13 Actionable IELTS Tips & Tricks: Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking Tips Compiled

The IELTS exam is an open benefit for the students to study and work in the most popular and renowned universities of the world. Well, the IELTS candidates think at the beginning that English can be covered easily but when they start preparing, then they realize the challenges and understand the pattern of the paper. IELTS is a detailed exam with plenty of marking criteria to check your level of English. To ace this highly objectified test, you have to take a very systematic approach.

If you think you can be good at each section of this test, you should understand the need for heavy practice and diligent preparation. This article will give you tips for not only one or two sections but for every portion of this incredible paper.

After years of dealing with IELTS students, the experts have compiled a list of actionable IELTS tips and tricks that will help you achieve a high score. So, you must scroll down the article and learn the best tips and tricks for the IELTS test.

Also Read: Amazing Tips to Crack Section 1 of the IELTS Listening Test: Ace Listening Test

General Actionable IELTS Tips and Tricks

The tips and tricks are extremely essential for this test. Do you know why? Well, it helps you to understand the way to put your efforts. It is often said that hard work impacts when it is done in the right direction. So, tips help you to put your best towards the best path.

The tips and tricks also give you an understanding of the answer-delivery of different types of questions. The most prominent benefit of the strategies at this time is that it helps you to manage the time. Each section of this test comes with a particular time limit. When you are aware of the strategies to solve the questions, you tend to answer them in the given time.

All the others will find it quite difficult to cope up with the given time limit. So, without wasting any time, let’s have a look at the best tips and tricks needed for this test. Here is what you have to do while you prepare for IELTS.

IELTS Tips and Tricks

#. Know about the full pattern of the exam and the types of questions you will encounter.

#. Make a list of genres.

#. Identify sources of various articles, like websites, and blogs.

#. Understand the time limits and instructions for each section.

#. Read at least 1000 words every day.

#. Listen to British English; news, films, and podcasts.

#. Familiarise yourself with different accents.

#. Get at least one essay evaluated in a week.

#. Practice listening mocks with your trainer. It is important to do a minimum of 30 mocks before the exam.

#. Identify grammar, punctuation, vocabulary errors and evaluate every 5 days to find out which errors you have stopped making.

#. Do not stop preparing after 10 days or two weeks. Take at least 2 months to prepare thoroughly.

#. Practice around 2 hours every day. Too much will be strenuous and too little will be inadequate.

#. Include English in your everyday life.

#. Start talking to someone in English.

#. Note down the ideas coming to your mind for the speaking section. It will be hugely advantageous at the speaking time.

#. Try to learn 5 new words each day and try to use them in your daily conversations.

#. Keep a track of simple synonyms to use in your writing or speaking.

IELTS Listening Tips

IELTS listening sections seem challenging to many because you have to hear the recording in different English accents and make notes to answer the questions asked related to it. It is easy for people to practice speaking, writing, or reading English but when it comes to listening to a proficient English speaker, it becomes tough.

The IELTS Listening part consists of 4 sections. Here you will have to listen to some conversations. Then you will be given 40 questions based on what you heard and you need to answer them.

You are also allowed to read the questions before the conversation starts. So try to make use of it. You can combat the difficulty in this portion by practising beforehand. You should listen to the recordings in English and try to understand the conversation or speech.

In sections 1 and 2 you get to hear conversations about general topics or social issues. Section 3 and 4 are mostly about educational scenarios (group conversation) and a monologue on any academic subject.

After listening to all the audio clips you need to write answers on the answer sheet. So, let’s understand a few tips and tricks required in the portion.

Also Read: 8 Amazing Listening Tips for IELTS that will Get You a Band 9: Here’s The Secret!

Tips for IELTS Listening

#. Read the questions before the recording starts. So that you can stay focused on the conversation.

#. Always hear the introduction when the recording starts which contains the information of the speakers.

#. Concentrate and listen to the conversation rather than understand.

#. Don’t think much about the answer you have missed. The recording will be heard only once.

#. While listening, write the answer on the question paper. During the extra time, you can transfer the answers to the answer sheet using a pencil.

#. Pay attention to the word limit.

#. If you have to answer within three words, try to answer within that only.

#. Write only missing answers. For example, the name of the speaker is ———–, then you should answer ERIC (For instance)”. No need to write: the name of the speaker is ERIC.”

#. Try to use the same words you listened to.

#. The answers should be grammatically correct without any spelling errors.

