The key to Success in IELTS by Mr.Ahmad

Dear IELTS candidate, this is me, Mr.Ahmad in both certificates. I have got band 6.5 in Listening (27-29 correct answers) and band 5.0 in Reading section as you see in my first attempt (16-19 correct answers) making my overall band score 6.0. The second time I passed IELTS, I got 8.0 overall, with band 9.0 score on Listening and 8.5 on Reading. (yeah I passed IELTS only twice)

If you want to know how I made such a big progress, read the following information carefully.

I was quite young as most of you, had little information about IELTS at that time. I guess I only had intermediate level of English, and although I was ambitious, I was really not disciplined person. Whenever my wonderful teacher gave me homework like reading passages, or essays to write, or advice on self-study, I simply did not do it. I knew that if I follow my teacher's advice, I would achieve a better result, but I simply hated reading passages and was not a reader back in 2014. I also did not understand why I should listen to podcasts. I thought I would simply and easily achieve band 7.0 if I attend the lessons organized by a teacher who had band 8.0 score and good teaching. I understood and realized my mistake only after I saw my IELTS result. It hit me strong to become more disciplined person and pushed me to take responsibility for my studies. Alhamdullillah, Instead of blaming IELTS test, examiners or my teacher, I found myself as a guilty in the end. I was the one who lied to my teacher that I have done homework, I was the one who wasted my parents money on education and did not fulfill their expectations. When I prepared for IELTS exam in 2019, I completely changed my approach and did my best, become much more organized, much more disciplined student. You probably asked me or someone who got band 7+ these questions. Oh God, 

🔸can you tell me the secrets of your band score? 

🔸How did you get this or that score?

🔸Which books have you studied?

🔸Please help me, I am afraid of ...

When I provide these people true advice such as "Improve your General English, stop practicing IELTS materials, I often get responses like" Hmm, so you don't want to share? or Okay. Ok. Can't you tell me any tips?. 

If you truly want 7+, remember it does not happen overnight, there are no shortcuts or magic tricks in IELTS. Let me know tell you differences in my preparation and my mindset (thinking) when I passed first time and last time. 

Before passing 1st time.

I did not know well about podcasts and almost never listened to them.

I did not read academic articles nor even any kind of book, even the bestsellers.

I hated the writing as well, and I did not practice, or studied materials which my teacher gave me.

I only loved speaking, but I did not practice it regularly. 

I was studying materials which are completely unreliable like "Band 7 or 9 secrets, Magic formula for speaking or writing videos on Youtube. 400 must known words for band 7+ or materials of these types. 

I was irresponsible, not organized person, and very lazy as well.

Remember, when you hate listening, or reading, or any other particular skill, you don't learn effectively even if you spend a lot of time. I hated doing homework, as I thought them as boring or unnecessary. You should love what you do and when I started thinking homework as something which makes me a better candidates, I started to make progress over time. 

Before passing 2nd time, I have stopped doing or studying IELTS materials, during the 3-4 years after my first attempt, I just exposed myself to English language, learning and getting better as it was my job. When I finally started my 4-5 month preparation, I decided to take it seriously. I had much more motivation this time, If I could get a band 8.0, I would be earning more money to provide for my family and to build the brighter future and many more. 

🌿First thing was to plan my preparation. I wanted to study only best books as I had short time, 3-4-month is a short time to get band 8.0. I wanted to study at an IELTS course and as well do something myself, not to depend only on my teacher. So I made an action plan and decided to spend 2-3 hours every day to realize my goal. You can download a sample of action plan here. 

 (https://t.me/IELTS_JOURNEY/983)I was very lucky as the first book I read was "The key to IELTS Success by Pauline Culle (https://t.me/IELTS_JOURNEY/2314)n". 

☘️Second thing was to change my thinking. If you repeat to yourself, you cannot do this or that, you will only make your life worse and your negative thinking will do nothing to improve your life or studies. I started to watch or read mini stories of successful people, and imitated their lifestyles. I have become much more optimist person, disciplined as a result. My family and my English teacher Mrs.Tafkilevna played a big role. Most students ask their teachers, can you send me articles, or podcasts, information on this or that. I have become an independent and proactive learner. Whatever, I did not know I googled and searched on YouTube. I also checked whether information found online is reliable or not. 

