With a solid foundation in IELTS, Hữu Thịnh did not wait until his final university years to prepare for IELTS like most students. Instead, he started early, researching various IELTS courses to find the most suitable one to quickly obtain this valuable certificate.
I. THE JOURNEY OF A BÁCH KHOA STUDENT CONQUERING IELTS
Hello everyone, I’m Nguyễn Hữu Thịnh, a student at Đà Nẵng University of Science and Technology. I was introduced to IELTS during high school, so I knew it was a tough exam and could not be rushed if I wanted a high score. Starting from band 5.0, I set a realistic goal of reaching 6.0 when enrolling at WISE English.
To shorten my learning time, I chose a tutoring course at WISE despite knowing it was more expensive than regular courses. However, I believe that instead of spending time on lengthy, ineffective courses that cost both time and money, why not invest in a high-quality course to optimize both time and expenses? Indeed, WISE’s tutoring course met my expectations, allowing me to increase my band score from 5.0 to 6.5 in just 2 months.
When joining the one-on-one tutoring course, I had the opportunity to learn directly from both Vietnamese and foreign teachers. This helped me receive immediate and in-depth explanations for all my questions during my IELTS preparation.
I also found WISE’s 6-step vocabulary method extremely effective—it significantly improved my vocabulary in a short period.
To get closer to my target score, I set specific goals for each skill. My strongest skills were Reading and Listening, but I still allocated equal time to practicing all sections of the test.
II. IS IT EASY TO BOOST 1.5 BANDS IN JUST 2 MONTHS?
My IELTS preparation experience wasn’t extensive. Most of my methods came from the teachers at WISE English, along with some additional self-study techniques.
1. Listening
I learned to listen quite quickly, as I had been exposed to English through music and YouTube videos. However, casual listening and IELTS listening are completely different. Active Listening, a technique I learned at WISE, was a game-changer for me.
Even with my prior experience, I still practiced listening from simple to advanced questions, following the IELTS test format. I worked through passages 1 to 3 in order to familiarize myself with different question types and manage my time efficiently. If I didn’t understand certain words, I didn’t just skip them—I checked the transcript, learned the pronunciation, and made sure to recognize them next time.
2. Reading
My strongest skill was Reading, which was reflected in my 7.5 score. This might be because of my engineering background, where I often read complex and technical documents. Unlike many other students, I was already accustomed to dry, academic reading materials, making it easier to handle IELTS reading passages.
I practiced by tackling different question types, memorizing strategies for each, and applying Skim & Scan techniques to locate answers efficiently. This made the exam much easier, but it took consistent practice and guidance from my teachers to perfect these techniques.
3. Speaking
I was initially shy when speaking English, so to improve my Speaking skills, I frequently watched videos from native YouTubers and imitated their pronunciation and intonation.
To develop my ideas, I practiced speaking on a variety of topics. One key takeaway: Don’t focus too much on grammar while speaking—it slows down fluency and makes your responses sound unnatural.
4. Writing
Writing is the hardest section for most IELTS learners, including me. To improve, I set a goal to write at least one full essay per day.
As a STEM student, I found writing challenging because I wasn’t used to expressing ideas in an academic, structured manner. To overcome this, I focused on expanding my vocabulary, strengthening my grammar, and making my essays more logical.
I also studied model essays, particularly Simon’s sample essays, analyzing them carefully to understand their structure, vocabulary, and sentence flow.
5. Study Materials
There are plenty of resources online, but choosing the right ones is crucial. I mainly used:
WISE English’s study materials
Cambridge IELTS 1-14 for mock tests
Thanks to WISE English, I successfully boosted my score from 5.0 to 6.5 in just 2 months. With hard work and self-discipline, I believe anyone can achieve their IELTS goals.
A big thank you to WISE’s teachers and staff for their dedicated support. I highly recommend WISE English to anyone looking to improve their IELTS score efficiently!
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