Many students delay the test preparation process because they dread the awful amounts of practice time they think necessary to succeed on the test. There is an effective method that will take you only a fraction of the time. There are a number of “obstacles” in your way on the IELTS. Among these are answering questions, finishing in time, and mastering test-taking strategies. All must be executed on the day of the test at peak performance, or your score will suffer.

The IELTS is a mental marathon that has a large impact on your future. Just like a marathon runner, it is important to work your way up to the full challenge. So first you just worry about questions, and then time, and finally strategy:

 Pace Yourself

Wear a watch to the IELTS Test. At the beginning of the test, check the time (or start a chronometer on your watch to count the minutes), and check the time after each passage or every few questions to make sure you are “on schedule.”

Remember that on the Listening and Reading Modules you have a little over half a minute for each question. If you can work quickly, you can pace yourself at half a minute per question, which makes it easy to keep track of your time.

Here are 10 useful myths about the test. So, don't be lazy and read them if you want to pass the exam easily.

        The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the main test used to assess the language proficiency of students from a non-English-speaking background who want to study in an English-speaking country, especially Australia or the UK. It has four subtests, or sections.

Reading Subtest

Begin by reading the questions first. This will give you an idea of what to look for when you read the texts. Do not attempt to understand every word in the reading passages, at least on the initial reading. Read quickly to get a general understanding. When answering a question, skip the passage until you find the relevant section, then read it in detail. Do not read everything in detail —you haven't got time. If you find a question difficult, leave it and come back to it later. Do all the easiest questions first.

There are no magic formulas for doing well in the IELTS test. However, these simple suggestions will help you do as well as possible.

You are a student planning to sit for the IELTS test. Naturally, you want to get the best core you possibly can. What is the most effective preparation for the IELTS test?