IELTS Preparation
Useful Hints
We have compiled a few useful tips for you to help you prepare for the test.
Books for preparation
You may find the following books useful for preparation. Please note that the British Embassy does not sell these books. They can be bought from bookshops or an online bookseller e.g. Amazon.
Cambridge Practice Tests for IELTS
(ISBN 0521 49767-1) Cambridge University Press
4 complete tests for the Academic Module plus extra reading and writing for the General Training Module
Book and Cassettes
Cambridge IELTS 2
(ISBN 0521 775310) Cambridge University Press
4 complete tests prepared by UCLES
Book and Cassettes
IELTS Practice Tests Plus
(ISBN 0582 471699) Longman
Complete tests plus additional practice material for the revised exam Book and cassettes
Insight into IELTS Cambridge Practice Tests for IELTS
(ISBN 0521 011-485) Cambridge University Press
Preparation course for IELTS
Book and cassettes
Passport to IELTS
(ISBN 0134 053745) Longman
Exam practice
Book and cassettes
Practice Tests for IELTS Revised Edition
(ISBN 0646 300199) LTS
Practice tests and exam strategies
Book and cassettes
Books for preparation
You may find the following books useful for preparation. Please note that the British Embassy does not sell these books. They can be bought from bookshops or an online bookseller e.g. Amazon.
Cambridge Practice Tests for IELTS
(ISBN 0521 49767-1) Cambridge University Press
4 complete tests for the Academic Module plus extra reading and writing for the General Training Module
Book and Cassettes
Cambridge IELTS 2
(ISBN 0521 775310) Cambridge University Press
4 complete tests prepared by UCLES
Book and Cassettes
IELTS Practice Tests Plus
(ISBN 0582 471699) Longman
Complete tests plus additional practice material for the revised exam Book and cassettes
Insight into IELTS Cambridge Practice Tests for IELTS
(ISBN 0521 011-485) Cambridge University Press
Preparation course for IELTS
Book and cassettes
Passport to IELTS
(ISBN 0134 053745) Longman
Exam practice
Book and cassettes
Practice Tests for IELTS Revised Edition
(ISBN 0646 300199) LTS
Practice tests and exam strategies
Book and cassettes
Weblinks
On the official IELTS website you'll find samples for the different parts of the test:
- Academic reading
- Academic writing
- General training reading
- General training writing
- Speaking
- Academic reading
- Academic writing
- General training reading
- General training writing
- Speaking
Online IELTS preparation resources:
Below you will find a list of links to other websites which contain useful information for preparation. Please note that the British Embassy does not accept responsibility for contents of external websites.
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Holmesglen IELTS Preparation
Good practice material for all four modules of the IELTS test. |
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OneStop IELTS
Exam tips and downloadable practice materials. |
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Longman IELTS Practice
Longman's site so some useful practice material from their own books. |
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Parapal online for IELTS
Useful hints and tips for the test. |
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Adams & Austen Press Study Pages
Exam tips and free exercises for you to download. Includes audio! |
The British Embassy does not accept responsibility for the content of external websites.
The test day
You will receive information about the test venue and the starting time with your letter of confirmation.
The test starts at 9am, so it is best if you arrive at least at 8.00am. If you arrive late, you might not be allowed to take the test on that date.
ID Check
The day starts with an ID Check at 8:15am. Please remember to bring along the ID (National Identity Card or Passport) that you stated in your application. Non-Guatemalan nationals have to bring their Passport. Driving licenses and student IDs are not acceptable as proof of identity. Candidates without a valid ID will not be allowed to sit the test.
Cloakroom
After the ID check you will have to leave all your belongings in a cloakroom. The cloakroom will be locked for the duration of the exam, but we strongly recommend not to bring any valuables, mobile phones etc. to the test venue. We will provide you with writing materials. You will only be allowed to take your ID and a bottle of water into the examination room.
Written, listening and reading tests
At 9am the test starts with a welcome and a short introduction from your invigilator. Please listen carefully to the instructions. If you have any questions please ask one of the invigilators. There are no breaks between the first three parts of the test.
The first part of the test is the Listening Test; this takes 30 minutes, and you need to answer 40 questions. The recording will be played once only. At the end of the listening test you will be given 10 minutes to transfer your answers from the question booklet to an answer sheet.
Then you continue with the Reading Test, for which you are allowed one hour, and again, you have to answer 40 questions.
The third part is the Writing Test , for which you have to write two short essays (of at least 150 and 250 words respectively) in one hour. You should spend about 20 minutes on the first and 40 minutes on the second task.
Speaking tests
In the course of the afternoon the Speaking Tests for non-Guatemala City applicants will be held between 13.30 and 17.30. Please ensure that you are free during this period. The Speaking Test takes about 15 minutes and is a face-to-face interview with an IELTS Examiner. Guatemalan City applicants will sit the oral exam on the following morning, unless there are vacancies in the timetable the previous day.
Occasionally speaking tests are conducted the day before or the day after the test date. In that case you will receive notification. Candidates travelling to the test venue from outside Guatemala City will have precedence to take the speaking test on the same day as the written, listening and reading tests.
The test starts at 9am, so it is best if you arrive at least at 8.00am. If you arrive late, you might not be allowed to take the test on that date.
ID Check
The day starts with an ID Check at 8:15am. Please remember to bring along the ID (National Identity Card or Passport) that you stated in your application. Non-Guatemalan nationals have to bring their Passport. Driving licenses and student IDs are not acceptable as proof of identity. Candidates without a valid ID will not be allowed to sit the test.
Cloakroom
After the ID check you will have to leave all your belongings in a cloakroom. The cloakroom will be locked for the duration of the exam, but we strongly recommend not to bring any valuables, mobile phones etc. to the test venue. We will provide you with writing materials. You will only be allowed to take your ID and a bottle of water into the examination room.
Written, listening and reading tests
At 9am the test starts with a welcome and a short introduction from your invigilator. Please listen carefully to the instructions. If you have any questions please ask one of the invigilators. There are no breaks between the first three parts of the test.
The first part of the test is the Listening Test; this takes 30 minutes, and you need to answer 40 questions. The recording will be played once only. At the end of the listening test you will be given 10 minutes to transfer your answers from the question booklet to an answer sheet.
Then you continue with the Reading Test, for which you are allowed one hour, and again, you have to answer 40 questions.
The third part is the Writing Test , for which you have to write two short essays (of at least 150 and 250 words respectively) in one hour. You should spend about 20 minutes on the first and 40 minutes on the second task.
Speaking tests
In the course of the afternoon the Speaking Tests for non-Guatemala City applicants will be held between 13.30 and 17.30. Please ensure that you are free during this period. The Speaking Test takes about 15 minutes and is a face-to-face interview with an IELTS Examiner. Guatemalan City applicants will sit the oral exam on the following morning, unless there are vacancies in the timetable the previous day.
Occasionally speaking tests are conducted the day before or the day after the test date. In that case you will receive notification. Candidates travelling to the test venue from outside Guatemala City will have precedence to take the speaking test on the same day as the written, listening and reading tests.
