It can be stressful when you get started preparing for the IELTS exam.
Maybe you don’t know where to start. You don’t know how to choose an IELTS course.
Today we’ll show you what you are probably missing when you get started with your IELTS prep.
Most students make this mistake. They do one of these things:
1- Only focus on test strategy and practice
or
2- Only focus on general English skill building
Doing only test prep or only general English and not both is a huge mistake.
This is a test of your English skills and not just your ability to take the test.
You need to get exposure in all different ways including speaking, reading, writing, listening.
Also, you need to study the test and understand how to use strategies to get a high score.
The way to make sure that you balance your practice is to have a daily study plan that helps you do both.
What’s the problem with a lot of IELTS schools?
At many IELTS schools you have young teachers who have online resources and fun activities but the teacher often does not know the test.
On the other hand, you could get a teacher who knows the test and who has been teaching IELTS for many years and will only do test practice with you but is very inflexible and boring.
These are the two types of teachers that you will find at many IELTS schools.
Unfortunately both of these types of teachers won’t help you get the score you need.
It’s possible to spend a lot of money and not get the skills that you need when you finish the course at an IELTS school. Don’t let this happen to you!
If you really want to attend a traditional IELTS class, make sure you have the option to get your money back after your first class or if you are studying online, try to get some sample lessons before you have to buy the whole course.
What resources have you been using in your IELTS prep?
Let us know in the comments below.