IELTS Strategies

GENERAL TIPS

Success in the IELTS exam requires a candidate to know the test format and the specific techniques for answering questions. Make sure you are fully equipped with this knowledge. ( Please see Resources on the Internet and Books )

Don't believe people who tell you that IELTS needs no preparation if your English is good. Even if it is, you still need to learn the right skills for the test. I would suggest a period of two weeks as preparation time, though this would vary depending on your level of familiarity with English. The test fees are high and if you don't get the band score you need, you have to wait for three months before you can take the test again.

Like in all other exams, practice is the key to doing well in the IELTS. Make sure you have plenty of it before you appear for the test.

Answer all questions. There is no negative marking for incorrect answers.

TOEFL Strategies

Every year tens of thousands of students appear for the TOEFL. Most of these students study on their own, while a small percentage of them take coaching classes and tutorials. Here are some tips for studying for TOEFL.

Familiarize yourself with the three TOEFL formats
TOEFL has three formats: paper based, computer based and internet based. Make sure you find out which test you will be taking before you start studying for the TOEFL. If your country uses the iBT you have to take this test.
Research TOEFL score requirements
TOEFL is a source of anxiety for most international students who are not educated in English. But remember that it is almost unavoidable. Required TOEFL scores vary by institution, usually, the more prestigious the university, the higher the required TOEFL score.
So contact your selected university or college to determine their score requirements. On the TOEFL Web site at http://www.ets.org/toefl/ibt/codelists.html you'll find a list of 6,000 institutions that accept TOEFL scores. You can also view a list of score requirements for some representative universities.
Remember that the scores for the paper based test are different than the scores for the CBT and iBT. The average minimum score required is approximately 550 (paper test) or 215 (CBT) or 70 (iBT). Some schools will look at your scores from different sections. Many universities expect you to have better writing skills than speaking skills. TOEFL scores are only valid for two years.