All the advice you need to pass your IELTS exam
Unlike the TOEFL and TOIEC, theIELTS exam serves two purposes.
on the one hand, the diploma awarded is used for professional purposes.
On the other hand, the second category is used to enter a particular course of higher education.
It’s an arduous test, requiring thorough preparation in advance.
Between personal training and specialized courses, it’s not so easy to find the best way to improve your level of English and achieve the score you’re aiming for.
In this article, the editors present a number of tips based on the state of mind to adopt and the tools that can be useful in achieving your goals. 
The internationally recognized IELTS exam
The IELTS test, or International English Language Testing System, is known the world over.
Its purpose is to assess the level of English proficiency required for entry into higher education institutions or companies abroad.
A scoring system ranging from 0 to 9 is used for this evaluation.
A score of 1 corresponds to beginner level, and the highest to expert level.
At the end of the exam, two types of diploma are issued: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training.
The first is for academic use, the other for professional use.
But the examination principle remains the same in both cases.
However, the questions change according to the context.
The exam takes place over a single day, from 9am to 4:30pm.
Candidates have access to the results on the official website 13 days after the test.
A certificate corresponding to the mark is mailed at the same time.
An essential test for students studying in England
The score required varies according to the objective to be achieved.
For students wishing to apply for a bachelor’s degree course , the score needs to be between 5.5 and 7. For master’s and doctorate courses, a score of 6.5 or above is generally accepted.
But the nature of the course of study can also influence this requirement.
And you still need an acceptable score for each stage of the exam.
As you can see, taking the IELTS test is essential for studying in England.
It is possible that an applicant who has obtained the average score indicated will not be admitted because the mark in one of the subjects is too low.
There are four sections to this exam.
Firstly, the listening comprehension section consists of 40 questions to be answered in 40 minutes.
The test is based on an audio recording.
Reading comprehension covers the same number of topics, but lasts one hour.
The test is based on several texts.
The next stage is written expression, with the same duration as the previous one.
And the last category isoral expression with an examiner, lasting between 11 and 14 minutes. 
How do I register?
As mentioned above, registration is carried out on the official IELTS website.
This is where the choice of test date and venue is made.
The test can be taken at :
- Paris;
- Lyon ;
- Nice ;
- Marseille ;
- Toulouse ;
- Nantes ;
- Strasbourg
As with any procedure of this kind, you will be asked to provide some personal information about yourself.
In addition, you’ll be asked to complete a number of specific documents, including :
- Passport photos;
- A photocopy of your identity card ;
- A photocopy of the confirmation e-mail;
- Proof of the contest rules if this has not yet been done
Note that the certificate resulting from this test may be refused by schools after two years.
In this case, a new test is required.
Prepare for the exam with quality training
Successful preparation for the IELTS exam is not for everyone.
To give yourself the best chance of success, it’s best to turn to a course that will help you improve your level.
Often online, this kind of supplementary support includes sample subjects with answer keys.
The aim is to familiarize you with the whole format of the real exam, from the instructions to the marking system applied.
The trainers also provide explanations for each exercise.
The aim is to provide the best possible personalized and intensive coaching for each individual’s level.
It’s a real self-improvement tool, as you’ll be able to review your skills to better prepare for the test.
In addition to exercises, you can expect revision sheets on English grammar and vocabulary. 
Training is your best ally for IELTS success
If you think you can do without a support course, practice counts for a lot and is recommended, whatever your level.
Books are an effective way of broadening your language knowledge.
But you also need to apply yourself continuously right up to the big day. The web is full of exercises designed to meet the expectations of IELTS markers, and the Your Dream School team can offer you tailor-made support to guarantee a quality of preparation that you won’t find anywhere else.
As you prepare for your IELTS exams, it’s important to keep in mind the topics that are most common during the exams.
Keep the following topics in mind so that you can deal with them:
- The environment and climate change;
- Biodiversity;
- The job market ;
- The evolution of society;
- Higher education and language learning ;
- Themes related to everyday life.
Applications are available for mobile devices to help you revise your English for the best IELTS score, such as IELTS Word Power or IELTS vocabulary flashcards.
Practical advice for the big day
Now you’re ready!
You’re ready for the big day. All that’s left is to adopt the best practices to ensure that all your efforts are not in vain.
Before you start the oral exam, make sure that all the devices at your disposal are working properly, so that there’s no risk of wasting unnecessary time.
It’s a good idea to take note of the instructions at every stage of the process, because if you misunderstand them, your final score will suffer.
Assess how much time you have before you start.
The idea is to be able to spread it out over all the questions.
