When you've got short study windows, long commutes and a never-ending list of things to do, it can be difficult to get a lot of studying done. But thousands of migrants, students and skilled workers in Australia are likely to do just that, prepare for one of the world's toughest English proficiency exams, as well as all that life has to offer.
If this is you, you are not the first and it does not mean you have to change your whole plan and schedule to be successful. Preparing for IELTS for the busy professional is not about finding more hours in the day, it's about spending the hours you have, more wisely.
The Reality is not Time, it's Structure
Most working professionals don't fail at IELTS preparation due to a lack of motivation or laziness. They fail because they don't create a repeatable system. They are studying reading for one week, ignoring speaking for a month, cramming writing right before the mock test and why is their band score not moving.
An effective IELTS study plan is the answer to this as it assigns a purpose to each study session. You have specific plans, for example: "This week I am going to practice this skill, for this long and when this skill has been done this way I will know that I've done it. This is particularly important when hours are scarce and irregular, such as those of those with full-time careers, families and shift work.
Constructing a Study Plan on an actual life, not an ideal life
Don't take the conventional advice for full-time students with six hours of free time per day. Don't accept the conventional wisdom for full-time students, who have six hours of free time each day. A realistic approach to this plan for working persons should take the following things for granted:
Most weekdays are 30-60 minutes and possibly a little longer on weekends.
There will be a few days that will be disrupted, and that's okay as long as the overall pattern remains.
It is important not to be intense on any given week, but rather consistent.
Here is a possible weekly pattern:
2 Days: Listening and Reading (timed).
Two days: Writing Task 1 and Task 2, drafting and revising from older assignments.
One day: Speaking practice (preferably recorded and reviewed or live with partner or tutor).
Weekend: One longer session on a weekend to take a mixed test or go through any mistakes from the week.
The amount of days really doesn't matter, the idea is that the skill is being touched on a regular basis and one session does not attempt to do everything.
Making IELTS Practice Count
All practice is not created equal. Passive review (reading through a textbook or watching videos but not doing anything) seems productive but usually gets you no points. IELTS practice is active and specific:
Practice the same time management for Reading and Listening tasks, even for short ones, so that you get used to doing them at exam pace.
For Writing tasks, complete responses are required (not outlines alone); Examining is done by the actual writing, not by intentions.
Speak your Speaking Part 2 answers out loud and record them, most people are surprised at how their spoken English sounds to them as opposed to what they thought it would sound like.
Examine each error with a "why" rather than only a "what is the mistake. By knowing why the answer is incorrect, you won't fall into the same wrong answer trap throughout the exam.
With the busy professional, this is something that they skip in order to get to new questions. So, actually, most score improvement occurs during review.
Why Structured IELTS Classes and Coaching is better than Just Self-Study?
For a motivated learner, self-study can go only so far; there is a limit. The difficulty of objectively assessing your own writing and speaking skills is especially a problem in Writing and Speaking you don't know what you don't know. That's where IELTS coaching with an expert mentor comes in handy, and IELTS classes make a measurable difference for those who cannot afford to squander valuable study time on the wrong aspects.
Online Class Nepal has been developed especially for learners in this scenario. Instead of scheduled group classes, each student receives his/her own mentorship, and a customized study plan that is designed based on his/her current level, target band and schedule. The classes are from early morning to late evening on Sunday to Friday, which allows students who have work or family obligations at different times of the day or different time zones to find a time that suits them, especially those who are already in Australia.
Unlimited Mock Tests under real exam conditions, detailed feedback on Writing and Speaking after each test, a lifetime of access to session recordings: no test will be lost, if you miss a class or if you want to go back and review a concept later. With a consistent effort by the student and their mentor, most students achieve their target band in 6-10 weeks even for individuals who have a really busy life.
If you do not know if structured coaching is benefiting you, there is a free 30 minute demo class which you can attend, and then further commit to after if you so desire.
Final Thoughts
You don't need to settle for a stagnant IELTS score when you're the busy Australian that you are. The key to this is to be smarter, make a study plan around your schedule, practice quality not quantity, and if possible, get help from someone who understands the requirements of the examiner.