For many students, taking the IELTS is a significant leap toward realizing their dream of studying abroad. Naturally, I was no exception. IELTS was a crucial milestone in my journey toward higher studies. In this section, I will share my personal experiences, some realizations, and the tips and strategies that helped me succeed.

I will write several blog posts diving deeper into each section, and you will be able to find their links here.

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My Journey

Before diving into the details, let’s first talk about my English background.

My Background

I am a non-native English speaker, born and raised in Bangladesh. I speak Bengali.

Like most students in my country, I studied in Bengali-medium schools throughout my primary and high school years. Although the medium of instruction was Bengali, we had an English class from Class One through Class 12. However, despite this academic exposure, I struggled to fully grasp the language until 2015, when I began engaging with English beyond the classroom.

That year,, I started watching English movies and listening to English music in 2015. I began reading English newspapers and eventually English books in 2016. My first reads were by Chetan Bhagat, which were relatively easy to follow.

Later, I pursued my BSS and MSS degrees in Economics from the University of Rajshahi, where the medium of instruction was English.

Journey Begins: First Phase

My IELTS journey officially began on October 18, 2024. That was the day I decided to take my preparation seriously. However, after just four days, I had to pause due to an unavoidable circumstance.

Yet, this brief start wasn’t entirely in vain. I took one complete Listening test and one Reading test from Cambridge IELTS 19 (Test 1) to assess my level. Here were my results:

✔ Listening: 29/40 → Band 6.5
✔ Reading: 39/40 → Band 9.0

That day, I realized I had to improve my Listening if I wanted to achieve my target score of 8.0. I also knew that strong Reading and Listening scores would be the best way to boost my overall band score.

I was genuinely surprised—but in a good way—by my Reading score. The reason, I believe, is my habit of reading books and newspapers played a huge role in this.

At this point, I can’t help but share my final IELTS scores…

After four days of preparation, I had to stop due to a professional reason. I became occupied with other tasks and barely had any time to take preparation.

Second Phase: the Final Game

In January, after my Master’s results were published, I achieved a CGPA of 3.92, which gave me a major confidence boost. That’s when I thought enough with the procrastination!

On January 11, I registered for the IELTS exam, scheduling it for January 29. From that day on, I restarted my preparation, this time with more discipline.

One of the best things I did was keeping a daily IELTS journal, which helped me stay focused and consistent. If you’re interested in reading my journal entries, I’ll include the link below.

Every day, I would:
✔ Take mock tests (some days multiple, some days just one).
✔ Write my journal, analyze my mistakes, and find ways to improve.
✔ Read advice and experiences on the r/IELTS subreddit. This was incredibly helpful!

However, not every day was smooth. Some days were frustrating, especially in Listening. In the beginning, I was frequently taking Listening mocks, while taking Reading mocks less frequently.

It wasn’t until January 19, 2024, that I finally started preparing for Writing. Even then, I wasn’t very consistent. But I did create a template for myself which helped me in the test to fill the writing boxes with words.

By January 25, just four days before the test, I started practicing Speaking with my two friends, Eyasin and Sushanta. We practiced almost daily. I will forever remember their help during this crucial time.

I also tried using ChatGPT for Speaking practice, but to be honest, I didn’t enjoy talking to a machine. It might be useful for some, but personally, I found it boring. It rated me between 6.5 – 7.0.

And then, the exam day arrived.

The Test Day

I didn’t take any mock tests the day before my exam. I also avoided Speaking practice with my friends, as I wanted to keep my mind fresh. However, I did read some Band 9 sample essays since I felt my Writing preparation was lacking.

On the morning of the exam, I spoke and thought in English to get into the right mindset. I felt relaxed and confident.

Among all four sections, Listening Part 3 was the most challenging for me in the actual test. In Reading and Writing, I struggled with time management, which forced me to rush through my answers in the final minutes.

I will share my detailed IELTS test-day experience in a separate blog post.

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Tips and Tricks

Based on my experience, I have formulated some general recommendations, followed by section-wise strategies.

General Tips

1. Cambridge practice books are your best resource. The actual test closely resembles the Cambridge practice tests.
2. YouTube can be a great help. I found IELTS Advantage and IELTS Liz useful for the writing section. GregMAT’s videos improved my Speaking and Writing.
3. Understand the test format first. Familiarize yourself with the number of sections, question types, and difficulty levels by reading the introductory sections in Cambridge books. Skim through a full test from a a recent Cambridge book.
4. Take a full-length mock test early on. If you only practice separated sections, you won’t grasp the real challenge. The Listening and Reading sections gradually increase in difficulty.
5. Surround yourself with English. Speak with friends and family in English, think in English, and try to engage with the language as much as possible.
6. Take mock tests regularly. Daily practice keeps you on track.
7. Maintain a personal IELTS journal. Some days, you’ll find yourself studying just because you don’t want to leave your journal blank!

Listening Tips

1. Practice, practice, and more practice. The more you practice, the better your focus and ability to track information.
2. Skim through the questions beforehand when they give you time and try to predict the types of answers expected.
3. For MCQs (the hardest part for me), read all the options carefully when given time, and eliminate incorrect choices as you listen.
4. Missed a question? Don’t panic! You can guess the answer based on the conversation’s context.

Reading Tips

1. If you have time: Read non-fiction books, journals, and opinion pieces from newspapers. Try to paraphrase sentences in simpler terms.
2. If you’re short on time: Focus on Cambridge Reading mocks. Read, paraphrase, and identify main ideas in paragraphs.
3. Read the questions first. This helps you scan for answers using keywords.
4. True/False/Not Given Strategy:
   • If the passage confirms the statement → TRUE / YES
   • If the passage contradicts the statement → FALSE / NO
   • If there’s no information about it → NOT GIVEN
5. For main idea questions, look at the latter part of the paragraph, as key clues often appear there.

Writing Tips

1. Prepare a template. A well-structured template ensures you never feel lost.
2. Read the question carefully. Misinterpreting the question can lead to completely off-topic answers.
3. Don’t always use increase/decrease for Task 1; build a list of synonyms and connectors (for both parts) beforehand.
4. Incorporate a mix of simple, compound, and complex sentences.
5. Revision is the most important part of writing. Here, you will correct your spellings, add connectors, add some advanced words instead of the simple words of your first draft.

Speaking Tips

1. Practice is king. Regularly take mock tests with friends. Even ChatGPT can help, though AI ratings aren’t always accurate.
2. Confidence matters. Remember, this is a conversational test. Speak naturally, as if you’re talking to a friend.
3. Use advanced vocabulary wisely. Only use complex words and connectors if you are comfortable with them. If they disrupt your flow, stick to words you use daily.
4. Talk as much as possible. But only after answering the question properly.
5. For Part 2 (Cue Card), ensure you cover all points in your response.

Exam-day Tips

1. Stay comfortable and relaxed. Try to speak and think in English before the test.
2. Missed something in Listening? Move on! Don’t dwell on lost questions. The same applies to Reading.
3. Stay calm. It’s just a test. Give it your best shot and don’t overthink it.

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IELTS Consultation

I understand that everyone’s IELTS journey is unique. Not everyone starts at the same level. That’s why I offer personalized IELTS consultations tailored just for you. Don’t hesitate to reach out!

First 10-minute consultation is absolutely free. Get a quick assessment of your strengths and weaknesses and a personalized study plan to help you achieve your target score.

If you’re looking for a structured approach, you can enroll in one of my dedicated consultation plans. Each session lasts one hour.

For any queries or feedback, feel free to contact me:
Email: udayjaman11@gmail.com
WhatsApp / Mobile: +88 01849-387868

May your dreams come true.