The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is one of the most popular English proficiency exams for non-native speakers. With over 3 million tests taken annually, the IELTS exam evaluates your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills in the English language. Achieving a good IELTS score can help you get into your desired university abroad or help migrate to countries like Canada, Australia, UK and New Zealand.
While IELTS preparation books and classes are useful, supplementing them with quality mobile apps can take your preparation to the next level. Apps provide the flexibility to study anytime, anywhere through your smartphone or tablet. They can help strengthen specific skills, provide timed practice tests, and give instant results and feedback. Here are the top 8 apps that can help you prepare efficiently for the IELTS exam:
1. IELTS Prep App by Magoosh
Magoosh is a popular exam preparation company known for its quality IELTS and GRE training programs. Their comprehensive IELTS prep app provides lessons, tips and strategies for all sections of the test.
The interactive lessons use simple language and are designed by expert IELTS instructors. You can strengthen your grammar, vocabulary and language skills through their extensive bank of questions. Detailed explanations are provided for all questions and the difficulty level increases gradually. This helps build your skills in a structured manner.
The app also includes timed practice tests for reading, writing, listening and speaking. These tests simulate the real exam environment and allow you to understand your current score level. Additionally, the app offers over 150 IELTS vocabulary flashcards to expand your lexicon. This is a great app for an organized and strategic preparation.
2. IELTS Academic: Band 9 Preparation by Simulated Solutions
As the name suggests, this app by Simulated Solutions is focused on helping you achieve the highest Band 9 in the Academic IELTS test. It provides a personalized study plan based on your timeline and current level.
A diagnostic test first analyzes your strengths and weaknesses. Accordingly, it creates a customized question bank to help improve your weakest areas. Questions can also be filtered by difficulty level or skill. Detailed statistics track your progress and performance in every section.
In addition, the app offers helpful lessons covering IELTS tips, strategies and key concepts. Each lesson explains a technique in simple language along with examples. Mini mock tests after every lesson allow you to check your understanding. This app provides structured and targeted preparation tailored to your needs for your IELTS Preparation.
3. IELTS Speaking Prep by ABA English
Developing strong communication skills is essential for the IELTS Speaking test. This dedicated app by ABA English aims to improve your spoken fluency and confidence. In particular, it simulates an IELTS speaking exam with a virtual examiner who asks you real test questions. The questions cover diverse topics ranging from hobbies and family to global issues. Moreover, the app records your answers and provides instant feedback on fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation.
Additionally, the built-in speech recognition technology helps improve pronunciation by detecting errors. Furthermore, hundreds of sample responses for every question allow you to learn good phrases and sentence structures. Ultimately, if you use this regularly, you can overcome nervousness and be better prepared for the real speaking test.
4. IELTS Listening Test Prep by Exam English
The listening test is considered the toughest section by most IELTS takers. This app focuses on developing your listening comprehension skills through intensive practice.
It offers numerous IELTS style listening tracks and questions covering a wide range of accents like British, Australian, American and New Zealand. Answer explanations provide tips on how to approach each question type.
A unique “difficult words” feature lets you look up the meaning of unusual words and add them to your vocabulary list for revision. The app also explains commonly misspelt words. A timed mode simulates the actual test environment and shows your weak areas. Regular use can help improve your focus, speed and listening accuracy.
5. IELTS Study – All Skills by Pixel Labs
As the name suggests, this app by Pixel Labs helps you prep for all sections of the IELTS exam. Firstly, it provides study material and practice questions for listening, reading, writing and speaking. For instance, the listening tracks use native speakers to improve comprehension of real English conversations. Moreover, for reading, you can attempt practice passages from academic and general training texts. In addition, sample essays are included for different writing task types. Finally, the speaking section uses an innovative speech recognition technology. Specifically, it lets you record answers and assesses for accuracy, fluency and pronunciation. In summary, instant feedback helps you self-evaluate your responses. Overall, this app is very useful for an integrated preparation covering all key skills areas.
6. IELTS Vocabulary Builder by Bravolol
Having a wide vocabulary range can earn you more points on the IELTS test. This app focuses on improving your vocabulary through fun practices like word searches, match-ups and gap fills. New words are introduced with simple definitions and usage examples.
The vocabulary is grouped into logical categories like food, hobbies, travel, technology etc. Making flashcards of new words helps memorize them faster. Built-in games and quizzes reinforce retention. The app also emphasizes learning collocations and common phrases used in the IELTS exam. Working regularly with this app can expand your overall vocabulary.
7. IELTS General Reading Practice by Exam Prep App
This app specializes in the IELTS General Training Reading test taken by those applying for secondary education or work training programs abroad.
It provides a bank of practice reading passages and questions from real past exams. New tests are frequently added to provide sufficient material for practice. You can attempt timed tests simulating the real exam environment and conditions.
Additionally, the app has a useful mistake tracking system. It automatically saves and compiles all incorrectly answered questions for later review and learning. This enables you to revise weaker areas and avoid repeating mistakes. With regular use, it can help build reading speed, comprehension and retention.
8. IELTS Writing by Eli Media
This app by Eli Media aims to develop strong IELTS writing skills through guided tips and focused practice. It explains the expected structure and language features for Task 1 and Task 2 essays. You can practice brainstorming and planning essays using the sample outlines. The writing review system provides personalized feedback on practice essays based on criteria like coherence, vocabulary range, grammar and spelling. This helps avoid repeating mistakes and improve writing quality. Working through this app can help maximize your IELTS writing score by teaching you to use transition words and active voice effectively.
Conclusion
Mobile apps provide IELTS test takers with flexible and convenient preparation options. The most effective apps offer structured lessons, abundant practice material, timed tests, instant feedback and personalized recommendations. Through these features, test takers can develop the key skills assessed in the IELTS reading, writing, listening and speaking sections. Specifically, the timed tests simulate the actual exam experience while the instant feedback allows test takers to immediately identify strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, the personalized recommendations suggest specific areas to focus on for improvement. In this way, mobile apps enable efficient and tailored IELTS prep anytime, anywhere.
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Using the right combination of apps that address your weak areas can help fast track your preparation. They are especially useful supplements for classroom teaching and self-study books. With smart preparation strategies and persistent practice using quality apps, achieving your target IELTS Band score is definitely possible.
