Is it difficult to pass IELTS with a 7 5. How to pass IELTS with the highest score. I've put together a list of what to listen to and watch.

Today I will share my personal experience and talk about how to pass IELTS. I took IELTS (Academic) in 2006 in London. My initial practical goal was the CPE certification. But it so happened that the agency, through whose efforts I was able to obtain a visa to the UK the first time, could offer me an educational program at ISIS Greenwich School of English only for taking IELTS. And despite the fact that neither immigration nor admission to a foreign university interested me, I still decided to take IELTS, since I needed an international certificate for work.

I deliberately studied the structure and nature of CPE tasks for several weeks, and when the situation turned in favor of IELTS, I had exactly 1 month left before taking it. And considering that this was my first visit to England and I was incredibly interested in all kinds of excursions, walks and trips around the country, I was pleased with my result, especially Speaking): Listening - 7.0, Reading - 6.5, Writing - 7.0, Speaking - 8.0, overall score - 7.0. So how to pass IELTS?

What is IELTS?

Briefly about the international IELTS exam in the form of frequently asked questions and answers:
— What is IELTS?
— IELTS — International English Language Testing System. The test has two modules: Academic Module and General Training Module and was developed by three organizations: University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, IDP Australia and British Council. IELTS is one of the most popular international language exams - 1,400,000 people take it every year in 135 countries, and IELTS certificates are accepted by about 6,000 educational institutions.

— What is the structure of IELTS?

— IELTS consists of 4 parts: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, while the Listening and Speaking modules are the same for all examinees, while Reading and Writing are much more difficult for those taking Academic IELTS.

— How long does IELTS last and how is it passed?
— IELTS lasts 2 hours 45 minutes and is taken in two stages: the main part (Listening, Reading, Writing) takes place on one day, the Speaking part can take place on the same day, or a day (or two) before or after the main part of the exam . You will be informed in advance about the date, time and location of the Speaking.

— What does the IELTS certificate provide? Who needs it?
— Passing the IELTS exam is a necessary step when entering foreign universities, as well as in case of immigration or obtaining a visa to Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other English-speaking countries

— How is knowledge assessed when taking IELTS?
— The IELTS certificate is valid for two years. Maximum score - 9.0:

In this case, each module is assessed separately (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) and the overall score for the entire exam is calculated. It is this total score that is taken into account when entering a foreign university (Academic IELTS) or when immigrating (General IELTS).

Perhaps some of my recommendations for passing IELTS will seem banal. But sometimes even simple advice heard at the right time can bring a lot of benefit. Let me remind you that these are my personal conclusions based on the experience of passing Academic IELTS and the experience of passing General IELTS of my students.

Be positive and confident! Since you are taking the exam, it means this is very important for you. More precisely, the result is very important. Mobilize and give 100% on this day. Believe that you will get the score you want.
If you have the opportunity to take IELTS in the UK (English speaking country), don't waste it. I deliberately wanted to take the international English exam in England, because I saw a certain sense in being immersed in the living English environment and having a good conversation with native speakers before the exam. And I was not mistaken - all this one way or another helped me to relax and focus on the language as much as possible, because the atmosphere in language schools is usually very friendly, the teachers are high-level professionals; you get drawn in quickly and don’t want to leave later)
The night before the exam, go to bed early to ensure you get a good night's sleep. As the British say: “Don’t burn the midnight oil” - sleep better than midnight oil on eve of exams.
During the exam attentively listen to the examiners' instructions and hang on their every word. Even if you know the essence of the task by heart, do not neglect additional explanations.
Do not try to cheat or peek at answers from other examinees - such behavior will lead to disqualification and you will be asked to leave the exam room without explanation. No one will stand on ceremony, that's for sure.
IELTS is a difficult exam, and like any other international exam, it requires strong knowledge of the English language. It is impossible to pass IELTS 7.0 if you have an Intermediate level of English or lower. More precisely, you can pass it, but it will be a matter of your money and time. I recommend that you fully complete all levels, including Upper-Intermediate, and only then begin preparing for IELTS, which will take you a maximum of 3 to 4 weeks.
There is an opinion that it is not difficult to pass IELTS with a decent score (usually 7.0) - just learn the structure of the exam and the nature of the tasks. It is a myth. Knowledge of the structure is important, but without solid knowledge of the language, I repeat, it is meaningless.
In addition to a clear understanding of the structure and nature of IELTS tasks, maximum concentration is required.
Details matter much - missing endings, spelling mistakes, incorrect pronunciation of words, confusion with tenses will cause a decrease in points.
Naturalness and ease when speaking is the key to a high score.
The ability to use linking (link) words is also highly valued.
Well-readness, general development, the ability to navigate different life situations, a practical approach to solving everyday and educational problems, as well as personal qualities such as flexibility, creativity, the ability to analyze and synthesize, will serve you well in Writing and Speaking.

