We are members of a lot of groups on Facebook for students who are preparing for IELTS. Many new members join and the first question they ask is ‘how do I start preparing for IELTS‘. It is a good question. You have decided to study abroad, or you have decided to apply for immigration and you have found out that you need to take this test called IELTS. You do not know what it is, what happens or where to start preparing.

Working towards your IELTS score is like a journey. You are at the start now, and the end of the journey is you with your IELTS certificate. You need to find out how long the journey will take and the best way to get there.

When you start your IELTS preparation, there are three key questions that you need to ask:

1. What IELTS band score do you need?

The first thing you need to know is what score you need. IELTS is measured on a scale from 1-9. A Band 1.0 is a beginner at English and can only say a few words. A band 9.0 is an expert user who has complete command of the English language. This does not mean a ‘native English speaker’. Many native English speakers would not get a band 9.0 in all four skills of IELTS.

To study at a university abroad, you usually need a band 6.0-7.0. This is a B2/C1 level of English – a strong upper intermediate to advanced level. If you want to do a foundation year, you may be ok with 5.0-5.5. 🧑‍🎓

To move abroad, the band scores are different. It depends on what you are applying to move abroad to do. Canadian immigration is generally 7778, meaning three skills at band 7.0 and one at band 8.0, but for some professions, lower is accepted. .🍁

If you want to move to the UK as a doctor, you need 7.5, with no skill lower than 7.0. A nurse needs to get 7.0 with no skill lower than 6.5. 🩺

If you want to become an English teacher abroad, most countries ask for a C1 level of English as a minimum, so band 7.0, but some places like the British Council need a C2, so band 8.5.

The requirements are different for different things, so the first thing you need to do is find out what score you need. This will give you a goal to work towards.

Some people contact us and say they want ‘the highest IELTS score possible‘. This is not a good goal, because it is not specific enough. In order to know where you need to go, you need to know the final destination. In order to know what to work on, you need to know what score you need.

👉Look at the university websites and look for the English language requirements for your course. Alternatively, visit an agent like IDP and ask them.

👉Look on the websites for UK or Australian government or whoever you want to apply to. The English language requirements are always very clear.

What level is your English now?

When you know what score you need, you need to find out how far away you are. What is your English level now?

If you have already taken an English language exam like Cambridge PET, First or Advanced, or TOEFL or PTE, you will know this.

If you have studied English in a course called intermediate/upper intermediate, or A2/B1 you might know this too.

If you have no idea and you need to know to start your IELTS preparation, you can do a basic level test from Cambridge Assessment, who writes the IELTS test. This just tests your grammar and vocabulary but should give you an idea of your level.

For a more comprehensive test, you could use the Oxford Placement Test, which many language centres use. It tests your grammar, vocabulary and listening level. You have to pay for this, but it is not expensive.

Another thing you can do to check your current level before you start preparing for IELTS is take a practice IELTS listening and reading test. The British Council website has free practice tests with the answers. Do the listening and reading tests, check your scores and measure it against the IELTS bands. There are many tables with the conversions from scores to bands online. Here is one IELTS band score calculator.

What do you need to focus on to start preparing for IELTS?

If your level is a lot lower than the IELTS band score you need

If your English level is a lot lower than the IELTS band score that you need, you need to improve your English BEFORE you start preparing for IELTS. Just watching IELTS videos and doing practice IELTS tests will not help you increase your overall English level.

👉This Facebook group TP Students has free English lessons run by trainee teachers. You can join a class and improve your level.

👉There are English language classes in most cities and towns, and online, that you could join. Alternatively, you could find a 1-1 tutor. There are also many free and paid speaking clubs online and in your area that you could join.

👉If you want to improve your English by yourself, look out for our post on recommended activities to improve your English level, coming soon.

👉You can do online lessons with us, focusing on improving your academic English level, to help you get to the score you need for IELTS. If you want to do this, send us a message or look at our website to find out more.

If your English level is close to the score you need

If you have a B2 level of English and you need 6.5 or 7.0, then you can start preparing for the IELTS exam.

Look at the four skills: reading, listening, writing and speaking. Which are you strong in?

Do the practice IELTS listening and reading tests and look at what type of question you have problems with. Is it multiple choice? Is it yes/no/not given?

👉Find videos that teach you how to do those types of questions

Do you have enough vocabulary to understand the texts?

👉Create a vocabulary notebook where you record new words and phrases, with example sentences that you create yourself. Use an app. like Quizlet to learn sets of topic related vocabulary with games and activities.

👉If you need to improve your listening skills AND get more ideas and academic vocabulary, watch videos on BBC 6-minute English, Ted.ed videos, Ted Talks etc. Make notes of the key points, and record new vocabulary. Then write a response in your notebook about what you learned in the video and what your opinion is on the topic.

Read our blog for advice on how to use podcasts to prepare for IELTS

👉For writing, write the two tasks and share them with an IELTS writing expert. Which part do you need to improve the most? Can you describe bar charts, line graphs, pie charts etc.? Can you write clear paragraphs? Do you know how to answer the question and develop your ideas well?

👉Watch a genuine sample speaking test online like these from IELTS.org. How well can you answer the same questions? Do you need to be more fluent, or use a wider range of vocabulary? Are you making mistakes with your grammar and/or pronunication?

👉Identify what you need to work on and create an Action Plan. Make a list of individual tasks that you need to do, and put them into a calendar. Work through each one and tick them off as you do them.

If all of this is too overwhelming, then get in touch with us. We can do a full IELTS Evaluation with you to identify your current level. This means we will do a full IELTS listening and reading test, both writing tasks and a full IELTS speaking test. We will give you feedback and an idea of your current score and create an Action Plan of what you need to work on.

After that, you can study with us to prepare for IELTS if you want.

Look at this webpage to find out the cost and details of our IELTS Evaluation or send us an email to find out more.