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We've collected the most frequently asked questions from our IELTS test takers, covering every stage of your IELTS journey. Our IELTS experts have provided answers and shared their unique insights.

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iconJun 4, 2026

Last answered by Linda

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Linda Alley
IELTS Expert
First of all, let me reassure you that you don’t need to change your natural accent when you take the IELTS test. You don’t need to sound like a native English speaker. Your accent is part of who you are. But you need to speak clearly so the examiner can understand what you say. Sometimes people’s accents can affect how clearly they pronounce their words and sentences. If this is the case for you, I’d recommend watching our IELTS Pronunciation Video Series , which you can find on our website, app and YouTube channel. The series explains the different areas of pronunciation like word stress, intonation and rhythm in six short videos and shares tips on how you can improve in each area.

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Jun 4, 2026
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iconJun 30, 2025

Last answered by Reza

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Reza Tasviri
IELTS Expert
I'd like to say first that there is no specific grammar for IELTS you need to focus on, but there is thenowledge of grammar of English, so basically anything you do that means you listen and watch in English more, you read in English more, you use English more in speaking and writing improves your grammar. The other exercise that really helps is to use books on grammar, or grammar exercises online and focus on one grammar lesson for a day or two and do as many exercised you can. This directly improves your grammar.

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Jun 30, 2025
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iconJun 17, 2025

Last answered by Rocco

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Rocco Nigro
IELTS Expert
Have a look at some sample essays to see how they are structured. After viewing a few of them, you may notice particular styles or patterns. Have a look at the vocabulary and grammar too so you can see typical structures you can use. Reading editorial articles can also help as they can give you an idea about how to arrange an argument.
Jun 17, 2025
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iconJun 17, 2025

Last answered by Rocco

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Rocco Nigro
IELTS Expert
Ot can be helpful to listen to some recordings of natural speech and then try to mimic it. If you record yourself, you can see how you compare. Otherwise, you can write down what you want to say and mark the intonation on paper, then read it.
Jun 17, 2025
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iconMay 28, 2025

Last answered by Vincent

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Vincent Blokker
IELTS Expert
Good question! Preparing for your IELTS test is important if you want a higher score. If you want to improve your listening skills, try subscribing to podcasts spoken in English. Or watch TV shows (but don’t enable subtitles!). When you do this, try to listen to shows in British English, American English, and Australian English, so you’re familiar with different accents. Don’t know where to start? Check out this IDP IELTS podcast that focuses on the Listening test: IELTS Prepare by IDP - Episode 5: IELTS Listening

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May 28, 2025
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iconMay 29, 2025

Last answered by Rocco

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Rocco Nigro
IELTS Expert
It can be an idea to do a lot of listening practice, especially with video as it you can see how the speaker moves their mouth and face, that is, if you don't have the opportunity to engage with native speakers. Record yourself and listen back to your speaking to compare.
Jun 17, 2025
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Linda Alley
IELTS Expert
Try recording yourself and then playing back the recording. This can help you identify areas for improvement like word stress and intonation. If you’re not sure what areas you need to work on, ask a teacher to listen to your recordings to give you feedback.
May 29, 2025
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iconJun 19, 2025

Last answered by Linda

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Linda Alley
IELTS Expert
Start by reviewing the rules for different punctuation marks such as full stops (or ‘periods’ in US English), commas, colons, apostrophes etc. Our article The Most Common Punctuation Marks in English gives a good summary of these. Do some IELTS Writing practice tasks and ask a teacher to give you feedback on your punctuation. You can also check your punctuation by copying and pasting your writing into online tools such as Microsoft Word or Grammarly.

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Jun 19, 2025
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iconMay 28, 2025

Last answered by Vincent

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Vincent Blokker
IELTS Expert
Preparing for your IELTS Reading test is crucial if you want a higher score. To improve your reading skills, pick up a book or an ebook. If you come across a word you don’t know, write it down and search for its meaning – you'll expand your vocabulary while reading! If you don’t enjoy books, try reading quality blog or news articles. Set yourself a small goal and be consistent with your practice. You can also enable English subtitles for English series on your favourite streaming service. Don’t know where to start? Check out this IDP IELTS podcast that focuses on the Reading test: IELTS Prepare by IDP - Episode 6: IELTS Reading

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May 28, 2025
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iconJun 17, 2025

Last answered by Rocco

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Rocco Nigro
IELTS Expert
Obviously, the more practice you do the better. But initially, try skimming the articles first and just focus on the key words. Once you have located an answer in an article, just read that section carefully. Also, try the questions that appear in order first, as there may be some text you can set aside more easily.
Jun 17, 2025
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iconJun 5, 2026

Last answered by Fahad

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Fahad Rafique
IELTS Expert
An easy way to improve spelling quickly is to type an essay in MS Word. This will ready you for taking the writing test as well as improve spelling mistakes. Don't use spell checker or auto fill and see what mistakes stand out. Think and fix these errors on your own. Spelling helps you immensely in the listening, reading and writing components of the test. You may also ask someone to dictate and you type it instead. See what errors you make. It all comes down to your listening and cognitive thinking when writing your answers.