🌳Third thing, I took a holistic approach in learning, Instead of just improving only one skill, I have decided to improve my General English and all skills. I have already become reader before my preparation, I started to love listening, writing and speaking much more than I did in the past. As a result, I opened series of channels to help me and others on telegram such as @welovereading to share books for all levels of English, original bestsellers, @welovelistening to share audiobooks and my blog @ahmadqodirovcom. I started to share my progress daily and weekly on my IELTS channel. Although, I was really busy person, I tried to spend every minute of my life for something useful. Instead of saying, I don't have time to read or listen, I asked myself. Okay Ahmad, How can you find time for a little reading, or listening? As a result, my mindset has completely transformed, and I came up with wonderful ideas to find time for all of these self-study. While I was walking to a bus station, I would listen to podcasts or audiobooks from my channels. This habit played a big role to achieve a high score in Listening. I started to carry books or printed version of articles always with me, I would read them while I was waiting for my bus or inside of it. I would also take one book to an appointment to read in case they arrive late. I would read while waiting for my dentist to become free or whenever possible. I wrote my thoughts on my blog regularly and I started to organize free speaking clubs not only to improve my speaking, but to help dozens of other students. I felt blessed 😇to see the happiness, joy and boost of energy in attendees to my speaking club and events. 🔥

🍃Certainly, it was really difficult to maintain my study habits, at times I thought of giving everything up, at that moment, I remembered why I started this IELTS Journey and my promises to myself, my family, After taking a break for few days, I was back in studying again. I would say the key to my success was CONSISTENCY in my efforts. I was not learning 50 new words one day or for one week, then disappeared for no reason. I was doing less, but almost all the time. 

🌓Certainly, I did not start studying 2-3 hours from the Day 1, it took me lots of time to develop and stick to my new habits. I started reading for only 2-5 minutes, but read every single day, even on Sundays. I would listen to podcast everyday, even for 5 mintues. I started with very simple, interesting reading or listening materials. When I became confident that I can do more, I increased the amount of time on studying gradually. I started to read 10 minutes a day instead of 5, or listened 10 minutes instead of 1. I tired not to overdo myself, otherwise I would be exhausted and give up. I remember, I wanted to read even more than 1 hour, but my ambition backfired me as I could not read more than 60 minutes a day. I went to old plan agian, maximum 60 minutes of reading. When it became difficult, I made it less 45 or 30 minutes, I did my best not to stop, but maintain my study habits. Another Key to develop these habits that I made them enjoyable, simple and easy to follow. When you enjoy studying, 3-hour learning passes so quickly, that you find it absolutely captivating. 

I studied with only 5-10 reliable books and nowadays I recommend paperback versions of these books and other great books to everyone who have high level of English in my @CityBooks_Official. To be honest, I actually did much more than what I wrote here things like watching movies only in English, playing English language games, I cannot remember more of it now. In other words, I loved studying and English language, I read great self-development books, engrossing novels and watched absolutely informative videos, documentaries on YouTube. I bought reliable online courses, attended every seminar, webinar I found. I deactivated my social media accounts like Instagram, Facebook, deleted games or stopped or minimized the time I spend on useless habits.

I followed the sayings like "Never Give Up" and Be a Lifelong Learner". I have tried my best to become better ME than I was the day before. You can see result speaks for itself, when I got 8.0, I was blissfully happy. My hard work paid off. 

To sum up my message, I want to reiterate one more time: Believe in Yourself that you can achieve the goal you have set for yourself, plan your IELTS Journey and take responsibility for your learning. Eliminate bad habits, replace them with good study habits. Start simple and easy, maintain it as CONSISTENCY is the true ingredient to success. Always plan and reflect on your learning, counsel with more experienced learners or teachers if you work hard for 30 days and do not make any kind of progress. Learn to be proactive and develop critical thinking skills. Last but not least, become a reader, believe me, this habit alone transforms your life and possibly the lives around you. Today is a Reader, tomorrow is a Leader.

Feel free to share this message, but give credit to author. With Love and Respect, AhmadQodirov