Taking the IELTS Test

The whole test took about five to six hours, including a one-hour break for lunch and prayer. After I finished the test, I cried. Hahaha... it sounds so childish. In Indonesia, we call that lebay (being overly dramatic). But if you ever take the IELTS test for the first time like I did, you'll understand how stressful it can be.

The listening section was really difficult. At first, I was able to focus on the recordings, but as the test went on, it became harder and harder. Eventually, I lost track of the conversation. Hahaha... okay, let's move on to the next section.

The reading test was my least favorite. I've never really enjoyed reading long passages in English. I usually get a headache when I have to read too many paragraphs at once. I know this is one of my biggest weaknesses. It was the same when I took the TOEFL test. My reading score has always been the lowest—not only because I don't enjoy reading, but also because my vocabulary wasn't very strong.

The third section was writing. As a blogger and content writer, I really enjoy writing. That's probably why writing was my highest-scoring section. Of course, having the highest score among the four sections doesn't necessarily mean it was an excellent score, but it still made me happy.

The last section was the speaking test, where I had a conversation with a native English-speaking examiner. This was the moment when I felt the most nervous. Fortunately, the examiner was very kind, friendly, and always smiling. He encouraged me to speak confidently and answer his questions without hesitation. We talked about several topics, including the role of music in our lives. It felt more like a friendly conversation than an exam.

So, would you like to try taking the IELTS test someday?