[IELTS Experience]

School and major: Accounting, Soochow University

Scores: L7.5 R7 W6.5 S6 Overall 7

Test date: first attempt, 2024/06/01

[Prep experience & methods for each section]

[Listening]

My biggest problem in Listening was making small mistakes, like singular vs. plural nouns and spelling, and my mind would freeze when I hit a part I couldn't understand, sometimes making me miss what came next. So I mainly trained with word-for-word dictation, forcing myself to catch every detail, while also training my ability to pick out keywords so I could find my place again whenever I got lost.

[Reading]

The parallel reading method worked really well for me. Answering strategically, rather than brute-forcing from the first question to the last, greatly cuts down on rereading, which in turn reduces the time needed, so I could answer comfortably at my own pace.

[Writing]

Teacher Pai's writing class was extremely useful. It started with an analysis of the scoring criteria: only when you know what they're looking for can you write the kind of essay IELTS wants. There was also analysis of sample essays. High-scoring essays can serve as models for learning word choice and organization, and low-scoring essays deserve an even more careful look so you can learn from others' mistakes.

[Speaking]

Speaking was the hardest part for me, so I really made the most of every speaking class. Practicing with each other in class helped me use those sentences more fluently and react faster. Spending time every day shadowing an article is also a great way to train your mouth's muscle memory.

[Study plan]

I had only a month and a half between finishing all my classes and taking the IELTS, and besides the IELTS I also had schoolwork and club activities to juggle, so time was very tight. My strategy was to do as much as I could and use every spare moment. On my commute I'd do a listening or a reading passage; there are lots of resources online that let you drill questions on your phone. Reading lots of sample essays and reviewing the class handouts was also a must: the former builds up your bank of material, and the latter helps you use it correctly. Taking mock tests early gives you a clear picture of where you stand and what you're lacking, which let me spend my limited time on the sections I was weaker in. Finally, the more critical the moment, the more you should focus on what you can do, and not give yourself time to overthink or get anxious.

[Test center report]

I took the paper-based test at Wordgod (字神) Xuchang. I'd already taken two months of in-person classes at Wordgod, so I was very familiar with the classroom, and I chose the paper-based test because I'm not great at typing in English.

[Words of encouragement for other test takers]

Passing the IELTS is only the beginning. I hope everyone takes this step successfully.

[Score report]