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Jun 5, 2026
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iconJun 17, 2025

Last answered by Rocco

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Rocco Nigro
IELTS Expert
Perhaps think about how to develop your arguments in your body paragraphs. Make sure you have a topic sentence, then have an added sentence which can provide more definition. You could also include a sentence that explains a consequence and another that acts as an example.
Jun 17, 2025
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iconFeb 7, 2025

Last answered by Linda

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Linda Alley
IELTS Expert
The IELTS Reading test has 3 parts and you have 60 minutes to answer 40 questions. It’s best to spend no more than 20 minutes on each part. The reading passages get more challenging as you move through the test, so make sure you leave enough time to complete the final part. During your preparation, focus on learning and practising reading techniques that help you read more quickly and accurately. Some examples include skimming, scanning and strategies for guessing words you don’t know.

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Aug 5, 2025
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Reza Tasviri
IELTS Expert
As a rule of thumb, become a good reader: read for pleasure daily. It can be anything; news, a novel, social media posts, or magazines. When we read for pleasure, we don’t get stuck with words. We try to guess and move on, so make a habit of it. There are some techniques though that can help you: read the questions first, remember key words, and then scan the passage quickly. You don’t need to read every line at this stage. Look at headings and graphs or pictures and read the first couple of sentences of each paragraph to know what it is about and where you can find information. You then only go to the relevant section in the passage to find the piece of information you’re after.

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Feb 7, 2025
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Fahad Rafique

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Canada

16 years

Experience

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IELTS Expert

Hello! I'm Fahad, and I've been a part of IELTS since April 2010. Having been born and raised in the UAE and then migrating to Canada, I can truly say that IELTS takes you places. I firmly believe that success belongs to those who actively seek it. I'm here to help answer any questions you may have about IELTS and guide you on how to take that crucial first step toward achieving your international dreams – whether it's study, migration or work. I look forward to supporting you!!

Last online Aug 2, 2025

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Jess Christie

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Australia

8 years

Experience

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IELTS Expert

Hi, I'm Jess and I’m an IELTS Expert who has worked in the world of IELTS for 7 years. I help test takers do the best they can in the IELTS test by providing them with helpful tips to ensure they have a smooth test day. I am originally from regional Victoria in Australia, but I was an international student when I went to Ireland for University. I came back and decided to work in the world of international education, which led me to IELTS.

Last online Jun 25, 2025

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Lewis Crannitch

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New Zealand

2 years

Experience

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IELTS Expert

Hi, I’m Lewis. I’ve worked with IELTS in New Zealand since 2017 and taught English in Japan, China, and NZ. Having also learned a language myself in China, I understand the challenges test takers face. I track English proficiency requirements in NZ and deliver IELTS Masterclasses and familiarisation sessions to support preparation, share resources, and make test day easier. I look forward to connecting with you on your IELTS journey.

Last online Sep 15, 2025

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Linda Alley

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Australia

11 years

Experience

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IELTS Expert

Hi! I’m Linda. I’m here to help you reach your IELTS goals by answering any questions you might have about the test and how to prepare. You may have seen me on our video podcast, IELTS Prepare by IDP. I also create learning materials and blog posts for IELTS test takers. Over the past 10 years, I’ve taught English as a Second Language to students from all over the world, so please get in touch if you have any questions on how to improve your language skills.

Last online Sep 16, 2025

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Reza Tasviri

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Australia

18 years

Experience

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IELTS Expert

Hi, I’m Reza. I’m here to help you with advice on how to effectively use your knowledge of English to get the best outcome in your IELTS test. I can answer questions on what the test asks you to do, how it assesses your performance, and how you can show you have what it takes. I’ve been involved with IELTS for 17 years now. I’ve been an English Language teacher for 27 years and a lifelong learner (English is not my first language. I started when I was 17 and haven’t stopped since).

Last online Jul 9, 2025

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Rocco Nigro

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Australia

26 years

Experience

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IELTS Expert

Hello, my name is Rocco and I am one of the IELTS Experts here at IDP. Since 1995, I've been involved in English language teaching, teacher training, assessment and academic management, which has helped me develop a wealth of knowledge about the IELTS test. I enjoy meeting students and test takers from all over the world. If you have any questions about how to do your best in the IELTS Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking tests, I can give you some good approaches to help you on test day.

Last online Jun 18, 2025

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Vincent Blokker

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Australia

11 years

Experience

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IELTS Expert

Hi! I’m Vincent, and I'm here to help you succeed in your IELTS journey. I live in the beautiful city of Melbourne, Australia, but I work with students from all over the world. I can help with advice and resources and answer your questions about IELTS. I also write blogs with tips for the test and have created study materials for IELTS. I’m an expert on any questions about the organisations, universities, and governments that accept IELTS for work, study, or your visa. Feel free to contact me!

Last online Jul 1, 2025

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