Let’s meet and follow the journey of this young man who, within just 12 days of studying, improved from a 5.5 to a 6.5, and within one month achieved a remarkable 7.5 IELTS, earning the admiration of many.
Khang can you share some tips for preparing for the IELTS to achieve such an impressive score?
He replied, “There’s really no secret to it; most of the experiences I share are based on my own journey, so they may or may not be suitable for everyone. Therefore, you don’t have to apply them all; instead, find what works best for you.”
At first, when I was self-studying, my listening score was only between 7.0 and 7.5 due to being overly confident and making many small mistakes. However, daily listening practice helped me improve my focus and gradually correct those initial errors. In the Listening section, there are always traps; whether subtle or more obvious, they can easily lead to mistakes and lost points. I initially struggled with this, but after a lot of practice, I learned to listen for the overall meaning of the audio instead of just focusing on keywords.
There are thousands of videos on YouTube covering various topics for listening practice; you can choose anything that interests you. When preparing for the test, it’s essential to concentrate intensely. If you want to achieve a high score, you should practice transcribing what you hear or listen multiple times and then read the transcript. This way, you not only improve your listening skills but also significantly increase your vocabulary.
Once you feel you can keep up with a moderate pace and understand what the audio is saying, start practicing different question types. I usually use the Cambridge IELTS books, focusing on one type of question until I’m confident before moving on to the next. When my listening skills improved, I started increasing the playback speed to 1.25 or even 1.5 times and then returning to normal speed for another round. Once you’re comfortable with all the types in the Listening section, start timing yourself and complete the entire test.
To achieve a high overall score, remember to allocate sufficient study time for all four skills rather than just focusing on what you’re already good at.
Regarding Reading
To select the correct answers, you need to apply logical thinking while reading and answering questions. However, the only way to practice this skill is through extensive reading. I already had some background knowledge in grammar and vocabulary, plus I enjoy reading English news and watching movies, which helped me acquire enough vocabulary to tackle the exam. It’s often said to read topics you love to avoid boredom, but I believe this approach should only apply when you’re starting out. I read everything from astronomy and nature to social sciences, as you will face different topics in the three passages of the exam. The best way to prepare is to get familiar with academic topics and question types in the Reading section from the beginning. If you don’t have much time to read news articles, you can practice with the Reading passages in Cambridge books, reading thoroughly before attempting to answer the questions while gradually increasing your speed.
Teachers also advised me to study Reading by question type, breaking it down to identify specific techniques to use for each type and noting key points to avoid traps, which helps shorten the time spent on the test. Skimming and scanning techniques are effective for finding ideas quickly and saving time.
Regarding Writing
I find that time management is crucial when completing the Writing section. I know some people score lower than their potential simply because they can’t manage their time well. The second task carries double the weight of the first, so I always allocate 20 minutes for Task 1 and 40 minutes for Task 2.
A small tip I learned from teachers is to outline your essay before you start writing. You should draft the introduction, the first sentence of each paragraph, and the conclusion first to ensure the structure is solid before writing in detail.
In addition to regular writing practice, I often read sample essays to understand how others present ideas, use related vocabulary, especially synonyms, and include some academic words to make my writing less monotonous. Logical brainstorming and idea development skills are also essential for both Writing and Speaking sections.
Regarding Speaking
To improve in Speaking, you need to listen a lot, especially to native speakers, through audio and video online, mimicking their pronunciation and intonation. A tip I found helpful is to speak with your phone. I’ve used this method and found it quite interesting. You can practice speaking while searching for information by asking Siri or Google Assistant. If you mispronounce something, they will prompt you to say it correctly.
Most importantly, speak without fear of making mistakes. Practicing daily helps maintain your voice quality and prevents mispronunciation. Speaking out loud allows teachers to correct you so you can improve next time.
Regarding Study Materials
I primarily follow the curriculum from my center, which condenses the essential knowledge needed. Then I read and watch sample essays to expand my vocabulary.
For practice tests, I mainly use Cambridge books 1-14. If anyone is also preparing in a short time like I did, I recommend working backward from Cambridge 14 to earlier tests. I also suggest visiting ielts-simon.com for excellent sample essays.
Additionally, channels like TED, BBC, and series like Friends and How I Met Your Mother are incredibly effective for learning English.
A side note on why I chose WISE English to help me conquer IELTS:
In the past, I self-studied IELTS, and the hardest part was not being able to recognize my mistakes. Plus, when studying alone, I wasn’t sure if my answers were comprehensive and grammatically correct, and I didn’t have much time, so I needed a place that could help me raise my band score quickly. I learned that WISE English had a unique teaching method that could shorten learning time, which is why I decided to enroll.
If you have one piece of advice for others studying IELTS, what would you say?
“I know that IELTS is challenging, but it’s not insurmountable. Set specific goals and be persistent. I understand that studying for IELTS can feel like a long and discouraging journey, but if you break it down into manageable parts and work a little each day, you will gradually reach your larger goals. And once you achieve success after a series of efforts, you will see that all your hard work was worth it.”
Congratulations to Thái Khang for the amazing results he has achieved, and thank you for sharing such valuable insights. I hope your efforts lead to even greater accomplishments in your language journey!
What about you all? What challenges do you face in conquering IELTS, and what score are you aiming for? If you find the journey a bit daunting, let WISE English lend you a hand!
