JRooz Review Center IELTS TIPS

-------------------------------------------------- Tried and Tested Tips for IELTS

By JROOZ Review Center

-------------------------------------------------- Listening tips

1. Read and understand the questions before the recording starts. Scan the questions quickly! Make sure to follow

the recording so you do not get lost. If you do, move on to the next question.

2. Anticipate and predict. Look at a question set before the recording before that set is played, especially after each

section. This will give you more time to think about the answers to the succeeding questions.

3. When answering questions with lists, note that sometimes options are arranged in alphabetical order, not in the

order that they are mentioned in the recording.

4. Note word limits. For instance, if the instruction says ‘Write no more than three words’, then writing four words

will be make your answer wrong.

5. Watch out for key words and synonyms. They alert you if answers are about to be given.

6. Listen and note spellings and numbers – they might be the answer. This means that you need to know how each

individual letter and number is pronounced.

7. Listen for Time Markers and other transitional words like ‘firstly’, ‘another point is’ and ‘summing up’. These

indicate which part of the test you are already in.

8. Eliminate unlikely answers. Cross them out. This makes it easier for you to find the right answer.

9. Answer questions you have missed! This is not a right minus wrong exam.

10. Transfer your answers to your answer sheet. If you don’t, you will not receive any points!

The Listening component is the same for both versions

JRooz Review Center IELTS TIPS

Reading tips

1. Read the questions first. Identify key words and scan for them in the passage. Underline possible answers as

you go.

2. Read the topic sentence first, then the second sentence, then the last sentence in each paragraph. According to

one source, 70-80% of the answers can be found in these sentences.

3. Take note of paraphrases. Example: taken simultaneously = taken at the same time; damage to the body = harm

to body organs.

4. The passages always contain the information you need. If you can’t find them, search smarter – use the key

words you have identified when you were looking the questions and scan for them in the passages.

5. Spelling matters.

6. In labeling a diagram, copy the exact words from the passage.

7. Remember to examine all the words and phrases in a chart or table.

8. Go back to the items you have missed and make educated guesses.

9. Sometimes, you would have to spend more time on the second and the last passages.

10. Transfer your answers to your answer sheet. You will not be given extra time to transfer your answers after the 60 minutes are up.

, official documents,

JRooz Review Center IELTS TIPS

Writing tips

1. Understand the question task. Be sure to answer the question directly and that all sentences and paragraphs

support your answer.

2. Cover all points. You will be penalized for points not well discussed.

3. Write at least 150 words for Task 1 and 250 words for Task 2 to meet the word count requirement.

4. Write complete sentences, not notes or bullet points. Essays, after all, are made up of sentences.

5. Plan. Allot 1-2 minutes planning your response in Task 1, and 2-3 minutes planning your response to Task 2.

6. Paraphrase. In IELTS, the word count requirement does not include words copied from the question.

7. Organize. Each paragraph should ONLY be about one topic. Writing a topic sentence for each paragraph helps.

This is usually the first sentence of each paragraph. The topic sentence will help you identify whether ideas are

relevant.

8. Write 4-5 paragraphs. In all cases, there should be an introduction, a body and a conclusion.

9. Know your sentence structures and combine them. Sentences that are well-written will help the examiner

understand your points effortlessly whereas variation in sentence structure will up your Grammar points.

10. Your response to Academic Writing Task 1 should be based on the presented data. Select only relevant points

from the graph, table or diagram to discuss. Opinions are unacceptable.

11. Be coherent. Arguments should support each other. Sentences and ideas should flow smoothly into one another.

Also, your last paragraph should be a conclusion which is consistent with the arguments you have included in

your essay.

12. Be grammatically accurate. Know your subject and verb agreement, articles, consistency of verb tense, and the

like.

13. Spell words correctly. Standard American, Australian and British spellings are acceptable in IELTS.

issues and ideas.

JRooz Review Center IELTS TIPS

Speaking tips

1. Listen carefully to the questions you are asked, so that your answers are relevant.

2. Answer the questions you’re asked with some detail so that your answers are long enough.

3. Talk to the examiner .Your ability to converse matters.

4. Practice speaking for 2 minutes for the speech in Part 2.

5. Use the preparation time in Part 2 to think about the questions written on the card. Make notes for your answers

6. Use the prompts on the card in Part 2 to help you to organize your speech.

7. Practice ways of buying time to give yourself time to think in Part 3.

8. Explain your opinions and give examples to support them.

9. Avoid repeating the words used by the examiner. Use your own words to show the examiner your full ability.

10. Use verb tenses used in the question. For example, if the question is ‘What subject did you like in your childhood

days?’ (in the past tense), your answer should be something like ‘When I was young, I liked Mathematics more

than any other subject I had in school’ (in the past tense.)