Why is it so difficult to get the score you need in IELTS?
IELTS is a formal qualification, and it is much more than just a piece of paper. IELTS exam is in fact an assessment of your achievement, and getting the right score opens the door to a new life to either study or live and work abroad. Unfortunately, vast majority of the students battle language barriers and fake promises, and one is then caught in a web of deceit, which makes it extremely difficult for aspirants to fulfil their dreams abroad, and many even have to forego their dream or wait too long owing to the language barrier.
As many government bodies and universities rely on accurate measure of English language, which IELTS provide It is so important that the test is valid, fair, and reliable. It is equally important to therefore use the practice materials that have these qualities.
Clearly, if the IELTS test was easier, it would not have the status or value it currently has. Thus, if everyone could quickly achieve band 7, the certificate would no longer open the doors you would like it to open.
Avoid frustration
Most people re-sit IELTS so often that they feel must eventually be rewarded with the score they need. When this does not happen, many feel frustrated and often give up their dream to go abroad. This happens because students look for scapegoats. In other words, they start blaming someone or something. In their minds, IELTS is the enemy and the confusing materials found online together with endless sites that lure students by fake promises and gimmicks feed this idea. It is therefore not surprising why so many people take the test over and over in the belief that a mistake has been made and that this time they will get a different score. In my personal experience, most of the people who feel stuck are at band 6 or 6.5, particularly in the writing and speaking section of the IELTS test.
How to break the cycle
It is important to clearly see the IELTS test as an objective measuring system. Which means that if your skills have not improved, your test score reflect that. No matter how many times you have already taken the test, it will simply measure your skills and give you a score. Therefore, If you keep getting the same band score, it is important to respond to the problem to avoid frustration of being stuck at the same band.
I’m not good at languages. I’m not good at reading and writing
Many people begin to doubt their ability to ever achieve getting their desired score, especially after repeatedly failing. This is probably why so many are tempted to look for tricks and shortcuts.
In fact, if we look at an analogy of learning to play a new sport, for example I started playing squash back in my university days, I wasn’t good and was simply a beginner. Hopeless at first I would say. So, I appointed a professional coach to help me improve my game. Once I had learnt the skills, I was able to compete with players who were better than me, and eventually with consistent involvement in playing with multiple players, I ended up participating in Harrow Squash league. I found that difference between low level players, intermediate players, and those at the advanced levels, is attributed to just one key factor: the number of hours an individual devoted to the right practice.
TIP: Change the way you practice IELTS to see better results, because you will get the same result, if you continue to practice the same way through a negative attitude. We at ieltsclasses, have years of experience where we devised a simple and effective way to develop a positive attitude, so that you succeed in IELTS exam.
Learning a Language
When you learn a language, you are not learning facts about something, but learning to do something, not. To put another way, when you learn to do something, you are learning a way to achieve the end result by looking at every important part of the thing you are looking at, in this case IELTS.
Whereas learning about facts, means you are, here looking at IELTS comprises of 4 sections, each section has certain parameters being assessed. What are these parameters? How will I be given an IELTS band score? Essay must be minimum 250 words? Etc. This is where people start selling tricks, such as achieve 8 band in 7days! Super-secret tricks to crack your IELTS for only Rs299. Buy our pre-recorded IELTS videos for Rs299 that guarantees 8 band! And the list goes on.
Another reason why people develop unrealistic expectations about how quickly they will be able to jump from band 6 to band 7, is because the IELTS bands look so close to each other. However, there is a big difference between intermediate and advanced level. I know that, I would never have ended up in Harrow Squash League, if I had not taken up special training from a professional squash coach, and that I would have been stuck at a particular level.
In reality most people stop making progress very much once they reach the intermediate level. Without special training, and the right focus, your level stabilise, and If you are determined to reach a higher level, it is important to change something in your practice at this stage. Just as I took a serious, systematic approach to building the necessary skills of becoming a good squash player, and this is what you must do to achieve the advanced professional levels of IELTS (Band 7, 8 and 9).