Written by Gabriela Estrada

Entering a Canadian university is the dream of many young people and adults with aspirations of achieving great goals outside their country of origin. The Hispanic American population is often attracted to this dream, and while it is quite feasible that they can make it come true, it is also quite necessary to know that speaking English very well is the first task they must assume from the very moment they project this goal. Many times, our language school with a migratory focus, Planeta Immiland, receives students of Hispanic origin who claim to have a very good command of English, but when they take the evaluation test they show an average level, let's say they understand some movies and converse a little in English, but not enough to study at a Canadian university, or some who speak English very well, but in the IELTS test they do not get the required score despite having taken it several times, so they seek advice to understand and pass this test.

In this article, we will describe how to achieve the upper-intermediate level of English in the IELTS for admission to your favorite college or university in Canada and, in addition, we will present you with some links to the institutions with which Immiland has registration agreements at no cost to the student. Here we go!

What is the IELTS Academic test like?

Let's remember that the IELTS Academic is the internationally recognized test most used by universities around the world to know the average English of their future candidates to study and focuses on specific language skills that allow the comprehension of academic texts, essay writing and participation in academic discussions, etc. This type of exam requires a formal type of English, with emphasis on correct writing and proper use of terminology, and requires a minimum score of 6.5 to enter most academic programs.

The prestige of the IELTS Academic makes it a perfect test for visa applications or study permit applications, but to take it, and even more so to achieve the minimum 6.5, you need to be prepared.

How to achieve the upper-intermediate level of academic English?

The key word is "preparation". There is no point in taking the IELTS test or any other test if you think you know enough English, but you don't, in fact, if you do, you will only lose money and be frustrated. Anyone who wants to study in Canada should prepare for the IELTS test as if it were the most important test of his or her life. The upper-intermediate level can be achieved by following these steps:

1. First take any language test and recognize your current level. At this link, you can take our free test.
2. Study or practice the language according to the level of proficiency you achieved in the free test. You can do it on your own, by taking an English course in person or online. Our language academy, Planeta Immiland, offers courses with a migration focus to level your English and prepare you for the IELTS exam, among others. Click here to see the courses.
3. Take practice tests as an exercise. You can get old tests online that will help you learn how they are presented and understand the IELTS format.
4. Focus your attention on the four sections consciously, e.g., when you look at the IELTS format, you will notice that in the listening you will notice that in the listening part there are several people speaking in English with different accents, British, Indian, etc., and you must understand them to know what they are talking about and respond accordingly. In another section, there is a single person speaking as if it were the presentation and the last one is a monologue.
5. In the readingIn the reading part, you will find a large article from which you must extract information to then complete some graphs, and in the writing part as well, for this segment you must read an article that, in general, is about news, universities or scientific interest, and you will have to make a graph with bars that represent what you read.
6. You must also be attentive to time management, because each section has a set time and if you do not use it properly, you will be left with unanswered spaces at the end. All this is crucial to get a good grade.
7. To take the IELTS test, you need to be very well prepared, it is not a process to be taken lightly. This test requires an advanced level, so we recommend that you first understand and accept your language level in order to establish a plan of action, if necessary.

Once you have obtained the minimum level of 6.5, which can take two to three months of preparation, then start looking for your favorite university or college in Canada, our education department can assist you with vocational counseling, top academic programs in the country and processing your admission registration at no cost. We have agreements with colleges and universities that lead to a PGWP, which will give you the opportunity to apply for permanent residency after graduation. Click on this link, find universities for master's degrees with no registration fee for our clients. for our clients; also, you can review our agreements with colleges in Ontario, click here.

Learn about our offers in English courses according to your level and IELTS preparation and more.

With love,

Planet Immiland