IELTS PREPARATION IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME

How to prepare for IELTS in a short period of time?

Running out of time to prepare for your IELTS exam? Do not despair. Here are a few very practical and useful tips to get you back on track and ready for your IELTS exam.
Firstly, keep in mind that in this crucial time you should not harp on learning "new" stuff, you should make most of the skills and knowledge you already have. Here's how to do so:

1. Completely familiarize yourself with every single aspect of every module (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking). It is highly essential. For example,

o How many parts does each module have?

o How many questions are there in each part?

o How much time is allowed for each module and the individual parts of that module?

o What is expected from the candidates?

o What does the answering sheet look like?

o Will I get time to transfer answers to sheet (like in Listening Module) or not (like in Reading Module.

 These are absolutely essential things and unfortunately many candidates waste time on other things while ignoring them completely. If you do not know what the paper looks like chances are that you might panic on seeing it the first time on exam day. If you already know what the "pattern" of the paper is you will feel at ease and more comfortable in attempting the questions.

2. You must have heard, "practice makes perfect", and rightly so. Practice prepares your brain for the real thing, the IELTS test. The more you expose yourself to the real exam material, the more you will get familiar with it, the more your mind will get adapted and the more "comfortable" you will feel in attempting the real exam on the big day. So practice IELTS past papers whole-heartedly and soon you will start feeling a difference.

3. Practicing also has another major benefit: it exposes you to more information and "enhances" your existing knowledge. So when practicing IELTS papers, when you encounter new and difficult words, write them down in your diary or journal and look up their meaning to give a boost to your vocabulary. So this will be like killing two birds with one stone. You will be practicing the exam papers while building your word power at the same time. (By the way, it pays to build your word power!)

4. As you practice, also take not of useful idioms and phrases which you might be able to use in your own writing in the Writing Module. Remember idioms and phrases (like killing two birds with one stone OR it pays to build your word power OR an apple a day keeps the doctor away etc.) are universal. "Everyone" can use idioms and phrases in their writing! Just make sure the phrase or idiom you are using is correct and you know how to use it accurately!

5. When you are practicing try to complete the tests within the time frame. When you start preparing, you do not need to do all the modules in one go. Do one module at a time but try to remain within the time allowed. This will prepare you for attempting the paper within the time frame on the big day.

6. When practicing IELTS papers, remember to check your answers and give yourself honest marks (but only after you have finished doing the test). This will not only give you a clear picture of where you stand, how much effort you need to put in but also help you monitor your own progress and give you a sense of achievement as you improve! This acts as a huge motivation. It’s a must try!

7. Since time is crucial, make everywhere and anywhere your learning arena. Confused? Don't be. You read the newspaper everyday or at least different articles on the Internet. Make the most of them. After you have read them ask yourself. What was it about? Was it well written? How did it benefit me? Or just simply, did I like it? If possible write down your ideas in your diary, or type on a MS document, you can even write it in an email and share with a friend. Then again, listening to the radio or news (in English) can boost your learning. Try to concentrate on what is being said. Seek out important information from just every day news. Try writing a summary of the most important news or try talking about it with a friend. You can even record it on a tape recorder or your cell phone. This will improve your speaking power and give you confidence to speak fluently.

8. Improve your concentration span. The longer you can stay focused on the set target, the better the chances of success. Do not let yourself get distracted when you have sat down to study. Keep study time separate from entertainment, work and other stuff especially when practicing papers. Try to keep conditions as close to the real exam conditions as possible, especially when you are approaching the exam day.

9. Use all the practical tactics when attempting the IELTS test (practice exam or real test). Read for meaning, underline key words in passages and in questions for better comprehension, write clearly and use accurate grammar as far as possible (as much as you know), do not waste time on one question, go on to the next, you can always come back to it. If you waste too much time on one question then you might not get time to answer other questions to which the answers you might know very well. So use time effectively; it is precious, especially in exam conditions.

10. Take lots of rest and eat a balanced diet. Do not neglect your health while preparing for exams. Health is wealth, after all. (An other useful phrase for you). So do not stay up too late, studying or "watching TV" or "surfing the Internet just for nothing", rest, sleep well and see the difference. You will be pleasantly surprised how good you feel and how ready you are for exam preparation and the real exam when you have rested and slept well. Do not take it for granted and do not ignore your own well being at any cost. This is vital for doing well in the exam.

Finally, stay focused, monitor your own progress, practice the exam papers and go well prepared on the exam day and you will see that you will feel a lot more confident in attempting the paper. The better prepared you are and the more confident you are, the greater the chances of success! Best of Luck!