What you do 24 hours before your IELTS exam can make or break your score. Even small adjustments can have a massive impact, and the following stories prove it.
In this post, I’ll share the stories of Sarah, Ahmed, Ma, and Carla, four IELTS test-takers who made one key change before their exams and experienced remarkable results. Learn from their mistakes, adapt their strategies, and boost your IELTS score.
1. Sarah’s Story: Avoid Burnout with a Mindset Reset
Sarah was a brilliant student, fully prepared for her IELTS exam—but she failed by half a band because of critical mistakes she made 24 hours before the test. Here’s where she went wrong:
Sarah’s 3 Biggest Mistakes:
- Cramming All Night: She stayed up memorizing vocabulary and practicing answers.
- Isolating Herself: She avoided her family, thinking distractions would hurt her prep.
- Negative Self-Talk: She constantly imagined failing, which shattered her confidence.
By the time Sarah got to the test center, she was exhausted, anxious, and unfocused, leading to a disappointing Band 6.5.
Sarah’s Winning Changes:
After realizing the root of her stress was the pressure of letting her family down, she had an honest conversation with them. Then she made these adjustments before her next test:
- Set a Study Cutoff: Stopped all prep by 6 PM the night before.
- Relaxation Activities: Took a bath, did yoga, and listened to calming music.
- Positive Visualization: Spent 10 minutes imagining success in the test.
- Early Bedtime: Slept 8 full hours by going to bed at 9 PM.
- Morning Motivation: Read supportive messages from her parents.
Result: Sarah walked into the exam calm, focused, and confident, and her score jumped to 8.5!
2. Ahmed’s Story: Prepare Practically to Stay Calm
Ahmed was confident he would ace his IELTS test—until a few critical logistical errors almost cost him the opportunity. Here’s what went wrong:
Ahmed’s Mistakes:
- Misjudged the distance to the test center.
- Forgot where he placed his ID.
- Woke up late and rushed to the test center.
- Got stuck in traffic.
- Arrived 20 minutes late, stressed and anxious.
Ahmed’s Winning Changes:
He turned things around by making simple but powerful changes:
- Test Center Visit: Did a practice trip to the test center the day before.
- Document Preparation: Laid out his ID and necessary documents in advance.
- Multiple Alarms: Set three alarms and ask a friend to call him as backup.
- Backup Transportation: Arranged a backup ride to avoid transportation delays.
- Tech Prep: Stored all essential test information on his phone, including the test center address, ID photos, and contact numbers.
Result: He arrived 45 minutes early, feeling calm and prepared. His score jumped from 6.5 to 8, earning him a spot in a prestigious MBA program!
3. Ma’s Story: Boost Mental Clarity Through Physical Preparation
Ma believed that cramming all night would help her score higher—but her lack of physical preparation ruined her performance.
Ma’s Mistakes:
- All-Nighter: Skipped sleep to study until test time.
- Caffeine Overload: Drank so much coffee that she couldn’t sit still.
- Skipped Meals: Thought studying was more important than eating.
By the reading section, she was exhausted, unfocused, and overwhelmed. The result? A disappointing Band 6.5.
Ma’s Winning Changes:
After learning that mental performance depends on physical well-being, she focused on improving her body and mind before her next attempt:
- Sleep: Got 8 hours of sleep and avoided screens before bed.
- Balanced Meals: Had a healthy dinner and a nutritious breakfast.
- Hydration: Drank plenty of water but avoid overloading on caffeine.
- Light Exercise: Did 20 minutes of yoga to relax her body and mind.
- Brain Food: Packed with nuts and dark chocolate for a quick energy boost.
- Comfortable Clothing: Wore comfortable clothes for a stress-free test experience.
Result: Ma’s score jumped to 7.5, allowing her to begin her PhD program.
4. Carla’s Story: Stay in English Mode
Carla was a fluent English speaker—but she failed her IELTS Speaking test because she made one common mistake: switching back to her native language (Spanish) before the test.
On test day, she couldn’t switch back to English smoothly, leading to hesitation and small grammar mistakes she wouldn’t normally make.
Carla’s Winning Changes:
She fixed this by creating a 24-hour English immersion routine:
- English-Only Rule: Spoke only in English the day before the test.
- Immersive Listening: Listened to IELTS-related podcasts on common exam topics.
- Active Reading: Read English news articles and summarize key points.
- Speaking Practice: Had formal conversations with English-speaking colleagues.
- English Entertainment: Watched English movies without subtitles.
Result: Carla’s score jumped, and she landed the job of her dreams in the U.S.
Conclusion: Small Changes, Big Results
These stories prove that small but smart adjustments can make a huge difference in your IELTS score. Whether it’s managing stress, practical preparation, physical well-being, or staying in English mode, you can follow these tips to maximize your performance on test day.