IELTS Listening Module

Be sure to review the text of the assignments, identify key words and predict answers before you start listening.

IELTS Reading Module

Be prepared for these types of exam tasks:

Completion
Matching
True/False/Does Not Say or Yes/No/Not Given
Multiple choice
Labeling
Short answer questions
Classification
Headings
Locating information

When completing assignments for the Reading section, try to think generally, objectively, even, I would say, globally. For example, I consider my incorrect answer to the task: “List all European countries mentioned in the text” to be an unforgivable mistake, due to which my Reading score turned out to be so low (6.5). I have included all the necessary ones except the UK. Stupid mistake, I even remember that for some reason I deliberately did not include it in the list.
Don't waste precious minutes to understand the meaning of each word, try to guess their meanings.
Carefully study the headings, questions and tasks for the text - this will help you tune in to the desired topic and predict the correct answers.
Watch a useful video about IELTS Reading:

IELTS Writing Module

If you are taking IELTS (Academic), then when describing graphs you cannot do without 20-30 learned clichés. In order to remember these phrases, you need practice, of course. Describe 10 - 20 graphs, each time analyzing errors and comparing your answer with model answers. By “comparing” I mean not just reading the sample, but writing down useful expressions and definitely trying to include them in your next written work.
Writing down and remembering key phrases is also necessary when writing an essay. In general, any work aimed at memorizing vocabulary and grammatical structures is justified only with subsequent active use in written and oral speech.
Watch a useful video about IELTS Writing.

IELTS Speaking Module

During the exam, the Speaking part is preceded by a short break (provided that Speaking is carried out on the same day), which must be used wisely: rest, eat, drink. After all, after 3 modules Listening, Reading and Writing you will get tired; exam is stressful.
During the dialogue with the examiner, be thoughtful, do not rush to answer immediately, but do not hesitate to answer.
Be natural, conduct the dialogue the same way as you would in your native language: use gestures, facial expressions, pause-fillers in moderation.

Where to prepare for IELTS

Experienced teachers at the English Voyage online school will help you prepare and pass IELTS with the desired score. Preparing for IELTS via Skype is an effective way to your success in English.

How to prepare for IELTS on your own

If you can easily pass Upper-Intermediate English language tests, then you are ready to take such a serious exam as IELTS.

Study the exam structure in detail. To do this, write down on a piece of paper all the parts of the exam, their duration and the nature of the tasks. Revisit this note again and again until you have mastered it, as knowing the structure is the foundation of any exam; Such information will help you feel confident during the test and navigate what is happening.
It is advisable to prepare Listening and Reading yourself - here you just need to organize yourself and not be lazy. For example, to begin with, good listening practice can be obtained by working through audio files

Why take IELTS?

Typically, IELTS is taken to enter a university abroad, obtain a visa or work abroad. I was not interested in all this, I took an exam to confirm my level of language knowledge - not only the points, but also the level of English are written on the issued certificate. Look, the table below shows the correspondence of English levels according to the International European Framework of Reference (CEFR) to IELTS scores (red on the right).

Also, an English teacher who has passed IELTS can prepare students for this exam with a clear conscience. Of course, you can prepare for IELTS without a certificate, but with experience everything is better than without. Having experienced what it’s like first hand, it’s easier to predict difficulties, help plan time during the exam and psychologically prepare the student.

How to prepare for IELTS teacher

Pay attention to the teacher! It is better for a language learner to study in a group or individually. You can, of course, do it yourself - but only with a high level of self-organization and if you have free time, solo preparation will definitely eat up more time than classes with an experienced teacher.

Since I already have knowledge of English at the C1 level after university, I also have international exams, and the exam is already not cheap - 14,000 rubles for candidates taking it in Moscow (this argument, perhaps, should have been indicated first), I decided to prepare myself. Helped me in preparation:

test collections

sites with examples of letters and essays (, and here)
YouTube channels for IELTS preparation (search for yourself, there are many of them!)

