One of the requirements for those who want to immigrate to Canada from Nigeria is to pass the IELTS exam. IELTS is an English language proficiency test which shows that you can speak, read, write and understand English. English is one of the official languages of Canada so you’ll need to have some mastery of it to be able to communicate, find a job and generally adapt to life in Canada.
The goal of anyone who wants to pass the IELTS exam is to get an average of 8 points. The better you perform in IELTS, the more points you get in your overall Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for Express Entry. This is why it’s very important to do all you can to pass the exam on the first attempt. Here are a few tips to help you achieve this goal:
Take time to prepare
Don’t rush to schedule the closest date for your exam, take time to prepare. The amount of time you’ll need depends on how good your English language skills are currently. No matter how far along you think you are though, it’s advisable to spend at least one month preparing. If you’ve never taken the IELTS test before, there’ll be a lot for you to learn about how it’s structured. It’s not just about understanding English, you have to know what to expect as well. So make sure you take your time.
Improve your English
There’s always room for improvement so in the weeks before your test, work on enhancing your English language skills. Be deliberate about reading everyday for at least 30 minutes. If you don’t have time to finish books, you can read articles and blogs on major websites. Watch movies where good English is spoken so you can learn from the dialogue. You can also listen to podcasts to boost your vocabulary. Starting a journal where you write your thoughts daily will improve your ability to express yourself. If you commit to doing these things daily, you’ll be more likely to pass the IELTS exam on the first attempt.
Practice
Practice makes perfect. There’s a wide range of resources and practice tests online to help you prepare for the exam. These will not just improve your proficiency but also help you get accustomed to how the tests are structured. IELTS has tests for speaking, reading, listening and writing. You must pass all of them well to get a good average score.
If you follow these tips and really apply yourself, you’ll be one step closer to your goal to pass the IELTS exam. Remember to relax and avoid pre-exam tension. You might have heard of people who failed the exam but there are also many who have passed. See yourself among the second category. All the best!