IELTS 7 Band 2023: Latest Tips & Tricks For 7+ Band In IELTS Exam

IELTS practice test plays a huge role in scoring good bands in the final IELTS exam. In countries such as the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and more, the primary language of communication is English. That is why it is good to have a working understanding of the language. You will need to communicate with professors, fellow students, other working professionals, local businesses, and stores. Therefore, IELTS practice becomes important to begin with for your preparation. 

The IELTS examination is an English proficiency test that is conducted to ensure your eligibility to migrate to an English speaking country. This test is vital if you want to study or work there. The intention behind the test is to make sure that you feel comfortable and blend in well with the locals. The test is designed to evaluate your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.

The only way to get a good score is with a strong IELTS preparation and doing more IELTS practice tests. That is why today we will talk about the tips and tricks to get a good score.

IELTS Practice Test: How to start your IELTS Preparation to achieve a good score?

In order to achieve a good score, your IELTS preparation must be thorough. We have some personalized tips to help you prepare for each of the 4 sections of the IELTS exam. Follow these effective learning techniques and tricks while attempting IELTS practice tests and to attain a good IELTS score of 7 or higher.

The IELTS Reading Test (60 minutes)

• You will get 3 – 4 passages to read.
• You will have to answer 40 questions based on the passages.

For the IELTS reading test you can follow these tips while attempting IELTS practice test:

1. Start reading substantial sources of information such as research journals, academic and professional magazines, newspapers, books, and articles.
2. Note down important points in these sources. If there are words or phrases that you don’t understand, make it a habit to google them or look them up in a dictionary.
3. Select 4 significant texts and create 40 questions based on them. Then try writing the answers within 35 – 40 minutes. This will help you improve your timing.
4. Practice speed-reading.
5. Learn how to skim and read the text.
6. Highlight important points and keywords in the text as you read them.
7. Improve your vocabulary by learning new words, synonyms, and antonyms.
8. Learn the common phrases and idioms used in the American, Australian, and English contexts.
9. Know the types of questions that are used in the IELTS reading test.
10. Practice writing short answers, completing the sentences, forms, etc. in particular with correct grammar and syntax.
11. Take the IELTS practice tests for reading task. Focus on accomplishing the tasks as directed in the task description.
12. Join an IELTS training program with Leap Scholar and get a personalized guide to help you improve your proficiency.

The IELTS Writing Test (60 minutes)

• During this portion of the test, you will be given 2 tasks.
• For the Academic writing test:

1. a) The first task is to analyze a pictogram and write an essay of 150 words while following the directives in the task description.
2. b) The second task is to write an essay of 250 words based on your opinion on the subject provided in the task description of writing task 2.

•   For the General writing test:

1. a) The first task is to write an informal or formal letter of 150 words as directed in the task description.
2. b) The second task is to write an essay of 250 words based on the topic provided in the description of writing task 2.

For the IELTS practice test for writing task you can practice these tips to improve your band score:

1. Learn the rules of grammar.
2. Practice using the 8 parts of speech, namely, nouns, pronouns, adverbs, verbs, adjectives, conjunctions, prepositions, and interjections, correctly in your sentences.
3. Practice expressing strong opinions with clarity.
4. Write your essays and letters to the point. Don’t beat around the bush.
5. Improve your vocabulary by constantly learning new words. Then incorporate these words in everyday conversations to practice using them in the correct context.
6. Improve your speed of writing.
7. If you are taking the IELTS Academic test, practice examining graphs, tables, and diagrams. Then write small essays of 150 – 175 words each describing your understanding of the pictogram. Try to finish the entire process of analyzing the pictogram and writing the essay within 15 – 18 minutes.
8. If you are taking the IELTS General Test, practice writing formal and informal letters on various subjects. The letters must be 150 – 175 words in length and they must follow the updated formats of letter-writing.
9. For both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Tests, practice writing essays of 250 – 300 words on academic and general topics. Practice finishing the task within 35 – 37 minutes.
10. Take multiple IELTS writing practice tests to get accustomed to writing in a short period of time. Finish your writing tasks within 52 – 55 minutes. Then take the remaining 5 minutes to review what you have written. Check for errors in grammar or syntax.

The IELTS Listening Test (30 – 40 minutes)

1. During the test, the examiner will play 4 recordings.
2. The first recording is a conversation between 2 native English speakers on an everyday subject.
3. The second recording is a speech based on a general topic.
4. The third recording is a conversation among 3 – 4 native English speakers discussing an academic or professional topic with facts.
5. The fourth recording is a monologue about an academic or professional topic.

For the IELTS listening test you can follow these simple tips to help you easily achieve a good score:

1. Learn to follow conversations and speeches by native English speakers of different ethnicities. The American, English, Irish, and Australian accents differ based on their stress on vowels and consonants. Get accustomed to listening to them and comprehending them easily.
2. Watch English and American shows, movies, and educational content with subtitles.
3. Once you are accustomed to following the accents with ease, turn off the subtitles and switch to watching Ted talks, seminars, and news channels.
4. Listen to English podcasts and newsletters.
5. Note down the important points that are discussed in these sources of information.
6. Get used to common jargon, idioms, and phrases.
7. If you are about to take the IELTS computer-based test, then practice typing important points and answering questions while you listen to the context. This is because, unlike the IELTS paper-based test, the computer-based test is only 30 minutes long. You have to listen to the recordings and answer the questions simultaneously as there is no extra time allotted to finish the task.
8. If you are about to take the IELTS paper-based test, practice writing long summary answers, and sentence completion within 7 minutes at the most.

