How to ace your IELTS test  

Obviously, a larger vocabulary can help you to increase your IELTS score especially in the reading and listening exams. If you have a larger vocabulary, you can better understand the meaning of the questions which will save you a lot of time on the test. Of course, unfamiliar words are bound to exist in the IELTS test, so there is no need to be anxious about seeing them. 

Don't keep your head buried in memorising words or simply working on the mock questions found on the market. Be sure to do at least one original IELTS test question to simulate a real exam. Record the time and see if you can finish the test on time and any questions that may arise during the exam. It is a real possibility that you will not be able to finish the questions and the essay in the real exam. Therefore, it is important to use previous years' exam papers to simulate and practice so that you can familiarise yourself with the pace of the exam. 

There must be a lot of “great” writing and speaking answer templates on the Internet. In the exam, avoid memorising these templates as they are because, while you are using this template, there is a chance that someone else will be using the same content. Examiners don’t want to read the same content again and again. 

The third stage of the speaking test is a question and answer session. There is no template for this part. If your state is completely different from the first two stages, for example, the fluency is significantly slower and there are a lot of grammatical errors, it will cause the examiner to be alerted. Then, the score will likely be much lower

Especially for Chinese students, the speaking test is something that they have rarely been exposed to before. If you can, it is a good idea to have a conversation with a native English teacher or friend to practice your speaking skills. Also, be sure to seek advice and feedback to improve yourself. It is normal to feel nervous and anxious during the speaking test, and regular speaking practice with a native English teacher or friend can help you feel more confident during the test. 

The staff at UTS College HELPS Centre are happy to help and support you in your IELTS exam to the best of their ability. You can make an appointment with them to practice speaking, assist with your written grammar, and answer questions to help you with your reading and listening, etc. This is a free service for UTS College students.