Nilay scored 8.5 Overall in the IELTS Academic test this month. Below are his tips for his great score in IELTS.
Nilay’s Scores: Overall 8.5
- Listening: 9
- Reading: 9
- Writing: 8
- Speaking: 8
Nilay here. I am an orthopedic surgeon from India and currently trying to specialize in spine surgery. I appeared for the IELTS to register with the Canadian medical boards for which I needed minimum 7 in each of the four categories. This was the academic version.
To summarize the prep, I gave it around 12-14 days part time. I had been aware of your videos and thought to just concentrate on that during last 3 to 4 days and I attribute a large part of my writing score to your tips. I didn’t opt for paid tutorials but I feel that the content you generously provide is more than enough in most cases. Having said that, I was planning to get your paid tutorials if I couldn’t cross the required threshold of 7/9 in writing; I was reasonably certain I would cross 7 in RW and S. My tips are summarized here.
Reading Tips- As a compulsive reader, I was a bit overconfident when I started out the prep and expected to score a perfect 9 each time. My behind was handed back to me promptly by the No/Not Given dilemma. Your tips on that cleared out the webs and I highly recommend that video to polish the reading score. One thing I realized in the exam is that the reading paragraphs can be difficult and must not be underestimated even if you are good at reading to begin with. I consider myself a very fast reader and still had only 8-10 mins left at the end. I would advise underlining key words and phrases as it makes it easier to fish out the answers. I wrote in all caps as advised.
Listening Tips – Tricky proposition. I feel that IELTS listening section doesn’t evaluate your listening capability but rather evaluates your presence of mind and multi-tasking ability to listen, note and paraphrase at the same time. I am very well versed with major accents and still made mistakes in answers due to missing plurals, not catching the exact words and sometimes missing paraphrases at the end of tests. I would really advise going through Cambridge practice tests to refine this. They are the real counterparts to the exam. I can’t stress enough on scanning the questions in advance, predicting answers and using the 30 seconds given to go over your last batch of answers to scan the questions ahead instead. Presence of mind is really important or you would make a mess of it. Also, all caps again.
Speaking Tips – Didn’t prepare much for it except for going through your tips and speaking to a local instructor I knew. I am fluent but I speak too fast and maybe that reflected on what I consider a lower score on my speaking test. Also, this is a live interaction test and your score will depend upon your rapport with and impression upon the examiner even if they are trained to disregard those factors. I more or less had a friendly conversation and was asked questions about skilled and unskilled jobs in last part. I think the trick here is to fill up the time allotted and keep on speaking. I attribute the shavings in my score to speed and my roundabout answer to a bizarre question about soft and hard skills. I could have done better here.
Writing Tips – Last but not the least. I have BAD handwriting which live up to all the cliches about illegibility of doctors. This was a big issue for me with IELTS being a written exam. I realized that all my writing skills would be for naught if it looked like someone dipped ants in ink pot and let them loose on the paper. So I ditched the cursive, zoomed in the fonts and increased the space between words and made several people go through it till their satisfaction. I was confident about my vocabulary and grammar, so that helped but this exam is all about sticking to the format.I can not stress enough how helpful your writing section videos are. I stuck to the outline stressed upon by you for both the tasks and I was rewarded. I made sure to follow the cite-support-example format for body paragraphs on task two; it really eased the though organization process. Task one is straightforward but it’s important not to get mired into details and just focus on major trends and data points. I didn’t have problem with time and word count. But even if you do, I really suggest taking 2 minutes to read the task and then a minute or so to jot down writing points on paper; paragraph wise. Also keep a minute or two at the end to go over your writing. Do not try to correct or improve large sections of a sentence but concentrate on spell check, grammatical gaffes and punctuation marks.
To conclude [the format ,the format!], I am satisfied with my result and would thank you for your generous online help. I really stress upon test takers to go through your videos which I consider the best resource available online for this test. I hope my experience helps future test takers. Best of luck to you all!
Nilay
Message to Nilay: Thanks so much for sharing your tips! I know students will be inspired by your results and also grateful for the experiences you have shared. Well done again with your excellent score 🙂
Greetings, I'm Dr. Nilay, an orthopedic surgeon from India with a passion for spine surgery. My recent accomplishment involves achieving an impressive score of 8.5 overall in the IELTS Academic test, with individual scores of 9 in Listening, 9 in Reading, 8 in Writing, and 8 in Speaking. This achievement is particularly significant for me as it aligns with my goal of registering with the Canadian medical boards, which require a minimum score of 7 in each of the four categories.
In my journey to prepare for the IELTS Academic test, I dedicated 12-14 part-time days to comprehensive preparation. During the final stretch, I focused on online videos, particularly those providing tips and insights into the exam. Notably, I attribute a substantial portion of my success in the writing section to the valuable tips offered by the online resources I utilized.
Let's delve into the specific tips I employed for each section of the IELTS test:
1. Reading Tips: As a voracious reader, I initially underestimated the challenges posed by the No/Not Given dilemma. However, I quickly realized the importance of addressing this issue. I highly recommend a specific video that provides insights into handling this dilemma. Despite being a fast reader, I found it crucial to underline key words and phrases for better comprehension, even though the reading paragraphs were challenging.
2. Listening Tips: The IELTS listening section, I discovered, evaluates not only listening capability but also the ability to multitask and paraphrase information accurately. Despite my familiarity with major accents, I made mistakes due to nuances such as missing plurals or paraphrases. I strongly advocate practicing with Cambridge practice tests to refine listening skills. Scanning questions in advance, predicting answers, and effectively utilizing the provided 30 seconds are vital strategies for success.
3. Speaking Tips: While I didn't extensively prepare for the speaking section, I benefited from reviewing tips and engaging in conversations with a local instructor. Speaking too fast may have affected my score, as the live interaction test depends on establishing rapport with the examiner. Filling up the allotted time with relevant information and handling unexpected questions with clarity are essential strategies for success.
4. Writing Tips: Overcoming the challenge of my notoriously bad handwriting was crucial for the written exam. Following a format emphasized in online writing section videos significantly contributed to my success. Sticking to a structured outline, especially the cite-support-example format for body paragraphs in task two, streamlined the thought organization process. Emphasizing major trends and data points in task one, while adhering to time management and proofreading strategies, ensured a well-rounded approach to the writing section.
In conclusion, my IELTS journey was enriched by valuable online resources, and I express my gratitude for the generous help provided. I encourage future test-takers to leverage these resources, particularly the comprehensive videos available online, for a successful outcome. Best of luck to all aspirants!
Message to Nilay: Congratulations on your outstanding achievement, Nilay! Your detailed insights and thoughtful advice will undoubtedly inspire and guide future test-takers. Thank you for sharing your experiences and best wishes for your endeavors in spine surgery and beyond!
