28 - How to study for IELTS during Covid-19
In this episode, Eliot shares a special announcement about how to study for IELTS amid Covid-19 concerns. Episode resources and links: Magoosh IELTS YouTube Channel What to Do if Your Study Plans Have Been Interrupted by Covid-19 How to study for IELTS during Covid-19 Naomi: Welcome to the Magoosh IELTS Podcast. This is a special announcement from our IELTS expert, Eliot. Take it away! Eliot: Hello, I’m Eliot, the IELTS expert at Magoosh, and I’m speaking for all of us here at Magoosh when I say I hope this message finds you and your loved ones in good health during this time of uncertainty in the world. We’re reaching out to you as IELTS students, to let you know that Magoosh will be making every effort to keep you informed on how the rapidly-evolving COVID-19 situation is impacting IELTS study plans and test dates. It’s our top priority to provide you with support and the most up-to-date advice regarding the IELTS and COVID-19. IELTS COVID-19 Tips: So you’re probably wondering how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting the IELTS. Well, in places that have been impacted by the virus, both paper-based and computer-delivered IELTS exam dates have been postponed–either indefinitely, or until at least mid-April. If you were expecting to take the IELTS this month, chances are you’ll be looking at a later testing date. Check out the Official IELTS webpage and get in touch with your local testing center to find out more specific information on when you’ll be able to take the exam. If you were just getting started with your IELTS prep, or you still have a fair amount of time left before you were originally planning on taking the test, your main focus right now will probably be how to adjust your IELTS study plan to make room for any of the big changes we’re all experiencing as a result of COVID-19. With everything that’s been going on in the world, chances are you may have gotten a little bit off-track with your IELTS studies. But don’t worry–you’re not alone! We’ve heard from many students who are feeling overwhelmed and anxious right now, so don’t be too hard on yourself. Falling behind is a common study problem, and it’s pretty much inevitable that most students will have been distracted from their IELTS preparation, considering the impacts COVID-19 is having worldwide. It’s completely okay to take some time before returning to your regular study schedule. When you are ready to move forward with your studies, I’d recommend taking a look at our IELTS Study Plans, and choosing the one that works with your current schedule. But again, don’t be too hard on yourself if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Due to changing circumstances and accommodations, many students are editing down their prior IELTS study plans. On the other hand, you may have suddenly found yourself with a whole lot more free time than you had expected. If you do feel comfortable using that time for extra IELTS practice, I’d recommend you use this opportunity to take more full-length IELTS practice tests–practice tests are the best way to experience real test-like conditions and they’re a great way for you to track your progress over time. If you’re a Magoosh IELTS Premium student–or you’re thinking about signing up–you should know that we are pausing and extending student accounts for free as needed. We also want you to know that our Student Help Team is here not only to help with your IELTS questions, but also with test anxiety and other concerns. Feel free to reach out through the purple Help button on your dashboard or send an email to help@magoosh.com. Final Words In the meantime, we’ll continue to put out new, up-to-date IELTS content over on our YouTube channel every week, so visit the Magoosh IELTS channel on YouTube and subscribe to get our latest videos.! I put a link to our channel in the show notes. We’re following the situation closely and we’ll keep doing our very best to respond to what’s going on, as we continue to help support our IELTS students. We know this is tough, but we’re here for you. Thanks for tuning in!