How to Get 8 Bands in IELTS?

How to Get 8 Bands in IELTS: The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is one of the most widely used English language competence tests for aspirants who wish to study/work/migrate abroad, where English is the primary language. This covers countries like Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, the USA, and more. 

It has set a benchmark for English language testing 30 years ago as one of the pioneers of four-skill English language assessments that assess your proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking. The exam is scored on a scale of 1 to 9. 

If you are hunting for an answer to the question of how to get 8 bands in IELTS, then you have arrived at the right place to be. Together we will be discussing how you can ace your IELTS exam on the first attempt and score a sky-high 8 band in IELTS. 

Types of IELTS Exams

The IELTS Academic test and the IELTS General Training test are the two different types of IELTS exams from which you can choose. Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking are the four components of the IELTS exam. Both modules include the same Speaking and Listening assessments, however, the Reading and Writing tests are different. 

• Academic Module: Choose this option if you want to study at the undergraduate or postgraduate level, or if you are seeking professional registration e.g., doctor or nurse.

• General Training Module: This exam is chosen if you want to migrate to a foreign country where English is the primary language, or if you want to train or study at a lower level.

Both modules have their advantages and differences. Check out IELTS Academic v/s IELTS General for more details. If you are confused about which version of the IELTS exam is better for you then find the salient differences between IELTS on Computer vs IELTS on Paper here.

What Does 8 Band in IELTS Means?

Before straight away jumping onto answering the question of how to get 8 bands in IELTS, it is first important to get a good idea of what this 8-band in IELTS actually means. 

An IELTS score of 8 indicates that the applicant is a ‘very good user’ of English. Applicants with an IELTS score of 8 will have no trouble working or studying in English-speaking countries. Applicants with an optimum band score of 8 get admitted to top-ranked universities and colleges abroad. 

The path to Express Entry Programs (in Canada) and Permanent Residence can also be secured with band 8 in IELTS. As a result, applicants who want to achieve an 8 band must work hard and follow all of the crucial suggestions while preparing for and taking the IELTS test. Also, according to the British Council and IDP, these individuals should:

• have a completely operable knowledge of the language with just minor flaws and incorrect usage,

• handle deeply complicated argumentation well, and

• may misunderstand some things in unfamiliar situations.

What Score Combination Results in 8 Bands in IELTS?

Your IELTS scores will be added together and averaged to give you an overall score that will be rounded to the nearest half-point. This provides you with some leeway when studying for the exam. Most IELTS applicants, for example, believe writing to be the most difficult component of the exam, so they may want to aim for the following: 

Important Note: Your grade will be rounded up rather than down. For example, band 6.25 becomes band 6.5. Band 7.75 is renamed band 8. Of course, this is not something you should strive for. Obviously, you should strive to excel in each category. Some people, however, find it useful to know that their weakness in one area can be compensated for by strength in another. Read IELTS Band Score Calculator and IELTS Band Score Chart for more information on score calculation.

How to Get 8 Bands in IELTS?

Now that you have got a fair idea of the IELTS exam and what scoring an 8-band in IELTS means for aspirants, let us find out how you can get 8 bands in IELTS in your first attempt. Achieving an IELTS band score of 8 is a significant achievement, and there are several factors to consider. The IELTS examination has four sections, and you must work on each of them to attain a total score of 8 bands. 

Listed below are some tips for all four sections of the IELTS test that can help you to get 8 bands in IELTS.

Reading Tips to Get 8 Bands in IELTS

To get 8 bands in IELTS, keep the following points/tricks in mind while taking the IELTS reading test:

• Good Reading Skills: You should have outstanding reading skills in order to acquire a good 8-band score, and you should read a lot of books, periodicals, journals, and newspapers to improve your English. For this, you should primarily focus on developing your grammar and vocabulary for IELTS, attempting to understand the relationship between two phrases provided, and being able to effectively employ the keywords provided in the passage.

• Understand the Questions First: Remember that the answer lies in the question itself. This means that if you understand the subject thoroughly, answering it will be much easier. It is preferable to read the passage and the questions before writing the answer; set aside 5 minutes at the start to prepare for the answer.

• Skimming vs Scanning: You must understand the distinction between skimming and scanning. Skimming involves swiftly reading a text and acquiring an overview of it. You must be able to acquire a general overview of the entire material by looking at the heading or simply skimming through it. Scanning entails taking the keywords that you believe are relevant and discussing them in detail. If you have these two skills, you will be able to manage your time effectively and do well on the IELTS exam.

• Time Management: If you are unsure about which answer to write in response to a specific question. Skip to the next question instead of wasting time trying to find the answer to that question alone. You can return at the end when there is more time to review the answers and try to figure out what the answer is. It is essential to manage your time wisely because if you get stuck in the first passage, you will lose a lot of marks because the time restriction for answering the questions is just 40 minutes and it is advised to take only one minute or less to answer a specific response.

