Top Ways to reduce IELTS Stress

The International English Language Testing System or IELTS, is primarily taken by anybody aiming to study, immigrate or work abroad in a primarily English-speaking country. It is accepted by over 10,000 organisations in 100+ countries and the scores are valid for 2 years. For a detailed guide on IELTS’ exam pattern, registration, fees, and exam dates, visit this excellent link. We definitely recommend you check it out before perusing the following sub-topics, in order to gain a holistic understanding of the exam.

The IELTS is a huge step on the path to your Dream University or country, and it is understandably distressing. However, it presents an opportunity for you to connect with the English Language in many ways, which will also prove to be useful when you make it the aforementioned University or Country.

The IELTS Academic test duration is for 2 hours and 45 minutes. This time is distributed amongst 4 sections of the exam –

1. Reading – This section tests the analytical, critical thinking and reading skills of the candidate at a university-level. This is to assess whether you will be able to keep up with the course work and can communicate your ideas effectively.
2. Writing – The written word has been one of my mankind’s significant achievements. Mastery of a language is incomplete without mastery over its script (if there is a script; there are many without written scripts!).
3. Listening – Listening is one of the most crucial parts of interpersonal communication. If you are to work or learn abroad, where the medium of instruction is in English, then you must learn to listen, analyse and understand. You should aim to do it in such a way, that you are able to think in the English Language, the way you think in your mother tongue. Visual thinkers – read ‘able to think’ as ‘able to see’.
4. Speaking – Finally, we have the Speaking section. Speaking the language properly allows free flowing conversation and communication. It is the last of the 4 fundamental skills that the IELTS tests.

So, what are the ways to reduce stress and pressure when it comes to the IELTS exam? Let us explore these in detail!

• Read every day – English Aptitude Tests such as the IELTS and TOFEL crack under the massive weight of a student who reads books and articles every day. Your mind will begin to read more accurately and more quickly. Turn this stress into your power, by throwing it out the window for the first few legs of your IELTS Prep. Read, be curious and build your linguistic intuition. We can worry about the IELTS Exam later! :P
• Learn and prepare well – Familiarise yourself with the IELTS Exam Pattern. Know the syllabus and know the types of questions that are asked. There can be no better way to prepare if you do not know the exam first. You can check out the complete details of the IELTS exam here.
• Have a semi-solid plan – If you’re someone who absolutely needs rigidity in their exam planning, then go for a solid plan and stick to it. However, I suggest you tweak your approach a bit and allow yourself to be more versatile. Exams often test out temperament and surprise us more often than not. So have a semi-solid plan and adjust things along as you go. Read a book in a week and practice some IELTS tests in the weekend. Switch things up!
• You’re not alone – You might be thinking, "What does this person know about our stress? He may be good in English and so he isn’t worried." You’re right, but what I can tell you is that I have terrible Math anxiety and if someone told me to ‘take it easy’ before a Math Test, I would go bonkers. So, I get it. I conquered most of my math anxiety by sticking to the basics and practising every day. I realised that there are many individuals like me, and I wasn’t alone in my fears. The same is true for your case, with thousands of students taking the IELTS every year. So try to keep calm, and begin reading every day! : )
• You can take the exam again and again until you get a better score – While this is true, there is a monetary warning, because the IELTS is costly. This is why Practice Tests are so vital.
• Take Practice Tests – Nothing can prepare you better for a test than a Mock Test. It will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, formulate your strategies and build your exam-taking stamina. Take a free IELTS Practice Test here!
• Some tips and tricks from people who have taken the exam before you can go a long way! Here are some useful tips for the IELTS Reading Section and the IELTS Writing Section. Use them wisely!
• Relax before the exam, if you can – You’ve done all you can and prepared as well as you can. All you can do now, is do your best. So, try and relax, go through your notes if needed. If nervousness helps you perform better, stay a bit nervous. You know best. ; )
• Read for pleasure – I can guarantee you that if you think of reading as a chore, your skills will never improve. True, there are certain times when words are never enough, but at most times they serve to increase your knowledge, satiate your curiousity and even entertain you. Certain novels and books contain worlds within them that you will love and be engrossed by. Think of Sherlock Holmes, Harry Potter, LOTR, 1984, etc. There are ideas that the written word can expose you to, in ways you never imagined were possible. I say again, read for the sake of reading!

I hope you found this article useful and informative. The IELTS is a means to an end, and English isn’t the most superior language in the world. This is simply a way for you to get to your dreams, and learn effectively because the medium of language is English. Don’t put yourself down, and keep working towards your dreams!

All the very best for the IELTS Exam!

Written by Rahul – Content writer at Galvanize Test Prep.

Cheers and Best Wishes from Galvanise

• Rahul

Hi, I really passionate about writing blogs for Finance. And my blogs will help them.