IELTS – General or Academic? IELTS is available in two variations:
Academic: When you are applying for higher education or professional registration
General: When you are migrating to Australia, Canada, the UK, or looking to apply for secondary education, trainings, internships, or for work in an English speaking country. Although both versions – General or Academic assesses 4 language skills: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.

HOW TO CRACK THE LISTENING SECTION

The listening section is divided into 4 sections. Every sections starts with instructions and questions you are given time to read. Here are a few points to remember:

• Read Instructions and Questions and listen to every detail Please do not hurry. Take time and understand what you have to do. Then move ahead to your answers or conclusions.
  
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• Copy answers at the end of the test Do not rush to copy your answers in the sections breaks. You will be getting total 10 minutes after test to copy answers to the Answer Sheet. Use the time in between sections to read the next questions.
  
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• Focus on Listening and not on Grammar or Spelling In the end you can check for the grammar and spelling while transferring your answers to the answer sheet.
  
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• First write down your Answers on the Paper While listening, write your answers on the test paper. It will save you time and help you stay focused on your questions.

• Finally, check for spelling and grammar Before you hand in your answer sheet make sure you have checked everything there is no error as per your knowledge. Don’t rush and keep some extra time for this important task.
  

HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS READING SECTION

The reading skills need prediction, finding specific information, identifying opinions, etc., which are same for both Academic and General Training Test, only the test type will be different. Academic texts are similar to University Readings whereas in General Training Paper are like documents, newspapers and flyers which are given to the candidates.

• Once again, check the instructions very carefully. Some tasks need you to use words from the text in the answer, in others you must use your own words.
  
• Do not be bothered if you are not aware of the meanings of certain words At first you may panic if English is not your first language, you may not know some vocabulary, so just move on and try to get the complete understanding of the sentence.
  
• Read. And do nothing else but Read. While doing your preparation you must give atleast an hour to read. The more you read the wider your vocabulary becomes making the test easier for you.
  
• Use your time wisely Reading test is of one hour. Try to finish each section in 20 minutes to ensure you have 3-4 minutes in the end of each section for transferring and checking answers.
  
• Say no to blanks Attempt every question. Whether you know an answer or not do not leave any answer blank. Incorrect answers do not come with any minus marking, try to guess and stand a chance to score more.
  

HOW TO HIT THE IELTS WRITING SECTION

Both for Academic or General Test, for writing section you will have two tasks to complete in 60 minutes. For Writing Task 1 of IELTS Academic Test, you need to write a summary of at about150 words with response to a graph, table, chart, or process.
For the Writing Task 1 of General Test, candidates are asked to write a letter to address and resolve a problem.
Task 2 of both General and Academic Tests a topic is given to write in response within 250 words.

• Use appropriate writing style Use formal language for writing essays and informal language for writing informal letters.
  
• Answer the question correctly As long as you answer the question there is no right or wrong answer. Your language skills are evaluated and not your ideas.
  
• Keep it succinct Brief and right answers is the key to success.
  
• Practice. Practice. Practice. Check for the 250 words and how they look like by practicing on official writing forms in your own handwriting. Do it before the test.
  
• Stick to the Topic Know the subject of the test? What it is about? Write about that and stay with the topic for the entire session.
  

HOW TO HIT THE IELTS SPEAKING SECTION

The final section involves you in conversation with the examiner, requiring you to talk about a given topic for the 20 minutes.

• Effective communication is the key Here general knowledge is not evaluated but your skill to communicate effectively is.
  
• Listen clearly before speaking Applicable everywhere, this tip has a great use in IELTS’ speaking section. Let examiner speak out his question, think and then speak.
  
• Keep the meter on Keep talking and see your score go high. But only sense.
  
• Stick to the topic Listen and come back to the topic. Explain your points and sum up everything with a conclusion.
  
• Talk Well Be fluent and use the words you have learnt. Try to show off as much vocabulary as possible.
  
• For all Sections: Stick to the timeline but do not panic Know you have to have patience and never panic in any given situation.
  

Conclusion: When you are following the tips you can be assured of a good score and landing at desired campus. Best wishes.

Source: Prepare for your IELTS test

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