Are you an aspiring IELTS test taker and wondering if the IELTS exam and mock test are similar? If yes, then you are in a big dilemma. An IELTS mock test is a replica of a real exam, which helps candidates to become familiar with the format and experience what a real exam will look like. Moreover, in both of these, there are many differences that differentiate them from each other. In this blog, you are going to explore IELTS mock test vs real exam, five major differences from format to scoring pattern. So, let’s explore them.
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Many consider that the IELTS exam and mock test are look-alikes, but there is a vast difference between them. An IELTS mock test is a replica of the IELTS exam that mimics A to Z about the entire exam to simulate the experience of the real exam. Also, to make students familiar with the overall exam pattern.
The IELTS exam is one of the best English language proficiency exams that is used to polish your English skills through four sections. Thus, both are different from each other. This was a quick overview of the IELTS exam and mock test. Now, from the following section, you are going to explore the actual key difference between the IELTS mock test Vs Real Exam. So let’s dig into this.
The IELTS mock test is a practice ground that simulates the real exam and assesses candidates to understand and prepare for this English proficiency exam. Its purpose is to gauge the English skills and refine them, familiarise with the format, learn time management, and identify weaknesses and strengths. The mock test helps you navigate your performance, tracking all the improvements. It's a realistic IELTS exam environment, two exam modes (computer and paper-based), section-wise test, easy accessibility, feedback, and analysis report make the mock test the best option to evaluate your overall performance.
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is used to assess English language proficiency for academic, professional, and migration purposes in an English-speaking environment. It is an official assessment taken under strict conditions and designed to evaluate how a non-native English-speaking student can understand this language in an English-speaking country. It consists of four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. The exam has two versions, IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, each of which is tailored to evaluate specific needs.
The mock test is created to check your preparation and assist you in sailing through your exam. The time is the same as the real exam. The mock test helps become familiar with the time limit, learn time management strategies to save time in solving questions, reduce anxiety, and get realistic practice experience. The IELTS mock test aims to reduce the stress level by simulating the test and experiencing the same difficulty as the real exam. This helps you to build confidence for the main day.
The IELTS exam can instigate significant stress, high stakes, and time anxiety due to time pressure. This can make students nervous, increasing the stress to complete all the tasks within the time limit. Moreover, the exam format consists of timed sections and demanding tasks that become overwhelming for many students. Thus, this pressure can lead to feelings of inadequacy, fear, and reduced confidence. To reduce all the stress, mock test plays a crucial role here to assist in understanding the difficulty level and prepare accordingly for the main exam.
The IELTS mock test mirrors the real exam format to provide all the question types of the IELTS exam. Also, it assesses all language skills through four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. However, sometimes mock tests can be perceived as more challenging and difficult to push the test taker to the limits. This will help to experience the actual difficulty, managing time, and completing all the tasks with confidence within 2 hours and 45 minutes. Thus, the mock test is designed to be challenging to prepare you for the real exam.
The IELTS exam is designed to assess language proficiency through four sections, and each of them has a specific difficulty level and format. However, the overall difficulty level of the whole exam is considered from high-intermediate to advanced. Also, you get new topics and questions that can be difficult to solve. Hence, every section tests your weaknesses and strengths. Enough preparation and practice can lead you to sail across the difficulty of the real exam.
IELTS mock tests are scored by using the real exam, a nine-band scoring system, with scores ranging from 0 to 9. It is easy to access and give instant results, helping to overview your performance and make certain improvements in lacking areas. The IELTS mock test result helps you to track your progress, and the score report gives feedback through comments and corrections, highlighting the wrong areas for improvement in every section. You can take as many mock tests as you want, but it is recommended to solve at least three before the main exam.
The IELTS results are official and are checked through a nine-band scoring system, and given scores from 0 to 9 for each section and an overall band score. In this final and official result, there is no pass or fail, as each band demonstrates a different level of English language proficiency. However, if you are not satisfied with your IELTS results, you can retake the exam or request a remark, known as Enquiry on Results (EOR), within six weeks of your test date.
An IELTS mock test helps to build confidence by highlighting the mistakes that need to be improved before the exam. This helps students to achieve desired band scores. Also, when you get familiar with the format, question types, and difficulty level, this will surprise you on actual exam day when you will be prepared to solve all the questions by readiness.
To give real exam, you have to be fully ready from all corners, such as solving all questions, managing time, checking, editing, proofreading, and more. This can only be achieved if you are prepared thoroughly. Thus, dealing with real exam nerves will be challenging, but can be rewarding in the end when you get the desired band scores. Therefore, practising is the key to success. Follow this motto to acquire the scores and fly abroad.
In conclusion, a mock test is a replica of a real IELTS exam designed to make students familiar with the exam format. Solving mock tests is important in preparation for the exam, as it gives you a clear view of what the exam will look like. If you are struggling to prepare for the IELTS exam and looking for a solution, then look no further, as Gradding.com is here. Experts here provide the best guidance on how to apply for IELTS exam, choose a date and offer resources to prepare for the IELTS exam. Also, if you join our classes, you can get a free mock test worth 1000 rupees as a joining gift, which means five free mock tests, so what are you waiting for? Grab this limited offer now!
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