If you are applying abroad, you must take an English language test in all cases. IELTS is the most famous and widely accepted test that students are usually afraid of. Here are a few tips to help you score 7 plus bands in IELTS. 

Listen to English through audiobooks and speeches

Listen Actively: Listen to English audiobooks and speeches regularly to improve your listening and speaking skills. Example question: Listen to the audio and answer the following questions about the speaker's opinions or arguments.

Listening to English is not only good for the listening module of IELTS but also for speaking. If we compare, listening is the easiest part of IELTS and then comes speaking (for most of the students). Securing high bands in these modules can impact your overall score to a great deal. So, don’t take them lightly just because they are easy. Rather take them seriously because they can change the overall score for you.   

Practice speaking 

Speak Regularly: Practice speaking English with friends or colleagues, or even by yourself. Example question: Describe a memorable event from your childhood.

Practicing speaking before appearing in IELTS is a must. You cannot simply go and speak before the examiner directly. This instruction is for those who generally are able to speak English with their friends or colleagues. You need at least a little bit of practice before the exam. You can start communicating in English with others and watching shows in English. However, if you are not good at speaking at all, you will need proper classes.  

Read books or newspapers loudly

Read Aloud: Reading books or newspapers out loud can enhance your pronunciation and fluency. Example question: Read a passage and summarize it in your own words.

If you want to improve your speaking and reading skills, this practice can be very helpful. Read your books or newspapers loudly. It does not necessarily have to be before someone else. Do it in your own room where you do not have anyone else. This will help you with your English speaking and also reading to score well in both of these modules. But this is not a one-week practice. You have to do it regularly for a long time until you start seeing improvement. This will also help you in your overall English communication.  

Practice reading and listening exercises from the mini IELTS

Practice Reading and Listening: Use official IELTS practice materials to familiarize yourself with different question types. Example question: Fill in the blanks with the correct words from the passage.

Before IELTS, you sure need some practice. Reading is the most difficult module among all others in IELTS. You get long passages, complicated questions, and a very limited time to complete this module. You should have a clear idea about all types of questions and how to solve them. There are sometimes questions like finding the right heading for a paragraph, matching the columns, filling the missing words, labeling a picture with the help of a passage, etc. In order to utilize your time the maximum, practice all types of questions beforehand. 

Likewise, practice listening tests until you start scoring full marks in them. Listening is easy but it can be tricky sometimes. It sometimes becomes difficult to read all the instructions before the audio starts. You will get an idea about it from the practice tests.

Understand the writing parts and practice each question at least once   

Understand Writing Tasks: Practice writing essays and graph descriptions to improve your writing skills. Example question: Write an essay discussing the advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad.

The questions that come in the writing module can also be tricky sometimes. You have to understand them completely not to get confused. One question is usually an essay and the other one is a picture or graph illustration. The facts and figures have to be taken very precisely and carefully in order to illustrate a diagram or a graph accurately. So, take instructions from online sources or some instructor and practice such tests at least a few times. 

Time management is the key

Manage Your Time: Practice time management during the exam to ensure you complete all sections. Example question: Read the passage and answer the questions in the given time limit.

If you want to score a 7 in writing, make sure you complete both questions well before time and read them twice. The word in that computer does not work as we use in our computers. So, there will be minute mistakes that if not corrected can take you to a 6 band. Likewise, the reading module is the most difficult to complete on time. Move to the next question if you think the current one is taking a lot of time. But never leave any question unanswered as there is no negative marking.