10 IELTS Myths Part 2

Continuing from the last weeks post, here are the remaining 5 myths that IELTS test takers need to avoid. The earlier post can be accessed by clicking here!

6. I practiced 50 full tests, I will get an 8

While practicing sample questions is a good way to familiarise yourself with the structure and fine tune your timing, it does not equate with a good score.

Remember, IELTS questions and passages are NOT repeated. You will get a new passage each time. So understanding the test and what the questions need from you will help you more than bull-headed practice.

Take a look at a super straightforward listening test and see how you fare! You might be surprised!

https://firstacademy.in/listening-test-matching/

7. Grammar is all I need!

Wrong. Language is all you need. Do you know what subject verb agreement is called in your mother-tongue? Well, neither does the majority that scores more than an 8 in IELTS.

IELTS requires you to have an understanding of the language and how it is used and not the nuances of grammar. If you can write accurate sentences, and speak clearly, you should not be worried about what a predicate is or what a subjunctive whatchamacallit is!

Take a look at one of the most common mistakes that candidates make in an IELTS test:

https://firstacademy.in/subject-verb-agreement-test-1/

8. An 8 in Speaking? – Dress Well and Let the Body Talk!

Being confident and dressing well can give you a sense of security, but that does not translate into a great score. The same is the case with smiling and asking questions.

IELTS is focused on your language ability. If you dress shabbily, and are grumpy, but speak fluently, and coherently, and give relevant answers – you can still get a fantastic score!

9. ‘Correct’ answers get a better score

Whether it is in speaking or writing – the correctness or the accuracy of your answers does not matter. What matters is that you answer the questions in an appropriate and relevant manner. This will include, fluency, tone, clarity, and grammatical accuracy and consistency.

Want to understand what aspects IELTS speaking deals with? Take a look at the test on phrases here:

https://firstacademy.in/grammar-sentence-structure-test/

10. Sound like James Bond or Harry Potter to get a 9!

If you can do a great British or American or some other accent, it is all fine. If you cannot mimic an accent, it is still fine. Your chances of getting a 9 are not affected either way.

Pronunciation and accent are two different things. You are scored on pronunciation and not accent.

For example, the word accent is pronounced ak-sent and not assent.