21 Keys for General IELTS Success

Winn Trivette II

• Publisher: Winn Trivette II, MA
• Year: 2018
• eBook ISBN: 9781386611028
• Topic: Study Aids
• Subtopic: Study Guides

Use 21 Keys for General IELTS Success as part of your disciplined study plan to maximize your score on the exam!

Trust the experience and expertise of an IELTS teacher with the same advice for his own students.

Learn essential information drawn from practical experience to defeat the General IELTS exam and maximize your result.

This preparation guide delivers key points to consider in each of the four sections of the exam plus grammar and vocabulary.

Plus, you get extra links to resources to maximize your learning.

Your time is valuable so the guide is written to give you quick and easy tips to attain your optimal score on exam.

Use the most comprehensive, accessible, and effective General IELTS guide available today.

When you complete this book, you will have a solid foundation for maximizing your IELTS Band score.

Chapter 1: The Starting Point

Key #1: Frankly assess your English.

When I prepare my students for the IELTS, I take the following approach: 1) 50% English and 2) 50% IELTS skills.

Yes. Your IELTS preparation should be a fine balance between sharpening your English and test skills.

Ideally, you should focus solely on improving your language skills, but the reality is otherwise.

Do you know your strongest and weakest areas of English?

During your IELTS preparation, most candidates focus on their strong points at the expense of their weak ones.

Stop!

By this stage of your English career, you probably have a good idea where you excel and where you need more practice.

Presenting the IELTS is an important event in your professional career. You should be the best prepared to make the most of your moment!

Your progress from the time you register for the IELTS to test day depends on several factors:

your native language

your current level of English fluency

your educational achievement

your commitment to work with a native instructor

your goals and motivation

You cannot control your native language, but the others factors are well within your reach.

Everyone obtains language skills at different rates.

Naturally, if you already possess solid English fluency, you are going to have an easier time preparing for the exam.

Above all, take the frank analysis of your current level of English fluency.

Key #2: Focus on English Fluency.

Just like at school or the office, natural English also should be your goal on the IELTS.

Use English effortlessly in your IELTS preparation in particular and language acquisition in general.

You assuredly will feel less stress.

Candidly, you are unlikely to significantly boost your level of English fluency between the registration and presentation of the exam. There usually just is not enough time.

However, you can learn key pieces of language, and test tactics to conquer the exam for a higher score.

Speak with other exam candidates only using English.

Key #3: Develop a study plan.

Every worthwhile endeavor starts with a plan.

For an optimal score, I suggest starting your IELTS test prep three (3) months before the test day.

Determine how many hours a day you have to practice each day.

In particular, consider study “bites” of 45-minute sessions for each exercise.

Focus on both your strengths and weaknesses.

Make sure to rest between exercises to avoid fatigue. Take a whole 10 minutes to do whatever you want to recharge.

Key #4: Increase your English exposure.

Take every opportunity to expose yourself to English.

Listen to radio broadcasts and TV programs.

Read English-language newspapers like usatoday.com or the Economist magazine.

Even more, read an English text throughout your preparation of your choice - either non-fiction or fiction.

Speak with English-speaking friends to maintain your fluency and natural comfort speaking English on a variety of topics.

Do an extra English activity every day apart from your test preparation.

Watch a television comedy like Friends or Bing Bang Theory.

Listen to a podcast to test your comprehension and gain familiarity with different accents.

Above all, become more familiar with English anyway possible so you use it naturally on exam day.

Key #5: Provide the information requested.

Two golden rules determine whether you achieve a high score or not.

One – always answer the question you are asked.

Two - give the test authorities the answer they want.

For example, here are two instructions for the Listening Section.

NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS OR A NUMBER for each answer

NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS OR A NUMBER

Thus, follow the directions precisely to notch a high General IELTS score!

Key #6: If all possible, work with a native English instructor with IELTS prep experience.

Do not think of the expense of hiring a native English instructor.

Instead, think of the cost of failing to obtain your optimal score and registering yet again for another IELTS exam and making the necessary preparations.

Make sure your instructor has IELTS prep experience.

Spend about 3 hours a week working with your IELTS prep teacher.

Three main benefits come from studying with an IELTS instructor.

First, an IELTS prep instructor instantly adds weight to your study initiative.

In other words, you gain accountability.

Now you have someone to check your study progress and to verify you are implementing your study plan.

Self-study is doable, but only if you have the dis...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Preface
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: The Starting Point
• Chapter 2: Listening
• Chapter 3: Reading
• Chapter 4: Writing
• Chapter 5: Speaking
• Chapter 6: Grammar
• Chapter 7: Vocabulary
• Chapter 8: Supplemental Skills
• Thank you!
• Also By Winn Trivette, MA
• About the Author