Every exam will include mistakes, but a student may overcome them if they catch them early and fix them. Similar circumstances apply to the IELTS Exam. Most IELTS test takers repeat mistakes and regret them. You should still be careful with these common IELTS exam faults. Missing the score by 0.5 band might hurt your chances of studying or settling overseas.
This post is for those who want to identify and improve the most common IELTS test mistakes. Consider and avoid them to improve your IELTS exam scores.
Ten Common Mistakes
1-The Rules
At the start of each part, most IELTS students miss the instructions. Exam progress depends on them. Not following directions loses points. Reading exam instructions is a common IELTS error. Why? Because students misinterpret instructions and get wrong grades
2-The IELTS Writing Test’s Word Count
The IELTS Writing Test counts words. You must obey the word count for these tasks. IELTS candidates occasionally fail to count their words upon completion. Writing issues in IELTS respect word count. Task 1 (Letter or Report) is 150 words and Task 2 (Essay) 250.
Suggest counting the word so you can immediately add more if needed. Work completion will not be punished. Remember to count your words after long tasks.
3-Avoid Extending the Word Limit
We have highlighted the significance of following guidelines exactly. Overusing words is a common IELTS mistake. The majority of IELTS test takers believe longer essays would improve their scores.
Why not exceed word count?
With more words and phrases, long essays might make mistakes. The criteria are also violated. Over 30 words is ok. If you surpass 100 words, you’re not following directions. Your score falls. Thus, eliminate this myth quickly.
4-Don’t Overuse Word Ties
The IELTS Essay Writing Task grades coherence and cohesiveness. Which method better shows IELTS task coherence and cohesion?
Work on it if yes. Overusing connecting words is bad. Unfortunately, this is a common IELTS mistake. Linking words or fillers are used by most test-takers who lack linguistic proficiency. This is an important IELTS score component, hence the examiner may remove bands.
5-Stay on Topic
The topic is typically confusing to IELTS Writing and Speaking candidates. People panic and change the topic. If the IELTS Test assignment is off-topic or wrong, there is no score. Your ideas and work will be rejected regardless of presentation. Rare in IELTS, this mistake is close to becoming one. More students think this is the best option.
6-The Key Points
This portion dominates the IELTS exam. We recently covered the importance of staying on topic. Addressing all assignment requirements is crucial.
The letter must include all three components. If you ignore them, your score will drop. IELTS test takers sometimes overlook a point thinking they’ll cover the rest. This is not true. Review the directions and address all necessary points.
7-Pronunciation
IELTS tests English competence. Thus, your accent does not affect your score. Proper pronunciation is essential for a high IELTS Speaking Test result. Many test-takers think mimicking their dialect would enhance band placement. Understand that this is a frequent IELTS mistake, not an error.
On the contrary, words matter. Correct grammar, pronunciation, and sentence delivery are evaluated.
8-Confidence
Your confidence determines your ability to perform, handle test pressure, and succeed. Lack of confidence may lead to major mistakes that can hurt test results. This may also explain your lack of preparation, negative self-talk, comparisons, and sleep deprivation.