I prepared for a month (I registered for the exam in early August, the exam took place on September 9, 2017) in a relaxed manner - about three hours a week to familiarize myself with the format and execution strategies and five to six hours a week for practice tests (I only managed to solve the above three benefits). Total, about 30 hours of preparation.

I chose the General Module, which is taken by about a quarter of all IELTS candidates. The rest choose Academic. Why did I take an unpopular module? You probably already learned that the “expiration date” of the certificate is 2 years. Therefore, I decided to try my luck with the General Module, and then, two years later, having gotten better at preparing, I also took the academic module, so that I would definitely deserve it!

To take the exam, I chose the BKC center, where I had already taken it before. And I would advise you to take it in a well-known center, because it’s an unfamiliar company, which - hooray! - offers to take IELTS cheaper, it may well turn out to be a company for a relatively honest taking of money from the population.

Registration

After the registration procedure and submission of documents (I scanned all the papers and sent them electronically to BKC - convenient, no need to waste time and money on travel), a letter is sent to your email with confirmation of registration, instructions and a link to the training platform with information about the exam. I looked it over, it’s good for general development.

3 days before the exam, a letter is sent with information about the location of the written and oral parts (they are taken in different places and at different times). When registering, you select the exact date for the IELTS written part - this is the official exam date, and the oral date is announced shortly before the exam itself. Please note that the oral part may take place 3 days before/after the written part. I was lucky - I passed all the parts in one day.

Written part

The written part took place at the Borodino Hotel on Krasnoselskaya. Registration for the exam begins an hour (for me it was from 9.00-10.00) before the start (at 10.00). All your belongings must be left outside the classroom. You are only allowed to take a bottle of water with you without a label. Necessary stationery supplies are provided. I didn’t feel well that day, so I needed pills. They are allowed to be carried, but only in a napkin; tablets in the package are perceived as a potential threat to the fair passing of the exam. A chocolate or energy bar that you want to swallow alive by the end of the action of the exam is not. A watch (even mine, given as a gift 15 years ago, certainly without any fancy technology) – no. But in the classroom, the clocks are projected onto the board, so they are not really needed. Plus, they constantly remind you how much time is left until the end of the section.

The exam procedure takes 3+ hours. You can go to the toilet during the exam, but it’s such a shame to waste time that I advise you to visit this place before entering the classroom.

As you probably already know, the written part consists of:

Listening (50 minutes)
Readings (60 minutes)
Letters (60 minutes)

Sign up for listening, despite the sad reviews on the Internet, you can hear it well. It’s so good that neither the rustling of pages, nor the chewing of pencils and nails by the other 80 people near you (yes, there were 80 of them! I specifically counted the number of candidates) disturbs you. And I heard everything except section 3, where my least favorite task was this type:

Only all options A - G were suspiciously similar = (While the recording was playing, I got confused, panicked and decided to write down what I heard on the question form (yes, you can write and even draw on the question form) in the hope of later understanding the correct answer. Alas, after playing recording, I was unable to remember the information missing for the correct answer, so it’s better to mark the options during the listening process. Section 3 went in a blur, the result for Listening was 7.5 points, alas... Although I consistently scored 8.5 on the samplers.

Reading There was always my cup of tea, I finished it in 30 minutes and, pleased with myself, began checking the answers. During the verification process, I found 3 errors and corrected them. Result – 9 points.

Chapter Writing it was also light. Task 1– letter of complaint, where you had to complain that the online store sent the wrong product. I learned the phrases for writing slander, so all that remained was to transform them to suit my needs, and I easily completed the task in 20 minutes.

Task 2– I came across an essay like “discuss both opinions and give your point of view” on the topic “Students must do charity work while studying.” I sketched out an outline, noted some sample vocabulary, and, pleased with myself (and the easy topic), began writing. I’m writing to myself, thinking about what beautiful and clever phrases I’m inserting and... 10 minutes before the end of the written part, I understand that I’m writing on a different topic - Students must work while studying, but in a fit of euphoria I forgot about charity...

10 minutes before the end, I erased one paragraph (they offer a choice of pen or pencil for writing, I definitely recommend a pencil - the corrections look neater) and corrected the conclusion, adding about charity... but I still understood that in the remaining paragraphs the deviation from the topic was noticeable. Result – 8 points (expected 7).

After the written part, I was dissatisfied with myself, became dissatisfied with fast food and went to the venue for the IELTS speaking part.

