The IELTS test has been around since 1989, and over this time, there has been a lot of advice given about what candidates should and should not do in their test. Thanks to the Internet, there is so much information out there now, but how do we know which piece of advice is useful or not? Here is our guide to some Dos and Don’ts to help make your test day experience a more positive one.
Listening
Do
Answer all questions – you don’t lose marks for any blank spaces
Use the preparation time to highlight key words in the question page, including headings
Stick to your word limit (e.g. no more than 2 words and/or a number)
Practice listening to monologues (one person speaking) and dialogues (more than one person speaking)
Check your spelling to make sure that you don’t lose marks unnecessarily
Count a hyphenated word as one word (e.g. good-looking / 3-year-old)
Don’t
Use the wrong punctuation for numbers (e.g. $1.50 instead of $1,50, etc.)
Just use practice tests – try listening to a variety of materials
Focus on just one type of speaker (e.g. British English) and instead listen to a variety of accents
Concentrate on only one question at a time – keep an eye on the next question in case you miss the answer to the previous one
Reading
Do
Answer all questions – you don’t lose marks for any blank spaces
Look at the heading and sub-heading of the article to give you a good general idea what it is about
Highlight the key words in the question to help you find the location of the answer in the question quickly
Make sure that the evidence you use to decide your answer covers the whole statement or question, not just one or two key words
Look out for the distractors (the incorrect choices) in the questions as they will be mentioned at least somewhere in the article
Read a variety of articles in your free time to help build your vocabulary and ideas
Remember that the answers to some question types appear in order in the article (e.g. Yes/No/Not Given, True/False/Not Given, Multiple Choice), so you don’t have to answer them in order
Don’t
Waste your time on one question if you don’t know the answer. Try your best answer and then move on to the next question.
Just do practice tests – make sure you read a variety of articles and topics
Decide your answer by simply matching one key word in the question to one key word in the article. Make sure the whole question and the whole evidence match
Choose ‘False’ or ‘No’ if there is no evidence in the article to prove the statement. Use Not Given in this case.
Speaking
Do
Use fillers (e.g. hmm, let me see, good question, etc.) to show that you are able to keep the conversation going and to give you a brief moment to collect your thoughts
Use the one minute preparation time, even if you know straight away what you are going to talk about. It is helpful to use this time to organise your ideas
Use linking devices in your answers (e.g. however, so, personally speaking, because of that, etc.) to connect your ideas. This will help with your Fluency and Coherence score
Speak for the full 2 minutes in Part 2.
Write your notes in large print in your Part 2 preparation so that you can see them more easily during the middle of your short talk
Refer to your notes during your short talk – you don’t lose marks if you do
Keep the question card in front of you during your short talk and refer to it if you have to – you don’t lose marks if you do
Ask for clarification if you don’t understand or hear the question properly. You don’t lose marks
Use unfamiliar or less common words, even in Part 1. This will show the examiner you have a wide range of vocabulary.
Offer both sides of an argument in Part 3 as a way of developing your answer further
Don’t
Give short answers to Part 1. You still need to prove your fluency by being able to extend your answers naturally
Worry if the examiner stops you in the middle of your sentence – this doesn’t impact your score. They are only trying to stick to the time limits for each stage of the test
Wait for the examiner to ask ‘Why?’. Instead, try to offer reasons for your ideas automatically
Speak quickly as this will affect your pronunciation, such as your rhythm and intonation. Remember that good fluency does not mean speaking fast – it means you are able to speak without hesitations and are able to extend your answers
Go back and correct a grammar mistake. Leave it and keep going with your answer. Otherwise, it can impact on your fluency.
Give basic answers in Part 1. Remember that this part of the test is for 5 minutes and that you are still being assessed on what you say. Make sure you use a variety of vocabulary and give extended answers
Give memorised answers – try to speak more authentically. It is hard to speak with good pronunciation and accuracy if you are trying to answer something by heart
Worry if the examiner doesn’t make small talk with you before the test. They are to just welcome you into the room.
Translate when you speak - this will affect your fluency.