The Benefits of Proper PTE & IELTS Test Preparation

Everyone with dreams to study abroad knows that before they get started on their study abroad journey, they would first have to prove their  English proficiency to be accepted into Universities abroad and to be able to obtain a visa. These English language exams are an essential requirement of eligibility and universities often ask for these scores initially at the time of documentation  The universities subsequently evaluate these scores to come upon a decision on the admission of the student.

Notwithstanding the above, some countries/universities allow waiving of the requirements of the English proficiency exam. However, since most countries insist on this, candidates should start preparing for these tests months in advance.

A student has the option of taking many proficiency exams such as PTE, IELTS, TOEFL, and Duolingo. All countries or universities do not accept all these exams but the most widely accepted ones are IELTS and PTE. 

What are PTE and IELTS Exams?

PTE stands for Pearson Test of English and is conducted by the Pearson PLC Group. There are more than 3000 institutions and universities around the world that accept PTE test scores. Australia, the UK, and New Zealand also accept PTE scores for visa purposes.

IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System (IELTS) organised in India by the British Council and IDP India at various test centres in India. There are two types of IELTS Exams: Academic (for higher education or professional registration) and General Training (for migration to countries like Australia, Canada and the UK). Across the world, IELTS scores are accepted by nearly 10,000 institutions and universities. 

Differences Between PTE and IELTS Tests

Though both PTE and IELTS are famous English proficiency tests, there are some differences in the ways of conducting these exams, patterns and scoring. Here is a table to understand some of these basic differences between the two tests. 

PTE	IELTS
Conducted by Pearson PLC Group	Conducted by the British Council and IDP (International Development Program)
3000+ institutions accept PTE scores	10,000+ institutions accept IELTS scores
The exam fee is 15,900 INR	The exam fee is INR 15,500
Computer-based pattern	The choice between pen and paper & computer-based pattern
Results are declared in 5 working days most probably in 24 hours	Paper-based test takes13 days and the computer-based test takes 5 days in the declaration of results
Marked by Artificial Intelligence System	The writing and Speaking parts are marked by examiners

Also Read: IELTS VS PTE – Learn about All the Differences

Benefits of PTE and IELTS Preparation

The PTE and IELTS exams are not easy and are often lined with confusing questions that need tactics to solve. To have a good score in PTE or IELTS one must start preparing beforehand. The candidates should invest time in preparation for the following reasons:

Score Better

The most obvious reason to start preparing for IELTS or PTE as soon as possible is that the more you learn, the better gets your chance of increasing your scores. Several factors are at play in the preparation for language proficiency tests and one has to learn, practice, manage, and do a lot in a small period.

Once a person gets acquainted with the exam, they can increase their scores. A lot of questions may appear to be similar to the ones practised before, and it becomes easier to answer them if one already understands the question tone and answering patterns.

Reduces Pressure

For the preparation for any test, it is important to be relaxed and confident when one goes through the examination. A month before the exam a candidate should not be learning anything new or starting afresh. It is wise to leave this time for revision and practice of full-length mock test papers. Once a candidate starts understanding the questions, it becomes less tiresome for them to go through the process. 

Further, the confidence of being able to understand the questions sets the minds at ease. As mentioned above there are certain trick questions in the examination which require the presence of mind and complete concentration of the examinee which will be difficult if the candidate is under pressure all the time.

Time Management

It is important to note that each task in PTE and IELTS exams is supposed to be completed within a managed time frame and all the questions are also supposed to be completed within a given time frame. This comes with the practice since candidates may not be natural in some sections but with practice, he/she can learn to manage their time better. 

For example in tasks related to listening skills, the candidate might get confused between what they had listened to and the content in options and invest too much time in figuring out the correct answer. On the contrary, if they have devised a strategy to answer such questions while practising the test papers, it will be comparatively easier to answer. 

Improved Vocabulary

If a candidate is preparing for PTE or IELTS for a long time, they will, in all likelihood, inculcate vocabulary and reading practices in their timetables daily. This practice improves the candidate’s knowledge of words and speed of reading. 

These are the two things that cannot be attained or improved in a short while. The examinees who are willing to improve their vocabulary and reading skills have to start early and learn a few words or practice reading a few pages daily. Last-minute preparations bring a lot of burden for these tasks and often the person is not able to memorize the content properly. 

Better Use of Exam Time

The exam has a limited time duration and a lot of questions to be answered in that time frame. Some of the questions have long reading formats and some have audio formats that may take time longer than expected. The key to cracking PTE or IELTS exam with good scores does not only lie in knowing the right answers but also in answering in the given time. 

While practising through different books and practice papers, candidates will learn how to manage a particular type of questions which will further help increase their speed and help save time in the exam.  

Common Tips to Prepare for PTE and IELTS 

Though both the exams are very different in scoring and pattern as well, one can start preparing for an English proficiency test in general if they have not yet decided which one to take. Here are a few of our tips for preparing for the English proficiency exams:

1. Both exams are based on four skills tests; Reading Skills, Writing Skills, Speaking Skills and Listening Skills. The candidate has to prepare to keep in mind these four. 
2. Practising reading newspapers, articles, books and excerpts from different genres of writing daily can help in improving reading skills. 
3. One should first start listening to different podcasts, watching movies and mock interviews in different foreign accents. This will not only help them to read in these accents but also in Listening skills-based tasks.
4. For writing skills and speaking skills, there are two essential things that a candidate should practice that is Grammar and Vocabulary. One must learn to be fluent and think clearly while writing too. 
5. At the end of general preparation, it is essential that the candidate learns and practices according to the exam pattern of PTE or IELTS. 

 Must Read: PTE Exam: Everything You Need To Know

FAQs

In this blog, we have discussed the benefits of proper PTE and IELTS test preparation along with our tips to prepare for English proficiency exams.

Leverage Edu provides the best preparation courses for PTE offered in a live training environment by trusted educators. If you want to ease your study abroad journey, build a preparation plan with Leverage Edu’s Leverage Live Classes and call us at 1800-572-130.