Many of my students have told me they think of IELTS as this MONSTER that they are afraid to face.
Honestly, I can’t blame them. Some people are scared of failing and letting themselves down or disappointing their parents and families. Others had a previous bad experience where they froze up during the test and just couldn’t perform. Then there’s fear of the unknown, which can be terrifying. The cost of failure goes beyond money – it’s their future prospects, hopes and dreams that are at stake.
Zig Ziglar once said,
F-E-A-R has two meanings: ‘Forget Everything And Run’ or ‘Face Everything And Rise.’ The choice is yours.
And here’s your step-by-step guide to overcoming your fear:
Step 1: Understand the Beast
Start by familiarising yourself with the IELTS format. When you know what to expect, it makes the test much less scary and reduces your anxiety.
Step 2: Identify Your Fears
Think which sections of IELTS cause you the most stress. Is it the Speaking test, the time pressure of the Reading section, or something else? Once you know what scares you the most, you can tackle it head-on.
Step 3: Arm yourself with the right tools
Use strategy books and practice tests to work on your skills in listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Focus particularly on your weak spots identified in Step 2.
Step 4: Break It Down
Tackle your fears by breaking them into smaller, more manageable tasks. For example, if speaking is your weak point, practice speaking about a variety of topics with friends, or record yourself to gain confidence.
Step 5: Practice Relentlessly
Consistent practice builds confidence. Simulate exam conditions as much as possible to improve your time management and achieve both speed AND accuracy.
Step 6: Seek Feedback
Constructive criticism is your friend. Feedback from an IELTS expert is the fastest way to understand what you should do to raise your score, especially in the areas causing you fear, such as Speaking.
Step 7: Celebrate Progress
Acknowledge and celebrate your improvements, no matter how small. This motivates you to keep pushing forward!
Follow this method to conquer your fear and soon IELTS will become a milestone on your path to a better future.
