Lee Peterson's Blog: 3 IELTS high scorers share their best exam tips

The best part about holding an IELTS results competition is… meeting the winners! As you know, we have a tradition that goes back more than a decade – we ask the winners these questions: “What in your opinion is important in IELTS preparation? What is a good way to study for the exam?”

Here is what 3 latest winners told us. But before we get to it, one important request – don’t just read this post. Think how YOU can follow the same steps in your IELTS preparation. Make a to-do list, and look at it every time before you study, to remind yourself what you need to cover in this session. And when this works for you, write back and tell us, so we can be very, very happy for you!

Our first winner is Rajatha from India (first language – KANNADA), who got Overall IELTS Band 8.5. She said:

“I am flattered to be chosen as the winner of the IELTS results competition. I would like to share some tips that would help the IELTS aspirants secure a good score if incorporated into their study plan:

1. Make reading a habit. Learn to be a voracious reader. Read blogs, magazines, and the newspaper and try to think of ways in which you can present the given information differently.

2. Look around you in order to identify issues of common interest, and try to speak/write about them. This helps to bolster your confidence.

3. Practice paying attention during the listening module as this section, if paid undivided attention to, will help you secure a good band score.”

Our second winner is Tina, also from India, who got Overall IELTS Band 7.5. She said:

“My best advice for all the IELTS candidates would be that they all should practise sample papers. Read, listen and write more in English, which will help them enhance their vocabulary.”

Our third winner is Zubaid (native Urdu speaker from India), who got Overall IELTS Band 7. He said:

“Listening – I used to practice very hard listening modules on YouTube and watching English movies without subtitle will definitely help.

Reading – The more you practice Reading the better Band you get, and don’t forget to time yourself. Just read the question and look for the answer, don’t waste your precious time on reading everything.

Writing – Here Vocabulary is very important and paragraphs should be linked to each other. Read multitude of sample essays/letters/reports so you will have a better idea and then practice.

Speaking – Be confident, speak clearly (don’t speak too fast). Structure your speech so that it has an intro, body and conclusion in Section 2 of the speaking test (Cue card). This can increase your score and certainly using rich vocabulary will be the icing on the cake.”