How to overcome the fear of the IELTS exam to secure a higher score

Exams always bring chills to most students. Also, when the test is not conventional. When a student or candidate sits for an exam like IELTS she is well aware of the fact that she is going to compete with the best competitors. A student from a non-English speaking country is aware of the fact that she is going to compete with native English speakers. But one thing that every candidate should keep in mind is that in the case of IELTS, the competition is not on a personal level. There is no ranking system in this test, so nothing to scare you of what your ranking is. Only the band score is counted in IELTS. Earning high scores like 7+ or 8 is as easy or as difficult for a non-native English speaker as it is for a native English speaker, it solely depends on how well a student or candidate is prepared.

So what are fears about? Well, some factors wander in the student’s mind like:

1) Would I be able to listen to and understand the ‘Native English Speakers’ audio clips, which is quite a bit easier for native English speakers, but difficult for me?

2) What if I miss a few words or a question while listening to the audio?

3) How kind would the examiner be during the ‘Speaking Test’?

4) Will I be able to communicate correctly with the examiner during the ‘Speaking Test’?

5) Would I be able to impress the examiner with the variety of my vocabulary during the speaking test?

6) What if I get nervous during the speaking and stuttering test?

7) Will I be able to complete the ‘Reading Test’ within the time?

8) It is known that writing is the most difficult of all. Would you be able to write about completely unknown topics?

So on and so on. Students/candidates are advised not to be overwhelmed by fear, the more tense you are, the more likely you are to make mistakes. A candidate who panics is bound to make mistakes. Actually, candidates panic because IELTS is not just another conventional exam. It is a totally different form of exam to measure a candidate’s final proficiency in all forms of the English language. For example, in many non-English speaking countries, the English language taught in schools or universities is ‘British English’. But in the case of IELTS, if a candidate is going to a North American country, he must be familiar with the American accent and style. That is, on the listening and speaking tests, you will be judged on your command of “American” English. Similarly, if a native speaker from the US wants to go to the UK, they will have to listen, speak and write in British English.

Considering the harshness and pattern of the exam, there are reasons for a candidate to be afraid, but only when they are not prepared for the actual contexts of the test. A serious candidate should start their preparation at least two months before the exam date. But in the case of a non-English speaking candidate from a non-English speaking country, the preparation must be even earlier. First of all, a candidate who is weak in English, listens, speaks, reads and writes a lot for the basic preparation of her. Doing all of this under the guidance of an expert English tutor is a must. Hopefully, a candidate weak in English should take 3-4 months of extensive study to reach a level from which she can think of starting her IELTS preparation. Another two months of prudent and sincere practice under the guidance of an expert IELTS teacher or reputable IELTS training center is a must for an aspiring candidate to achieve a good band score of 7+.

It is often found that even a very well prepared candidate collapses in the exam room. So the obvious question comes to mind, ‘How to get rid of fear factors’. There is no one-size-fits-all suggestion, but rather a general suggestion that is applicable to any candidate can be provided. First of all, a candidate should know about himself whether he is nervous or not. If he is a nervous person by nature, then he should try much harder to get rid of his nervousness, whatever the situation. Getting nervous easily and panicking has to do with mindset, which needs to be changed with a lot of practice and by focusing on the areas that make you nervous. As a general solution to get rid of fear in the exam room, we can suggest:

1) Focus on your weak areas from day 1 when you start your preparation and build those areas.

2) From the first day, mentally prepare yourself to face many unknown subjects.

3) Get admitted to a ‘Professional IELTS’ training center as they would take quite a few mock tests which will gradually increase your confidence level. Because the mock tests replicate the actual exam, you would be charged with unknown topics.

4) Practice from the beginning so as not to panic in the exam room, if necessary, seek advice from a specialized counselor.

5) Think about your strong areas as well to gather courage. Each and every person has some strong areas and some weak areas, you are not the only person with some weak areas.

6) Focusing on your strong areas and strengthening them would emphatically ensure that you get higher test scores.

7) Looked for what scares you in the exam room. Unknown issues? Fear of losing focus? Fear to fail? Or something else? If through rigid practice you can overcome the fear factors, that is fine, otherwise you should visit a psychiatrist, as these are mental problems that can be cured with counseling or medication.

8) Take mock testing more seriously, assume you are facing real tests, it would help you a lot to become a cool customer.

9) Have a piece of Cadbury chocolate, it will stimulate your nerves and keep you positive.

Anything said ‘A nervous person’ will get nervous, some people suffer from a strange kind of ‘exam phobia’, they will suffer and panic. So it’s not going to happen overnight, that a nervous person becomes brave without tension in mind, a panicked guy wouldn’t become fearless overnight. What the candidates have to do from the very beginning of the preparation is that they have to tell their teachers about their problems, in order to get help from them to get rid of the problems. Also, one must do a self-analysis, ask oneself why one should be nervous or scared. When you know very well that falling under the clutches of fear would make you make a mistake, it diverts your concentration and eventually makes you a loser. So from the start, a candidate should work on their weak areas and try to perpetually ignore fear. Practicing a lot and being evaluated by teachers would be very beneficial. Above all practice, practice and more practice, be confident and mentally prepared to handle any situation with a fearless mind.