Get the maximum benifits of Internet

A search engine like Google will help you to find the exact thing that you want. There are millions of free resources in the Internet for you.

An effective way to improve your listening skills is, listening to Podcasts. There are so many ways to find Internet based Podcasts. Podcast is a store of Audio or Video files, which is maintained by a person or and organization. Most of the Podcasts in the Internet are free to download and Audio Podcasts are in mp3 format so that you can easily download them into your PC or to your iPod.

Typing "IELTS + podcast" in the search box will help you to get a list of links. Personally some of the Podcast directories that I used for my success are www.china232.com and www.englishpod.com. Try to use them to the maximum. Those are the places that you can hear professional English as it's spoken by native speakers.

Listen to your voice

Listening only to Native Speakers will leave you in a dream world. Though it is good for listening, the effect on Speaking will be not good for you. You will put yourself in that speaker's position and you will not identify the hidden weaknesses those would arise in the IELTS test.

Always feel free on your speech. Close the door of your closet so others won't see you like a mad.

Prepare you own "Topics Pack". Search the Google so you will be able to find topics more than you want.

The next step is write those topics on piece of papers and fold the papers from the middle. You shouldn't write anything on the outside of the paper, but inside of the paper. Because you are going to arbitrarily choose your topic from the pack.

Once you chose a topic, spend a minute on writing required points and switch the Walkman record mode on. After you finished your speech, rewind the tape and listen to it. You will quickly realize where you are ?

IELTS simple toolbox

To prepare for the IELTS test, there are some important accessories that you should cope up with.

1. A Walkman ( With recording facility )
2. Some note sheets
3. A glass of water.
4. A mask

Why a mask ? Yes, place it in a suitable location such as on a chair that will feel you like the examiner is sitting in front of you. Practice the eye contact with the mask.

S for Sound not for System

Don't be hesitate to express your ideas. Always try to tell the true stories when you are speaking as long as it will help you to avoid conflicts in your speech. If you are a good liar, get the best topic that you can speak like "At the moment I met States president, he asked me to...." like that. But remember as well as the examiner listen to you curiously he will ask you some follow up questions. Be ready for that. Otherwise you will lose all your points that you have gained from the beginning.

T for tongue not for Testing

Why do you use your tongue ?
To taste or to pronounce ?
Use it to speak clearly when you are at the exam. Clear speaking manner will help you to impress the examiner as long as you can show your confidence to him.
Don't forget to brush your teeth before you go to the exam to avoid the bad odour.

L for Look not for Language

Are you a person who can make a big yawn on examiner's face ? If so definitely you will have to apply again.
Always try to be natural when you are infront of the examiner as long as he has a great chance to get the idea from your appearance and the way you behave in front of him.
Speak with the examiner clearly. Memorize a moment that you have spent with your closer friends at the college cafe. Did you speak silently with them ? But be careful to be formal. Don't use slang words. Examiner may like those words but not at the exam.

E for Effort not for English

One is working while the other one is sleeping. Can you guess the IELTS scores of them ? Sure you can. But if I tell the right side person will get more marks ?

Yes he is not sleeping but listening. Don't measure your effort by the duration you spend on or number of coffee cups you had, but by the quality of work that you have done.

Self studies will help you to get rid of the problems. Group learning is OK but if you are the best among the team, it won't work effectively.