•   During the test, you can make note of the short answers such as match the following, multiple-choice, true and false, etc. on your question set.
•   You will then have 10 minutes to transfer these answers to the separate answer sheet.
•   Complete the summary answers and sentence completions within 7 minutes
•   Use the 3 remaining minutes to transfer the one-word answers in the correct sequence, to the answer sheet.

The IELTS Speaking Test (12 – 15 minutes)

• During the first portion of the speaking test, the examiner will ask you to talk about general topics such as work or family. This exercise is meant to help you relax for the duration of the exam.
• During the second section of the IELTS speaking test, the examiner will give you a topic to talk about for 4 minutes. These topics are different for the Academic and General Tests:
• For the Academic test, you will be given a topic with a professional or academic context. You will have 1 minute to think about the points that you would like to discuss. Then you must speak about it for 3 – 4 minutes.
• For the General test, the topics are usually based on everyday phenomena such as travel, politics, general awareness, etc. You must express your opinion on the subject clearly.
• During the third section of the IELTS listening test, the examiner will ask you several questions regarding your opinion on the topic that was provided. This exercise is designed to evaluate how you would interact in a classroom or office scenario where there are several people expressing their views on a subject or sharing ideas.

For the IELTS speaking test, you need to pay attention to the following points in order to get a good band score:

1. Practice speaking with confidence. Join some speaking club for IELST practice test for speaking task. 
2. Avoid using filler words such as ‘like,’ ‘umm,’ ‘you know,’ etc.
3. Reduce unnecessary pauses and hesitations to a minimum.
4. Stand in front of a mirror and choose a topic. Then observe yourself in the mirror to evaluate your skills.
5. During the test, take the 1-minute provided for preparation to think about the points that you would like to mention during your speech.
6. Use examples and factual information to support your opinions. You can also cite personal experiences.
7. Do not use any colloquial terms during the IELTS speaking test.
8. Display a good sense of vocabulary and grammar.
9. Keep the entire conversation light-hearted. Don’t turn it into an argument to prove your point.
10. Stay true to the directions of the tasks. Answer the questions only as directed as task accomplishment plays an important role in your score.

What is a Good IELTS Score and What Does it Mean?

The IELTS score is influenced by the 4 sections of the test:

1. Writing skills
2. Reading skills
3. Speaking skills
4. Listening skills

The combined score is then represented on a scale of 1-9 which is referred to as the Band Score. Generally, a score of 7 is considered a good IELTS score.

The table below expresses each score and the skill level it indicates:

BAND SCORE	SKILL LEVEL	WHAT IT INDICATES
9	Expert user	Has a complete and thorough understanding of the language and all its components.
8	Very good user	Has a thorough understanding of the language and its complexities. Possibilities or minimum errors.
7	Good user	Has a functional understanding of the language and can communicate effortlessly. May experience some misunderstandings and inaccuracies.
6	Competent user	Is capable of communicating with a little effort, especially in familiar situations.
5	Modest user	Has a moderate understanding of the language. Makes several mistakes in communicating and understanding.
4	Limited user	Is unable to use complex forms of the language especially in unfamiliar situations. Experiences problems in expressing themselves in writing or speaking.
3	Extremely limited user	Can only comprehend familiar situations. Experiences frequent interruptions while speaking and understanding the language.
2	Intermittent user	Experiences extreme difficulty in using the English language for speaking and writing
1	Non-user	No knowledge of the language except for a few commonly used words.
0	Test not attempted	The test taker has not provided any information for assessment.

You may also achieve a score with a .5, i.e., 6.5, 7.5, and so on. This means that your skill level is categorized between the two levels of the higher and lower limit.

For instance, if you score a 7.5. It indicates that you may not make mistakes while reading, writing, listening, or speaking. However, you may have some difficulty in unfamiliar situations.

What is an IELTS Band Score and How is it Evaluated?

The band score is the mean score that is awarded for your examination on the basis of the following factors:

Pronunciation

The enunciation of the words is very important. The English language uses a multitude of vowel and consonant sounds. The pronunciation of each word is important for this section. You don’t have to read or understand phonetics. But you must be able to use the words in your vocabulary correctly. Connotations and intonation also play a major role in the English language. Hence, pay attention to the punctuations as well.

For example: “Did you see that chameleon on the tree?”

In this sentence, we used a question mark. It indicates that while reading the sentence your voice must go up in the end in the form of a question.

In addition, note the pronunciation of the word “Chameleon.” It is pronounced with a ‘k’ consonant, not a ‘ch’ consonant. Thus the pronunciation is ‘ke-mee-lee-un’ not ‘che-me-lee-on.’

