If you’re an IELTS newbie, you may not know where to start!
Today, we’ll give you 3 easy steps to get started.
What you do will be different if you have only 30 days to prepare or if you have 6 months or more.
If you have 1-2 months
Step 1: Look at Cambridge practice tests to get a sense of how hard this test will be for you.
Skim a full test to get a feel for the difficulty of reading passages and the types of questions you will be asked.
Step 2: Find someone to help you.
Don’t choose a general English conversation teacher.
Work with someone who specializes in IELTS.
Every ESL exam is very different, so you shouldn’t work with a TOEFL teacher or general ESL teacher.
You need systems and strategies that are specific to the IELTS exam.
Verify the strategies work by asking to talk with some of the teacher’s former students.
You can listen to some of our guest episodes to hear from former IELTS students.
Check them out here: https://www.allearsenglish.com/category/ielts-guest-episodes/
Step 3: Make a study plan and get started.
We recommend focusing on one section at a time.
Learn and practice strategies first for Listening, then Reading, then Writing, then Speaking.
When the time you have is this limited, you need to be wise about how you spend it.
You have no time to waste!
If you have 6 months to one year
Step 1: Do not start practicing the test right away!
Instead, focus on your general English fluency skills.
Take 3-4 months to improve your English.
Listen to the All Ears English Podcast and other podcasts made for native English speakers.
Step 2: Find good materials and a good course.
Find a book and TV show in English you love.
Sign up for an IELTS course like 3 Keys IELTS.
Verify the course has strategies for each part of the exam before signing up.
Step 3: Make a daily study plan
Be smart about how you use your time.
Don’t attempt to prepare for the IELTS without a plan.
Work for a few hours each day and you will do fine.
Our online IELTS course includes a 30-day and 60-day study plan.
Takeaway
It can feel overwhelming to be new to an exam, especially if you don’t have a lot of time to prepare.
Remember you don’t have to go it alone!
Find a teacher and a course so you can learn strategies and get the score you need!