Oral part

Speaking rented out at the BKC center on Akademicheskaya, their office there was so-so - the room where those waiting were sitting was stuffy and small. They examined everyone surprisingly quickly - my response time was 16.40, they invited me at 16.30. There were three examiners; Karen, a native speaker from the UK, spoke with me. She was very sweet and pleasant, complimented my T-shirt with a unicorn, and smiled and encouraged me throughout the exam. And I relaxed so much that I began to say whatever came to mind.

IN task 1 there were questions: Where do you live? Describe that place. What do you like about the place where you live? Do you spend a lot of time at home? What do you do when at home? What did you love doing at home as a child!? What are favorite pastime activities for teenagers? What do you think about teenage sense of fashion?

I answered them to the best of my ability - I didn’t care about argumentation, about linking words and abstruse expressions (in short, I didn’t care about strategies). Moreover, the examiner smiled so sweetly that I imagined myself to be a star... And then for this I blamed myself after the exam =)

IN task 2 there was a card with the following topic:

What kind of a leisure activity club would you introduce into your hometown?

What would it be
Where would it be
What can you do there

Explain why it is important to have such places in your town

She finished speaking before the allotted two minutes, which became clear from the examiner’s face - she began to nod, saying, continue. I had already run out of ideas, but since I had to continue, in the remaining time (15 seconds) I simply rephrased what I had already said.

By the way, a minute is given to prepare for this task and the examiner offers a piece of paper and a pen to draw up an answer diagram. I advise everyone not to give up on them, to sketch out a rough answer plan and cool words that you must remember to include. Because in a stressful situation, everything can fly out of your head, and the exam is so expensive that retaking it due to your stress tolerance is a luxury.

IN task 3 developed the topic indicated on the card, I was asked the following questions:

Are leisure activities becoming more technologized?
Should parents restrict screen time for their kids?
Are there more outside or inside activities nowadays?
Who must provide public activities for people?
How can government learn what kinds of activities people need?
Are extreme sports good or bad?

Again, I reacted carelessly to the answers to them, inspired by the opportunity to express my point of view in English, and even in front of a native speaker! And without thinking that the lesson time will end soon, and here I am chatting for my own pleasure and wasting the student’s precious time =)

For this part I deservedly received 7 points (I expected 7.5-8).

In Moscow (I don’t know about other regions, but I think this service should be available in regional centers) you can take the IELTS test.

This mock exam seems super useful to me, because it gives you the opportunity to understand how you will behave in the exam, analyze and correct your behavior in a stressful situation (hence, pass the exam a point or half a point higher).

I have come to the conclusion for myself that at the next exam in the “listening” section I will listen more carefully and immediately write down the answers, without relying on memory. And don’t let yourself panic if I don’t hear something. On writing - to clearly think through the topic and make sure that I am thinking in the right direction, and perhaps it makes sense to first write an essay, for which they give more points. In speaking, don’t get carried away with self-expression and follow the IELTS format more clearly.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to look into a parallel universe and understand - would a trial exam help me if I took it? I think it would help, but who knows...

results

Exam results are available on the 13th day after passing online within 15 days. Great, you don’t have to worry about waiting)

After this, we receive a certificate from the center. For an additional fee (about 1,500 rubles), additional copies of the certificate are made if they are required by the university or employer.

After the exam, I expected that I would pass IELTS at 7.5 - 8, so Band 8, taking into account all my “jambs,” even made me happy.

Now I will write articles about preparing for each part of the exam and preparing students for IELTS.

To all those preparing and preparing for IELTS - good luck in the exam!

Only a person who has taken IELTS many times but has not yet achieved the desired result will be able to understand what is written in this article. None of the native speakers, examiners and test center staff will be able to understand you, but believe me, you are not alone in your experiences! I am the author of this project, and I, too, at certain moments in my IELTS life, felt exactly as shown in this image.
If this represents your emotions towards the IELTS test,then this article is just for YOU!

It should be immediately noted that the article was written for motivational purposes, so that you can be convinced from the personal experience of the site’s author that absolutely any goal in IELTS is achievable, even a score of 9.0, if you choose the right strategy.

If you are more interested in the reasons for unsuccessfully passing IELTS and how to solve this problem, we recommend that you refer to the articles:

How I passed IELTS 9.0

My name is Irina Bruce. I am an IELTS fan and have dedicated my entire life to IELTS. However, this was not always the case. I received my first nines in Speaking and Writing at the age of 18. On that moment I studied English for only 2 years. I didn’t have any special talents for languages, quite the opposite - my favorite subjects at school were mathematics and physics.

