IELTS 2026 Preparation Tips: Study Tips & Free Preparation Resources

If you want to get good score like Band 9, you have to prepare smart. These are some of tips to score good in IELTS test.

Listening Section

This part is tricky because you hear audio only once.

• Accents: The test have different voices like British, Australian or Scottish. Sometimes Australian accent is hard to understand. Listen to BBC 6 Minute English to get used to it.

• Spelling: Be very careful. If your spelling is wrong, you get zero mark for that answer.

• Predict: Before audio start, you have some time. Read question and try to predict the answer. Guess if it is a name or number.

How Are Listening Marks Calculated?

Reading Section

Time is very less here. You have to be fast.

• Skimming and Scanning: Don't read every single word. Use Skimming to understand main idea quickly and Scanning to find specific details.

• Vocabulary: You need to know many words. Use book like Barron’s Essential Words to learn new words.

• Reading Speed: You only have 60 mins. Use website like Speeder to train your eyes to read faster.

Tips: IELTS Reading with Practice Tests with Answers

Writing Section

Many people make mistake here focusing only on grammar.

• Structure: How you organize your essay is very important. Good structure give you almost 50% of the score.

• Typing Speed: If you take computer exam, you need good typing speed. If you type slow, you will not finish.

• Grammar: Check small things. Many student make mistake with articles (a, an, the). Be careful with that.

Tips: IELTS Writing Task 1 & Task 2 Tips

Speaking Section

You need to be confident.

• Record Yourself: Best trick is to record yourself on phone. When you listen to recording, you will hear your bad grammar or pronunciation.

• Summarize: Watch videos on YouTube and try to summarize what they said. Speak it loudly.

• Sample Answers: Watch Band 9 sample answers. See how they answer and try to copy their style and words.

Practice here: Free IELTS Speaking Practice Test

Important Tips for IELTS 

• Practice with Timer: Always set a clock when you study. Real exam is very strict with time.

• Analyze Mistakes: If you get answer wrong, don't just ignore. Find out why it was wrong so you don't repeat it.

• Synonyms: The test is tricky. They use synonyms (different words with same meaning). If you know synonyms, you find answer easy.

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• Mock Tests for the students to practice before the exam

How to Join Free IELTS Classes by Shiksha Study Abroad?

 

IELTS exam pattern covers four sections. You must complete the Listening, Reading, and Writing tests on the same day without any breaks, taking about 2 hours and 45 minutes. The Speaking test is separate. It is a short face-to-face interview that usually happens on a different date.

You receive a score from 1 to 9 for each section, and these are combined to give you an overall IELTS band score. It is precise. Reading is very objective. Your raw score depends on how many questions you answer correctly out of 40, which is then converted into a specific band level. You need practice.

Writing is judged differently. Human examiners assess your work based on four criteria like task achievement and grammar, each counting for 25% of the total mark. It is detailed. Speaking checks your fluency. The examiner listens to your pronunciation and vocabulary usage during a face-to-face interview to see how well you can communicate ideas. Speak very naturally. Each part is equal. The final IELTS score is calculated as the average of all four skills, rounded to the nearest half or whole band. It is fair.

These tips will help you in improving IELTS band score for IELTS Academic test. Also preparation can be fun activity even watching television discussions and chatting with your friends can be part of your preparation list.

Also after while learn where you stand and do progress check. Take IELTS Practice tests with and without time and learn your strengths and weaknesses. You can get official IELTS practice material that will help you to give IELTS test experience with real IELTS questions. These tips will help you improve your IELTS band score for IELTS Academic test. Also preparation can be fun activity; even watching television discussions and chatting with your friends can be part of your preparation list.

1. Improve Reading Skills

Sharpen your skills and develop ability to search for details and make notes while reading. You need to manage time limit as you have to give answers in limited time.

2. Enhance your Writing skills

Practice writing promptly and work to improve your speed. By developing writing skills you will learn to handle Task 2 as it is longer and needs more time. Note down new words and compose sentences using them. Analyze task 2 question carefully and make sure that all parts of question have been addressed. Work on your speed so you get time to review what you have written.

3. Work on Listening skills

You can watch English news daily and write them later. Remember you can hear recording only once so be attentive and develop your listening skills so you don't need to pause recording. However if you want to listen to tape again then listen to script once more and note useful expressions. You should know what exactly has been asked and check for instructions.

4. Learn vocabulary

For this you need to read lot. Note down new words and learn how to use them in appropriate sentences. Read editorials and different magazines so you get exposure to new words. You need to use new words repeatedly to make them part of your regular speech.

5. Learn pronunciation and develop fluency

The listening section has been divided into three parts short talk structured interview and free interview. Candidates will be asked about 2-3 brief concerns on familiar topics for 4 to 5 minutes. For this practice talk in English for long time and focus on your pronunciation. Read and listen to different topics so you can learn about them and speak on different topics. Record yourself while speaking and learn your weaknesses and strengths.

If you plan carefully and have appropriate IELTS preparation material then you can prepare for the IELTS exam in one month. Make a plan. You need to create a strict daily study schedule that divides your time effectively between listening, reading, writing, and speaking tasks. It helps focus. Start with a test. You should take a full-length diagnostic mock test on the very first day to identify your current level and specific weak areas. Know your errors.

• Join IELTS Preparation Training Classes
• Solve an IELTS practice test daily
• Learn how to approach IELTS questions
• Vocabulary is important
• Focus on improving your listening and developing reading skills

By being able to follow these key pointers, IELTS preparation can get easier and applicants will be able to ace the exam in one go.

Candidates willing to study for IELTS should refer to the following materials for IELTS guides and IELTS preparation books. It helps to create a study plan –

• Use real books. You should start with the latest Cambridge IELTS series because they provide authentic past papers that exactly match the real exam questions. Trust these books.
• Go online now. You can access helpful study resources on the official IDP website to practice your listening and reading skills with updated mock tests. Use them daily.
• Download an app. You need to build your vocabulary using simple mobile apps that teach you new academic words for your essays and speaking tasks. Learn new words.
• Check your grammar. You must use a reliable grammar book to fix your sentence structures and avoid common errors that can lower your final band score. Be very accurate.