A band 8 in the IELTS score is considered a very good score. Therefore, to achieve a band 8 in each section of the IELTS test, you need to focus on improving your language skills and adopting effective test-taking strategies. For instance, in the Listening section, daily practice and a strong grasp of the general meaning and key details are essential. Additionally, practicing paraphrasing techniques will help you answer questions accurately. For the Reading section, extensive reading and identifying areas of difficulty, such as “Yes/No/Not Given questions”, are crucial. Enhancing your vocabulary will also contribute to an improved overall band score. By following these tips and dedicating time to practice, you can increase your chances of achieving a band 8 in each section of the IELTS exam.
Here are the formats, duration, and descriptions of the Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking sections of the IELTS test:
Sections | Duration | Description |
---|---|---|
Listening | 30 minutes | You will listen to four recorded texts: conversations, monologues, and educational discussions. Questions will test your ability to understand the main ideas, detailed information, opinions, attitudes, and the purpose of what is said. |
Reading | 60 minutes |
IELTS Academic: Three long texts ranging from descriptive to analytical, taken from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers. IELTS General Training: Extracts from various sources like books, notices, advertisements, etc. |
Writing | 60 minutes |
IELTS Academic: Two tasks - describing data/diagrams and writing an essay in a formal style on a given topic. IELTS General Training: Task 1 - writing a letter requesting information or explaining a situation. Task 2 - writing an essay. |
Speaking | 11-14 minutes | General questions about yourself and familiar topics. Speaking about a given topic for up to two minutes. Discussion of abstract issues and ideas related to the topic in Part 2. (Please note that the Speaking component is the same for both the Academic and General Training IELTS). |
Read more: How IELTS band scores are calculated?
In the IELTS Listening test, you will have to answer 40 questions based on audio clips played for you. Here are some tips to improve your performance:
In the IELTS Reading test, you will have 40 questions. These questions can be matching, multiple-choice, True/False/Not Given, or sentence completion. To do well in this section, here are some tips:
In the IELTS Writing test, it is important to ensure fluency and accuracy. The Examiner looks for coherence, vocabulary, and grammar in your responses. Here are the tips for a better score:
The IELTS Speaking test is designed to see how well you use English in everyday conversations. You will talk with an examiner in a quiet room, and they will evaluate your 'lexical resource,' 'pronunciation,' 'fluency and coherence,' and 'accuracy.' Here are the tips to do well:
Achieving a band 8 in each section of the IELTS test requires dedicated effort, consistent practice, and effective strategies. Additionally, focusing on grammar skills and adopting effective strategies will benefit you in the IELTS test. With the right approach, you can increase your chances of achieving a band 8 on the IELTS test. Also, if you want to know more about the IELTS exam, you can visit your nearest IDP IELTS test centres.
Read more: What is a good IELTS score