If you are looking to study abroad, you’ll know the importance of passing your IELTS test. And we know what you’re thinking… can a certain AI-powered chatbot help you out?
ChatGPT is the world-disrupting AI-powered app that’s changing the way people get information, research, write, plan and more.
However, it isn’t just a way to get instant answers. ChatGPT can also serve as a powerful tool to help you prepare for your IELTS test. From writing and reading practice to building your vocabulary, there are legitimate ways to improve your test-taking ability using the chatbot.
In this article, we will take you through some of the strategies you can use to practise your IELTS with ChatGPT. And of course, some prompts that you can use to draw inspiration from the chatbot as well!
What is GPT Chat?
Chat GPT is short for Generative Pre-trained Transformer - an automated language model trained by OpenAi. GPT Chat is built to reflect questions from users in the most natural and flexible way like talking between people. After 3 months of launch with its groundbreaking features and applications, Chat GPT has attracted millions of users worldwide.
How to utilise ChatGPT for your IELTS test
1. Practise questions and get ideas
Feeling stuck when it comes to generating topics, especially for essay writing or conversation? You can use ChatGPT to write sample IELTS essays for you.
For example, we used the prompt: “Act as an IELTS test-taker. Write an essay of no more than 300 words on the following topic: Backpacking around the world. Why people should explore the world solo, especially when they are young.”
And ChatGPT delivered an in-depth article that we can learn from.
There are many powerful lessons you can take from ChatGPT’s essay. Firstly, you can draw inspiration from the ideas presented.
You can also see how the chatbot structures sentences together and allows each idea to flow to the next.
In fact, you can refine the essay further with a more specific prompt:
“Act as an IELTS test-taker with a band score of 8.0. Write an essay of no more than 300 words on the following topic: [Insert your desired topic].”
This will allow you to understand what a winning essay might look like and the areas to improve.
2. Beef up your vocabulary and lexical knowledge
ChatGPT is also a brilliant resource to expand your vocabulary for conversations and writing essays in English.
Try using the prompt: “Act as an IELTS test-taker. Speak conversationally about the topic of family unity and why it is important to spend time with your loved ones in today's busy and fast-paced world.”
We get a response that is a treasure trove of learning opportunities, especially in enhancing your vocabulary knowledge.
By using ChatGPT, you’ll be able to discover new words that you might have overlooked and more importantly, how to use them in the right context.
3. Writing training exercises
One of the main components of the IELTS test is the Writing test, which will test your ability to refine a sentence in an academic or semi-formal style.
Should your writing be too informal for the task, here’s ChatGPT to the rescue.
Using the prompt: “Rewrite this IELTS Writing Task 2 in a more academic and semi-formal style concisely: One key point of seeking counselling is to get help when tough times arrive. We need to take care of our mental health better and not be afraid of seeking professional advice. As our mental health improves, so will the rest of our lives, including our studies and the way we treat our family and friends.”
Using the chatbot’s response, we can draw inspiration and ideas to better rearrange and structure our sentences to make them more academic in style.
However useful it may be, you should be aware that ChatGPT is not a magic bullet.
Limitations of using ChatGPT
1. No clear opinion given
Firstly, ChatGPT’s responses to topics are designed to be balanced and neutral. It is programmed to not take any sides of an argument, instead listing all aspects for consideration, rather than take an absolute position on one. For many essays and conversations, you need to take a stand, rather than churn out a mass of generic statements. While conversations and essays can be discursive, you will still need to establish a perspective and discuss it.
Being too neutral without a solid opinion will work against you.
2. Doesn’t draw anything from your personal experience
ChatGPT gathers information from a variety of sources, but none of it will be from your own personal experience and knowledge bank.
During the IELTS test, drawing from your own personal history and experiences gives you a chance to stand out.
You’ll be able to flesh out ideas more confidently and discuss more in-depth about a particular topic as you connect ideas to your own genuine life experiences.
As always, be careful about utilising any self-help tool, especially ChatGPT. While it can be helpful, there are times when you might not receive accurate or relevant help and feedback.
As ChatGPT is owned by OpenAI, the answers it generates may not necessarily reflect actual information provided by IDP or IELTS. While self-help tools can complement learning English, you’ll want full assurance that you are studying and learning through official IELTS materials.
Remember to fact-check the information provided by ChatGPT!
Access IDP’s free IELTS training materials and resources
While ChatGPT can be a tool that helps you better prepare for taking the IELTS test, it is only one of many tools available.
At IDP, you can get access to a world of free IELTS training materials and resources that are specially created to help you improve.
These include the:
Book your IELTS test with IDP today.