Why Personalized IELTS Preparation Works Differently for Every Student in Australia

Two Nepali students sit side by side in an IELTS test class, both studying from the same test preparation book, taking the same set of practice tests and learning from the same teacher. However, their test scores are worlds apart.

You are a Nepali student living in Australia studying IELTS. Your English is ‘ok’ to communicate with other people in daily life but you struggle to achieve good scores in the IELTS test. You work late shifts in Melbourne but study in Sydney. You manage to study, pay your rent and take care of your family. You are not alone and you are not bad at English either. You just need a plan made for you.

Your Everyday Life Is a Part of Your Study Plan.

While others may have all day to study, it might not be the same in your case and therefore a study plan needs to be organized around your personal circumstances.

A generic study timetable may look perfect on paper but does not account for the ups and downs of real life and typically fails by Wednesday. A customized method of study preparation, in contrast, starts by determining the actual volume of study time and then tailors the study preparation of the IELTS from there.

The Weakness You Think You Have May Not Be the Real One 

It's also crucial to keep in mind that a practice testing score isn't a single indicator. There are some elements of your writing that your teachers can see in your writing that are wrong such as poor organization of ideas or sentences that become muddled and confused because you use a lot of grammatical errors.

Many of the students that study with our teachers believe that their biggest problem with speaking English is that they are “bad at speaking.” However, more often than not, the underlying reason for a student’s low score in speaking is because they take too long to organize their thoughts.

There is a lot more to a student’s Personalized preparation than looking at their score. 

Daily English is Not Same as IELTS English 

Living in Australia has its advantages when it comes to learning English, however it doesn't always translate to a band's improvement. You can easily ask for what you need at the restaurant, communicate with your colleagues and landlord and confidently discuss assignments with your lecturers. However, IELTS requires you to communicate in specific ways within certain time frames

You may be perfectly fine with knowing what you want to say in IELTS speaking, but struggle to actually form it into an IELTS speaking answer. You may be comfortable writing emails on a daily basis, but find yourself struggling with actually writing in the IELTS exam because it necessitates a much more formal approach to conveying your messages.

Nepali students living in Australia are more or less in this category of having a general or average understanding of the English language and being in need of greater support at this level. Fortunately, you do not need to begin at the start, you simply need to understand how to get between your conversational English knowledge and the requirements of the IELTS exam. 

Your Required IELTS Band Score Shapes Your Study Plan

No, a student with a 6 Band Score is not expected to be prepared at the same level as a student with an 8 or 7.5 Band Score. The focus is on confidence building and understanding the foundations of grammar at lower and intermediate levels and on being able to communicate simple ideas clearly and concisely. For higher band scores the emphasis is on advanced grammar structures, achieving fluency and natural flow in your writing and speaking responses and correcting consistent errors.

This is why the final stages of your IELTS preparation can be especially tricky as there are numerous little things you may overlook while self studying which an experienced tutor can immediately spot.

Feedback should change as you progress

Imagine spending 4 weeks practicing the same speaking IELTS task when you could have mastered it in week one. That is a lot of time and effort wasted when you could have been focusing on other areas of the test which you might find more challenging

The ideal IELTS preparation involves evolving feedback which means that as soon as you begin to improve on one area, your tutor will move onto the next one. This kind of preparation is perfect for students who have already taken IELTS, know their weaknesses, and are looking to improve on specific areas of the test.

Your Motivation for Taking IELTS Determines How Much You Prepare

In most cases, for Nepali students living in Australia, IELTS is a serious matter. Whether it is a requirement to gain entry into university, a professional licensing exam, a visa or migration assessment, students taking the IELTS test are fully aware of the implications and the seriousness of the exam. It is one of the most crucial considerations since it will help determine the amount of preparation needed for getting the desired grade. It should also be mentioned that students studying in Australia use English in their daily lives; therefore, they have some level of proficiency in the language that can be developed by a good IELTS tutor.

How Online Class Nepal Helps Nepali Students Taking IELTS From Australia

• 10+ years of experienced tutors: Our tutors have over a decade of experience in IELTS training, are aware of the common problem areas of Nepali students and know how to tackle them

• One to one tuition: Our tutors will take the time to understand your style of speech and writing, as well as any mistakes that you may make that you do over and over without judgement.

• More time practicing Speaking if this is your weak subject: Tailored lessons! If writing is holding you back, we provide feedback and analysis of grammar structures, idea organization, flow and coherence.

• Flexible online classes: We offer online classes which allow you to learn on your schedule whether you're studying, working or doing both in Australia

• Supportive and understanding approach: Our tutors understand the background of our Nepali students which means they are able to explain concepts, techniques and feedback in an easy-to-understand manner

In the end, we want to make our best efforts to help you optimize your IELTS preparation time, while catering to your needs, lifestyle and target score. 

The Student Changes, Therefore The Preparation Strategy Must Change

The above considerations highlight why a generic IELTS preparation plan doesn't always work. If you come across as a fluent English speaker, then you might initially focus on developing your fluency in Speaking and Writing. However, after a few weeks of preparation, if you discover that your reading speed and comprehension or your ability to write clear, concise and coherent academic essays in a limited amount of time is affecting your score, a new strategy is required. This is the major advantage of one-to-one IELTS tuition with a qualified tutor. Rather than asking the age-old question, "which chapter am I supposed to study from today?", you are asked more meaningful questions such as, "what do I need to improve on the most?"

Final Thoughts

When it comes to preparing for IELTS, there really isn't a one-size-fits-all type of preparation strategy. Some students are fluent English speakers. Some students speak very little English although they have a good grasp of the language. Some students are able to dedicate hours and hours of practice everyday while others have to balance IELTS preparation with their full-time studies and/or work. In the next article, we will be discussing why the best IELTS preparation for Nepali students living in Australia is the kind which offers a more personalized approach to coaching and teaching.