The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is one of the most common exams given to test a candidate’s ability to use English in the real world. It is also one of the most demanding English language assessments available. The IELTS exam covers a wide range of English language skills in a variety of topics. You are expected to be able to demonstrate a proficient level of usage in English in speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

With so much going on, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of topics and question types. So, where do people generally make the most mistakes? What should you pay extra attention to? Here, we’ve outlined some of the most common mistakes people make both before and during the IELTS exam, as well as what you can do to avoid them.

Mistake #1: Not Practicing Enough

Many people attempting the IELTS have already been studying English for several years. Maybe you’ve been studying, working, or even living in English for long enough that you feel like you’ve got it all covered. In that case, you are almost certainly ready to take the IELTS exam. However, even the most proficient English users (even some native speakers) can find the format and time constraints of the IELTS exam to be even more difficult than the content of the test. Taking one or two full practice tests under a time limit will give you a huge advantage when you take the real thing. Learn the format of the test and get comfortable with all of the question types and formats.

Mistake #2: Practicing Too Much

Yes, I just said that you need to practice, but don’t overdo it. Doing practice tests is only a small part of success on the IELTS exam. Don’t forget that the point of the test is to evaluate your ability to use English, not just your ability to take a test. If you do 2 or 3 practice tests and consistently score below your desired result, taking more practice exams will not help you. It is extremely important that you practice using English in as many formats as you can; TV, blogs, podcasts, and various clubs are all fantastic ways to get valuable, real-world practice. 

Mistake #3: Memorizing Answers

You may have heard that many topics and questions on the IELTS are repeated across multiple test versions. This is true, however, do not attempt to memorize previous exams or high-scoring essays. The IELTS examiners are trained to look for exactly this and are instructed to automatically disqualify any test which is suspected of copying an answer from an outside source. The same is true for the speaking section, don’t try to rehearse or memorize your answers. You are being evaluated on your ability to quickly react and create in English, not your ability to remember a speech.

Mistake #4: Bigger Is Better

This is specifically for the IELTS writing exam. During this section, you are required to write two texts of 150 and 250 words. Many candidates believe that by writing a longer answer they will get a higher score. This is absolutely not the case. During the writing section, “coherence and cohesion” is 25% of your final score. Writing much more than the required minimum will very likely cause you to go off-topic. Keep your answers here to under 180 and 300 words respectively.

Mistake #5: Leaving Answers Blank

This is one of the biggest ways people lose points on the IELTS exam. During the reading and listening sections, you are required to answer several questions within a strict time limit. Many candidates spend too long on certain questions and don’t have enough time remaining to finish, or simply leave an answer blank if they don’t know it. Answer every question. On the IELTS exam, there is no difference between a wrong answer and a blank answer. You cannot lose points for being wrong, but you will gain points for a lucky guess. 

Mistake #6: Trying Too Hard To Be “Right”

Much of the test does require you to answer questions correctly, yes. However, during the speaking section as part of the writing section, you will have to give your own opinion or form your own argument about a given topic. Many candidates feel like they need to prove their point to convince the examiner, or that they need to agree with the examiner to get a good score. This is not true, you are being evaluated on your ability to create and use English, not on your ability to win an argument or convince someone of something.

Mistake #7: Not Staying On-Topic

During the speaking and writing sections of the IELTS exam, you will be asked to answer several questions on a variety of topics. It may happen that you are asked a question about which you know very little; this is an understandably tough situation. Many candidates feel that they will score better if they change the topic to something they know more about so that they can write or speak more fully. This is a mistake, do not change topics and answer the questions which you were asked. Even if you feel like you don’t have a lot to say about it, your ideas aren’t what is being evaluated, your ability to think and react quickly is.

Mistake #8: Incorrectly Formatting An Answer

During the IELTS listening and reading sections, you will be asked to format your answers in very particular ways. For example, your answer may need to contain “1 or 2 words and a number”. If your answer does not follow this format it is incorrect, even if the information you gave is accurate. In this case, an answer of “July 6th” would be acceptable, whereas “July 6th, 1973” would not, even if it is technically accurate.

Good Luck

By paying attention to these common mistakes, you can make sure that you are prepared to take the IELTS exam. The most important thing, though, is to relax and focus on the task at hand. Stress and panic cause more mistakes than anything else. So get a good night’s sleep, eat a light breakfast, and dress for comfort. You’ve got this.