How to obtain a high IELTS score

How to obtain a high IELTS score

Before you start preparing for the IELTS exam, in order to achieve a good score for admission to a Master’s degree programme, you should make sure that you are fluent in English.

Only after you have a good foundation –  a mastery of standard English grammar, academic level vocabulary, fluency in reading comprehension, writing with good grammar and a rich vocabulary, listening comprehension and speaking – can you take the next step: getting familiar with the IELTS format.

The time taken to improve your overall level of English will differ depending on your starting level and intensity of study. You should then take some time to become familiar with the specific IELTS requirements and accustomed to the exam format.

Here are eleven essential steps that will help you achieve a high IELTS score:

1. Start your preparation early, be consistent, and monitor your progress frequently.
2. Master Standard English grammar in a systematic way.
3. Practice using your English skills in four ways – listening, speaking, reading and writing.
4. Take every opportunity to communicate in English, orally and in writing.
5. Enrich your vocabulary. This doesn’t happen overnight. Aim to learn at least 10 new words from different subject areas every day.
6. Read longer texts specialized in different subject areas – management, finance, culture, history, sciences, etc.
7. Listen to the news and watch documentaries on various topics in English.
8. Practice talking with other English speakers about yourself – your hobbies, interests, everyday life, family, job, dreams and professional aspirations.
9. When you have a solid foundation of English language knowledge and skills, join an IELTS course or work with a professional IELTS tutor.
10. If you are not sure whether you are ready to start preparing for the IELTS exam, take a diagnostic test and get feedback from a professional instructor on your level and next steps.
11. Towards the end of your IELTS preparation, start practicing with full-length tests under realistic conditions for several weeks before the test date.

The aim of IELTS preparation is to make sure you are really fluent in English and ready for a Master’s or an MBA degree programme taught in English. Universities will expect that you be equally good in all four skills. So preparation to sit the IELTS is not simply about obtaining a high score. The most important point is improving your English language skills.