So you’re going to sit the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test.   In order to prepare and give yourself the best chance for success, there are a number of things you should start practicing now.

The following 10 useful strategies will help you to prepare to sit the IELTS test and improve your skills across the 4 areas of listening, reading, writing and speaking.

1. Make sure you are familiar with the structure of each test so you know what to expect.
2. Plan to organise your time throughout each test.  If you do not complete a task in the recommended time, go onto the next task.
3. Read the questions carefully and try to understand the different question types.
4. Try to answer all of the questions. If necessary you can guess the answer.
5. Try to get a quick general understanding of the IELTS reading passages then locate the information you need to answer each question.
6. Practice writing the two IELTS writing tasks in 60 minutes.  You should write no more than 200 words for task 1 and no more than 300 words for task 2.
7. Practice listening, reading and writing at the same time.  You can do this by listening to a cassette while you read.
8. Practice the IELTS speaking test by speaking about different general topics.   You can speak with other people or by yourself if you have to.
9. Develop your vocabulary.  Try to learn at least 5 new words every day.
10. Practice writing and reading at least 30 minutes every day.

For more help in preparing for the IELTS test, enrol in an IELTS Preparation course.