IELTS Preparation: Key facts for test day

The IELTS test is not an easy challenge to clear. Perseverance, determination, and confidence are key to obtaining excellent grades, i.e. grade of above 7 band score in the exam. IELTS preparation under professional tutors is crucial for cracking the IELTS exam with the best grade. Many students face unbearable stress and tension owing to the complexity of the test. It would be great to undergo IELTS training in Dubai at a proven academy like Your Own. Explained in this blog are the key facts you should know for the IELTS exam day. 

#1. Admission to the IELTS Test

Identification documentation has to be produced for admission to the test. The document produced must be the same one that was uploaded while applying for the IELTS exam. Your IELTS preparation would be wasted if you fail to get admission for the test. Remember that you must use the same identity document on both written and speaking test days. Carry two passport-size photographs (if applicable as per the test documentation).

#2. Eraser, Pen, and Pencil for the IELTS Exam

The stationery, viz. pen, pencil, and eraser you can carry for the IELTS test would depend on the mode of exam i.e. online exam or pen and paper exam. For the offline (paper-based) IELTS exam, the listening and reading exam sessions must be attended with a Pencil. Do NOT do the mistake of using a pen for the exam. It will fetch you “zero” marks as the machine is not programmed to read ink markings. Proper IELTS training, in Dubai, would help you familiarize yourself with the exam procedure.

#3. Do Not Arrive At The Last Moment

At least a few students are habituated to starting for the exam at the last moment. They would hurry through the traffic and arrive at the center when the IELTS exam is about to begin. This can impact your performance even if you have undertaken meticulous IELTS preparation. Sufficient time should be there to calm down, relax, and arrange yourself for the test.

#4. Every Minute is Precious

The value of time is the first thing taught during IELTS training in Dubai. Explore every minute you are allotted with. Avoid getting distracted during the IELTS exam. Focus on the test and put up your best. Practicing concentration improvement methods might be helpful. Other methods for improving attentiveness and thereby the IELTS test score is to undergo enough practice sessions and mock tests.

What are the Dos and Don’ts During IELTS Exam?

IELTS preparation under experts offering IELTS training in Dubai is the first step towards the best performance. Even then, you may get disqualified or fail the IELTS exam if the directives are not followed properly. A few of the dos and don’ts during the IELTS test are:

  • Do Not forget to switch off your mobile phone before entering the exam hall. Candidates, many a time, miss out on this, especially when they reach the exam center at the last minute. A phone, a ring in the mobile, can lead to your disqualification.
  • Do not leave until directed by the invigilators. You must remain seated even if you have completed all the questions and are ready to go. 
  • There are limitations on what you can ask the invigilator. You must know what you are permitted to ask the invigilator. At times, you may not be able to hear the listening audio properly. Know what to ask the invigilator in such a situation. All these aspects are taught during IELTS training in Dubai. Hence, you may not worry about those.
  • Invigilators are not there for clarifying your doubts. Do not ask him or her even when you fail to understand the question. You must listen to the questions carefully to answer those correctly, without any doubts.

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IELTS Academic vs IELTS General Tests: What are the differences?

The International English Language Testing System or IELTS is one of the major and the golden standard tests for English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. It is accepted by academic institutions and several professional organisations across the globe. There are two formats of the IELTS exam namely called IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. The Academic version of IELTS is for those test takers who want to study at the tertiary level in an English-speaking country or are planning to seek professional registration. The General Training version of the IELTS exam is for test-takers who are planning to work, train, study at a secondary school or want to migrate to an English-speaking country.

The Academic version of the IELTS exam and the General Training version of the IELTS exam are similar in format but vary in content in the Writing and Reading sections of the test.

Purpose of General Training IELTS vs Academic IELTS

As mentioned above, the Academic IELTS exam is for potential university students who are intending to apply for admission to universities and other academic programs where English is the medium of instruction. At the same time, those professionals and job applicants may also have to provide scores for the Academic IELTS exam.

General Training IELTS Course is considered by those potential candidates who are planning to study, work or train or intend to migrate to an English-speaking country like Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the UK.

