Exams always bring shivering down the spine for the majority of students especially when the exam is not a conventional one. When a student or a candidate sits for an exam such as the IELTS, he is well aware that he will be competing against the best in the world. However, any candidate should be aware that the IELTS examination is not a competition on a personal level. Only the Band Score is used in the IELTS. For a non-native English speaker, scoring high bands like 7+ or 8 is as easy or difficult as it is for a native English speaker; it all depends on how well a student or applicant is prepared.
So what are the fears about? Some of them might be:
1) Would I be able to listen to and understand the audio snippets of 'Native-English Speakers,' which are relatively easy for native English speakers but difficult for me? On the IELTS test, you would normally hear either Americans, Australians, Canadians or Britishers delivering a monologue or having a conversation. Your ability to not only understand the accent but also the style of talking has a direct impact on your overall Listening score.
2) What if I don't catch a few phrases or a question while listening to the audio? This would normally result in you missing the answers to not just one question, but probably two or three. Hence, please have utmost focus and concentration on the Listening test to ensure that you do not miss any part of the conversation between the speakers or the monologue by a single speaker, especially in Section 4 of the Listening test as it is a continuous section where there is no break or pause and the recording plays continuously.
3) Will I be able to interact with the examiner effectively during the ‘Speaking Test'? More than the interaction, what the examiners are looking for is to assess your Speaking ability which is best demonstrated by fluency, correct pronunciation, correct usage of grammar and demonstrating effective vocabulary.
4) What if I get scared and stammer during the Speaking test? Practicing enough Speaking on a day-to-day basis with your friends, family and co-workers will allow yourself to immerse in English more and more and give you the confidence to speak fluently and coherently during the test.
5) Will I be able to finish the 'Reading Test' on time?
A serious candidate should begin studying at least two months before to the exam. First and foremost, a candidate with a limited command of the English language should spend a significant amount of time listening, speaking, reading, and writing as part of his basic preparation. Ideally, a candidate who is weak in English will need 3-4 months of intensive study to get to a point where he may begin his IELTS preparation.
We can recommend the following as a general method for overcoming exam anxiety:
1) Focus on your weak areas from the beginning of your preparation and work to improve them.
2) Admission to a 'Professional IELTS coaching centre' will allow you to take a number of mock examinations, which will progressively increase your confidence.
3) Practice not to panic in the exam room from the start, and if necessary, get counselling from a qualified counsellor.
4) Concentrating on your strong areas and improving them will almost certainly result in higher test scores.
5) Look out for what makes you nervous in the exam room. Unknown concerns? Are you afraid about losing your focus? Are you afraid of failing? Or is it something else entirely? Try to overcome your fears through strict practice.
6) Take the mock tests more seriously and treat them as if they were actual tests; this will help you gain the required expertise to address the different types of questions that appear on the exam and deal with them effectively.
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