International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the world’s most popular English Proficiency Test. It is administered in more than 160 nations, and the scores are accepted by more than 11,000 organizations. Consequently, it has now become the preferred English Proficiency Test for over 3.5 million candidates across the globe, annually.
The popularity of this test also means that there is a plethora of resources available online. Unfortunately, not all of these are useful or relevant for every test-taker. Furthermore, some of them might in fact damage your chances of securing a high score on the test.
IELTS provides the profile of a candidate’s ability to access English in varied situations, and the scores are represented on a scale from 0 to 9. When it comes to targeting high-ranked universities abroad, you need to achieve a minimum score of 7 Bands in all four sections of the test. Moreover, your overall score needs to be above 7 Bands. This requires high levels of focus and confidence throughout the 3-hour testing duration, where you have to solve more than 25 question types. In addition, IELTS is an expensive test and so, you must try to sail through it in your first attempt.
In this article, we are going to look at some advantages of having an expert tutor guiding you through your preparation for this high-stakes test and helping you maximize your score.
1. Understand the Nuances of the Test
You could easily find plenty of material to help you understand all about the IELTS exam. As mentioned earlier, this is a mixed blessing. All you need to know is just a click away, but you may not know how trustworthy the source is. This is where expert guidance can make a difference. An expert tutor will touch upon the most important aspects, ensuring that you know the IELTS inside out. If you want to do well on the test, there are certain aspects that you need to focus on. For instance, many students do not know that they can be penalized in four language areas during the Speaking and Writing assessments. An expert can walk you through these and can provide you with the right assistance.
2. Follow A Well-Prepared Study Plan
If you wish to achieve a high score on the IELTS, you will need to stick to a study plan. An expert will already have a well-made study plan in place for you. All you need to do is to follow it. Practicing the modules randomly will not only result in irregular practice, but it will also cause an imbalance in your test preparation. This can prove very costly as you will end up under-prepared for one or two modules. The worst part of this is that you may not realize this in time, severely compromising your chances of securing a high score. Studying under a mentor will give your studies the right direction. You will be more assured of the practice sets you have solved and the outcome you have achieved in those.
3. Get Access to Tested and Proven Strategies
There are more than 25 question types and 3 Speaking Parts in the IELTS syllabus. Each question type needs a different approach. If you decide to opt for self-study, you will end up spending considerable time finalizing how to solve these questions and which style suits you the best. However, if you decide to study with an expert, you get ready access to tested and proven tips, techniques, and strategies for all these questions. These strategies can help you beat the clock during Reading, keep calm during Listening, and organize your thoughts during the Writing and Speaking modules of the test.
4. Get Personalized Assessment
Once you start implementing the strategies shared by an expert, you need to know if they really work for you. IELTS does not follow a one-size-fits-all style of testing. In other words, the strategies which work for your friends may not work for you. This is where an instructor can help you with personalized suggestions. Apart from this, you need someone to regularly review your Writing Tasks and Spoken Responses. The IELTS follows a detailed scoring scheme for both these sections, and only an expert mentor will be able to assess your performance according to the official scoring rubrics. The instructor can also highlight areas of concern and then share remedial measures that you need to follow to iron out the issues at hand. Here at EZ Scholar, our students not only receive item-wise scores, but they also get benefited by the personal dashboard which gives them an isight into their preparedness for the test.
5. Boost Your Confidence
Let’s face it – IELTS preparation can bog you down at times. You can get overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks, the pace of questions, the demands related to time management, and so on. Alternatively, you may get frustrated if you do not see the kind of increase in your practice test scores that you were expecting. An expert mentor can get you out of this situation by helping you to focus on your strengths and sharing alternative ways of reaching your goals in the tasks that you are struggling with. Many students struggle with exam anxiety; despite doing well during practice, they often struggle during the final test. Going through your IELTS Mock Tests under the supervision of an expert tutor can bring such behavior to the fore, allowing for corrective measures on time.
As you can see, having an expert trainer guide you through your preparation for the IELTS has many advantages. You can be more assured with your preparation and can focus on practicing rather than fussing about unnecessary thoughts which might otherwise distract you from your end goal – securing a high score on the IELTS and getting an admit in your dream university abroad.
EZ Scholar is a premium admissions consultancy and test prep organization which works with bright and ambitious students seeking admissions to Ivy Leagues, Oxbridge and other top global universities. Our experts have mentored thousands of students with their profile building, research papers, extracurricular and co-curricular activities, test prep and admissions essays.
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