How to Prepare for an IELTS Test in Cambodia

To those who are preparing to take IELTS test in Cambodia, here are some I-E-L-T-S tips for you. I learned this lesson from my own experience.

I-Interview others who have already taken the IELTS test. Get as many information as you can from them to help you on your preparation. 

E-Expect the unexpected and the expected. On your preparation, it is important to prepare what to expect. Never take things for granted. Don't assume, for example, that graph or chart will not come up on the test. When I took the writing part of the test, there are two parts to it. One is to write a report by summarizing and contrasting a given chart about something (150 words), and the other one is to write 250 words on a given topic. 

L-Listen to English speakers on TV, radio, internet, or in person. Try to listen mostly to British or Australian accent. The IELTS test is administered by British and Australian organizations, thus the English accent on the listening part of the test is 'pretty British' I'd say. 

T-Test yourself before the actual test. Do some practice exam. There are available tests on the internet; try some of them. I wish I had time to do this before the exam. Furthermore, try to learn the mechanics of the test from online resources. There is tons of information on the web about IELTS. YouTube alone has more than enough videos about IELTS. Use them for your preparation. As part of your preparation, spend time on reading difficult articles. 

S-Speak English often. As you probably already know, there are four modules of the IELTS test: Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking. This is why fluency is important to get a high band score. However, don't worry about the speaking part of the test if you are already fluent in English. Fluency and grammatical accuracy is the key in getting a high mark on the speaking part. 

This is enough as there is more important information out there you need to read. I've given this tip not because I've done it myself but because I didn't do it due to time constraint. 

For a concluding thought, nothing can take the place of preparation, and to have a high mark, preparation is not done overnight. Preparation is a process-done in a long time!