Accordingly, I once walked the same path that you are now going through, and, probably, more than anyone, I understand the emotions that arise in people after repeated attempts to get the desired IELTS score. Why me? Because by the time of writing this article I took IELTS 68 times.
My first IELTS was on August 24, 1996.
The last one was August 17, 2013.

It is through my personal relationship with the IELTS test and my experience of self-studying that I was able to create this project, and now it has helped thousands of people significantly shorten their IELTS journey from repeated failures to passing the test on the first try. I hope it helps you too!

IELTS is not business, it is personal!

When I was 16 years old (1996), I had to take IELTS to get into college in England. At that time, I had only been studying English for a month and a half in the UK, and, given my age, I naively believed that I knew everything and could do everything.

I didn’t prepare for IELTS because... back then there was no such thing as “preparing for IELTS”, besides, I was confident in my abilities, because I only needed a score of 6.0, and the level of English was already Advanced.

Imagine my surprise to receive a score of 5.5, of which there was a score of 4.0 in Reading!
But I loved reading so much...

I started to find out what the problem was, but there was no one who could help me at that time. At that time, IELTS in this format existed for only 1 year and there were no specialists, no courses, no books. There wasn’t even the Internet back then, what can I say...?

That's when I decided to figure it out myself and discovered that IELTS is much more than just an English language test.

IELTS is a brilliant creation of British specialists not only in the field of linguistics, but also in psychology and marketing. It is unlikely that an exam will ever be invented that could also qualitatively test all aspects of English proficiency.

But, despite all my love for the creators of IELTS, I understand that for you, like for most people, IELTS is just an obstacle that does not allow you to achieve your desired goal.

For me personally, the stumbling block in IELTS was time management and inattention.

I am a perfectionist by nature, and I don’t know how to do anything poorly, so I rewrite, proofread, correct and re-read each of my work 100 times. But this is simply a terrible quality for taking IELTS, where time limits do not allow achieving perfection.

At the same time, my carelessness has always led and continues to lead to ridiculous mistakes, typos and corresponding consequences.
These shortcomings not only affected my IELTS scores, making it incredibly difficult for me to get a 9.0 in IELTS Writing, but they continue to be reflected even in the articles you read on this site, because... I had to learn Russian again after 6 years of studying in England.

When I see reviews from students on gday.ru, for example, or on other forums and LiveJournal about how people easily get IELTS 8.0 or even 9.0 in some parts, it’s always funny to read how they talk about it. Like, “I didn’t prepare much, I came and passed IELTS with 8.5 on the first try.”

At such moments, I imagine what other people think, who have prepared for IELTS in every possible and impossible way, but still cannot get their seven.

So, dear ladies and gentlemen, those people who pass IELTS with 8.0 and above the first time are people who:
a) live in an English-speaking country,
b) speak English at the level of a native speaker,
c) prepared well for IELTS,
d) they were lucky with the tasks.
Therefore, do not believe the fairy tales that you can pass IELTS with a high score without any effort.

Yes, after two years of trying to pass, I was able to achieve 9.0 in IELTS, but how much time, nerves and money were invested in this is known only to my parents, who financed such a hobby.

Now I have international qualifications as an English teacher, etc., but I received all these achievements AFTER I passed IELTS and even after I started teaching it. Moreover, I became fascinated by various theories regarding English teaching, particularly thanks to IELTS, to find out which of them are the most effective for preparing for this exam.

This is why preparation for IELTS at my school is fundamentally different from all other courses on the market, because... I first took IELTS the same way you are doing now and went all the way from 5.5 to 9.0 as an ordinary Russian-speaking person without any outstanding abilities in languages.

Once I was able to achieve my IELTS goal on my own, I began to learn how to teach in practice. And when I already learned how to do this, I received certificates, qualifications, diplomas, etc.

Other IELTS teachers do exactly the opposite. First they learn the theory of teaching, then they practice and only then some of them take IELTS, at best a couple of times.

The most important secret to passing IELTS successfully

They say there is one step from hatred to love and vice versa, BUT I do not suggest you fall in love with IELTS as I do. And I’m not even suggesting that you remove negative emotions regarding another unsuccessful test, because you have every right to be indignant after so much effort has already been made.

I just want to tell you the most important secret of IELTS: how to confidently, accurately, and guarantee that you pass the test with the score you need.
Here he is:

Your level of English must be 1 point higher than the score you require

Those. If you want to confidently pass every part of IELTS with a score of 7.0, your English level must be 8.0.
All. There are no other secrets.

