9 keys to score a 7+ Band at IELTS.
9 keys to score a 7+ Band at IELTS
Before understanding how to score a Band 7+ in the IELTS exam, it is more important to understand why you should aspire for a Band 7 and above. IELTS has 9 different bands ranging from Band 1 to Band 9. Band 9 is considered to be the best band.
You are allotted a particular band depending upon your performance and proficiency in the language. The higher the band, the better job opportunities you have. While Band 6 just talks about competency in the language, it is at Band 7 that you are certified to be a good user, a very good user at Band 8 and an expert user at Band 9.
Most of the multinational organizations look for bands between 7 and 9, while recruiting people from the home country or different countries.
I would suggest the following tips for getting a band 7 and above:
1. Avoid wrong focus: Instead of focussing on the sample exams and mock answers all the time, focus on improving your language, reading and writing the same as a practice. If you focus on the exam pattern too much, your understanding of the exam may improve but not English language. This will be of no help.
2. Be comfortable in your native accent: IELTS judge how good you are in the language and not where your origin is. It is a myth amongst students that non – native students cannot get a high band. This is not true. If your grammar, vocabulary and basics of language are in place, you can even get a band 9 in spite of your native accent.
3. Enhance your vocabulary: A strong vocabulary becomes a pre-requisite for achieving higher bands at IELTS. Keep on adding as many words to your vocabulary as possible. This cannot be done in a day but make conscious attempts to expand your word power.
4. Do not get distracted: Sometimes examiner may look into the watch during your speaking test. This should not hamper your fluency and should not make you stammer. You should have enough control on yourself to continue speaking in spite of a few distractions.
5. Pocket dictionary is the “mantra”: It is a fact that getting habitual to carrying a pocket dictionary with you and refereeing to it as and when needed is the best and the simplest way of enhancing one’s vocabulary and improving the language. Even if you spend 15 days with your pocket dictionary honestly, you have accomplished more than half of your job.
6. Aspirations should be supplemented with preparation: There is no doubt about the fact that aspiring for a Band 7 and above will require little more hard work and inputs than the ones needed to clear the lower bands. It is vital that you have prepare yourself well.
A couple of things you can do for a good preparation are:
- Take a couple of mock exams,
- Try speaking only in English for a couple of days at home with family and friends,
- Monitor your writing speed by keeping a stop watch and noting how many words you write per minute. It is possible to increase the same if needed to as much as twice the speed in just 10 days.
- Record your voice and hear the same later for mistakes. More importantly learn from these mistakes.
- Brush up grammar and vocabulary of high school.
7. Google is not God: Google cannot replace a dictionary and grammar and vocabulary books like “Wren and Martin” etc
8. Last minute revision: There is no replacement of last minute revision. It is still the success mantra of all the toppers
9. Do not give up: If you forget while speaking, you may start from the beginning. However, giving up and apologising for the same will only reduce the marks drastically. However, trying to mend up for the lost part will only help in fetching marks.
There is a difference between an examiner and a devil: Go with a mindset that the examiner is there only to help you and give you the certification. He is not a barrier but a moderator in your exam and he will extract the best out of you. Having a positive attitude always helps to achieve high milestones.
