Tips to Crack IELTS: Reading Module

Last month, we discussed how following a few easy steps will help you get through the Listening Module of the IELTS test. This week we will be focusing on the Reading Module of IELTS.

The Reading test of the IELTS Preparatory Course is 60 minutes long. The student will be given 3 or 4 passages of increasing difficulty which they have to answer. There will be 40 questions totally.
You can mark the answers on the question sheets, but the answers are accepted only on the Reading Answer sheet and no extra time is given for transferring answers. You should allot at least 5 minutes to transferring the answers to the answer sheet and cross checking them.

Here are some tips to make sure that you ace the reading section:

• Make sure you understand the questions and are able to follow the instructions.
•   Manage your time well. Do not spend too long on one passage or question.
• Read with a purpose
• If you do not know anything about the subject of the text, do not panic. All answers can be found in the test, there is no need for any knowledge of the subject in advance.
• If you are unable to answer a question, do not waste time move onto the next one
• Check your Spellings
• Use singular and plural correctly
• Attempt all answers even if you are not sure. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers.
• Check Your Answers
•   There is a word limit for certain answers. Pay attention to that. For example, if you are asked to complete a sentence in 2 words and the correct answer is 'blue blouse', then the answer 'blouse that is blue' would be incorrect. 

Our next blog will tell you how to ace the writing section of the IELTS

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Tips to Crack the IELTS: Listening Module

The IELTS Preparatory Course or (International test of English as a Foreign Language) is an English proficiency test for non native English speakers. IELTS and TOEFL are the 2 major Tests for proficiency in English for non-native English Speakers. IELTS is a standard test for people visiting countries in the European Union, The US and Australia and New Zealand for academic and employment purpose.

Test bands:
The success of the test is measured in bands. To score more, you have to increase your test band score. Test bands vary from a scale of 0 to 9 where 0 means being absent for the test and 9 suggest expertise in the English Language. A high band score always suggests the knowledge and expertise that the user has over English as a foreign language. Some universities select students who score a higher band on the scale. Therefore it is essential to understand that the higher the band scores the better the chances of getting into the more exclusive colleges offering higher education. To enter a good university, you have to have a test band score of at least 6.5. The competition is stiff and it is difficult to get into universities because of a large number of students vying for limited seats. But with hard work and perseverance it is possible to crack the IELTS and get a good band score and make you eligible for higher education in the best universities
The IELTS test consists of 4 different sections. These are:

· Listening

· Reading

· Writing

· Speaking

Listening:

The IELTS listening test takes about 30 minutes and the student is given 10 minutes extra to transfer the answers to the answer sheet.
The test has 4 sections with each section having 10 questions, total 40 questions for the listening section. The recordings will be in different accents, including British, North American and Australian. You will hear the recordings only once.
Here are a few tips to help you crack the Listening section of the IELTs exam without any problems:

· if you cannot hear the audio clearly, let a member of staff know straight away follow the instructions carefully
· Listen to the specific information you want
· Concentrate well on what is being said
· Be careful with spelling and grammar
· Do not panic if you find the topic difficult or if the speaker is fast
· Read, Write and Listen at the same time
· Pay Attention to the word limit
· Attempt all questions as there are no penalties for incorrect answers
· Check your answers thoroughly

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