Is IELTS Easy or Tough? How Difficult is the IELTS Test?

Many applicants who want to take IELTS are confused if the exam is easy or tough. There is a certain indecisiveness if the Academic or the General exam is easy. It is better to start early if you want to ace this exam. Since the exam requires consistent preparation, December would be an ideal month to start preparing.

In this article, we will address the most difficult IELTS exam components and explore some of the most typical IELTS issues that many of you may encounter when taking the exam. The preparation is more gratifying if you follow a decent study plan and adhere to it throughout the full preparation period. So keep reading this article till the end to find out if the IELTS exam is easy or difficult.

Is IELTS Easy or Tough?

You may have heard from previous test-takers that the test might be tough if you take it unprepared. While studying for this exam, you should pay close attention to numerous distinct aspects of English, including:

#Speaking

#Listening

#Writing

#Reading

How Difficult is Speaking in the IELTS Test?

A lot of the students often ponder over whether the exam is easy or tough. In this portion, test takers are given a task card on which they must talk for 2 minutes. Many times, applicants mistakenly repeat the same tale, which is a typical speaking mistake in the exam performed by many people. The biggest issue is that most people conclude their real tale in less than 40 seconds and then start repeating the same material over and over.

To solve this difficulty, you must employ a strategy known as the PPF (Past, Present, Future) Method in order to perform well on the Speaking part. The applicants would be able to tell three distinct stories depending on the assignment card if they use this strategy.

Also Read: When will IELTS Exam Resume in India 2021? Here’s What You need to Know

Is Academic Writing Tough in the IELTS Test?

Don’t fall short of the acceptable word count when administering this test; more than 20% of applicants don’t write even 250 words or more. Candidates may lose a whole band point or more if they fail to achieve the task answer threshold specified by the panel. To prepare for the Academic writing section, keep the following in mind.

#Make an outline of the ideas you wish to include in your essay first.

#If you are doing your homework at home, ask any tutor to help you with your writing.

#Always seek for example essays for the writing test to get an idea of what themes to write about.

#Test takers must write 150 words for Task 1 and 250 words for Task 2.

#Before using any complicated word, give it careful consideration.

Is  Writing IELTS for General Training Tough?

Before writing in this portion, test takers should thoroughly comprehend the primary topic. This part focuses on how well one can express oneself through writing skills. The most critical aspect of IELTS writing is coherence.

#The word count part of the writing test is crucial. If the word count is exceeded, the test taker will lose a raw point.

#Furthermore, 20-30 words are sufficient for the writing component. It guarantees that no points are deducted for writing fewer than the required amount of words.

#Test takers should prioritise quality over quantity.

#Improve your test speed by practising writing on QWERTY keyboards.

#Proper time management will always result in higher performance.

Difficulty of Reading in IELTS

How difficult is the IELTS test?  Students often stay in limbo trying to understand if the exam is easy or tough.  The reading component has a one-hour time restriction, and applicants must answer 40 questions while reading about 2,000 words.

#Read any type of material, whether academic, journal, book, or internet material.

#Aside from being a voracious reader, exam participants must endeavour to absorb content effectively within the time provided.

#Try to learn new terms so that you may use them in the writing and speaking sections.

#If you are unable to comprehend the meaning of a certain word, you should centre your reading on the word in order to decode the underlying meaning in the chapter.

Listening Difficulty in IELTS

You must be familiar with the kind of questions that may be asked in the test, just as you must be familiar with the sorts of questions that may be asked in the reading, because you will not have enough time in the test to fully comprehend them.

Unlike previous examinations, this exam will be administered in a quiet area, allowing all exams, including speaking, listening, and writing, to be administered one-on-one with an Examiner.

Also Read: The True Cost of Food: Here is the IELTS Passage with Reading Answers

Is IELTS Easy or Tough? Thoughts Indian Students Have

Many inquisitive students are concerned if the examination is easy or tough. Often false advice is given for this exam and there are all sorts of myths about the ease or difficulty level of this test. Students are also confused which month would the exam be easy. It is always advisable to start early.

Pronunciation Matters!

The way you pronounce the word marks is a crucial criterion in scoring high in IELTS; your Indian accent has no effect on the grading of the speaking segment.

#It is preferable to talk in a natural accent rather than a phoney one.

#If you are unable to comprehend anything spoken by the examiners, you should request that it be repeated.

#Request better direction from any senior instructor, and leave space for development.

How to Improve Your IELTS Score?

According to test findings, the typical band score is between 5.5 and 6.5, which is similar to a B2 CEFR level, indicating that an independent language user is more than capable of understanding and being understood in most circumstances with little trouble.

Keep the following things in mind while preparing for the test.

#Time spent preparing is a big issue. Without it, you may find yourself taking the test over and over again.

#Understand what kind of questions are asked in each section and what abilities are being assessed understand your strengths and limitations in the abilities being examined and improve on those deficiencies

#Make a well-thought-out study strategy and stick to it.

Academic vs General IELTS – Which IELTS is Easy and WHich One is Hard?

There is not much difference between both versions of the IELTS exam. It is advisable to put in equal effort for both instead of pondering over whether Academic or General is easy. The Listening and Speaking tests are now identical in both the Academic and General Training versions of IELTS. However, the Writing and Reading parts are distinct for each. The time allocated to complete the examination remains the same. In both cases, the number of questions is the same.

Which Month of the IELTS Exam is Easy?

You may be surprised to know that the IELTS Exam scores are not only dependent on your level of preparation, but also the month you take the exam. Students are often confused which month would the exam be easy. Usually every few months the topics for the examination changes. It is advisable to start early. Usually students who start by December fare better chances of scoring better.

Also Read: July IELTS Exam Dates 2021: Check Out Everything You Want to Learn and Know

General vs Academic

Since there is no shortcut to scoring better in the exam, one has to prepare with equal consistency. Don’t be confused with the myth that General IELTS is easier than Academic. The main distinction is that in the General Training category, they evaluate your working knowledge of English, which is as much as is needed to communicate and comprehend.

For academic purposes, they assess your degree of comprehension as well as your ability to coherently explain complicated ideas.

As a result, the General Training Reading section is simpler than the Academic section.

Aside from the variation in the language in both tests, the scoring methodology is also different. There is a one-band discrepancy.

In General reading, a score of 37-38 out of 40 earns you 8.5 bands.

In Academic reading, a score of 37-38 out of 40 earns you 8 bands.

Also Read: How Many Mock Tests Before IELTS?Tips for Aspirants to Ace the IELTS Exam

Conclusion

You can seek outside assistance from a skilled trainer or attend online tutorials to gain a better knowledge of the examination in any areas where you are failing. You can check our courses on IELTS NINJA for better input regarding this exam. Best wishes for your IELTS exam!