31 | 32 – 30 | 34 – 35 |
6.5 | 26 – 29 | 29 – 27 | 32 – 33 |
6 | 23 – 25 | 26 – 23 | 30 – 31 |
5.5 | 18 – 22 | 22 – 19 | 27 – 29 |
5 | 16 – 17 | 18 – 15 | 23 – 26 |
4.5 | 13 – 15 | 14 – 13 | 19 – 22 |
0 – 4 | 0 – 12 | 0 – 12 | 0 – 18 |
In the Writing and Speaking sections, trained examiners check candidates’ performance based on specific criteria,
- Task achievement
- Coherence and cohesion
- Lexical resource
- Grammatical range and accuracy
Each criterion is given a band score ranging from 0 – 9, and an overall band score is then given for both sections separately.
The overall band score is rounded to the nearest half or whole band score. For example, if a candidate gets an overall band score of 6.80, it is rounded to 7, while a score of 6.15 is rounded to 6.
It is important to understand the scoring system of the IELTS exam to know how to prepare for IELTS effectively.
IELTS Preparation Books
Here are some books to improve your IELTS:
- Listening and Speaking Skills by Barry Cusack and Sam McCarter
- IELTS General Training & Academic Study Guide
- IELTS Preparation and Practice: Reading and Writing Academic Student Book
- Success to IELTS: Tips and Techniques
- IELTS Reading Tests by Sam McCarter
- Check Your English Vocabulary for IELTS by Rawdon Wyatt
- Improve Your IELTS Writing by Norman Whitby and Sam McCarter
- Cambridge Grammar for IELTS
- Ace the IELTS: IELTS General Module – How to Maximize Your Score
IELTS Practice & Preparation Material
- Listening sample 3 task Short Answer
- IELTS Listening recording 3
- Listening sample 5 task Matching
- IELTS Listening recording 5
- Academic Reading sample task – Table completion
- Academic Reading sample task – Matching headings
- Speaking sample task part 2 – Prompt
- Speaking sample task part 2 – Recording
- Speaking sample task part 2 – Transcript
Prepare For IELTS With CourseMentor
To prepare for the IELTS exam at home, the best option is to select an online course for preparation. CourseMentor™ is a leading brand that provides online IELTS classes for students who want to prepare for IELTS at home at an affordable price. To register, you can Click Here.
If you are facing problems preparing for IELTS at home, then you can enroll in CourseMentor. We will help you to prepare for the IELTS exam, academic writing, education loan, university application, and visa support. We provide
- 24 hours of live online classes
- One-to-one doubt-clearing sessions
- One-to-one speaking practice sessions
- 15 writing assignments with feedback and correction
- Two full-length mock tests
Conclusion
In this blog, I have discussed how to prepare for the IELTS exam at home. The only way to crack the IELTS test and get high bands is to prepare for it. Even if you are fluent in English and have taken the test before, you must still prepare adequately.
Why? Because it will assist you in becoming more comfortable with the test, identifying growth areas, and improving your score. These IELTS preparation suggestions will assist you in completing your test and will be valuable during your best IELTS preparation online for free.
I hope this blog has cleared all your queries or questions related to how to prepare for IELTS at home. But if you still have any queries contact our experts.
Keep visiting CourseMentor™ for more informative and interesting content like this.
Also, read – PTE vs IELTS: The Differences You Should Know
FAQs
How long is the IELTS exam?
The Listening, Reading, and Writing sections are completed in one sitting and take around 2 hours and 45 minutes. The speaking can take place before or after the other sections and takes around 11-14 minutes.
Can I retake one module in the IELTS exam?
From March 2023, the IDP is planning to introduce a new feature IELTS one skill retake for the students. According to this, students will be able to take only one module of the IELTS exam in which they want to improve their band score.
How often is the IELTS exam take place?
The IELTS exam takes place around 48 times throughout a single year.