As an international student hoping to study in a foreign country, it is important to prepare and make available certain certificates that will ensure that your admission process goes without hassles. One of such certificates is the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) which is most preferred by students because of its wide acceptance in the international community. There are certain things to know before applying for IELTS examination.
Aside from academic pursuits, English language proficiency is necessary for individuals who to work or get a permanent residency in a country of choice. Universities abroad prefer to admit students who perform better scoring between 7-8 Bands in the IELTS tests because they will certainly not have difficulty studying as a result of language barrier.
Getting a poor IELTS score may lead to rejection in admission and scholarship offer and may shatter the hopes of students to get admissions into their choice universities. Therefore, it is important to have a better score in IELTS and stand a higher chance of being admitted to study or being offered a job opportunity.
Things to Know Before Applying for IELTS
There are a few things to be considered by candidates before applying for IELTS exams. They include:
- Know the Types of IELTS Tests
It is important to know the types of IELTS tests before applying for to stit for the exams. This is because knowing the types of tests and their usefulness will assist the candidate in preparing for the test. There are types of modules in the IELTS which tests a candidate’s proficiency in English. One of the modules is IELTS academic given to candidates who wish to use it for academic purpose such as applying for admission and scholarships. It is also a requirement for individuals looking to register as a professional such as registration to become a nurse or a doctor. The other module is the IELTS General Training Test which is for people who wish to immigrate for work and other purposes.
- Know the Structure of the Exam
The structure of the test will help the candidate to strategise on how to effectively write and pass the examination. IELTS is structured into four segments to include: writing, reading, listening and speaking: Reading has 40 questions, and writing is made up of two tasks with 60 minutes duration for each module. The listening section is 30 minutes with 40 questions, and the speaking stretches up to 11-14 minutes with three parts. There are two ways an individual can take the exam. One method is in an offline paper mode, and another is an online method. Reading, listening and writing parts can be given in their respective chosen type. However, the speaking test is common and must be attempted by a face-to-face interview.
- Be averse with the Score Calculation Method
A candidate must be well versed with the score calculation method in other to have a better band score. It is important that before applying for the test, an individual must find a preparation guide that can explain the marks assigned to the sections. The exam includes a marking scheme from 1 to 9 bands for each section. The final result is calculated by the average of these scores gained by the individual. A score of 7-8 band is considered to be relevant for passing the exam.
- Practice and adopt a strategy
In preparing for any examination, it is important to practice and adopt a strategy. Practicing involves looking up past questions if any and asking the right questions. Primarily, an individual can practice by using timers to make a pace for the real exam. Joining a training course that could have these strategies built up can assist in preparing for the examination. Considering a longer time frame before attempting the examination is a good strategy as it gives ample time for preparation.