Also, note how the vowel sounds are stretched for emphasis.

Lexical Resource

This section evaluates your vocabulary. Again, you do not have to be a connoisseur. But you must have an adequate range of vocabulary. You must be able to express yourself efficiently and comprehend what others say. You must also have some knowledge of idioms and how to use them correctly in a sentence.

For example: Using words such as ‘Adequate’, ‘Furthermore’, ‘Moreover’, ‘Lest’, etc. in sentence formation.

These words are simple yet they indicate a good vocabulary. They are used to substitute long phrases in a sentence. This shows that you are familiar with the complexities of the language without going over-board.

Fluency and coherence

This is a very important category in regards to your proficiency. The evaluation is based on how confidently and comfortably you speak. During your IELTS preparation, make sure to pay special attention to expressing opinions with ease. The trick is not to stutter when you answer the questions. If you need a couple of seconds to form an answer in your head, then take a pause. Think about your answer, and then start. Do not take a very long pause though.

Avoid using words such as ‘like’, ‘umm’, ‘uh’, etc. Try not to think out loud. Start your answer with confidence and speak clearly with ease.

Grammatical range and accuracy

This section evaluates the test-taker’s grammatical accuracy. To score well in this category, learn the basics of grammar during your IELTS preparation. You must be familiar with the 8 parts of speech, i.e.:

1. Noun
2. Pronoun
3. Adjective
4. Adverb
5. Verb
6. Preposition
7. Conjunction
8. Interjection

You must know how, when, and where to use these parts of speech. You must also learn to use them in their correctly and test yourself for accuracy.

Cohesion and Coherence

This section evaluates your writing skills. You must form sentences with proper structure. You must format your writing with well-organized paragraphs. Avoid using overly complicated sentences. You must know how to form simple, compound, and complex sentences, as required. You must also use the correct punctuations to express the tone of your essay.

Task Achievement

Every category in your IELTS examination provides a set of directives. You must follow them and complete your tasks efficiently. In order to score well in this section, make sure you understand the instructions on the prompter. Ease your mind and pay attention to the questions before you answer.

Now that you understand the factors that affect your score, let us look at how you can achieve a good score with adequate IELTS preparation and make sure you keep doing IELTS practice test. 

How to Achieve a 7+ Band Score in IELTS Exam?

In order to achieve a good score, your IELTS preparation must be thorough. Take the following steps to increase your test scores:

1. Learn the basics of grammar.
2. Practice the different parts of speech.
3. Learn at least 5 useful words every day.
4. Read study guides, newspapers, and books out loud to improve your reading skills.
5. Write essays, small reviews of books, entertainment, etc. to improve your writing skills.
6. Listen to English podcasts and watch some educational programs to improve your listening skills.
7. Speak in English as much as possible.
8. Join an IELTS preparation training program with Leap Scholar.
9. If you do not understand a word or phrase, make it a habit to look it up.
10. Take as many mock tests as possible.

How Leap Scholar can Help Achieve a High Score with their IELTS Class?

Leap Scholar is dedicated to providing an end-to-end service to help you with your IELTS preparation. Their program is designed to help anyone from novice to expert. Leap Scholar will assign a mentor to help you refine your skills and advice you efficiently. Their IELTS preparation classes provide a thorough knowledge of the subject matter. They also focus on tips and tricks that you can use to learn faster and effectively.

Speak to their expert advisors about your requirements for studying, or immigration. Your personalized mentor and counsellor will guide you through every step of the way to a brighter future.

Which Countries Accept IELTS Scores?

140 countries across the world accept the IELTS score. The top countries that require an IELTS score are:

• The USA
• UK
• Australia
• Canada
• New Zealand
• Ireland

When does the IELTS Result Come Out?

The IELTS results are released within 2 weeks of taking the test.

1. In case of an online test, the results are available within 3-5 days.
2. In case of an offline test, the results are available on the 13th day at noon. The pen and paper format takes more time to evaluate. Therefore the time taken for the results is a little longer.

How to Check the Result?

To check your results, you can log in to your IELTS account. You will need your registration ID, password, passport ID, and the date of your test.

The results are available online for 28 days. You will also receive a physical copy of the results by mail. It will arrive within 10 days for a paper-based test; and 5-7 days for an online test. The physical copies are dispersed after the announcement of the results. Therefore, once the result is declared on the 13th day, the physical copy will be received in the next 10 days.

How to Report IELTS Scores to Universities?

If you meet the university eligibility criteria, you can share your IELTS score results with them directly. You can opt for sharing an electronic copy or share a paper-based TRF. You can sign up for the TRF during your IELTS registration or apply for it after you view your test scores.

If you apply during registration, then there is a good chance that the university may receive the results before you even see them. This can cause problems if you do not meet the eligibility criteria. Therefore, it is advised to apply for a test result form after you have acknowledged your results. You must enter the address of the university along with a valid P.O box number for paper-based TRF. You can pay the council of IELTS examination via Demand Draft or online payment. The results will then be sent to the respective universities.

Frequently Asked Questions