In 2022, over 7 lakh Indian students ventured overseas for academic pursuits and made their study-abroad dreams come true. Needless to mention, they kickstarted their journey to their dream with the IELTS exam. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) plays a vital role in facilitating this global mobility and gives you a bigger window of college acceptance and smoother immigration.
This exam is widely recognised as a measure of English proficiency and is a requirement for admission to many universities and organisations around the world. But why is the IELTS so important? Let’s take a look.
1. Global recognition: The IELTS is recognised by over 10,000 organisations in 140 countries around the world. This means that no matter where you plan to study or work, chances are that the IELTS will be accepted as proof of your English language skills.
2. Assesses real-life language skills: Unlike other standardised language proficiency tests that focus on grammar and vocabulary, the IELTS is designed to assess your ability to communicate in English in real-life scenarios. The test covers all four language skills – speaking, listening, reading, and writing – and requires the test-takers to demonstrate their ability to use English effectively in a variety of contexts.
3. Opens innumerable doors: A good IELTS score can be the key to unlocking a world of opportunities. Many universities require a minimum IELTS score for admission to their programmes, and some employers also require proof of English language proficiency before offering a job. Achieving a high IELTS score can help you stand out of the lot and increase your chances of success.
4. It’s a personal challenge: Studying for the IELTS can be a challenging and rewarding experience. The test requires you to give yourself the extra push to improve your language skills and to work hard to achieve your goals. Whether you’re preparing for the IELTS for academic or professional reasons, it’s a chance to challenge yourself and grow as a language learner. Talking of personal challenges, most students find the IELTS Speaking section the most complex module of the exam. They struggle with the IELTS Speaking section and often get stuck at band 5. However, with a focused approach and consistent practice, test-takers can improve their score and move up to a band 7 in almost no time.
Why do you need to go the extra mile for the IELTS speaking section?
The IELTS Speaking section is a crucial part of the test that can greatly impact the overall score. While it may be tempting to just prepare for the exam by studying grammar rules and merely cramming fancy words for the test, going the extra mile in the speaking practice can make all the difference. The ability to communicate effectively and fluently in English is essential for success in many academic and professional settings, and the IELTS Speaking section is designed to test exactly that.
By going the extra mile and practising speaking skills extensively, one can become more comfortable and confident in their ability to express themselves in English, ultimately leading to a higher score on the exam and greater success in their future endeavours.
How to ace the IELTS speaking section
The IELTS speaking section can be a daunting task for many test-takers, but with the right preparation and mindset, it can also be an opportunity to showcase your English language proficiency. One must remember that this isn’t some high-end test but simply a conversation with another individual on everyday topics.
— Practice mock tests
Mock tests are one of the most effective strategies to get a real-time experience of the exam. They make the candidates test-ready. So, aspirants shouldn’t leave any stone unturned to take as many mock tests as possible to practice well, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and work on improving them.
— Listen to podcasts and interviews
This is one of the best-proven tricks that most candidates swear by. Listening to English-speaking podcasts on a range of topics, such as current events, sports, culture etc., can help candidates improve listening and speaking skills. It helps in holistic learning, including improving ideation, intonation, vocabulary, and general knowledge and expanding one’s mental horizons to fresh perspectives.
— Enhance fluency
It is essential to speak confidently and fluently during the exam. To improve fluency and coherence, one can practice speaking on a variety of topics and linking opinions together. One can also practice using discourse markers such as “I think/feel”, “however,” “therefore,” and “also”, etc. to connect ideas smoothly. Additionally, candidates should stay calm and confident and express statements logically. They must remember that natural pausing isn’t going to hamper their score.
Pro-tip- Gap fillers such as “well”, “actually”, “that’s an interesting question”, “honestly”, etc. can also help you buy time from the examiner during the test.
— Work on vocabulary
Most test-takers are aware of the significance of having a good vocabulary for the IELTS exam. One can work on their vocabulary by learning topical words every day and using them for effective practice. Moreover, candidates will fall in the higher score range when they use idioms, phrasal verbs and linkers in their answers, as these are markers of advanced speech. So, don’t forget to get your hands on them too.
Pro-tip- Do not use words you are not comfortable with. This will lead to cramming strange words and using them in totally different contexts.
— Improve pronunciation
Work on your pronunciation and intonation by listening to native speakers and, in the beginning, imitating their speech patterns. For the same, test-takers are often advised to watch English language TV news shows, web series and movies to get familiar with the different accents and pronunciations altogether. Additionally, one can improve pronunciation by reading English newspapers, books, or blogs out loud on a daily basis.
By following these tips, candidates can feel more prepared and confident for the speaking section of the IELTS and increase their chances of achieving their desired score. Moreover, they can easily get expert guidance to go all the way from Band 5 to Band 7 in just 35 days and soar high in their test prep journey with Leverage Live.
(The writer is an IELTS expert at Leverage Edu)
