My IELTS Experience – Exam Day, Prep, and Lessons Learned
- Apr 25, 2024
- 2 min read
My IELTS Experience & Preparation Tips
Fast Result Delivery – I received my results within 35 hours of the test via email, likely because it was a computer-based test.
Test Day Schedule –
LRW (Listening, Reading, Writing) started at 9:30 AM and ended around 12:15 PM.
Speaking was scheduled at 4:00 PM, which made waiting frustrating. Luckily, the test venue was in downtown Toronto, so I had places to explore.
Preparation Time – I only gave myself 5 hours of prep:
2 hours on British Council’s website for Reading & Writing practice.
3-4 hours of watching IELTS prep videos.
Listening Section –
My only prep was two 40-minute timed practice sessions.
The real test felt almost identical.
Key advice: Stay focused! Missing one question can disrupt your entire flow and cause panic.
Reading Section –
I followed IELTS Juva’s video strategy, which worked perfectly.
I completed both practice tests and the real exam with 25-30 minutes to spare, allowing me to check for spelling and meaning errors.
Writing Section –
I watched IELTS Advantage videos for guidance.
Used paper and pen to outline my response before typing.
Mistake: I wrote way too much (more than double the word limit), leaving no time for revisions. This likely cost me points.
Speaking Section –
I watched IELTS Advantage videos during my commute and waiting time.
I felt confident in the first half.
Struggled with the cue card question—overthought it and fumbled.
Lesson learned: Don’t try to make your answer "perfect." Instead, answer naturally. If a topic doesn’t resonate, just explain why. The test is about delivery, not storytelling.
Final Thoughts –
Expected a 7.0 in Speaking due to my mistakes, but I was still satisfied overall.
Feel free to ask me about my experience, the test venue, procedures, or anything else!
Hope this helps, and best of luck with your IELTS! 🚀
Shared by r/IELTS
Comments