IELTS - First Attempt:
When I first started off sometime in Feb '13 preparing for the IELTS Exam, I never thought that this would be so hard to clear. Unfortunately, I didn't understand the pass criteria for Australian PR then. I just thought that an overall band score of 7 should be enough to pass but then, when my scores came for the first time and I sent my score to my consultant, I received the shocker that I need to score 7 in each of the areas of listening , reading, writing and speaking. I had got 6.5 in reading then and probably missed band 7 by 1 or 2 questions. So, that was a miss by a whisker.
That is when I got serious about the preparation. Since the first time i missed in reading, i took mock tests concentrating in reading mainly. This time, the reading, writing and listening tests got scheduled prior to the speaking test. I felt that i did a fairly good job of all the modules. The subsequent day, i went for the speaking test. The speaking test was tough this time because the one who conducted the test was probably not impressed with what i was talking. I could see grimaces in her face. I just came out with my fingers crossed. The results came after 10 days and I had failed to make 7 in writing this time. Since i was always confident about my writing skills, i couldn't digest it. Then, i went through different blogs to find what could have gone wrong. There are two tasks in IELTS -
1. Letter Writing
2. Essay Writing
In the essay writing section, the topic was about parents leaving kids in daycare for both parents to work so, the essay needed to be talking towards or against the same. I probably got a bit caustic in the middle of the essay stating what modern-day couples are running for? Is it money and why should people chase money.
IELTS Revaluation Process:
Though I had finished the essay stating that it was all my opinion and i probably am lop-sided about my viewpoint and it is a decision that would vary from person to person, I thought something in that essay must have not gone well with the examiner but i still felt that it was my viewpoint and I shouldn't be degraded for it. So, i applied for revaluation. The revaluation process is quite notorious in case of IELTS. I had heard that it will take the same time to get the revaluation results as writing the test again but i didn't want to give up and so, i sent for revaluation. Simultaneously, I applied for another IELTS appearance too.
Never did i think I would make 3 IELTS attempts and almost 6 months had gone in this process. The third time I applied, I was sort of battered.
Lessons Learnt:
I was ready to take the attempt in a half-minded state. Although I had applied for revaluation, I was sure somewhere that my writing score wouldn't jump from 6 to 7. While the date for the third attempt was nearing, I told myself, give your best and more than anything go by the lessons you have learnt so far:
1. Ensure to map your answers to the correct paragraphs in the reading module - this faltered me the first time
2. Never go controversial with the writing test, keep it neutral and be nice - this faltered me the second time
IELTS - Third Attempt:
For the third attempt, I never did any preparation, i had sort of given up. My speaking module got scheduled on a saturday evening. The examiner was a lady and she was very nice to say the least. She was very encouraging and it wasn't like i was taking a test but a good discussion with regard to topics about childhood, hobbies etc.
LRW Modules:
The next day was my reading, writing and listening test. While the listening module was on, I missed certain questions. I made some calculated guesses. This is very common with the reading test. if you miss one question, your mind keeps lurking there and you tend to miss concentration in the subsequent questions. Need to be very much aware and conscious about this. I kept a sort of laggard pace with reading just maintaining the tempo. I was not too confident but ensured that i covered all questions. The last one was the writing section. This time the topic was around celebrations, if people are spending too much money on celebrations and if that is ok. I ensured that i covered both sides of celebrating lavishly and not celebrating at all and then summed up stating that it is a personal decision. I specifically ensured that i don't talk about the British royal wedding or birth. Not sure but tended to be safe. I wasn't too happy or too down about this attempt. I knew I had done what i could.
Second Attempt Revaluation Results:
Somewhere around the end of the 2 weeks' time frame of getting my results, I got the revaluation results for second attempt. My score had increased by just 0.5 points making it 6.5 in writing. So, that meant i would get a refund of the revaluation fees but i wouldn't pass. Anyway, it was something i had expected.
Overall Band 8:
The next day i got my third attempt result. This time I had scored an 8 band and cleared all the modules successfully by getting 7 in all. This time, I had top-scored in speaking. I was happy.
I never imagined that i would need 3 attempts to get a 7 in all modules of IELTS. So, better beware all aspirants.