It would seem that this is obvious, but despite this, people still go to take the test again and again, hoping for “maybe they’ll get lucky,” because I did the assignments for 7.0 at home (in class, with a teacher). Yes, maybe you'll get lucky. For example, today you will be lucky to get a 7.0 in Speaking, but fail in Writing. Another time it’s the other way around - and so on ad infinitum! Well, or when you are lucky in all four modules.

If you don’t want to spend money on taking the test multiple times, hoping for luck, then there is only one way out - learn English!
Now a logical question arises - how to teach it in order to achieve such a high level of knowledge and skills? And most importantly, how long will it take?

I know the time from personal experience and from the experience of thousands of students whom I prepared for the test: from one month (!) to infinity.

Unlike various exact sciences, a foreign language cannot be completely learned or known perfectly. After all, this is not only a way of communication, but more importantly, a different mentality, a different culture, a completely different way of life and way of thinking. For example, the British think completely differently than we do. All this is reflected in their language. For the same reason, there is a huge difference between American English and British English. After all, different cultures, different ways of thinking and, for this reason, different principles of using even the same expressions, although the roots of the language are the same.
It will be easier for a Russian-speaking person to understand this if, for example, we compare Russia and Ukraine. It seems that we are all Slavs, but still the way of life and culture of each of these countries affects us differently.
CONCLUSION: There are two ways to achieve the desired level of English proficiency: fast and slow.

Fast way: from 1 month to 2 months
There is only one way for this - to England.

Not to Malta, not to Canada, not even to Scotland, but to England.
Perhaps some of you have already been there for work or on a tour. Some may even have lived there, BUT the question is not only about going to England, but the question is what to do there during this time.

Slow method: from 6 months to 2 years
This is a way to learn English in the CIS.
This financial method may turn out to be even more expensive than a trip to England for a month, considering how much $ you will spend on teachers, courses and materials. The only difference is that this amount will stretch over a longer period.

Need I say that the fast method is more effective and profitable? And you understand that our school is not in the business of sending students to the UK, so I am writing this only because I have gone through this myself.

Although my first IELTS test was an overall score of 5.5, I already received a 7.0 in Speaking after just 6 weeks of studying the language in England. If I had known the format of the test, I could have gotten a 7.0 in other parts as well. This was confirmed after 3 months, when during the second test I had results from 7.0 to 8.0 on each part of the test and an average score of 7.5.

English or IELTS?

Perhaps your English level is already 1 point higher than the results you get in IELTS. In such cases, the problem is not with your English, but solely with the format of the test. This does not necessarily mean that you do not know the IELTS format. Most likely this means that you have learned too much “harmful” information on IELTS that is flooded on the Internet. Or even worse - you could study for IELTS with people who have very little to do with IELTS, and as a result give completely inadequate information about the test. main page and choose a different preparation strategy from the proposed boxes with pictures.

It's worth starting with the fact thatIELTSis a truly fair test that honestly shows the level of English. This is both good and bad news at the same time, that is, you don’t need to worry about failing the test if you are sure that you know the language and at the same time you won’t cheat ( I really want it).

I took the test in December 2015 in Kyiv and my result: L. 6.5, R. 7.0,W. 6.0, S . 7.0. The result is 6.5, that is AT 2. On the whole, I am pleased with the result, since this is my real, unembellished result, although I was hoping for 7.0, but first things first:

TIP 1: Register need a little more than in 1 month(I missed these deadlines and therefore handed it over in December, and not at the end of November as I wanted). There is no need to bring or send photos ( they take pictures there, which is unfortunate).

TIP(S) 2: Get Started prepare as early as possible, but it’s better to start intensive training 1-2 months in advance (I mean go through some parts of the practice tests every day), otherwise everything will go out of your head.

So, first you need to buy trial testsIELTS(or download on torrents, or you can rummage through VKontakte documents) and go throughListening And Reading, to understand what the starting point is. It’s just important not to deceive yourself, that is, if the correct word is written in the answer, but there is at least one mistake (for example, instead of e costsi), then this no longer counts! I was cunning because I thought that over time such errors would disappear, but this is not at all true (there will always be words that you don’t remember how to spell correctly). During preparation, I went through almost 3 test books, which was the best preparation.

