I first encountered the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as a teacher in China. One of my students was planning to study in Perth; he needed an IELTS score for his university application package. As a native English speaker, I had never had any reason to prove my English language skills. And besides, my father was American so I was more familiar with the other English language exam.
Evan asked me to help him prepare for IELTS. To do that well, I first had to find out what IELTS was and what its requirements were. Evan and his Band 7 IELTS score soon went to live and study in Perth. Now, I share my findings with you.
IELTS Preparation and Study Tips
To succeed at any task, you have to know what you're up against. Knowing that IELTS tests your English reading, writing, speaking and listening capabilities isn't enough. You have to know what type of writing you'll have to do: academic writing, persuasive writing or letter writing?
The same goes for the other three English language skills. If you're a native English speaker born and raised in Australia, listening to Australian, or even British English might not be a problem. How well can you respond to American-accented English, though? Knowing what challenges the exam presents helps you prepare to meet them.
IELTS candidates with hearing and/or speaking difficulties must make arrangements with their IELTS testing centre. They should do so at least six weeks before their scheduled test date so the centre can make accommodations. Students with these severe difficulties may apply for an exemption from the listening and speaking portions.
Such candidates may have to provide medical certification at least six weeks before their scheduled test date.
Once you've investigated the IELTS exam, learned what's expected and made all the necessary arrangements, you should assess your English language skills. This will show you where your language strengths are and which skills you need to work on the most. Such an analysis will shape your revision schedule.
You can take an IELTS practice test online or ask your IELTS tutor to test your English skills.
Once you've established your baseline of abilities, it's time to build on the skills you have; for that, you'll need resources. Online marketplaces boast an array of IELTS practice books, each promising exam success. Tempted as you might be to snap up the first ones you find, beware of off-brand revision materials.
It's easier to find the resources you need if you have an experienced guide directing you to them. Getting everything lined up - the expectations, the resources and any accommodations you might need - takes the stress out of preparing for exams.
A qualified, experienced IELTS tutor should be the first resource you secure. They will help you get everything else in order.
What to Consider When Choosing an IELTS Tutor
Like choosing your IELTS revision materials, deciding on the best tutor for your revision needs takes some consideration. This English exam isn't like the ones you take in school, though they are alike in some ways.
For instance, IELTS examiners will consider spelling, grammar and punctuation when grading your writing skills. But they're more concerned with how well you use the English language to convey ideas, not how well you use language mechanics.
IELTS comes in two flavours: general and academic. If you need an IELTS score to study abroad, you'll sit the academic exam. If you're relocating for work and your new job isn't academic in nature, the general exam will serve you the best.
You should choose an IELTS tutor who has experience teaching the exam you signed up for. If you plan to sit the academic exam and engage a general English IELTS tutor, you might not get the coaching you need. Note that general IELTS tutors tend to cost less per hour of instruction. Don't let potential money savings leave you short of knowledge in the testing centre.
For many IELTS candidates, tutor fees are a big worry. Just sitting the exam costs $410 this year (2023). Registration fees and revision materials costs all add up, too.
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You can read more about tutoring fees in this article's last segment. Now, let's discuss whether you should find an online IELTS tutor or one who teaches in person.
Revising with a tutor in person offers a few advantages, the main one being that this setup mirrors testing centre conditions. On exam day, an examiner will be in the room with you. When you do the speaking part, you will talk with the examiner. Having someone in the room while practising will help you get used to the examiner's presence on test day.
Even if you choose the online exam format, you will sit at a testing centre computer terminal. You'll likely have other test takers around you and, of course, a roaming examiner or two. For many, having someone close by could disrupt their focus. You can get used to others being in the room with an in-person IELTS tutor.
You have all of these factors and more to consider as you search for your best tutor.
You may even wonder whether taking IELTS preparation classes would suit your preparation needs the best. You can read our ideas on that topic in a related article.
How to Find an IELTS Tutor
Finding any information, item or service you need is as easy as typing a few keywords into your favourite search engine, these days. That wasn't the case, not so long ago. Then, people had to know someone or have connections to find what they needed.
Searchers repaired to the library or the corner shop to scan announcement boards if they needed a repair technician or a tutor. They read classified adverts or looked through the phone book. All of these ways still work to find a tutor - well, except for the phone book.
Besides those 'search engines' of days past, we have social media and online marketplaces. Independent tutors advertise their services on Facebook and other social media sites; they may also post adverts on Gumtree or Aufreeads. Social media adverts tell you a bit about the tutor; their qualifications and experience. Standard adverts often do not.
To keep from having to cycle through vague adverts and social media posts, you could ask if your IELTS centre can refer tutors. The IELTS website makes no mention of tutors under its 'for students' tab but perhaps your local office has a list you could peruse.
Searching for a tutor on tutoring platforms is the best way to find an IELTS tutor - or a tutor for any topic. If you have a tutoring centre in town, it's a sure bet that they also have a website. You might look them up to see if they have any IELTS teachers.
They may insist you take lessons in their tutoring centre. If you'd rather a tutor come to your home for lessons, you might try other ways to find your tutor.
IELTS Tutor Fees
Let's say you've just finished your first IELTS practice test. You did really well on the listening and writing questions but the reading questions stumped you. Should you look for an IELTS teacher for a full course of study or one that can help you improve your reading comprehension?
This is the advantage of preparing for IELTS with a tutor. Instead of paying for an entire course, you only pay for the lessons you need. For our hypothetical situation, let's say you decided (wisely!) to hire an IELTS tutor. They would agree that your lessons should focus on reading comprehension.
Even though they have specialised knowledge and skills, IELTS tutors are no more expensive than tutors for other subjects. How much you pay for a tutor depends on a couple of factors, though. For instance, if you take lessons online, you'll likely pay less than for an in-person tutor.
Prepare for exams with a qualified tutor in an IELTS course online on Superprof.
Online tutors are perfect for students who live in remote areas. It's harder to find a tutor specialising in any subject if you live in a small town. On the other hand, the per-lesson cost might be lower where you live than in big cities like Melbourne or Sydney.
When you search for an online tutor, look for those who offer a discount if you pay for a bundle of lessons. On the Superprof tutoring platform, tutors often charge less for five prepaid lessons than they do when students pay after each lesson. Also, most Superprof tutors offer their first lesson free, to prove they're the best tutor for you.
Superprof has more than six thousand tutors across Australia. The average rate for a Superprof IELTS tutor is $26 per hourlong lesson.
Tutoring is big business and IELTS is a niche market. Some tutoring agencies may charge high prices for an experienced IELTS tutor.
Finding an experienced IELTS tutor on a tutor exchange platform like Superprof could save you a bundle on your tutoring fees.
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