1. Decide if you are doing General Training or Academic 

2. Understand the Test Format 

3. Set Realistic Goals: The keyword here is ‘realistic’. There is a big difference between the score you want and the score you are realistically going to get. Effective IELTS preparation will help you succeed and will ensure that you get the best score you can possibly get, but it does not ensure miracles. 

4. Understand Marking Criteria 

5. Understand the Different Question Types: There are more than 10 different types of question for Reading and Listening. Again, there are more than 10 different kinds of question on the Writing test. Knowing these will give you a huge advantage because each of them requires a different approach and strategy. 

6. Perfect Your IELTS Skills: There are many different approaches and strategies that you need in order to succeed in IELTS. For example, do you know how to write an effective introduction and conclusion? Do you know how to develop your answers in the speaking test? Do you know how to quickly locate the correction information in the reading test? 

7. Improve Your Vocabulary: Vocabulary is a huge part of the IELTS test. It covers 25% of your total mark in Speaking and Writing. It is also tested in the Reading 

8. Practice English Every Day 

9. Practice Tests and Get your speaking and writing skills assessed: You should do IELTS practice tests in order to establish what your current band score is and also to familiarise yourself with the test. 

It is very important that you get a qualified teacher to assess your speaking and writing. They will be able to tell you your current level, but more importantly, they will be able to tell you what your weaknesses are. 

This is probably the most important part of your IELTS preparation. If you do not know what your weaknesses are, you are really wasting a lot of time because you have no idea what to focus on. You must focus on the things that you are not good at in order to improve. 

The most effective strategy for IELTS preparation is to find out your weaknesses, go away and work on them and then come back and have your work assessed by an experienced IELTS teacher. They can then tell you if you have improved or not and then advise you on what to focus on next. 

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