But after the 1st test, I realized that I read worse than I perceive by ear (which was big news). That's why I started reading books in English. Originals. I did this on the siteLingualeo (it was convenient for me that there was an immediate translation of unfamiliar words, but there were, of course, incorrect translations). At first it was very difficult, since I had only read adapted tests before (besides, I started withJ. Austen “ Pride and Prejudice"), but after that everything began to improve and a month later I can say that I began to read faster.

Listening: I listened TedTalk1 video every day and watched all TV series and films with English subtitles (this also helped improve Reading skills).

Writing: I watched the videoEngvid. There is a video for preparationIELTSand also grammatical rules and an explanation of how to correctly construct complex sentences. At the end of the book with sample tests there are examples of essays, although mostly they present complex texts with a grade of about 8.0 and above. But you can read and highlight interesting sentence structures and auxiliary words (although I’m not much of a help with this, since I only have 6.0 myself).

Speaking: I, probably, like almost everyone else, was more worried about this part, because I spoke ugly. Although I tried to pronounce answers to typical questions from this section, it turned out poorly, with pauses. And what helped me most, again, was reading books and watching TV series. By the way, you can start withFriends. By the end of season 10, their typical turns of phrase remain in my head forever, helping to create the impression of a casual conversation.

VKontakte has another application English language, where it is convenient to practice words. Particularly useful collections not by topic, but with regular titles Verbs, Nouns, etc., since it contains words that can be used both in essays and during conversations (you definitely need to know the words circumstances and consequences, because they are complex and fit everywhere) (joke).

I was also watching YouTube-channel Crash Course. There are videos on various topics: history, biology, economics, etc. Made informative and humorous. And it’s beautiful, which is very important!

TIP 3: My Speakingwas a week before the exam (as I understand, they only give it to those who come from another city on the day of the exam). I was terribly worried, but everything went fine. The examiner was polite, but he quickly read the rules (no big deal, because I knew them) and the questions (which was worse, because I had to grasp the meaning and start answering at the same time without constructing a future thought in my head). That's why it's important to be very careful! By the way, the examiner was simply amazing at making an interested expression on his face and nodding. In part 2 I came across a topic Movie(hurray! it’s not difficult) and talked about the film by Lars von Trier. So, while I was telling it, it seemed to me that he also loved this film and knew that it was a Danish director and a film about a small village, gangsters and human nature (although, if I were talking about a fictional film without a title, then he would probably think so you should have listened to me). This is a huge plus! It helps because you relax and just talk.

TIP 4: The exam took place in a hotel conference room Cosmopolitan in Kyiv. I came early, which was a big mistake! Although there were those who arrived before me (even many people), registration began only after 20 minutes, my turn reached me after 35 minutes, and in the hall before the start I sat for a very long time and was already tired of waiting. As a result, the exam began 1.5 times later than the stated time. And there were a lot of people ( more than 100 people).

TIP 5: Do not panic! DuringListening I listened to 1 word and was confused (that's why 6.5, not 7.0). I knew this too, but I couldn’t pull myself together. In the end, my best section was the last one (who would have thought?).

TIP 6: Everyone says that you don’t need to read entire texts. It's a waste of time. You need to scan and look for keywords. In my opinion: this is a lie! Because the text and the question never contain the same words (the only thing they have in common is the meaning or idea). In addition, tasks where you need to choose a title for a paragraph or say what the author had in mind (Yes, No, NG), it’s impossible to do without reading, because the first sentence is not always about the main idea of the paragraph (by the end the speech may go in a different direction). That's why need to read quickly! Reading books at home helps with this.

TIP 7: Writing essays should be brought to automaticity, otherwise there won't be enough time. For example, I only had time to figure out whether I had written enough words (so that there would be no fine for this), but did not have time to re-read what I had written. In addition, the timer is very confusing (although you know a bad dancer...).

TIP 8: When you take the result, don't forget your passport or at least right! I didn’t think about it and went 2 times ( and I thought there would be a piece of paper with security stickers with fingerprints or something else, but there’s nothing special there, just a lot of numbers, which is what makes it valuable)

In our difficult times, it is worth investing time and money in yourself. There are several options: we want to improve our lives by moving abroad, find an additional source of income, or increase our value in the labor market. This is why learning English is one of the best investments you can make.

What is IELTS?

Firstly, IELTS, or The International English Language Testing System, is a globally respected test of your English language proficiency. The IELTS certificate is recognized in all English-speaking countries, as well as in European countries. The exception would be the USA, where TOEFL is more respected. In any case, such certificates sometimes mean more than a diploma from a domestic linguistic university.

