There has been a rush to migrate to foreign shores. This was a trickle a some years ago, but now it has turned into a veritable flood. And people have many good reasons for seeking the coveted Permanent Residency status, or PR as it is better known. Then there are the students who wish to travel abroad for higher studies which, they hope, will translate into a lucrative and meaningful career once they graduate.
Whatever the goal, there is often an IELTS test to be cleared – General or Academic. The exam tests you on 4 fronts – Reading, Speaking, Listening and Writing. It tests your oral and written proficiency in the use of the English language to qualify for PR in a particular English-speaking foreign nation. Without it – it can also be PTE Academic, OET, CELPIP, or SELT – you cannot proceed further. It is that simple. IELTS is not a very difficult exam. It surely is not in the same league as CAT, GMAT and GRE. But yes, there is need for methodical and sustained study over a certain period.
I have been asked if it is possible to prepare oneself through self-study. My answer has always been the same – absolutely. But – and this is important – do you have time enough to do all that are required? Do you have time to collect the necessary material – lots of it – from a number of sources? Do you have the discipline to prepare a schedule and stick to it for a month at least come what may? Are you willing to discover the tricks through patient study and analysis or do you to be told about them at the very beginning of your preparation?
If yes, you can surely study on your own and clear the test.
Your IELTS trainer only guides you. He clears the way as you proceed. He monitors your progress and analyses your performance so that you are able to realize your weaknesses and work on them. He urges you to do your homework and instills in you a sense of discipline during your training period. You follow a particular timeline drawn by him. He maintains your scores over the entire duration of your training and regularly conducts performance audits jointly with you. So that you know where you stand and how much farther you have to go to reach your goal. Your IELTS trainer needs to:
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Be aware of the latest trends.
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Know the standard tricks by which you can crack all but the most difficult questions.
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Have a very good grasp over English in every way – grammar, vocabulary, correct usage.
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Be methodical and have a well-thought-out training plan.
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Have an analytical mind so that he can dissect your performance and bring out your mistakes.
Your IELTS trainer will be your mentor for at least a month. So, choose him with care. Everyone claims that he is the best. Don’t fall for slick adverts that promise the moon and then some. Instead, go for him who has your interest at heart, not someone who is merely after your money. If he comes at a premium, so be it. After all, your future is at stake here. That which is good does not come cheap. It never has. It never will.
Therefore, first find out if you need to take the test at all. The second step is to decide if you wish to self-study or want some sort of structured and guided coaching. Lastly, settle on your IELTS trainer – someone who meets your requirement to the ‘t’.
And then?
And then, send me your Test Report Form (TRF) and I shall display it here in my Gallery.
🙂
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