IELTS tests are no longer challenging. Unfortunately, many people in your community will spread a few misconceptions to make you fear this simple exam. It is encouraging for every learner to steer clear of these superstitious notions. Just believe in yourself and put in the effort; hard work always pays off. The following five IELTS Myths should be avoided to succeed on the test.
1. Accent helps you get higher scores
Because the IELTS is an English language exam, it is common IELTS myths to presume that speaking with a British or American accent will benefit the candidate’s speaking results. However, speaking with a false foreign accent is not the key to success; it will probably make you less accurate and cost you points since you will spend less time concentrating on your accent and more time being coherent and fluent. Regardless of where you are from or your accent, it would help if you attempted to be as transparent as you could. Accents are not evaluated, but there are standards for fluency, topicality, grammatical meaning, and pronunciation.
Concentrate on pronouncing each phrase as correctly as possible rather than worrying about your accent. As a result, you must pay attention to phrase constructions, intonation, and sounds. Try to practice pronouncing words and sentences out loud to improve your pronunciation. Imitating native speakers’ precise intonation and repetition will help you pronounce words more accurately.
2. Only grammar helps
The speaking test has four evaluation criteria: fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and correctness, and pronunciation. These four factors are equally vital, and each has the same weight. You won’t have a significant edge just by being good at one thing. It also applies to grammar. If they understand the fundamentals of English grammar, it will be simple for them to perform well in this subject.
However, proper grammar will only award you one-fourth of the points required to succeed. It would be best if you also practiced a lot on the other criteria to achieve a speaking score of 7 or higher. In terms of your language, this is especially true. You may demonstrate strong fluency by knowing more words and using them appropriately.
Your speech’s general structure and ability to communicate in an organized way can benefit from using connectors, such as First, Second, Last, Additionally, Additionally, Therefore, To, etc.
3. Speak fast without hesitation
Grammar and vocabulary can help you communicate more fluently, but you must also focus on communicating clearly. What it implies is that you need to talk logically in addition to using English. For you to get a decent grade, the examiner must understand you.
If you babble to demonstrate that you are well-versed in the subject but discover that you need to make more sense, you should reconsider how you approach your speech. It won’t be a favorable first impression for you with the examiner.
Try to continue as you practice speaking. Nevertheless, avoid doing that by saying it more quickly. But speak less slowly. You can take a breath, and converse normally, and you should only experience a small amount of reluctance.
4. The computer-based exam is complicated
Some people believe that taking the IELTS exam on paper rather than a computer is always preferable due to the computerized test’s higher difficulty level. It is pure fiction; the aptitude of the test-taker is the only factor determining the test’s difficulty. The test’s poor performance cannot be traced to any of its components. The questions on each exam will be similar.
The computer-based test might be more advantageous for you if you are familiar with technology and prefer typing to writing. On the other hand, the paper-based test will be more straightforward for you if you are more comfortable writing than typing. Instead of believing that one exam is more challenging, you may play to your strengths and utilize your abilities.
5. Writing more will help you to get a higher score
It’s a frequent misconception concerning the IELTS that the more you write, the better your results will be. The IELTS exam will evaluate your language proficiency. The caliber of your work will be considered rather than how many words you produce. There isn’t a simple strategy you can use, like “write 10% more than necessary” to boost your grade.
If the question specifies a word restriction for your response, do your best to stick to it. That doesn’t imply that you have to be precise or that you can’t write fewer or more words, but the overall concept is to tailor your material to the question’s requirements. Typing too much can reduce the number, but write within the limit.
Conclusion
The IELTS is not a challenging exam. Anyone can achieve a high band if they put in the necessary time and effort. As far as possible, stay away from the myths mentioned above and misunderstandings and concentrate on how you can raise your score. It is essential to acquire quality instruction from subject-matter specialists so that you can practice a lot and get good feedback on your speaking and writing skills.
FAQs:
Q: Is it true that using complex words will guarantee a higher IELTS score?
No, using overly complex words without proper context can actually harm your score. IELTS assesses your ability to communicate effectively, so clarity and appropriateness of vocabulary are more crucial than complexity.
Q: Can I prepare for IELTS in just a week and still score well?
It’s advisable to start preparation well in advance. While last-minute studying might help, a comprehensive and structured preparation over several weeks is more effective in improving your language skills and test strategies.
Q: Do I need to memorize model answers for IELTS Writing and Speaking tasks?
Memorizing model answers is not recommended. Examiners are trained to recognize memorized responses, and it may negatively impact your score. Focus on understanding the question and expressing your thoughts clearly.
Q: Is it necessary to speak with a British accent to score well in the IELTS Speaking test?
IELTS is an international test, and accents are not graded. What matters is clear pronunciation and effective communication. Speak naturally and focus on conveying your ideas, rather than trying to imitate a specific accent.
Q: Will practicing only with sample tests be sufficient for IELTS preparation?
While practicing with sample tests is beneficial, it’s equally important to work on improving your language skills. Enhance your reading, writing, listening, and speaking abilities alongside mock tests to achieve a well-rounded preparation for the IELTS exam.