Coaching services in India have evolved significantly in the past few years. Now, you can train for the IELTS exam from professional trainers at some of the most reputed coaching services in India. But before you sign up for such services, you should figure out whether they’re worth the hype.
If you’re searching for the best IELTS online coaching, India has AbroAdvice.com, the British Council, Jamboree, IELTS Edge, and many other options. All of these services have gained a significant reputation in the student community. A closer look reveals that they share some features that make them stand out from the crowd.
What Features Should IELTS Coaching Services in India Include?
Almost all colleges and universities abroad accept IELTS scores to admit international students into their programs. That’s why you must have a thorough knowledge of the IELTS exam syllabus. Usually, coaching services conduct preliminary sessions to help students become familiar with the syllabus. But that’s just the bare minimum. If you’re planning to sign up for any coaching service, you should make sure that they provide the following –
1. Option for online and offline classes
One of the best features of Indian IELTS coaching classes is the option to choose between classroom training and online sessions. This makes the service more accessible to candidates. Offline classroom timings might clash for many students. Professionals who work till odd hours of the night can’t even think about signing up for such classes.
Usually, these coaching institutes offer weekday and weekend batches, making it easier for those busy during the weekdays to opt for an alternative. For example, the British Council offers a flexible course where sessions occur 3 days a week with a 1.5-hour duration for each class.
2. Regular practice test sessions
Practice test sessions are a must if you’re planning to ace the exam on your first try. Usually, any reliable IELTS coaching service conducts weekly or monthly practice tests to evaluate candidates. These are important since they can help you –
- Become familiar with the exam pattern
- Identify areas of improvement
- Evaluate your progress
Reputable coaching institutes come up with their own practice tests that are at par with the real exam. These tests are created after consultation with trained IELTS experts. After taking the first few tests, the trainers come up with personalized study plans for every candidate based on their strengths and weaknesses. Such personalized support makes it easier to improve your skills within a short time.
3. Access to reliable study materials
One of the challenges that candidates preparing for the IELTS face is finding reliable study materials. If you check the official IDP India website, you’ll find a few official preparation materials. But these aren’t enough to prepare you for the exam.
You’d think that the Internet has your back. After all, a quick search for “IELTS study materials” on any search engine will provide you with a million results. However, if you compare them to the official materials, you’ll find the ones you find on the Internet lacking. There are repetitive questions, a lack of diversity in topics, and incorrect passage recommendations. If you rely on these sources, you won’t be able to progress.
That’s why many students sign up for professional coaching. These services compile study material from various reputed sources worldwide. The materials are often categorized according to the proficiency level of candidates. For example, those who have trouble with fundamental English grammar are provided materials that help them become familiar with the grammar rules and conventions.
4. One-on-one coaching facility
In addition to offline classroom training and online coaching sessions, several coaching institutes offer one-on-one tutoring services. These sessions are perfect for candidates who require more guidance than others. Studying in sessions with other peers can be overwhelming. There might be a delay in getting your doubts cleared. Getting personalized help can be challenging as well.
That’s why private coaching is the best option. You are assigned a trained IELTS expert who will guide you every step of the way. The trainer analyses your skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking and comes up with a personalized preparation schedule that can help you overcome your weaknesses.
5. Guidance from Indian trainers
There are several benefits to receiving IELTS guidance from Indian trainers. The most notable one is the help you can get for your speaking and listening sections. You might have excellent reading and writing skills. But in 9 cases out of 10, you’ll falter in the speaking and listening section. That’s because you don’t have many opportunities to converse in English or listen to English conversations daily. As a result, you might find it challenging to ace these sections of the exam. You can also work on your listening and speaking skills yourself by –
- Watching English movies and dramas without subtitles
- Listening to educational podcasts
- Conversing in English with your friends and family
But if you don’t notice any improvement, an Indian trainer can help you out. They are familiar with the pronunciation issues that Indian candidates face. Once they diagnose the issues with your speech, they can train you to become as fluent as a native speaker.
6. Access to IELTS prep kits
Coaching institutes provide IELTS prep kits that include the following –
- Practice sheets
- Listening tapes
- Timed tests
- Study plan
- Syllabus details
These preparatory kits can help you train for the exam at your own pace. Usually, the kits are prepared while keeping your level of expertise in mind. For example, if you’re at the advanced level, your kit will include more timed tests.
Coaching institutes offer these personalized kits to all candidates who sign up for their training sessions. Some allow you to purchase them separately. The study plan in these kits can come in handy if your time management skills need work. Unless you follow a proper routine and focus on all aspects of the test, securing more than a 6.0 overall band score is almost impossible. That’s why these kits come in handy.
7. Mastery of the IELTS exam portal
You can opt between the pen-and-paper-based exam and the computer-delivered exam for the IELTS. Most choose the latter because of its convenience. The computer-delivered exam is available almost every day, with multiple time slots. On the other hand, the paper-delivered test is only available around 48 times a year. Clearly, the CBT option is the better one.
However, many candidates are not familiar with the online exam method. Tackling the online portal for the first time during an exam can be risky. That’s why coaching institutes conduct online tests using similar portals that you would find in the main exam. Once you become accustomed to them, you won’t feel like a fish out of water during the IELTS.
8. Flexible slots for all candidates
Providing flexible classes for candidates is one of the key features of any reliable coaching institute. This is handy when you miss a particular class. If you can’t attend an offline class or an online session, most institutes allow you to sit in for another session covering the topics that you’ve missed. Missing even one day of class can affect your progress. So, such measures are a welcome change than expecting candidates to attend every class diligently.
Should You Go for IELTS Coaching Classes?
Now that you’ve covered the main features of the IELTS coaching classes in India, it’s time to decide whether opting for such classes is worth it. The fees for such coaching institutes can be quite high. As a result, many IELTS candidates hesitate before signing up for classes.
But you have to keep in mind that the IELTS exam fee is around INR 16,250. If you fail to secure a good score on your first try, you’ll have to pay the fees again. It is impossible for most candidates to appear for the test multiple times by paying such high fees. That’s why your aim should be to ace the exam on your first try.
In order to achieve this, coaching institutes are a must. With proper guidance, you can easily identify the areas you need to improve. Add personalized training to the mix, and your chances of scoring will increase significantly.
