IELTS Exam Specific Tips: Part 1
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- Last Updated: Friday, 25 June 2021 13:47
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This section has three main parts. The first part deals with overall tips and strategies for the exam. This includes "tips for the night before the exam date", "tips for the morning on the exam date", "tips on what to do and what not to during the exam" and so on. This part also includes some essential tips and strategies to boost your performance during the exam.
The second and third parts of this "Exam Specific Tips" section contain specific tips and strategies to do well in four parts of the test. We hope these tips and strategies will help you do far better in your exam and secure the band score you need.
The first part of the Exam Specific Tips:
The Night Before The Exam Date:
Get enough sleep the night before the exam date to keep yourself vigorous and energetic during your exam. Never stay up late that night as it would make you feel dizzy and affect your performance. If you are late to go to bed the night before the exam, then you will feel sluggish and tired during your exam. Don't think too much about the exam; just convince yourself that you have prepared well and you are going to achieve your target score. Relax and think positively. You should sleep 8 hours the night before the exam. Having said that, don't oversleep as that may hurt your performance as well. Keep everything organised including the things you are going to take to the exam hall and the dresses you are likely to wear for the test.
The Morning Of The Exam Day:
» Clean yourself properly or take a bath if possible.
» Have a light breakfast that you usually eat. Visit the restroom before you leave your house.
» Dress comfortably so that it is suitable for the weather and exam venue. You are not going for a job interview, so you should wear the dress you like and feel comfortable in.
» Make sure you already know the location of the exam venue. If you are taking the exam in a city which is not known to you, make sure you already know how to reach your test centre.
» Make sure you have taken your ID card or passport, pens, pencils, erasers, sharpeners and all other necessary documents you will need for the exam.
» You can use only pencils for listening and reading sections. So, do not forget to take sharpened pencils, a pencil sharpener and a good eraser along with you. Be aware of the time limit that you can spend on each question.
» It is also recommended that you DO NOT take the following items to the exam room unless they are absolutely required:
✖ Correction fluid and highlighters.
✖ Mobile/cellular phone, smartwatch, tabloid PC, calculator, pager, and any kind of digital device. (Even if you take them for personal reasons, they must be switched off and kept outside the exam room).
✖ Large bags and personal belongings.
During The Test:
Your time is precious during the exam. So, don't waste even a minute during the test. Otherwise, your overall performance and band score are going to be affected. You should visit the restroom before the start of the exam. You may not be allowed to visit the restroom during the exam.
If any issue arises, talk to the exam supervisor/invigilator only. Tell the exam supervisor/invigilator if you think you have not been given the right question paper, or if the question paper is incomplete or illegible.
You may not lend anything to, or borrow anything from, another candidate. So do not try this. Here are a few tips to follow during your exam:
Assistance during the test:
Notify the test invigilator/supervisor immediately if test day conditions or room condition in any way impede your performance. But do not waste your time by asking any explanation to a question that you do not understand because you cannot ask for, and you will not be given, any explanation of the questions. Do not talk to anybody else (especially not to any candidate) for any advice. You should not even ask to know the time or borrow a pen or pencil from another candidate.
A good start:
If you start to panic in the examination hall, it will negatively affect your overall performance in the test and your result/band score. So, learn to relax. Why should you panic? You have prepared well, and you are ready to take the test. Take several slow breaths, letting your shoulders drop in a relaxed manner as you exhale, and then take a few deep breaths. Relax as you are going to do well.
A good start is essential because research shows that test takers do well in the rest of the exam when they start well.
Concentrate on questions:
Look at the questions and answer them. Your 100% focus should on answering questions and finish the exam in due time. Do not try to talk to another candidate as it might have a severe consequence like being expelled, in which case, the exam authority might withhold your test result.
During the test, if you can not answer a question, don't waste time on that. Simply go to the next question and try to answer it. Do not think about your situation, the test in general, your score, or your future. Focus on the exam only and nothing else. If you feel that your concentration is being drifted to somewhere or something else, force yourself to return to the exam and concentrate on the questions only.
Do not cheat:
Never even think to cheat! If a candidate is caught cheating (which he/she is likely to be if he/she cheats) in any way, the candidate will be expelled. Even talking to a candidate, who sits beside you, is not permitted. You should abide by the rules imposed by the exam authority. For instance, if you are not allowed to wear a smartwatch, do not try to do so.
Keep a positive attitude:
Your attitude will affect your performance in the examination hall, which will eventually affect your band score. So you must develop patterns of positive thinking. To help develop a positive attitude, always remember that you have prepared well, and you are going to crack the exam. Never allow negative thoughts in your mind, let alone allow them to overwhelm you.
Do not panic or worry too much:
Remember, some tensions are normal and good. Accept it. Use it constructively. It will motivate you to try harder and do better. But do not panic or worry, as it might consume you and hurt your performance. Panic will cause loss of concentration and poor performance during your exam.
Answer all questions:
You will not be penalised for wrong answers in your IELTS Listening, and Reading tests. So attempt all questions and answer them all. Unlike some other standardised tests, IELTS does not have negative marking for wrong answers.
You are NOT allowed to take any break:
There are no breaks between the different test sections, and it is not advisable to waste time in the middle of the test. Hence, visiting the restroom before entering the examination hall is a wise thing to do.
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