Let’s review the best ways to prepare for IELTS from Home Together

Guest content writer: Leslie Anglesey

Achieving your dream to study, work, or migrate to an English-speaking country requires more than the desire for it. You also need knowledge. For example, when immigrating to Canada, the UK or Australia, your English level will be crucial for the opportunities you can access in those countries.

Secondly, to enter a university in an English-speaking country, it is most likely you will need to take the IELTS Academic test. Normally your score should be at least 6.5.

The IELTS exam can be challenging if you are not prepared and you will need to do your best to pass it. You need a lot of preparation because it’s not just learning the language but also training for specific tasks.

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The key to success is serious and correct preparation for IELTS, and then a positive result is guaranteed. E2 Test Prep has a wide range of free and premium resources at your disposal. Here are some actionable tips to make IELTS preparation at home more effective and even entertaining:

• Dedicate at least one hour a day to studying English.
• Listen to the Everyday English podcast. It is completely free and there is also a new episode every week!
• Include English in your everyday life: watch shows and movies, and listen to music in that language.

E2 Test Prep helps students identify their strengths and weaknesses and build an action plan to pass their exams. 

How to study for IELTS at home

Each language part has its peculiarities. To know them “by sight” means to initially choose the right tactics in preparation for the IELTS at home. Let’s consider them in detail.

Peculiarities of preparation for IELTS Writing at home

For the written work during the IELTS exam, 60 minutes are allocated. It is important to fit in strictly. It is recommended to divide an hour into three parts – 20 minutes for the first part, 20 minutes for the second part, and 20 minutes for editing.

Writing for each module consists of two parts:

• If you choose IELTS Academic, you will describe charts and processes or write an essay on an academic topic.
• If you choose IELTS General, you will write a letter to a friend, an application somewhere, or an essay on a worldly topic.

Consistency, logic, and specific facts are valued in a written assignment. The text should have an introduction and a conclusion, and its “body” itself is divided into paragraphs. You can order an essay service to better understand what we mean.

Peculiarities of preparation for IELTS Listening at home

On passing the module “Listening” you will have 40 minutes, and during this time you have the opportunity to listen to the texts only once. So you need to include Listening in your daily IELTS preparation plan at home.

In 30 minutes you need to listen to four short monologues or dialogues, and then you need to answer 40 questions.

You will get excellent points for listening if:

• You will every day listen to shows, movies, and radio with English speech, and learn to understand fluent speech.
• Practice with the listening exercises on the E2 platform.

If you have more than 3 months to prepare for IELTS at home, our best advice is for you to get one of our premium packages, more information about our packages can be found here.

How to prepare for IELTS Reading at home

The Reading unit requires a huge vocabulary and the ability to identify the essence and idea of the text. IELTS Academic offer three texts of an academic nature. IELTS General can offer up to 5 texts with a day-to-day approach like news articles and conversations. In addition to reading, there will be 40 questions. You have 60 minutes for everything.

While studying English in preparation for this stage of IELTS at home, focus on:

• Build Reading habits (The more you read, the better you become at it).
• Consider learning a speed reading technique
• The ability to identify the main essence of the text. To do this, practice identifying cause, effect, comparison, etc. in each text you read.
• If you are preparing to take the IELTS Academic, read popular science articles packed with terms and complex constructions.
• If you are preparing to take the IELTSGeneral, it is sufficient to read newspapers and magazines.

Regardless of when you plan to take your IELTS test, E2 has resources available to start working on becoming more fluent in English immediately.

How to prepare for IELTS Speaking at home

The speaking part takes only 10-15 minutes on the test. It is a conversation with an examiner, consisting of three stages: talking about hobbies and interests, preparing a speech on a given topic, and answering additional questions.

We have wonderful tools like one on one tutorials with our expert teachers to help you prepare for this task. Here are some tips:

• Listen to English speech and repeat every sentence after the speaker. It will improve your accent and help you develop the right pace and rhythm of speech.
• Find people to talk to. Make sure your conversation partner is a native speaker.
• Record your speech on a tape recorder, then listen to it again. It can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Did you know: E2 Test Prep has partnership agreements and offers test preparation for the majority of the top internationally recognized English tests for migration, professional development and education?

We have a full video on how to pass IELTS in 2022:

Conclusion

Every student’s test prep journey is a personal experience completely dependent on their skills and attitude. What we know for sure is that investing time in getting to know the structure of the test you are taking and preparing with high-quality materials and feedback is the best way to boost your confidence and ultimately achieve the desired result.