How to get 7 in IELTS
IELTS tips from Pete Jones
We spoke to IELTS expert Pete Jones about the exam and tips about how to get a 7 in the IELTS. A lot of our students need to get 7 in IELTS for Dublin Universities, the Irish Medical Council and for certain jobs. Pete has some great ideas and strategies.
About Pete Jones
Pete has been teaching IELTS candidates around the world since 2003 and is the author of the free IELTS course and IELTS blog.
Pete’s Experience as an IELTS teacher
What is the most rewarding thing about preparing students for the IELTS?
I know how important IELTS is to students and really like being able to share the knowledge that I’ve built up over many years. It’s very satisfying to help candidates get the band score they need or offer them some reassuring advice when they don’t.
What is the biggest challenge your students face?
I think the biggest challenge for many students is understanding that there isn’t one tip, one magic answer, that will give them the band score they need. Succeeding at IELTS is about understanding the test, having strategies for answering different types of question, and continuing to improve your English.
How do you help them overcome this problem?
I help students become familiar with the IELTS test, give them advice about the best way to answer questions, and help them improve their listening, reading, writing and speaking skills.
How to get 7 in IELTS
What one tip would you give a student who wants to get 7 in the IELTS
reading?
Whatever band score you need in the IELTS Reading test, it’s important that you maximise your chances of getting that score. You can do this by answering all questions and writing your answers clearly on the answer sheet. Even if you don’t know the answer to a question, there’s a chance you could get it right if you guess rather than leave it blank. Writing your answers in capital letters is a good way of making sure your answers are clear.
What one tip would you give a student who wants to get 7 in IELTS speaking?
My one tip would be to understand what has prevented, or is preventing, you from getting a band score 7 and then work out how to improve that aspect of your speaking. For example, if you make too many grammar mistakes to get a band score 7, you’ll need to start noticing and correcting the grammar mistakes you make
What one tip would you give a student who wants to get 7 in IELTS writing?
As with Speaking, my one tip would be to understand what has prevented, or is preventing, you from getting a band score 7. It may be, for example, that you need to focus on improving your vocabulary because you make a lot of spelling mistakes or sometimes choose the wrong word(s) to explain an idea.
What one tip would you give a student who wants to get 7 in IELTS listening?
As with the Reading test, it’s important that you maximise your chances of getting the score you need by answering all questions and writing your answers clearly on the answer sheet. An additional tip is to use the 30 seconds at the end of each section to look ahead to the next set of questions. When you hear the instruction to check your answers at the end of Section 1, for example, you could start reading the questions in Section 2.
Questions from IELTS students in Everest
How can I improve my overall band score from 6.5 to 7?
If you’ve already taken an IELTS test and got an overall band score 6.5, you should already know the answer to this question. If, for example, you got a band score 6.0 in Writing, a 6.5 in Speaking, and a 7.0 in Listening and Reading, you’ll need to focus on improving your writing from a 6.0 to a 6.5.
What should I do the day before my IELTS examination?
It’s important to go into the IELTS test as confident as possible. One way to do this is to look back through your notes from your IELTS preparation and make a list of things to remember in your test, e.g. Remember to spend longer on Writing Task 2 than Writing Task 1 because it’s worth more marks. Making your own list can be a more effective way to build your confidence than looking at a list someone else has written.
How can I improve my writing score in the IELTS?
To improve your writing score in the IELTS test, there are two kinds of writing practice that are important. The first is timed writing practice where the focus is on completing your answers in a limited time, and the second is supported writing practice where the focus is on improving your English through using your dictionary, looking at feedback you got on previous writing tasks, or asking someone for help if you get stuck. In my experience many IELTS candidates tend to focus on one kind of practice but not both.
