Balancing your daily work life with studying for the IELTS is really hard. For those seeking IELTS preparation working professionals often find that long hours at work, unexpected project deadlines, and other family commitments create a schedule chock-full of obstacles. Finding time just to study for IELTS is hard. Lot of people put off their ambitions to live abroad because they assume that they won’t have any time available to do so. The reality is that there are many working professionals preparing for IELTS who plan and find solution for time management. You need not give up your job or sleep in order to achieve a high score.
What is IELTS?
The IELTS examination is an internationally recognized English language proficiency test that is used for both education and immigration purposes. The test will evaluate your listening, reading, writing, and speaking abilities but also provides an overall score between bands 0 and 9.
There are two main types of the IELTS examination: The Academic IELTS, which is used for determining the eligibility for admission into university courses, and the General Training IELTS, which is for individuals applying for employment or migration purposes.
You can choose from two ways to take the IELTS exam either from a traditional paper-based format or by using a Computer-Delivered Test (CDT). With the computer-delivered version, you will receive your IELTS results much faster than if you used a paper-based test format, this allows you to take the IELTS exam flexibly on your schedule as a busy test-taker around the world.
In order to be successful with this exam, when there is little time available, you need to learn how to prepare for IELTS while working, remembering to work smarter and not harder! By preparing for IELTS while working, you can use flexible study techniques and concentrate on what you specifically need to achieve your goal. This article has illustrated how you can take control of your IELTS preparation by utilizing the following four pillars: time management, online classes, weekend batches, and module priority.
1. Time Management Strategies:
People usually assume that they have to sit for hours and prepare for complicated exams. With a full-time job this is impossible, and if your trying to force yourself to study for more time after a hard day, you might end up feeling tired and over stressed. Therefore the best option is using strategic and productive IELTS time management tips to optimize your system. Through this method of studying daily, you will have a much more amount of time available for your studies.
Let’s discuss some ways you can include additional study time in your daily activities:
- Use Your Commute as a Learning Experience
If you are commuting to and from work through bus, train, or any other form, these are excellent opportunities to study on your way to and from work. Usually people spend time playing games during this period, instead you can use this time to listen to English audio. During that time, you can focus on the official IELTS podcast, listening to high-quality English essays and news reports. Hear different accents like British, Australian and American and practice understanding them.
- Use Your Lunch Break Wisely
Using your lunch break is another great opportunity to do additional studying. Soon after you finish eating, take 15 to 20 minutes to complete a short task. During the time, you can read an English article to improve your speed or spend some time answering some vocabulary questions. This will keep your brain working and in touch with the language without taking away from your work time.
- Get Out of Bed 30 Minutes Early
Waking up a little early than the usual routine will give you some study time, where you can complete at least one or two tasks a day. It is better to work on the difficult tasks than the simple ones, as you will be fresh in the morning.
- Phone Calendar
Use the same methodology to schedule your study time as you would when scheduling a meeting with your boss to discuss important issues. You should have this on your phone calendar, set reminders and advise your family that you will need to concentrate on your work during that time period. By scheduling your time in smaller sets rather than the traditional waiting for long hours in a corporate schedule, you take away the pressure of finding time to study because the time is already scheduled.
Online classes and digital tools
You can waste an enormous amount of time, traveling from work to a coaching centre after a full day at work, so it’s better to attend online classes. However, the added time & stress could be spent on either studying or spending time with family. This is why online IELTS classes for professionals and structured IELTS preparation courses online are the fastest growing and most popular option for busy corporate professionals.
- Achieving a Pace That Works for You
By spending time on IELTS Core Preparation online, you will have access to video lessons, recorded lectures, and practice tests, all of which you can complete at any time. In addition, since you don’t have to adjust your way of life in order to accommodate a rigid course schedule, you will have lower levels of tension and improved retention of the information that you learn.
- Engaging with Feedback Channels
The online learning experience of modern platforms has developed way beyond the act of watching only videos. Modern online platforms also provide interactive access to upload your practice essays and get highly detailed recorded verbal and video feedback from expert instructors. This way you will never be left confused or lonely while you are preparing for the test.
- Utilize Mobile Applications On-the-Go
Utilizing mobile applications on your smart device allows you to enhance your online learning experience even more. Practicing your skills with the official practice apps will allow you to watch quick tips videos, view sample answers, and answer practice questions while you wait for something or relax on your couch. Using your smart device as an educational tool allows you to continue your educational preparation seamlessly even during your busiest days.
Take Advantage of Your Weekend Batches to Practice Deeply
Weekdays are a good time to do short vocabulary reviews and quickly listen for practice. Weekends allow you to do your bulk of practice. You’ll find it easier to take full practice tests, analyze your errors ideologically, and build your stamina on the weekends.
