Top 11 Tips for Scoring High on the IELTS Exam - It's ONE louder!! - 15 min read ⏰
Some IELTS Advice That Actually Helps
If you’re planning to move abroad or study in another country, there’s a good chance you’ll need to take IELTS. Knowing what to study is tricky enough — but knowing how to prepare is where most people get stuck. Especially when everyone online seems to have a different opinion.
So here’s a collection of thoughts from people who’ve been through it — not theory, not clickbait. Just stuff that’s worked.
1. Know the Test — Don’t Wing It
The exam’s split into four bits: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. They don’t all work the same way. If you go in without knowing what each section looks like, it’s basically guesswork — and that’s a gamble.
2. Keep It Going
Cramming for hours one day then skipping three doesn’t help much. A regular 30 minutes, now and then, focusing on one skill at a time — that builds progress you can actually see.
3. Use English Outside the IELTS Bubble
You don’t have to be in study mode 24/7. But if English is something you only touch when doing IELTS homework, you’ll stay stuck. Read headlines. Argue with yourself in English while doing the dishes. It all adds up.
4. Listening: Follow the Ideas, Not Just the Words
This isn’t about hearing each word perfectly — it’s about keeping track of what the speaker actually means. Try listening to real people talking: podcasts, interviews, rambling YouTubers. Then try to explain what they were saying, not what they said.
5. Reading: Skim Like You Mean It
You don’t need to read everything. Honestly, you shouldn’t. Get good at spotting where the answers are hiding — things like names, numbers, and topic sentences — and ignore the rest unless you’re stuck.
6. Writing: Don’t Submit Your First Draft
Most IELTS essays lose marks because they’re messy, rushed or unclear. If you’ve got a few minutes, fix the obvious stuff. Clean up vague words, cut repetition, and tidy the grammar. Even small edits can help bump your score.
7. Speaking: Just Say It and Move On
You don’t need to sound perfect. Just speak the way you normally would. If something comes out wrong, fix it and carry on — that’s how people speak in real life, and that’s all the examiner’s looking for.
8. Words and grammar: KISS (Keep It Simple, Student)
If you’re not sure, don’t use it. Go with the words you use every day — plain, solid stuff. That’s what gets marks.
9. Simulate the Real Thing
Do a full test now and then. Set a timer, no distractions, and go from start to finish. It’s the only way to feel what test day is really like.
10. Ask Someone to Check It
You won’t catch everything in your own writing or speaking. If there’s someone who knows the test — a teacher, a tutor, or a friend who’s done it — get their thoughts.
11. Aim for What You Actually Need
You don’t need to chase a Band 8 or 9. Some people just need 6.5. Stop burning yourself out trying to score higher just to feel good. Get the score that gets you where you’re going — that’s the win.
Final bit
If you don’t know where to begin, grab the free Pre-IELTS Assessment. It’s free, it’s quick, and it gives you a rough idea of where your grammar’s at — and what to fix first.
Article by Michael Lang
Published 28 May 2024