Essential Exam Tips for IELTS General Training Takers

Don’t underestimate the IELTS General Training exam. Just because it doesn’t use advanced or formal language like the IELTS Academic test, doesn’t mean that it’s going to be a piece of cake. Make every second of your review period count. Prepare with an excellent IELTS package and follow the tips below to enhance your test performance.


IELTS general training


  1. Study the example. There’s an example at the beginning of the IELTS listening exam. Don’t disregard it. Familiarize yourself with how the recording sounds, its subject matter, and its speakers.


  1. In the recordings of the IELTS listening test, the answer to the first question will be mentioned first, followed by the answer to the second question, and so on. So, keep an eye on the questions as you listen to the audio material. Take note of the answers and key points.


  1. Don’t panic if you encounter an unfamiliar word or expression. You don’t need to understand everything to ace the test. You just need to find the answers. So, focus on the recording.


  1. Proofread your answers. Check all of your responses—be it a phrase or a lengthy essay—for spelling, grammar, and structure errors.


  1. Stick to a single writing style.

You can write your answers in uppercase or lowercase. Pick one and stick to it. If you opted to use lowercase letters, pay close attention to your proper nouns. Make sure they are all capitalized.


  1. Practice your handwriting skills. If the IELTS checker can’t understand your handwriting, then they can’t score your work. So, ensure your handwriting’s legible. Practice your writing skills alongside your IELTS package


  1. Beware of answer traps. They’re mostly found in the IELTS General Training exam’s listening and reading components. Common pitfalls include:


  • changed answers in the listening exam, when the speaker backtracks and changes an established point
  • statements that are almost identical to the question yet do not hold the answer you require


Enroll in an IELTS package to learn more about tricky test traps and how to avoid them.


  1. Follow the prescribed word count. This is crucial in the IELTS reading and writing exams. Go over or under the word limit and you’ll lose points in your final results. So, count your words before moving on the next item.


  1. Guess if you don’t know the answer. Don’t leave any item blank. Guess the answer. Don’t worry; you won’t get deductions for incorrect responses.


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