IELTS preparation tips from winners

This post is dedicated to an amazing person, Avinash, who faced a ‘do-or-die’ situation. IELTS Band 9 in Listening was the only thing that could save him from having to leave the USA and go back to India. It would give him an opportunity to live his best life in Canada.

His journey was nerve-wracking and looked hopeless at times, but… he made it! This is a story best told by the person who lived it. Hear it from Avinash, in his own words:

Background

I was in an interesting phase of my life and IELTS-Blog.com changed my life for good. I wanted to emigrate from the US to Canada and the Canadian immigration needed a high score in listening (Band 9) to award the most points to high skilled immigrants.

Before

No matter how many tests I took I always ended up with a band 7 in Listening. Test after test, the score would not move. Needless to say, my frustration was through the roof. I stopped taking Listening tests, instead I started listening to BBC podcast and other audio files that have nothing to do with IELTS.

A month passed by and I took one test and I was back to square one – no change in my score. Listening was the only section I needed the highest score and it was the only section I would score less month after month. I was willing to do anything to improve my score, my life depended on it. I was literally getting kicked out from the US due to visa issues. IELTS was my way in to another country, Canada. I was devastated!

After

A few days later, I summoned up courage and started with a Google search on how to improve Listening and with some divine intervention I stumbled upon IELTS-Blog.com. The Listening strategies I read on it hit home for me. I read them over and over again until they registered in my brain. Before I was ready to take another IELTS listening test I practiced the strategies discussed on the blog. I have taken the High Scorer’s Choice Tests 1 – 10 and they are some of the best practice exams one can use to best prepare themselves for the real IELTS test.

Another month passed by. The stakes were high and I needed this to work. I took a mock test and lo and behold, it worked! I got a good 38 out of 40 in my very first attempt. There was nothing holding me back now and I took the actual test within a week. I can tell you these techniques work. Practice and witness the results yourself. I got a band 9 in Listening and all the credit goes to IELTS-Blog.com.

Lessons Learned

My experience with IELTS was different from all the other tests I took in the past as a student, namely TOEFL and GRE. They were technical and required a lot of uncommon use of words/vocabulary. IELTS seems deceptively simple up to band 7 to 7.5 but to truly get a higher score one has to understand the test in intricate details. At the time I was working full-time and to realize that IELTS requires a certain style of preparation took me a long time. It was only after going through several of your blog posts that I realized the technicalities of the test and not just the language per se.

It is hard to commit yourself to a consistent prep time when you are working or juggling kids in everyday life, but IELTS-Blog.com, when read carefully, gives you the formula to crack the exam. As an engineer this appeals the most to me and sets apart this blog from hundreds out there. Being a non-native English speaker I always underestimated the knowledge of language I had whenever I got a lower score. However, I have realized most of us have what it takes to crack the exam, it is the hidden formula you need to know to get a high score.

Congratulations on your amazing Band 9, Avinash!

This post is dedicated to the smashing success of our wonderful VIP Club Member, Victor, who soared to an impressive Band 7 in his IELTS exam.

Background

Victor is an aspiring migrant to Australia from Peru and a native Spanish speaker. He embarked on his IELTS preparation journey with a clear goal: to achieve a Band 7 score and get a visa to Australia. His journey led him to our IELTS Online Prep platform, where he found the resources and support he needed to succeed.

Challenge

Victor needed a comprehensive preparation strategy that would not only familiarise him with the IELTS format but also enhance his skills in all four components of the test. With a particular focus on speaking and writing, he looked for resources that offered practical, exam-like experience.

Solution

As soon as he discovered our website, Victor immediately joined as a VIP Club member and got access to our range of mock tests, finding them remarkably similar to the actual IELTS exam. This realistic practice was crucial in building his confidence and test-taking skills.

Victor expressed his appreciation, saying, “Your website has fantastic mock tests to practice, and I engaged immediately after checking it out.”

Key aspects of our platform that Victor found invaluable included:

1. Model Answers on the VIP Club Website: “I found the model answers on the VIP Club website very useful, with relevant examples for both the writing and speaking sections with great vocabulary,” Victor noted. These resources provided him with high-quality examples, incorporating relevant content and advanced vocabulary.
2. Mock Tests: “The mock tests on the IELTS Online Prep platform were 100% similar to the real IELTS test, and this was the most valuable part for me,” Victor shared. These tests were instrumental in his preparation, helping him understand the test format and time management.
3. IELTS-Blog App: Victor found this tool particularly helpful for speaking practice, describing it as “very friendly and straightforward.”

Outcome

Victor’s dedicated preparation culminated in him taking the IELTS test in October. Despite feeling nervous, especially in the speaking section, he achieved an impressive overall band score of 7. His lowest band was 6.5 in speaking, which he attributes to exam-day nerves, because his performance in the mock test was much, much better.

Feedback and Acknowledgment

Victor extends his gratitude to our team, especially teacher Camden, for providing detailed and constructive feedback on his speaking mock tests. He credits the success of his IELTS journey to the comprehensive resources and support provided by our platform, saying, “I couldn’t have made it without reading and practicing on your website.”

Conclusion

Victor’s story proves yet again how effective your IELTS preparation becomes with the right guidance and resources. His achievement of Band 7 not only marks a significant milestone in his migration journey but also serves as an inspiration to other IELTS test takers. We are proud to have played a part in Victor’s success and wish him all the best in his future endeavours in Australia.

Congratulations on your amazing Band 7, Victor!