IELTS isn’t just an English test …

It's a test of your ability to take tests.

To do well in any test, you need to be able to thoroughly understand the questions, plan quickly & efficiently, and manage your anxiety.

IELTS candidates often have terrific English, but fail to manage their nerves, use their time well and answer the questions in the test, which can lead to a disappointing test score.

Hendersons has over 30 years’ experience in teaching these exact skills!

Here are our top 3 tips for building test-taking skills:

1.    Practise under exam conditions.

Each section of the IELTS test has strict time constraints. In the Speaking test, you must prepare a 2-minute speech with only ONE MINUTE of planning time. That’s a tall order even for a native speaker. It’s critical to use that minute wisely to plan for your speech, so you don’t run out of things to say or go off on a tangent.

2.    Read twice, answer once.

Some IELTS test questions are made up of multiple parts or have hidden implications. Learning to decode questions correctly is vital for ensuring that your answers are relevant! In the Reading & Listening tests, it is especially important to be able to identify distractors. A distractor is misleading information that’s included to test your ability to think critically.

3.    Immerse yourself.

While last-minute cramming for a test is never a good idea, immersion over time is a great one! Language immersion has long been a valuable strategy for learning a new language. Try to build regular engagement with English-language news, books, magazines, websites, TV, movies, podcasts and radio into your daily routine. Even if you miss information to start with, we guarantee that continued exposure to English will build your English muscles!

To succeed in IELTS, you need to cultivate BOTH your test-taking skills AND your English.

Learn more about our IELTS Preparation Workshops