Secondly, if you are planning to emigrate to another country, then such a certificate will not only help you - it is mandatory. When obtaining a residence permit, looking for a job and other everyday little things.

Thirdly, without a certificate it is almost impossible to receive a grant or simply enroll in a foreign university. It doesn’t matter whether you want to enter the first year of university or continue your studies there in a master’s program, you must provide evidence that you can comprehend information in English.

And fourthly, even if you are not going to leave anywhere, the IELTS certificate can be useful when applying for a job in an international company.

Today, the international English language certificate IELTS is recognized by more than 9,000 organizations in 140 countries, including universities, professional bodies, immigration agencies and other government agencies in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and others.

The developers of the IELTS exam are international organizations, leaders in the field of knowledge testing: Cambridge English Language Assessment, IDP: IELTS Australia and The British Council.

Test structure

There are two versions of the test - Academic and General. Those planning to emigrate will need to obtain a General IELTS certificate. To study abroad you must pass Academic IELTS.

The test consists of four sections or modules that assess basic language skills:

Listening - listening (30 minutes)

Reading – reading (60 minutes)

Speaking - conversational speech: interview, interview (11-14 minutes)

Writing – letter (60 minutes).

Listening and Speaking are the same for both Academic and General versions. But reading and writing will be different. The total duration of the exam is 2 hours 45 minutes. Exam results are valid for two years.

How the exam works

Typically, IELTS is taken in the morning and afternoon. You must arrive half an hour earlier in order to register in time. It is important to have your passport with you. You will then be taken to the auditorium where the test itself will take place. There will be a card with your name and photo on your desk. One person at a time sits at a desk. At the very beginning of the exam, you will be told about its rules and the essence of the tasks will be explained.

Listening

After the examiner has clarified the organizational issues, the listening test begins. You will receive booklets with questions and answer options. For half an hour you will listen to various dialogues, situations, etc. The difficulty is that after each text you will be given only 30 seconds to check your answers. This means that you will have to answer while listening to the materials. When all the texts have been read, you will have 10 minutes to enter your answers on a special form.

Reading

Immediately after listening, you will begin reading the texts. In 1 hour you will have to analyze 3-5 materials (depending on whether it is an Academic or General test). All answer options should be carefully considered. Take your time and try to understand what exactly they want from you.

Writing

You have to complete 2 written tasks: write an essay and express your opinion (give an example from life, etc.). No more than 30 minutes are allotted for each task. As practice shows, many simply do not have time to write texts due to the fact that they first transfer their thoughts to the draft. But it is extremely important to maintain a clear structure with a logical introduction and conclusion.

Speaking

Grading system

IELTS uses a 0.0 to 9.0 scoring system and your IELTS score will consist of scores in each of the four skills: Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking, as well as an overall average score.

The evaluation criteria are as follows:

Listening - assessed by the number of correct answers to listening questions. You should pay attention to the correct spelling of words, since a misspelling of a word will lead to the fact that the point for this answer will not be counted, even if you essentially answered correctly.

Reading is assessed in the same way as Listening - by the number of correct answers to questions about the texts.

Writing is assessed according to several criteria:

TA/TR (Task Achievement Task Response): Fulfillment (Context). In a word - content.

CC: Clearance (Cohesion/Coherence). How clearly thoughts are expressed.

LR: Vocabulary (Lexical Resource). Vocabulary and ability to use it are assessed.

GRA: Grammatical Range and Accuracy. The grammatical structure of sentences and spelling are assessed.

Speaking - a person’s communication skills are assessed, i.e. It is not so much the knowledge of the English language that is assessed, but rather the communication skill during which English is used. Speaking is assessed based on four parameters, each of which carries 25% of the score: Fluency and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, Pronunciation.

How to prepare for the exam

Experience shows that for thorough preparation for IELTS, starting from the English Intermediate level, it will take from 3-4 months to 1 year - it all depends on the intensity of your classes. 4 months of preparation is considered the minimum period of time that allows a candidate to raise his score by one or more, that is, to significantly change the potential score for the exam.

You can prepare for the exam in the following ways:

On your own, while combing through a bunch of sites on the Internet and sifting through a huge amount of material. You can also purchase one of the study guides. For example, Objective IELTS from Cambridge University Press.

Find a tutor who will individually guide you through all the thorns of preparing for and passing the exam itself. But do not forget to make sure that the tutor has passed the test himself and knows all the necessary subtleties.

If you choose to prepare for the exam on your own, we can recommend using these books.

It might be useful to read: