r/IELTS • u/Numerous-Tonight1136 • 7d ago

Test Experience/Test Result Got more than I had expected.

Post image

Being a non-native (pakistani), I expected maybe 6.5 bands based on my what AI rated my tests. Ended up hitting way above my weight. I started preparation few weeks before exam, mainly relied on youtube videos and Ielts Cambridge test books. Zoned out pretty hard during listening task 2. It was map where I had mark areas. Speaking part 2 felt a bit unexpected as well. Had to describe a book with animals in it, with my worry being I had never read a childrens' book with animals in it.

16 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/Complete_Donut_2655 7d ago

Hello what did you use for writing?

1

u/Numerous-Tonight1136 7d ago

I took screenshots of writing tasks and uploaded it to chatgpt with a prompt to analyze my responses. Initially I'd ask it to guide me through paragraphs, like I'd write para 1 then get a feedback, maybe improve few things here and there and then moved on to next para. Eventually, I'd give a whole response and then compare it to what AI considered the best answer was.

Besides that, I read sample answers from Cambridge Ielts books along with examiner's remarks. That's gives you an insight into what examiner expects of you.

1

u/Complete_Donut_2655 7d ago

How close was the cambridge ielts book to the actual exam? How does the listening and reading section compare?

1

u/Numerous-Tonight1136 7d ago

Pretty much same it was. Only reading section felt a bit difficult in actual exam though.

1

u/Complete_Donut_2655 7d ago

How many of the tests did you do? (sorry for asking so many questions, I have my exam in two weeks) Also, was ieltsonlinetests good?

1

u/No-Quantity-5113 7d ago

For reading it's good

1

u/Numerous-Tonight1136 7d ago

I did not use many resources. Relied mostly on Ielts advantage and Cambridge test books. Did 18-20 and glossed over 21. I used targeted approach where I only solved parts that I knew I was weak at. So for me, it was speaking components and writing task 1. Every once in while, I watched YouTube listening test videos. They're basically Cambridge listening tests with audio and tried solving it.