Are you gearing up for the IELTS exam? The path you choose — between preparing for the test independently and seeking professional guidance — will significantly impact your success.

Finding the right answer to this question is crucial since the test score and the time it will take to achieve it are of utter importance to each and every candidate. To our mind, the assistance of a test trainer is the obvious choice. Whenever we have the necessity to master something fairly complex within a limited timeframe, it is only reasonable to work under the guidance of an experienced mentor in order to ensure a positive result.

Allow us to refer to our experience. Over the last 28 years we have trained a lot of students for a range of academic tests, and majority of candidates we have prepared for the IELTS succeeded in obtaining the test results they needed and often exceeded their expectations. While exceptions exist — as occasionally a student may not have the necessary level of command of English and yet allows little time to prepare for the test, thus tackling the task they simply cannot complete at this point in time. The vast majority of our students, who coupled effort with critical self-assessment, reaped the rewards of their hard work with satisfactory or high test scores. That is why to us the right answer to the initial question is obvious: seek the help of a professional test trainer.

Firstly, experienced exam trainers aid you in determining the level of your language knowledge and skills, a pivotal step for establishing a realistic timeframe for your test preparation. It is known that in order to achieve success on the IELTS Academic Module test (by success we here imply an overall band 6 or higher, required by most higher learning institutions) a candidate needs to demonstrate a B2 / Upper-Intermediate level of English. Overestimating one’s abilities inevitably leads to loss of both precious time and a considerable amount of money, as the test is fairly expensive. Based on the outcomes of a test and an interview a tutor will be able to project the band score you are able to achieve at present and the time you will need to get ready for the test depending on the score you need and the hours you have available for preparation.

Secondly, let us not forget that good command of English alone does not guarantee success at on academic test. IELTS certainly requires much strategic preparation for the test’s various parts and specific task formats, and even the most rigorous and determined self-preparation simply does not provide for adequate training for a number of tasks. For instance, the Listening and Reading parts of the test offer numerous types of tasks that require different strategic approaches – a challenge to be met with methodological help rendered by a tutor. As for the Writing and the Speaking (Interview) part, professional assistance here is absolutely essential as it provides for the objective and critical evaluation of you speaking and writing skills, focus on the format and abilities to formulate your ideas and build logical arguments.

To sum up, what should you expect when you prepare for the test with a trainer? Initially, they will give you a clear and detailed a comprehensive breakdown of the test's structure , its topical range and specific types of tasks for each part. Then they will organize your work in the most suitable result-oriented way, monitor and control your progress giving detailed coverage to each of the 4 parts of the IELTS and evaluating your work according to IELTS criteria. Be ready to study much on your own time as well, not only to complete practice test tasks, but also to expand your active vocabulary, revise English grammar, read and listen to authentic sources. A trainer certainly cannot do all your work for you and bear full responsibility for your test score. Yet, we are here to share that responsibility with you, to help you in identifying the gaps and problem zones in your preparation and to assist you in aiming your efforts at perfecting the tasks that may cause difficulty for you at present in addition to increasing your general language skills. You will see your results in specific tasks and in test parts overall improve in the course of training. And at the end of the course you will feel confident, taking the IELTS test will no longer seem a gamble, and your results will enable you to fulfill your ambitions.