IELTS Test Day Tips

IELTS Test Day Preparation: Section-Specific Guidelines

Each IELTS section requires specific preparation and attention. The Cambridge Assessment English research shows that understanding section-specific requirements can improve scores by up to 0.5 bands.

Step 1: Listening Section

The listening test demands complete concentration. Recent studies by IELTS Research Reports show that environmental awareness significantly impacts performance:

• Let staff know straight away if you cannot clearly hear the audio.
• Follow the instructions given carefully.
• Listen out for the specific information you need.
• Try to anticipate what the speaker might say.
• Be mindful about your grammar and spelling.
• Don’t spend too much time on a question you don’t know the answer to.
• Focus on what you are asked to do in completion style questions.
• Be aware of the word limit; if you are asked to finish a sentence using only two words and the correct answer is ‘leather coat’, then ‘coat made of leather’ would be an incorrect answer.
• Try to answer all questions; you will not lose points for incorrect answers.
• Check your answers thoroughly.

Step 2: Reading Section

Time management is crucial for the reading section. According to IELTS statistics, 60% of test-takers struggle with completing all questions within the allocated time:

• Quickly scan passages before reading in detail
• Be aware of titles, headings and other special features like italics, underlining, capital letters, facts, graphs, tables and figures.
• Make sure that you understand the question and follow all instructions carefully.
• Don’t spend too long on one question or passage, keep an eye on the time you have left.
• If you don’t know the answer to a question, don’t spend too long on it.
• Stay calm if the subject of the text is unfamiliar to you, all relevant answers can be found within the text. 
• Take the words you use from the Reading text, don’t change the format or order of the words in the text. 
• Don’t worry if you come across a word you don’t understand, you might not need to use it. 
• Make sure you check your spelling carefully.
• Pay attention to your use of plural and singular words, check that they are correct.
• In ‘completion’ style questions, make sure you focus carefully on what you are asked to do.
• If a question asks you to complete the phrase ‘in the ___’ and the correct answer is ‘evening’, just use ‘evening’ for your answer; using ‘in the evening’ would be incorrect.
• Be aware of the word limit. If you are asked to complete a sentence with no more than two words, and the correct answer is “silk shirt” for example, saying “a shirt made of silk” would be incorrect. 
• Try to answer all questions; if an answer is incorrect, there will not be a penalty, so give it a go.
• Be sure to check all of your answers carefully before the test ends.

Step 3: Writing Section

The writing section requires careful attention to task requirements. The British Council’s assessment criteria emphasize:

• Think carefully about each task and be sure to make notes if that helps you.
• Underline or highlight key words in the tasks to ensure you are aware of what you need to do.
• Spend time planning your answers before you write them.
• Use a clear paragraph structure, put one idea in each paragraph. 
• Don’t repeat the same ideas by using different words.
• Don’t copy entire sentences from the question – you will not get any marks for this.
• Stick to the relevant subject and don’t write about unrelated topics.
• Make sure you manage the time you have carefully. Keep in mind that Task 2 is worth twice as much as Task 1.
• Try to spend approximately 20 minutes on Task 1 and about 40 minutes on Task 2.
• Keep in mind how many words are required for each task. You must write at least 150 words for Task 1 and 250 words for Task 2 in order to produce a complete answer.
• Practice by learning roughly how long 150 words and 250 words look when written in your own handwriting. During the test, you won’t have time to count them.
• Do not write your answers in bullet points or in short notes, you need to write your answers in full sentences or you will lose marks.
• Pay close attention to your grammar, punctuation and spelling. If you make mistakes, you will lose marks.
• Try to use formal language.
• Examiners can spot ‘model answers’, so do not memorise them and use them in your test or it will be deemed invalid.
• Make sure you spend a few minutes re-reading and amending your answers where necessary.
• Write clearly and legibly

Step 4: Speaking Section

The speaking test presents unique challenges. IDP IELTS Speaking Examiners note that confidence and natural communication are key:

• Arrive early for your speaking test slot
• Try to speak as much as you are able to.
• Speak as fluently as you can and try to be spontaneous.
• Try to remain confident and enjoy using your English skills. 
• Expand upon your answers as much as you can.
• Make sure that you talk more than the examiner does.
• If you need to, you can ask the examiner to clarify a question.
• Don’t memorise prepared answers, examiners have the ability to recognise this and will change your question as a result.
• Ask for clarification if needed