If you are entirely new to IELTS and how to prepare, please see this post.

Speak in front of the mirror.

The key to learning and preparing for IELTS is habits!

Try attaching your English learning to an existing habit (something you do almost every day/evening).

In the morning: talk about your plans for the day. Things you are going to do.

In the evening: talk about what you did.

This form of practice will expose you to various tenses which you use in English.

Benefits of talking in front of the mirror:

  •  you can see your mouth movement
  • you can see your body language
  •  it feels like you are speaking to someone

If you are focusing on your IELTS writing skills, you can use this tip as a “diary entry” exercise.

Collocations (In English, you will see the phrase “heavy rain” NOT “big rain”)

  • Prepare the words (collocations): pick a topic you find interesting/enjoyable. Get some vocabulary and collocations associated with your chosen subject. Create as many sentences as you can using this vocabulary and collocations.
  • Practice speaking these sentences in front of the mirror.
  • Prepare a short presentation: take a question related to the topic you have chosen and perform a “short presentation” in front of the mirror. Try and use the collocations you have learned.

Practice with short audios

Short audios give you bite-sized chunks of language to learn and use.

A simple process to follow when using audios:

  • listen and pick out the stressed words
  • repeat the stressed words
  • pick out and repeat interesting chunks or phrases
  • try and replicate the audio/text using your own words

Shadowing

Find a short audio clip that you enjoy/find interesting.

Listen carefully to the audio.

Play the audio again and repeat what is being said simultaneously or a fraction of a second after the original speaker.

This technique will help you build word stress and intonation.

What are you currently doing?

Wherever you are, describe what you see. Focus on creating collocations and short phrases first, then create longer sentences.

Sing a song

Find a song you enjoy that is in English – find the lyrics and practice singing along.

Singing helps you learn the following pronunciation features:

  • melody
  • intonation
  • connected speech
  • contractions
  • weak sounds

Difficult things to say

Tongue twisters help you focus on specific sounds.

A very famous example: “She sells seashells on the seashore.“

Idioms

This site is excellent for learning and practicing idioms.

Here is an example using the well-known idiom “throw caution to the wind.”

YouGlish is great because you hear the idiom in context.

English immersion

Ask yourself: “How is English used in my daily life?”

“Where do I use English?” “Where do I use my mother tongue?”

Do I use English when _____?

  • using my phone
  • using my computer/laptop
  • sending texts/messages
  • listening to podcasts
  • watching films
  • listening to songs/music
  • reading books/articles/the news

Which of the above could be switched to English to help immerse yourself in English?

Set realistic speaking goals that you can measure

A simple example you could set: “For the next two weeks, I am going to speak English every day for at least five minutes.”

Achieving a goal you have defined is incredibly motivating.

Make learning English a habit

If possible: study in the same place and at the same time every day.