Many students make the mistake of studying for the IELTS exam alone. Studies show that having a ‘study buddy’ or a tutor is one of the best ways to improve your grade (or band score in this case).
The truth is, studying can be difficult. The long hours staring at a computer screen or reading a book are often dull and repetitive and it is sometimes impossible to know whether you are truly improving. You might get a question correct but why was it correct? And will what you’re doing be useful in the actual exam?
Many teachers and even IELTS examiners recommend having a tutor to get the very best out of the time you spend studying for your IELTS test.
Here we explore 7 fantastic reasons that students with a tutor ALWAYS perform better than those who don’t.
1. One-On-One Attention
Traditional classrooms can be a difficult place to stand out. We have a saying here at Fast Track IELTS: some students ‘shout’ and some students ‘whisper’. That means; some students are clear about what they require from their tutor (and often have no problem expressing their view!) whereas some students require assistance in discovering where they need help. A tutor is a personalised learning experience tailored to you and a good tutor excels at getting the very best out of your learning style.
2. Improve that Band Score!
The facts don’t lie. Students who use a tutor (whether face-to-face or online) generally improve their band score. Even high achieving students see the benefit – and often state their tutor is what turned that 7.5 into an 8. One of our students here at Fast Track IELTS said “I almost felt that having a tutor was like cheating, it made things so much easier. I felt like I couldn’t really get things wrong as my tutor wouldn’t allow it!”
3. Knowledge, the Source of all Wisdom
Imagine you’re reading an article during a practice Reading exam about ‘artisan’ bakeries. But what does artisan even mean? A tutor is a fantastic way to get direct feedback and to answer any questions you have. Why risk not understanding something?
4. Get motivated
We all suffer from a lack of motivation sometimes. Whether it’s the allure of a night in front of the television or just another game of Bejeweled – there are always excuses to not study. A tutor ensures you can’t get complacent. If you know somebody will be waiting to review your work at the end of the week, there’s no time to slip up – otherwise you’ll feel the wrath of an angry IELTS tutor (just kidding!)
5. Feel better about IELTS
It can be demoralising to complete an exam and to see the answers you get wrong. After all of that effort and despite trying your best – sometimes IELTS can be difficult! A tutor is a great way to improve your exam self-esteem by having the support of a somebody who knows you and knows what you’re best at. The positive re-enforcement of a good tutor can be helpful in overcoming those moments of doubt.
6. A waste of time?
We’re all prone to a spot of procrastination (that is; putting off studying to do less important things that we convince ourselves are important). Students often find themselves studying a section of the exam they’re already good at rather than moving on to the areas they really struggle with. A tutor allows students to put a framework in place to ensure they get the most out of their studies.
7. How are you doin’?
Let’s say you complete 3 IELTS practice reading exams. In the first you score a band score of 6.5, in the second you score 7.0 and in the final you score 7.5. Good job, you’re improving! But why? What areas have you developed in and where do you need to improve? Is there a type of question you’re good at? Having a tutor allows you to focus on the areas that require work.
There we have it. If your aim is to improve knowledge base in anything you do, any additional help you can get is great. As we have discussed in other articles: IELTS is important and students can often not afford to detail. A private tutor gives you the advantage whole teacher to yourself, with their lesson plans and strategies of teaching designed just for you!
Remember, you can enrol now with Fast Track IELTS and get your own personal online IELTS tutor along with tons of useful IELTS exams and materials.
New words in this article
Artisan
[ahr-tuh-zuhn]
Noun
A worker in a skilled trade, especially one that involves making things by hand.
The artisan carpenter made beautiful oak tables.
Demoralising
[dih-mawr–uh-lahyz-ing]
Verb
Losing confidence or hope.
The fact I kept failing my driving exam was very demoralising.
Procrastination
[proh-kras-tuh-ney-shuhn]
Noun
The act of putting off or delaying something important or requiring immediate attention.
I was procrastinating completing my assignment by watching cat videos on YouTube.