IELTS stands for ‘International English Language Testing System’. It’s recognised by employers and universities worldwide as it is a great indicator of the test takers’ ability to communicate in English. You can choose between IELTS General Training and IELTS Academic depending on your career plans or visa requirements.
BRITISH ENGLISH
Although IELTS recognises both UK and US English (vocabulary, spelling and grammar), its main language is British English. When preparing for the exam, read British newspapers and listen to British radio channels or watch British films and TV shows. Here are my favourite sources:
The Guardian
BBC Radio 4
QI with Stephen Fry
It’s really important that you familiarize yourself with authentic texts as the ones you will read or listen to during the exam are all designed for a native audience.
PREPARATION
First of all, visit the IELTS official website and learn about the types of tasks you’ll be required to do. They’re mainly multiple choice questions, so we’ve prepared a long list of these to help you improve your grammar skills:
Advanced English Grammar and Vocabulary Test with Real Time Answers
To improve your vocabulary, here’s an extensive list of words and expressions we recommend learning:
English Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking Test (Everything You Need)
And to help you put everything you’ve learnt into practice, here’s an article with plenty of useful tips:
As for writing and speaking, you might need an English teacher to help you correct your mistakes and give you feedback. You can also improve your communication skills by finding other learners to practise with. Our Facebook page is a great place to chat to others- we believe that learning should be fun!
To learn about the differences between IELTS and TOEFL, please visit:
What is the difference between IELTS and TOEFL?
