Things People are Scared About in IELTS and How to Overcome Them?

Like every exam, people are afraid of IELTS exam too. The fear is due to different questions that continuously ponder them in their thoughts. Check if you also have below questions in your mind?

• Will I get my desired score?
• Can I get band 7?
• Can I get 7 band in writing?
• I need 6 band in each module for immigration, can I make it this time?
• I want to take admission in Oxford university, will I be able to 7 band in each module?

Different people have targets of achieving different band scores in IELTS. Let’s discuss your most common fears of giving IELTS exam and make efforts to overcome them.

IELTS Listening Module

What if I skipped the audio?

Listening is all about concentration and this game can only be won if you focus until the audio clip is stopped. This is where you find it difficult to stay focused and avoid distractions that may cost you marks because if you skipped the audio, the other questions get affected as well since it will take time for you to get back on track.

Solution:

Practice more and more listening tests to know your weaknesses. Every time you complete a listening test, check your answers and analyse your mistakes also. Then the next time you complete a listening test, be more conscious and attentive.

Put more efforts and try to give your 100% in staying focussed throughout the test. Be positive and do not think of the worries or tensions if you may have at home or work. Just focus on your exam!

The other tip is to make short notes and write down something important from the audio.

IELTS Reading Module

What if I don’t complete reading test on time?  

The biggest fear in reading module is to complete all the questions within 1 hour which also includes transferring answers. Hence, you are afraid if the time may not get over and your sheet may not be snatched by the examiner before your transfer your questions to the answer sheet. From start till the end of your reading test, this notion is there in your mind haunting you like anything.

Solution:

Time management is the utmost important skill that you need badly in the reading test. Managing time implies dividing the time properly for the three passages.

Keep on looking at the timer so that you can track your pace level of solving questions.

Do not spend a lot of time on one particular question. Instead, guess it and move on to the other question. You may also mark this kind of question so that if you get some time at the end, you may give a closer look to that question again.

IELTS Writing Module

What if I get a topic about which I can’t find ideas to write?

This situation is quite common and frightens the students who have not been writing a lot in their life. When the students get an essay question, they spend a lot of time thinking for the ideas to write in the body paragraphs. Usually, it is because of the fear that they may be writing something wrong or irrelevant.

Solution:

Preparation and practice are the two important things that will help you out in overcoming this situation in the exam.

Read a lot of essays with sample answers to get an idea on what you have to write and hence, you would be able to absorb others’ ideas in your mind.

Also, remember that it is more important how you write accurately rather than what you write as IELTS examiners are not looking for your expertise in that particular topic.

IELTS Speaking Module

What if I go blank in cue card part of speaking test?

The fearsome situation that you may face, especially if you are appearing in the exam for the first time, is going blank and searching for content while speaking. Many people who are not in the habit of speaking a lot usually get stuck in the cue card section. Other fears you may have while speaking can be related to speaking with a lot of hesitation and grammar errors.

Solution:

Whether it is the problem of hesitation, lack of content or fear of speaking without grammatical errors, practice will make you perfect.

The best solution is to speak on a cue card and record your voice when you prepare for speaking test at home.

Analysing your mistakes will help you gain stability and confidence in speaking, making you attentive enough that you avoid grammar mistakes or hesitation the next time you speak.