The most popular and widely acknowledged English test is the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). The IELTS test was intended to assess non-native English speakers’ English language skills. The test taker’s photo, nationality, first language, and date of birth are all included on the scorecard. More than 9,000 organisations throughout the world have officially adopted the test as a means of determining language proficiency.
Every year, over 3 million people across 140 countries take the IELTS test. An individual must score 89 per cent in the IELTS reading and listening section in order to be granted with IELTS band 8. IELTS has 40 questions in the reading and hearing sections.
Before moving on to the hacks to score IELTS band 8, it is important to understand the structure and pattern of the test.
How to Score IELTS Band 8 in Listening Section
You will be asked to answer 40 questions in the listening phase of the IELTS exam, which are heavily reliant on the audio clips that will be played for you.
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- Improve Your Vocabulary: Because vocabulary is so important in this area, we recommend that you read as many newspapers and magazines as possible. Make it a habit to write down the unique terms you hear, since this will help you remember them throughout the exam.
- Improve your listening skills: When taking the test, it is best to concentrate on the flow of the spoken material’s content, be it to obtain IELTS band 6 or 9. To do better on the exam, jot down the main ideas, major and tiny information. After that, write the basic summary requested in the question using the outline. Do daily practice by listing numerous intellectuals’ podcasts; this will give you a notion of how to understand each spoken word more precisely.
- Pay attention to the flow and signal words: More attention should be paid to the words in the entire section that imply particular characterizations. Introductions, key stages, thoughts, and conclusions are the most notable portions in the listening section that you should distinguish.
How to Score IELTS Band 8 in Reading Section
There will be 40 questions in the IELTS reading section. Matching, multiple-choice, True/False/Not Given, and sentence completion questions are all included in this section.
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- Work on your reading speed: Because time management is one of the most important components of this test, a rigorous time limit will undoubtedly put a strain on your ability to complete each job on time. Your rapid reading ability will aid you in task achievement and finding the answers to the question.
- Keywords to target: It may come as a surprise to you, but every question contains a set of keywords. You must make full use of each keyword in order for them to assist you in finding the answer. Always try to remember the basic location of the keyword in order to provide accurate answers. The exam-taker can also use paraphrasing to figure out how strong the keywords are.
- Skimming and scanning a passage: The term skimming refers to the main approach for reading a passage in order to answer the questions. In 3 to 4 minutes, you should always skim-read the entire passage. The test taker is advised to mark the relevant parts and keywords while reading the passage. Furthermore, scanning is the fundamental ability to identify any information rapidly and, in most cases, without regard to the passage’s comprehension.
- Always pay attention to grammar: Grammar can certainly aid in identifying the proper answer in a short amount of time. The majority of test takers arrive at the correct location but are unable to pinpoint the answer. The fact that they are unconcerned about grammatical precision is the primary element that draws them back.
How to Score IELTS 8 Band in Writing Section
The IELTS writing test is frequently marked by a skilled examiner with a strong knowledge of the English language. This is done to ensure that the exam is as accurate and fair as possible. Coherence and cohesiveness, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy are frequently rated in written responses.
- Cohesion and Coherence: The examiner will be looking for answers that are easy to read, and you should be able to provide the perfect answer to the question. Make an effort to use connectors that are not often used by all exam takers. The distinctiveness of your responses will become one of the most important factors in your overall test score improvement. Always devise a full-proof approach to help you impress and captivate the examiner’s thoughts in order to earn IELTS 8 bands.
- Concentrate on the word count: For most international students, writing a descriptive paper while keeping the word count in mind is one of the most difficult assignments. Unlike popular assumptions, fulfilling the goal of writing fewer words is more difficult than presenting the complete meaning in a suitable amount of words. This is something that the exam taker should bear in mind when it comes to time management. If they accidentally spend a larger amount of words on questions with a lower word count, their overall time management skills will be thrown off.
- Focus on the lexical: If you want an 8-band score on the forthcoming IELTS exam, then expanding your vocabulary’s scope can help you a lot. Try to write a new vocab because the IELTS test is one of the most widely used tests to assess your overall ability to capture English. However, do not try to tweak any word even if it does not fit the sentence. Also, do not try to copy any part of the question in your answer.
How to Score IELTS Band 8 in Speaking Section
The IELTS speaking test is regarded as one of the most realistic tests because its primary goal is to assess how much English you use in your daily conversations. You will be asked to sit in a quiet room with an examiner who will engage you in profound dialogues during the test. Always remember that your ‘lexical resource,’ ‘pronunciation,’ ‘fluency and coherence,’ and ‘accuracy’ will be evaluated.
- Do not stress much on the accent: You are not really a native of any English-speaking country, as the examiner understands. So, don’t be concerned about your accent; if your pronunciation is flawless, the accent will not affect your overall IELTS score.
- Avoid fillers: Speaking confidently and without hesitation might make a significant difference in your total IELTS score. Avoid using fillers if you want to score an 8 on the IELTS. When a test taker does not know what to say in response to a given question, they will usually use fillers. However, this may give the examiner the wrong impression, and he may conclude that you lack the necessary language skills. To make your answer stronger, try to avoid them and instead use idioms and phrases.
- Use a variety of speaking styles: When we say specific sentences, we may pronounce a word flatly or monotonously. This strategy makes it more difficult for the examiner to concentrate on the important information. Using the proper speaking technique, such as emphasising keywords and modulating your voice, can undoubtedly help you create a lasting impact on the examiner’s mind.
It is understandable that IELTS preparation and getting IELTS band 8 are not easy. Your journey should be well-planned, and you should be aware of everything that can affect your score on the next IELTS exam. Reach out to LeapScholar counsellors to know more.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many components does the IELTS speaking test have on average?
The IELTS speaking test is broken into three parts: part 1 is a question-and-answer round, part 2 is a conversation round, and part 3 is based on onboard concerns.
In the IELTS reading test, how many reading passages are there?
There are three reading passages for the academic paper and three passages for the general training paper in the IELTS reading test.
What factors go into determining the IELTS reading exam score?
Each correct answer will earn the test taker one point. In the IELTS reading section, there is no negative marking; therefore the test taker will not lose any points for wrong answers.