IELTS Reading Tips

Here comes the reading section. This section is easy to complete and crack if you have prepared nicely before the paper. This section contains passages and you will be asked to answer the questions related to the passage.

So, you must be fluent in English to understand the passage properly and answer the questions within the given time. It consists of 3 sections. You are given some lengthy paragraphs and some questions will be asked and you have to answer them within the stipulated time. Topics range from work-related issues to general interests.

This part requires a high concentration level because you are given limited time to answer the questions and if you don’t read the passage concentratedly and waste your time reading it, again and again, you will not be able to complete the section in time. So, check out the tips required for this part.

Also Read: Amazing Tips and Tricks to Get High IELTS Listening Band Score on Section 3

Tips for IELTS Reading

#. Start by reading short paragraphs i.e., 1 and 2 sections. The last one is usually more complex.

#. Try to write the answers directly on the answer sheet with a pencil while reading because no extra time is given.

#. Don’t try to understand the whole paragraph, just know the crux of the passage.

#. Don’t spend too much time on a single question.

#. Try to be simple and precise with the answers.

#. Answer without any grammatical mistakes.

#. Focus on the word limit.

#. Read the passage very carefully.

#. Recheck your answers if you have time.

IELTS Writing Tips

The writing part is a bit complicated for those who don’t know English because the scores completely depend on your writing expertise. It consists of 2 tasks. Here you have to write the essays within 60 minutes (150 words for task 1 and 250 words for task 2).

In this section, you should be concrete, simple, precise, and clear. Don’t write the content with grammatical errors. You should recheck the content at the end. Don’t make a flower bed of tough vocabulary to show your English, rather be precise to the sentences and the topic. You should focus on engaging the reader/examiner in your write-up.

Remember, rechecking is extremely essential to add or subtract any point and to reduce errors. Following are some important IELTS letter writing tips and general writing tips as well. Writing should be to the point. You should not deviate from the question. Let’s have a look at the basic strategies.

IELTS Writing Task 1/2 Tips

#. The essay should be relevant to the question asked.

#. Write the answers within a minimum number of words or else you will lose marks.

#. You can write using a pen or pencil.

#. Avoid bullet points.

#. Follow a structure.

#. Don’t write random points.

#. Avoid spelling and grammatical errors.

#. Try to explain both positives and negatives during the argument.

Also Read: IELTS Essay Writing Tips for Band 8: Let’s Learn the Effective Way of Writing in the IELTS Exam

IELTS Speaking Tips

The speaking section often makes the students nervous. Two reasons impact their fear or nervousness. The first is that they have to confront the examiners and the second one is they can’t go wrong or can’t fumble. If you practice properly, you can perform well here too. It consists of 3 sections. In the first section, you will be asked general things about yourself, your interests, or your ideas on any issue.

Then you will be asked to speak about a particular topic for 2 minutes. You will also be provided with one minute for preparation.

Finally, there will be a discussion for 4-5 minutes. During which you will be cross-questioned on the topic you have discussed previously. To ace this section, you must read about the topics prior to the exam and note down good points coming to your mind because only a few minutes are given to you to think for any specific topic.

Tips for IELTS Speaking

#. Always support the answer with an example at least instead of single-word answers.

#. Don’t try to use fancy words which don’t come naturally to you.

#. Answers should be grammatically correct.

#. Don’t take long pauses, rather speak slowly.

#. Don’t drift from the topic during the discussion. IELTS is a test of communication skills, not a general knowledge test.

#. Be confident and look into the eyes of the examiner.

Also Read: IELTS Speaking Tips and Tricks: 9 Helpful Expert Tips to Crack the Speaking Exam

Conclusion

Hopefully, the tips and tricks given in this article have helped you immensely to reach your target in the exam. If you are preparing for this wonderfully advantageous test, you can go through these tips and hit the target easily.

The experts provide these amazing tricks so that all types of students can pursue their dreams by taking admission to their choice of university. Good preparation definitely has its perks. If you are adequately prepared you will automatically feel relaxed and confident on the day of your exam. Nothing beats a cool head during the examination! Therefore, it is important that you prepare in the right way and improve continuously as you practice.

You must reach out to the IELTS Ninja website if you have the dream to crack this test. Many candidates have been guided by the best professionals and are now enjoying their dream life in their choice of an English-speaking country.

The colleges in different countries have an approach to developing your overall personality. Also, you get trained to be modern and magnificent by having a great level of communication with the foreigners. Therefore, to learn from the experts and to go through more such awesome blogs, visit our website. All the best for the future!