IELTS for express entry
To apply for express entry one has to appear in an IELTS exam. IELTS is required for express entry as one of the basic step along with education assessment of your degrees. Although IRCC is now allowing other language tests to be considered for express entry, IELTS is by far the most famous one.
In this article we will discuss the basics about IELTS for express entry.
How long should I prepare for IELTS for express entry?
This is one of the tricky question as the express entry score is dependent on a good IELTS score but one does not have the luxury to prepare forever for an exam. As a rule of thumb I will suggest getting yourself registered for the IELTS in the upcoming couple of months and then start studying. Here are the reasons :
- If one has to prepare for a subject for more than a few months then it starts to get boring and you lose interest. For example a person is practicing writing an essay for a few weeks, during this time the tricks and hacks will force one to remain focused on the task of writing according to the required outline. Now if the same person is practicing the essays for more than 6 months there is nothing new about the structure of the essay! Naturally your brain will tell you that it’s boring.
- The more time you have the more relaxed you feel. It is a law that work expands to cover the given deadline and therefore if you tell yourself that you have more than 6 months to prepare then your mind will take it easy until the final month arrives.
- The outline and structure is the same for the test. In the IELTS the instructions, time, number of questions and structure of the test is straight forward. This can be learned in a few weeks after that all you need is practice, which is a good thing until you start to lose concentration due to exhaustion.
- Giving the fee is a tie breaker ! When you pay the fee for IELTS, which in the case of Asia, Africa is a large sum of money, then you start to feel the need to prepare for IELTS. This sense of seriousness cannot be achieved without paying the money.
- Starting to forget things: When it has been more than a couple of months you will forget the basics of layout etc, although one will get good at practice but you will have to revisit the basics parts.
Which type of IELTS for express entry is required?
IELTS general is required for express entry. Please note that there are two types of IELTS:
- Academic: Required for admission into colleges/universities.
- General: Required for immigration.
Do I need to join some classes for IELTS preparation ?
When you sit on the computer for the IELTS examination it will be just you by yourself. So no you prepare with friends, or join some coaching classes, or buy some online course at the end of day it is just you by yourself.
I will suggest that you start preparation by yourself and hopefully you will be prepared well within one month. Paying someone for this job is your own choice but you still need to be focused on preparation.
Where do I get started for IELTS for express entry ?
For starting I will suggest you to do the following :
- Learn about the layout : look for online classes like below that are free for teaching you basics of the test : https://www.edx.org/course/ielts-academic-test-preparation . Above is the best way to get started with IELTS. Although it is for academics but is very helpful as the General is easy.
- This youtube channel has good content, especially for Writing and Speaking. I made a good score in writing by following this channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCglDIsg_Z9mE2oT9hsrbzFA
- Practice material available online : You can find several online platforms that provide IELTS practice materials like https://www.ielts.org/for-test-takers/sample-test-questions
How much score is enough for express entry ?
You need to score at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 to be eligible for Express Entry under the Federal Skilled Worker program, which is at least 6.0 on each language ability on the IELTS.
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This blog was really helpful, especially the materials/websites you have provided to help prepare for the test.
Can I retake the test in Pakistan with just one skill? If I get a good score in all the skills except reading, Can I improve my scores by retaking the test for that specific skill?
This blog post has left us feeling grateful and inspired
Thank you for creating such valuable content. Your hard work and dedication are appreciated by so many.