Format

Both the Academic and General Training exam have four parts namely listening, speaking, reading and writing. Both versions of the IELTS course have the same general format where the candidate’s English writing, reading, listening, and speaking skills are tested separately.

In the Academic and General Training IELTS exam, Writing and Reading tests are different. The Academic IELTS exam will include topics that are suited for anyone who is planning to do higher studies and enter into a university or any other professional institution. The General Training IELTS exam will include topics that are built on general interest and the candidates are tested on everyday use of the English language, where the content and questions are focused on workplace and social situations.

Another difference between the Academic and General IELTS exam versions is the way that they’ve scored. IELTS Listening, Speaking, and Writing are scored the same way on both IELTS exams. But IELTS Reading, which represents a full 25% of the candidate’s score, is rated very differently on IELTS academic vs. IELTS general training.

Planning for IELTS Training in Dubai? YourOwn Education provides the best online and offline IELTS Training in Dubai. The well experienced IELTS training experts at YourOwn who boasts of a high success rate provides extensive IELTS training which helps you in getting top scores. The IELTS course offered by YourOwn helps the candidates’ specially designed study schedule which helps you crack the IELTS exam in the first attempt. YourOwn offers IELTS Courses at an affordable fee.

What is the best way to prepare for the IELTS?

The International English Language Testing System abbreviated as IELTS is an international standardized English language ability test for non-native English language speakers. IELTS which was established in 1989 is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English.  The IELT test format includes four sections, speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The listening, reading, and writing sections are taken on the same day and have no breaks in between. The speaking test is normally scheduled on the afternoon of your IELTS test day. Also, it can be conducted seven days before or after the test day.

The IELTS Writing and Reading tests are diverse in the Academic and General Training tests format. The Academic test will include topics that are apt for anyone who is planning to do higher studies and enter into a university or any other professional institution. The General Training test will include topics built on general interest. At the same time, the IELTS listening and speaking tests are the same; nevertheless, you choose to attend the IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training test.

IELTS Listening Test- This test will take around 30 minutes and an extra 10 minutes are provided to transfer the answer sheets. It is the same for both IELTS Academic and General Training. During the test, the candidate will have to listen to four recorded texts, monologues, and conversations by a set of native speakers, and then the answers are written for a series of questions.  The questions will be framed to test the candidate’s capability to comprehend main ideas and comprehensive factual data, aptitude to understand the views and attitudes of speakers, and more.

IELTS Reading Test- This section will take around 60 minutes and includes 40 questions. A wide range of questions is used to test the reading skills of the candidate which includes the candidate’s ability to understand the logical argument, identifying writers’ opinions, attitudes and objectives.

The IELTS Writing – the test will take 60 minutes. IELTS Academic Writing Test- the duration of this test is 60 minutes and includes two sections. In the first task, the candidate will be given a graph, table, chart, or diagram and will be asked to describe and explain the information provided in those in their own words.

In the second section, the candidate will be asked to write an essay elaborating their point of view on a particular problem or argument.

IELTS Speaking Test- test duration is 11 to 14 minutes and is a face-to-face one. The test is designed in such a way that the candidate’s spoken English skills are assessed and the test is recorded.

At the bottom line, anyone who wants to go abroad for any reason like for higher studies, for securing a better job or anything needs to attend a common exam – IELTS.  As one of the most popular and globally accepted language ability tests, IELTS can be your ticket to travel abroad and to climb the ladder in your career or life. Often IELT exams are considered to be a hard nut to crack, but with the right way of preparation and right coaching centers, IELTS will be a cakewalk for the aspiring candidates.

If you are located in Dubai and are in search of IELTS Training in Dubai, the best choice is YourOwn. YourOwn offers IELTS  coaching in Dubai at affordable fees. The IELTS Training in Dubai by YourOwn is offered both online and offline with individual attention to students. As the best IELTS coach in Dubai, YourOwn’s best-certified IELT trainers help the students with lengthy mock tests live spoken tests and other skill-building sessions which will help the students to nurture their hidden skills.