I see this statement quite often on Facebook and other social media platforms. While I am thrilled for those students who post this. I am also intrigued by the word ‘finally’, which suggests that it has been a long time coming. It also suggests that they have taken the exam several times.
I understand that when you take an exam and you don’t pass it or get the marks that you are hoping for it can be very distressing and the thought of starting all over again is very disheartening. It does seem to me, however, that in these cases of IELTS, the methodology is to keep taking the test until it is your lucky day and you pass with the score you want.
For some people this can mean 2 or 3 times but for others it can be 10 or 12. Once I spoke to a student who had taken it 25 times!! This really does start to seem ridiculous!
The cost alone for those 25 tests was over $5000. Even if you take it 3 times then it will cost you almost $700 and in my opinion this would be better spent on preparation.
When I first started to teach (and examine) IELTS you had to wait 3 months before you could retake the exam. There was a reason for this – a belief that it would take that long to study before you would be ready to sit again for the exam.
There is nothing intrinsically wrong with taking endless exams but it does have an effect on your confidence levels (as well as your pocket). Nevertheless, there is a great deal to be said for preparing adequately for an exam and I have the feeling that ‘serial’ exam takers are not really putting in the work and effort that is required to achieve the band they want in one sitting.
Think also to beyond the exam itself. Most people take it to enable them to live and study or work in an English-speaking country and if you pass the exam by the ‘skin of your teeth’ then your readiness to do this easily may be affected.
I remember one student who once she had finally mastered IELTS writing took the exam and got band 8s, 7.5s with her ‘golden’ 7 in writing and told me how, when she arrived in Australia to do her PhD, she felt so much more equipped than if she’d done it with the 6.5s that were required (she only needed 7 in writing). Other students also reported that the amount of form filling for the visa application after the IELTS not to mention the process of actually settling in and applying for jobs, was made far easier because they had continued to improve their English by working until they were certain of getting the Bands that they wanted.
Who really wants to scrape through and then struggle?
So, if, unfortunately, you don’t get your bands in your first attempt – it might actually be a godsend and force you to re-evaluate your English generally, take some time to study properly and then pass not only with flying colours, but also with a level of English that is going to be a huge asset to you wherever you move to.
And if you need help with that then let’s have a chat. Book a call here:
https://englishlanguagetraining.wufoo.com/forms/zeexrjk00ssc9d/