The International English Language Testing System, commonly referred to as IELTS, is an important examination for individuals who aspire to study, work, or immigrate to a country with English as its native tongue. A high band score, specifically a 7 or more, is what many students aim for as it opens doors to a brighter future. Many test-takers, for whom time is a constraint, resort to a crash course for IELTS in an attempt to achieve this goal. While crash courses can be beneficial in some cases, they often fall short when it comes to obtaining that coveted 7-band score or more on the IELTS. In this article, we’ll explore the reasons why students who opt for a crash course sometimes fail to achieve their desired IELTS score.
1. Inadequate Time to Prepare
One of the fundamental issues with crash courses is the limited time they offer for preparation. Achieving a high IELTS score, especially a 7 or more, requires comprehensive and consistent preparation. This includes improving your language skills, mastering test strategies, and gaining confidence in your abilities, with consistent practice over a period of time. When you opt for an IELTS crash course online or offline, you’re essentially cramming all this preparation into a short, limited period. This hasty approach can lead to incomplete learning and inadequate skill development, which in turn can, in all likelihood, affect your ability to perform well on the test.
2. Lack of Language Proficiency
IELTS is primarily a test aimed at measuring your overall English language proficiency. It is not just about learning and implementing test-taking strategies. Many crash courses tend to focus solely or mainly on teaching strategies and techniques, and rightly so. On account of the limited time available, an IELTS crash course 15 days being its normal duration, is designed and aimed at students who have a fairly good command of the language. However, if students with only a basic understanding of the language opt for a crash course, they may develop the skills required to tackle specific question types, but they will surely lack the depth of language skills needed to understand complex texts and conversations, convey ideas coherently in writing, and engage in meaningful conversations during the speaking section. It is therefore no surprise that students with a basic proficiency in English fail to get a band score of 7 or more. While test-taking strategies are undoubtedly important for IELTS, over emphasising them at the expense of language skills can be detrimental. Crash courses can make students overly reliant on shortcuts and tricks. While these strategies can help save time and improve performance, they cannot replace the core language skills needed to excel in the test.
3. Limited time for Language Development
A crash course is specifically aimed at students with well-rounded language skills. The course structure will therefore have a limited focus on developing language skills like reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and the ability to articulate one’s thoughts in writing and speaking. Crash courses often rush through the development of these skills, leaving students with superficial knowledge and limited proficiency in one or more of these areas, if their existing understanding of English is at a basic level. Unfortunately, without a solid foundation in each of these skills, achieving a high band score can be incredibly challenging.
The test-takers sometimes have unrealistic expectations of what can be accomplished in a short period. Language acquisition and skill development, both take time. The expectation that a few weeks of intensive study can propel someone from a beginner or intermediate level to a 7 or more is often unrealistic and can lead to disappointment.
4. Limited Exposure to Practice Tests
IELTS, like any other standardised test, has its unique format, question types, and time constraints. Familiarity with these aspects is crucial for success. Unfortunately, because of the limited time on hand, crash courses are unable to provide students with enough practice on actual, full-length IELTS tests. This lack of exposure to real test conditions can leave students either less prepared or unprepared for the actual exam. Real test practice helps you understand the timing, the endurance required, and the pressure you’ll face on D-day.
Moreover, the Speaking section of the IELTS is the only part that involves a face-to-face conversation with an examiner. It’s also the section where test-takers can feel the most nervous. Crash courses might not provide enough opportunities for students to practise speaking and gain confidence in this aspect of the test. Adequate speaking practice is crucial to ensuring that you can communicate effectively and coherently during the test.
5. Insufficient Time for Self-Study and Improvement
Self-study is a crucial component of IELTS preparation. The course sessions alone are not enough to attain a high band score. IELTS requires at least a reasonable amount of self-preparation which helps students to target their specific weaknesses and work on them in a personalised manner. Crash courses, by their nature, often don’t allow for much time for this. As a result, students rarely have the luxury of time and the opportunities to address their weaknesses, be they language-related or strategy-related, and improve them adequately.
6. Lack of Personalised Attention
An IELTS crash course 15 days being its normal duration, leaves the instructor with very little time to provide individualised attention to every student, each of whom is likely to have varying strengths and weaknesses when it comes to language skills. Without personalised guidance, some students might not get the help they need to overcome their specific challenges, be it in reading, writing, listening, or speaking.
7. Psychological Pressure
An IELTS crash course online or offline, can subject the test-takers to intense psychological pressure. The short timeframe and the high stakes of the IELTS can lead to stress and anxiety, which can negatively impact performance. It is therefore essential to approach the test with a calm and focused mind, something that might be difficult to achieve with a rushed crash course.
Conclusion
While a crash course for IELTS might be a viable option for some test-takers, they are not always the best path to achieving a 7-band score or more on the IELTS. Success on the IELTS requires time, effort, and a well-rounded approach that balances test-taking strategies with language skill development. If you’re aiming for a high IELTS score, consider a more comprehensive and long-term preparation plan that allows you to build a solid foundation in the English language and the confidence to perform well on the test.
Rushing through the process can sometimes do more harm than good, and it’s essential to be realistic about the time and effort required to achieve your desired band score. However, if you have a good understanding of the IELTS and your English language proficiency is of an advanced level, this IELTS Crash Course could be the stepping stone to fulfilling your dreams of moving abroad!