• Emphasis on Vocabulary: Vocabulary is an important element in the reading section of the IELTS exam, and it will differ depending on different topics. As a result, you must use caution when studying vocabulary. If you have taken a lot of reading tests, you might have noticed that some topics and vocabularies keep returning. Spending time on topics is never wasted because if the same issue comes up in your IELTS exam, you will be well prepared to get 8-band in IELTS.

Writing Tips to Get 8-Band in IELTS

In the IELTS Writing test, your performance is judged not by the marks you obtain, but by particular criteria. There are four factors that result in an 8-band score in the IELTS exam, which has been explained below:

• Task Achievement/Response: Only if the ideas you intend to communicate in your essay are understandable to the examiner will you be able to earn an 8-band score. If the test-taker's English is strong and he can describe the ideas in detail, he will undoubtedly get 8-band in the IELTS exam. You should also compose an essay of at least 150 words for task 1 and 250 words for task 2.

• Coherence and Cohesion: The examiner will anticipate a response that is easily accessible to this criteria, and you should be able to provide a perfect answer. In order to get 8-band in IELTS, certain connectors that are not usually utilized by anyone must be included, as well as a paragraph with unique content.

• Lexical Resource: If you want to get 8-band in the IELTS exam, you must consider the wide range of vocabulary that the examiner expects. He will expect you to use high-level words in your sentences, but if you know the high-level words but do not know how to use them appropriately, then studying those words is pointless. 

• Grammatical Range and Accuracy: You must ensure that you do not make any big blunders while writing the essay; minor errors are acceptable. The examiner also looks to see if the grammar employed in the statement is adequate; in order to get an 8-band score, your grammar must be outstanding and the sentence must be distinctive.

Speaking Tips to Get 8-Band in IELTS

The IELTS Speaking test, like the IELTS Writing test, is graded on the basis of four criteria, which are explained below:

• Fluency and Coherence: You should be able to speak confidently and without hesitation in the speaking test, and the fluency of the test taker's English language is primarily measured in the speaking test, and if the test taker is able to speak English fluently without stammering, he will have a chance of getting an 8-band score in IELTS speaking test.

• Lexical Resource: The examiner expects you to use certain sophisticated words/phrases when presenting the situation, and you should be able to explain the meaning of such complex words. The examiner may be impressed if you employ idioms while speaking and explain the original meaning of the idioms. If you talk on the provided topic fluently without pausing to think about what to say, the examiner will recognize your understanding and may get an 8-band in the IELTS exam.

• Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The examiner will look to see if your answers to the IELTS speaking questions are well structured. If you are not proficient in English, you will be able to manage when writing, but it gets difficult for non-native speakers to talk fluently when speaking.

• Pronunciation: If you are able o speak constantly and fluently without any effort from the examiner and are able to pronounce all of the complex terms during the test, this means that you have a good chance of scoring 8-band on the IELTS speaking test.

Listening Tips to Get 8-Band in IELTS

There are a few things to keep in mind when taking the IELTS listening test in order to get an 8-band score in IELTS. The following are some points to consider:

• Do Not Rely Solely on Tips and Tricks: You can use the tips and tactics provided to get an 8-band in IELTS. However, completely relying on it is not a good idea. Instead of focusing solely on tips and tactics, you can use that time to prepare for the IELTS exam. Working towards an 8-band in the IELTS exam is the only way to get it.

• Listen to the English Language Every Day: This is the most important point, since if you listen to specific things again, you will be able to grasp them easily, and it will also enhance you. If you listen to the English language every day, you will be able to grasp the many dialects of the English language, as well as which words can be employed while forming a statement.

• Pay Close Attention: While listening to something, you should pay close attention so that you do not miss anything. Because the audio is only played once in the listening test, you must pay close attention and be able to understand the various accents. Listening closely will help you improve your vocabulary and grammar, both of which are crucial in the IELTS exam.

• A Strategy is a Must: You must have a suitable approach or strategy to follow in order to have a flawless answer. By having a proper strategy you will be able to take the IELTS test with confidence and you will know how the steps are to be followed one after the other.

• Practice, Practice, and Practice: The only thing that will help you to get an 8-band in IELTS is practice. You must practice until you are completely confident in your language. Practice is the appropriate way to invest your time completely. And the time you spent practising the lessons will not be squandered. 

• Sample Papers are Important: When practising for the IELTS test, make sure you use all of the practice papers and set the time exactly as the period specified for the actual test so that you can manage your time and not stress yourself out while writing the test.

Students should check out these tips and samples to be better prepared for each IELTS section:

Getting an 8-band score in the IELTS exam is understandably a difficult aim to achieve. But, it is not impossible! Your journey should be well-planned, and you should be aware of everything that can affect your score in the next IELTS exam.

If you still need guidance to know how to get 8-band in IELTS, write to us at abroad@collegedekho.com and allow our experts to provide you with their expertise and guidance!