My IELTS Experience at Zishen (字神)

School and major: just graduated from the Department of Social and Regional Development, National Taipei University of Education

Scores: L 8 R 6.5 W 6.5 S 6

Test date: 2025/10/01, Xinyi Farmers' Association

[Prep tips & methods for each section]

[Listening]

In class, the teacher had us practice every type of question, so we learned the question types we'd face while still in class, and the teacher pointed out blind spots and pain points. That helped a lot with our own practice. After class, the teacher also recommended listening to podcasts and watching shows to sharpen our ear.

[Reading]

The parallel reading method the teacher taught in class was super useful for me. I'm not good at reading long passages, but this method let me quickly grasp what a passage is about and know what the questions are asking, so I didn't get lost halfway through, or finish a whole passage with no idea and still have to hunt for the answers. It really took me from not finishing three passages in 60 minutes to finishing with 5 to 10 minutes to spare.

The teacher also taught us techniques for each question type, like how to choose for T F NG or how to judge fill-in-the-blank questions, which helped me quickly get a feel for the questions in my own practice afterward. The teacher also shared his study-abroad experiences and the problems and difficulties he ran into, which made us more sure of our study-abroad goals and dreams during a tough prep process.

[Writing]

Honestly, I used to find it really hard to write a Task 2 essay and a Task 1 response within an hour, not just because of vocabulary but also sentence logic and so on. Besides explaining what to watch out for in each question type and how to structure an answer, one thing the teacher did helped me a lot: we'd first look at a high-scoring sample and an average one, think about how they differ and the strengths and weaknesses of each, and then discuss them with each other. On top of that, the teacher gave us homework every time, like imitating the high-scoring sample or taking class exercises home to discuss with classmates, which gave me real chances to practice and revise and made me less afraid of writing and making mistakes. The teacher also corrected our practice essays outside class, so I didn't have to worry about nobody checking my work.

[Speaking]

I think the teacher gave us a great environment in class where we could speak English without worrying. In the first half of class, the teacher would start with simple Part 1 Q&A to get us warmed up with our classmates, correct our answers and point out things and problems to watch for, and then move gradually to the harder Part 2. The teacher also helped us build our own answers and even taught us some techniques for structuring them, so we could answer every question more logically. All this guidance in class made my own practice far more effective, and I'm no longer afraid of that awkward feeling of speaking English.

[Study plan]

While preparing for IELTS I also had to keep up with my coursework, so I chose in-person classes at Wordgod (字神) to study more efficiently. In class, the teacher went through each IELTS question type in detail and taught us many practical techniques and study strategies, such as how to organize writing paragraphs under time pressure, how to use keywords to locate reading answers, and how to extend responses and transition naturally in speaking. These methods meant I wasn't just "doing questions" but understood the logic behind them and knew how to apply the techniques.

Besides the classroom guidance, the teacher also provided extra materials and after-class exercises, so I could review in a targeted way based on my weak points. For example, the key vocabulary lists and the analysis of common traps for listening greatly improved my accuracy in practice. The materials are clearly structured, which helped me review quickly after class, saved me a lot of time figuring things out on my own, and let me see clear progress in a short time.

The homework and the discussions with classmates also kept my practice steady outside class. Through constant practice, correction and revision, I gradually built confidence and a rhythm for the test. With the teacher's guidance and the materials, I could balance coursework and test prep more systematically, staying both efficient and productive as I worked toward my target IELTS score.

[Test center report]

I took it at the Xinyi Farmers' Association. The room is small and the seats were a bit cold, but the equipment is fairly new

[Words of encouragement for other test takers]

Remember to fix your sleep schedule a week before the test, and on the day get to the test center around 8 to give yourself time to take a deep breath and rest a bit. To everyone taking the test: good luck, and remember your hard work won't go to waste, and success doesn't happen by chance.

[Score report]