No need for grand gestures or loud announcements; just study quietly, and success will speak for itself. That’s exactly the case for Mr. La Thanh Duong, a student who achieved a 7.5 IELTS score with a perfect 9.0 in Listening and Reading in just 2.5 months, yet he has never been arrogant.
I. Learning Methods for Each Skill
Listening
This is the skill I am most confident in. Instead of cramming Listening practice through Cambridge test sets like most people, I chose to watch English-speaking videos about topics I am interested in. This approach keeps me engaged so I can practice listening without getting bored. Gradually, I developed a habit of only watching videos in English rather than in Vietnamese.
However, when I started preparing for the IELTS exam, the diverse knowledge and traps set by the test made me feel quite confused. But with my teacher’s guidance throughout the study process, I learned how to tackle different types of questions. The materials and learning plan provided by the center helped me develop my test-taking skills, focusing on key points and avoiding traps.
Reading
Anyone learning English will find that Reading has a lot of vocabulary and can be extremely dry. Of course, this is only true at the beginning. Once you grasp the method and practice extensively, achieving high scores is not as difficult as you might think. Similar to Listening, I focused on reading reviews about technology (smartphones, headphones, etc.) or comments about games on Steam. Gradually, you will understand and recognize the structure of the reading passages. I also took notes on vocabulary to apply in Writing later.
At first, it takes time and can be challenging to understand, but if you read articles about topics you enjoy, you’ll find it engaging. This will help you read faster and understand each section clearly.
Speaking
To master Speaking, I forced myself to practice everywhere and at all times, such as singing in English, mumbling sentences I often stumble over while walking, or talking to myself in front of the mirror. This practice time allowed me to correct pronunciation mistakes and adjust my voice. During my studies at the center, my teachers corrected my errors and provided many useful tips to improve gradually.
When taking the exam, I found that you don’t need to pronounce words like a native speaker to get high scores; it’s more important to speak naturally, clearly, and in a way that fully meets the task response requirements. In the exam room, it’s essential to stay calm, read the prompt, and, if possible, share a true story you’ve experienced, as this makes it easier to remember and conveys more persuasively. I don’t have much experience in Speaking, but I think it’s crucial to relax, be confident, and use vocabulary flexibly.
Writing
This is the most challenging skill for me. To improve Writing, I focused on mastering grammar and expanding my vocabulary with diverse sentence structures, ideally writing in an academic style. I often read newspapers and English materials to broaden my vocabulary and sentence structures. Writing is not my strong suit, so during my studies, I made sure to apply the vocabulary and writing techniques I had learned.
I always push myself to practice daily. I carefully review each piece of writing my teacher grades and corrects so that I don’t make the same mistakes in future assignments. I believe that writing requires practice, and making mistakes is part of the learning process.
About Materials
With a fairly basic knowledge foundation, I didn’t use many materials but primarily focused on practicing test questions to identify my mistakes and improve my weak points. The materials and curriculum provided by the center covered almost everything I needed for my studies.
In addition to the center’s materials, I also worked on Cambridge 7-13 and Practice IELTS Plus. Additionally, I reviewed Writing prompts from previous years for self-study. The Improve Your IELTS series is another resource I found helpful. The lessons are divided by skill and contain many useful application tips.
II. SOME THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND BEFORE THE EXAM
If possible, avoid cramming or reviewing too much before the exam, as it can cause stress.
Arrive at the test site at least an hour early to find your way, park your vehicle, and avoid rushing and stress due to time constraints.
Follow the instructions from the test proctors.
Every day, we should remember that learning a foreign language is not something you can complete in a day or two. We need to practice skills anytime and anywhere (if possible), and there is no endpoint to practicing and improving language skills. I wish you all success soon!
WISE English is always delighted and proud to witness the efforts you have put in being rewarded by the results you achieve. The journey to mastering a language is never easy and should never be seen as an insurmountable obstacle if you have enough determination and effort.