- Accountability to Yourself
By enrolling in weekend batches at a certified training centre you are keeping yourself accountable, therefore keeping yourself on track in terms of studying and achieving your goals. Courses are designed specifically with adult students in mind and provide intensive, high-quality lessons that take place on the weekend so that your work week will not be interrupted.
- Simulating the Complete Examination Environment
The actual IELTS test takes about 3 hours to complete and there is no break between each of listening, reading, and writing module. When you only practice in 30-minute blocks during the week, it is challenging to build both physical and mental endurance to be able to sit for so long and focus. Weekend batches provide the perfect structured environment to take full-length mock exams with strict time constraints to help alleviate your exam anxiety.
The “IELTS on Computer” format allows you to get comfortable with the computer format of the IELTS test. If you are a professional who works in an office, choosing to take the IELTS on a computer could give you a great advantage when compared to an individual who is used to taking the test on paper. Most office workers are good in typing emails, creating spreadsheets, and writing reports using a computer in their everyday life, so their keyboarding is probably fast, accurate, and feels natural.
There are two main advantages of practicing on the computer:
- You will receive your test results quickly, within 1 to 5 days of completing the test. This helps you to meet tight deadlines in applying for university or immigration.
- During the writing test, the computer will automatically provide you with your word count so you can work on editing your paragraphs and checking spelling.
Module Priorities: Study Smart
It’s really important to study smart, as you don’t have time to waste. One major mistake many learners make is that they often practice the modules they are strong in because they feel confident doing so. If your English speaking skills are already pretty good, practice other sections. You should focus your studies on the areas in which you find difficulty. Using a specific IELTS module priority for busy adults will allow you to study in an efficient manner while concentrating on your personal gap:
Step 1: Attempt a Mock Test
Before preparing a study plan, you should attempt a complete mock test in order to understand your level in listening, reading, writing and speaking sections. This will help you understand where you currently stand.
Step 2: Find Out Your Gap
To find out your overall gap, you will need to compare your level with the level which are required to reach to qualify for your visa or admission process.
Step 3: Work on the Most Difficult Parts
Dedicate all of your energy each day to working on the modules that are difficult, instead of focusing on the easy ones. By working this way, you will develop what is similar to an IELTS band 8 strategy developed for working professionals. You will no longer be spending time on mastering the areas in which you are already proficient and start accumulating points in the areas that matter most.
If your weakest module is reading, aim to focus heavily on mastering how the keywords in the questions are converted to synonyms and how the sentences in the text are paraphrased. Also master how to skim for the overall meaning and scan for specific numbers or names.
If You Are Experiencing Issues with Your Writing Practice: Do not limit yourself to practicing by writing randomly. Try getting some practice on organizing your ideas by developing good introductions, good topic sentences, and good connections between the points you want to convey. Analyze your writing against the writing of those who get high scores in the IELTS.
A Workable Weekly Study Plan for Professionals
It is a simple schedule and one that professionals can use in managing their time so that they can reach their goals without having burn-outs.
- Monday morning, 30 minutes: Read one academic journal and write five words which you don’t know and find two synonyms for each of them.
- Tuesday, evening, 30 minutes: Complete at least one listening practice test.
- Wednesday during a 15-minute lunch break: use a vocabulary building app to memorize the most common collocations in English.
- Thursday morning, 30 minutes: Draft two main body paragraphs for a given essay prompt in IELTS.
- Friday evening, 30 minutes: Record yourself responding to speaking prompts to monitor your fluency of speaking.
- Saturday Weekend Classes, 2 Hours: Take an online class or weekend batch to develop your exam preparation skills and strategies.
- Sunday Morning, 2 Hours: Complete a full-size, timed practice test on your computer and review your mistakes.
Mental Fatigue from a long day at work is one of the biggest barriers working adults face in preparing for tests in addition to managing time and making good class choices. To overcome this mental fatigue it is good to create an effective study space. Before going to bed, create a plan for the next day.
Also, set yourself realistic expectations for achieving your study goals because you may not be able to sacrifice some time for studies due to unexpected work or family commitments. If you have to skip one of your study sessions, do not get discouraged, just pick up where you left off when you resume studying the next day. Consistency does not mean you will complete your study plan perfectly every day.
Through Tiju’s Academy, you will be able to reach your objectives in taking the IELTS exam. It is difficult to manage studies along with work pressure, so its better to move forward by choosing a good online IELTS coaching centre, where you get professional help.
The best coaching classes for IELTS will provide you with constructive criticism from the professionals, clear study programs, and personalized help, all of which can assist you to gain time and improve your odds of passing the test. Tiju’s Academy provides support for busy working professionals who want to achieve higher band scores on the IELTS stress-free. With very flexible schedules, including premium online courses & structured weekend programs, we allow you to fit your studies into your corporate lifestyle with no stress. Our expert trainers will guide you step-by-step through each module. Whether you choose to study online or in a classroom, Tiju’s Academy is your ideal place to prepare for passing the IELTS with total confidence.
