Foreign language instruction should begin in kindergarten

Points to note

This is probably the point in the test when you are most tense. It’s also the easiest part of all IELTS. All that is happening is that you are being asked some simple questions about yourself. So

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  RELAX – get a simple question with a simple answer – give the simple answer. Now is not the time to try and show off with learned language. There’s plenty of time for that later. Rather, feel pleased that you have one question “done” – one down 17 to go!
  
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  Practise answering the questions (they are very predictable), but please do not learn answers. Trying to remember a learned answer does you no good – it will make you more tense and the examiner is unlikely to be impressed.
  
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  Remember eye contact matters in all parts of the test. In this part, you want to make as much eye contact as you feel comfortable with – there is a real benefit if you can look at the examiner as a friend you are talking to.
  
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  Don’t relax too much. First impressions count and the examiner is probably going to give you a “ballpark” score in part 1 – this means that when you do get a “good” question for you, then you need to show the examiner what you can do.