Your IELTS Success - The Calm & Easy Way!

Speaking as someone who would rather have a tooth pulled than take a test, when someone tells me how nervous they are about taking the IELTS, I can completely relate!

There’s something about these things that make one feel as if they are being judged as a person, and this way of thinking will raise your blood pressure before the test even begins.

The reality is that the IELTS is not judging your intelligence or talent, rather it is simply measuring how clearly you can communicate in English in a short amount of time. When you fully understand this, the exam feels more manageable and less frightening.

IELTS as a Means to your Goal

What it Means:

When you see IELTS as something scary, your body reacts with stress, which makes your thoughts move too quickly and you try too hard to sound more advanced than you are. As a result, your ideas become unclear and you make more mistakes.

Instead, if you focus on why you’re taking the test in the first place, you can see IELTS as your friend, not as a soul-crushing monster.

What to Do:

First, remind yourself of WHY you are taking the test. It’s probably not because you enjoy exams; you are taking it because it will open a door to something important, such as permanent residency, university admission, or a great job.

When you keep that bigger goal in mind, the test begins to feel less personal. Instead of thinking, “This exam will decide if I am good enough.”, you can think, “This is simply one step I need to complete to move forward.”

The Example:

Ilush begins the exam feeling very nervous because he keeps thinking about what will happen if he does not reach the band score he needs. Because of this pressure, he tries too hard to sound advanced. His sentences become complicated and less clear, even though his English is actually quite good.

Mei reminds herself that IELTS is simply a requirement for the university program she wants to enter. During the test she focuses on the question in front of her instead of worrying about the final result. Because she stays calm and works through each task step by step, her ideas come out smoothly and her English sounds more natural.

Rule of Thumb:

Think of IELTS as a step toward your goal, not as a judgment about you.

Bonus Points:

When you keep your bigger goal in mind, the exam itself doesn’t seem so hard!

Preparation Creates Calm

What It Means:

Sometimes people feel nervous about IELTS because they are not sure what will happen during the test, so they start to imagine everything bad that can happen, like difficult questions or running out of time.

Good preparation helps to remove this feeling. When you understand the structure of the test and practice the tasks regularly, the exam begins to feel familiar. Instead of facing something unknown, you are simply completing activities you have already done many times.

What to Do:

Begin by learning the structure of the IELTS exam until you can almost repeat it in your sleep. Understand how each section works, how much time you have, and what kind of response the examiner expects. When you know the format clearly, the test becomes your friend rather than your worst nightmare.

Next, practice regularly, by which I mean DAILY for short periods (15-45 minutes) if at all possible (learn more here:  https://www.fluentandfabulous.com/post/study-habits-why-a-little-every-day-works). This keeps the information front and center in your brain and builds confidence with the tasks.

Over time, you’ll find yourself saying “I’ve got this!”, not “Why am I doing this?”

PRO TIP There are many free resources available, but many students also find it helpful to work with an experienced teacher or coach, Yes, there usually a charge, but they can explain the structure and time management of the exam, and pinpoint areas in Speaking, Writing, Listening and Reading that you need extra work on. 

Since the IELTS test itself often costs around $350 CAD, investing in the right guidance can save time and money if it will help you to reach the score you want without doing it over and over.

The Example:

Diego only studies when his wife reminds him to, and mostly works on vocabulary lists. Because he does not know the structure of the test, he has no idea how to study for it. On test day, he spends time trying to figure out what to do rather than answering the questions, and he realizes that he may have wasted money on the test fee.

Anna’s coach has shown her how each part of the exam works, and she practices the tasks regularly. When test day arrives, she still feels a little nervous, which is normal, but she knows what to expect and how much time to devote to any one part of the exam.

Because of this preparation, she feels calmer and more confident.

Guess who had the better band score?

Rule of Thumb:

If you’re not sure what’s in any part of the test, the time to find out is before you start studying!

Bonus Points:

When you are well prepared, you can use your mental energy to show your real English ability.

The Bottom Line

IELTS feels much less frightening when you change how you think about the exam and prepare for it properly. When you remember that the test is only one step toward your goal, you can focus on learning the material you need to know, and you’ll have a band score to WhatsApp your parents about!

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