How I Achieved High Bands in IELTS

My Personal Experience and Guide to Scoring Well in IELTS

Are you interested in knowing my IELTS band score? This article is designed for those seeking guidance on how to achieve a high score on the IELTS English proficiency test. Before I reveal my score, let me share my entire journey, including preparation, the exam process, and the final results.

If you're planning to take the IELTS but are unsure about the registration process, here’s how to go about it.

Registration

The first step is to research IELTS and determine which test you need to take based on your goals. Options include Academic, General, or IELTS for UKVI.

Once you identify the appropriate IELTS test, search for "IELTS" on any search engine. The top results will likely lead you to IDP IELTS or IELTS.org.

Click on one of the links and wait for the site to load. You’ll find a button labeled “Book IELTS Test” in the upper right corner, where you can choose a suitable date for your exam.

> Key Tip: Always allow a minimum of 10 days between registration and your test date to give yourself time for a quick review and crash course in English.

When registering, you’ll need an official document, such as an ID or passport, which you must bring on the test day.

IELTS Preparation

In my view, an effective IELTS preparation strategy can be broken down into three segments: reinforcement, practice alongside reinforcement, and starting from scratch with practice and reinforcement.

Evaluate your listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills on a scale of 1 to 5. If you rate yourself between 4 and 5, a reinforcement plan is sufficient. Those with an average score of 3 should focus on practice and reinforcement, while anyone scoring below 3 must begin with foundational learning, practice, and reinforcement.

I scheduled my IELTS exam 35 days in advance, believing this time frame would suffice for my preparation. I did not trust expensive English coaching services that claimed to guarantee scores above 7 bands. It was surprising how many people relied on them without knowing their actual achievements.

In my leisure time, I would often play games like League of Legends and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, confidently conversing in English with international friends and gaining experience in content writing.

My parents often scolded me for spending too much time gaming, but they simply wanted to see me succeed and earn a good band score in IELTS.

If I evaluate my English skills, I would confidently place my speaking, writing, listening, and reading abilities within the 4-5 range. Thus, I knew I primarily needed reinforcement. However, to ensure I was well-prepared, I joined several Facebook groups to gather IELTS preparation resources and read about others' experiences.

In the group “Scholarship Network,” I came across a post by a young woman who achieved great scores solely through her hard work, without any tutoring. This inspired me to undertake the IELTS exam independently. The post included a link to a website offering free IELTS practice tests: ieltsonlinetests.com.

Additionally, there was a YouTube link to a video featuring Sir Jay from E2 IELTS discussing the PPF method, which greatly helped me improve my speaking skills for section 2.

I practiced my listening and reading skills through reinforcement tests, either on the aforementioned website or by generating various questions with AI. For writing, I attended two free live sessions offered by IDP IELTS. The instructor, Dr. Yahya, was exceptional and provided valuable insights.

I strongly advise against spending money on learning if you can access free resources. Those two sessions covered essential aspects of writing tasks 1 and 2, especially the format needed to achieve high bands. I didn’t practice writing as much as I should have, which left me anxious about scoring low.

Even though I felt confident in my verbal English, the thought of the one-on-one interview made me extremely nervous, fostering a fear of underperforming.

IELTS Test Experience

I was so stressed about the IELTS exam that I stayed awake all night and managed only a 2-hour nap. I paced around, consumed by thoughts of how the day would unfold. It’s hard to pinpoint my exact feelings, but there was a mixture of everything.

After showering and getting dressed, I realized my pants were ripped as I put on my socks. This made me laugh and feel frustrated since I wanted to arrive 15 minutes early. I changed again and began searching for an Uber bike.

Unfortunately, none were available, so I had to use another service. After a 30-minute wait, I secured a ride to the IDP test center. Upon arrival, I noticed a few students waiting for the elevator. After greeting them, we entered together. The staff provided us with the usual briefing, which, while necessary, felt repetitive.

Thirty minutes before the test, we were seated in a comfortable, air-conditioned room equipped with modern computers. The invigilators reiterated the instructions, and then the test commenced.

Listening

The listening test is the first part of the IELTS exam, as I opted for the speaking module following the listening, reading, and writing sections. Thankfully, there were no map-related questions, and the audio was relatively straightforward. I lost focus during part 3 but pressed on without dwelling on it.

> Listening Tip: Remember, part 1 is the easiest, so don’t stress. For part 2, use the back of your login credentials paper to jot down answers. In this section, conversations may cover multiple topics at a quick pace, so write your answers while listening, filling in blanks on the computer during pauses. Use spare moments to tally the number of correct answers.

Reading

The reading test followed next. Upon seeing the first passage, I felt overwhelmed by its complexity and length. The challenging academic language made it seem daunting. I reviewed the other two passages and found them equally difficult.

I recalled a strategy I had employed since grade school. Teachers would advise us to read the entire passage before answering, but I preferred skimming for answers. Many students, especially those like me, struggle to recall information from memory.

> Reading Tip: Reading the entire passage before answering questions is often ineffective. To score well, read the questions first, understand them, then skim through the passage to find answers relevant to each question.

Writing

I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Yahya for the invaluable writing tips he provided for both parts 1 and 2. However, my confidence soared to the point of overconfidence, leading to a significant setback. I didn’t practice writing as much as I should have, relying on my content writing experience.

> Writing Tip: Part 1 requires report writing, while part 2 is usually an argumentative essay. Aim for around 200-230 words for part 1 and a maximum of 300 for part 2. Use a range of vocabulary and paraphrasing to excel in these sections.

Speaking

The module I dreaded most was speaking. I was anxious about the one-on-one interview in a confined space. The thought made me extremely nervous when entering the test room. Fortunately, the examiner was friendly and encouraging, which helped me speak more fluently. However, I stumbled when she repeatedly asked “why” during our conversation.

Her requests for justifications, despite my explanations, triggered a panic attack. I needed to calm myself, but what could I do in that moment? Patience and emotional control would have served me well.

> Speaking Tip: Remember, the examiner is human too! Take a deep breath and release your stress. Picture the conversation as if you were chatting with your best friend in English—don’t worry about judgment, just let the dialogue flow.

My Result

I took the computer-based IELTS exam, which typically provides results within 3 to 5 working days. After the test, I anxiously checked the results on their website and mobile app multiple times over the next three days. On the fourth day, I saw that the results were still unavailable in the morning but later that night, it finally showed my IELTS ACADEMIC score.

I hesitated to open it, feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety.

I was in my room, near the iron stand, plugging in my charger, and despite my instincts urging me to wait, I clicked on the result.

I started jumping and dashed to my parents’ room!

They were immensely proud, and everyone celebrated my achievement. So, after much anticipation, here’s the result: