A few weeks ago, I opened my inbox and saw an email entitled 'Have you ever thought about how American football is like the IELTS?' I had to admit to myself that I had NEVER thought about that...nor did I ever think I would think about that! The email was from Slava, an IELTS aspirant that managed to score band 8 in reading and band 7 overall. His strategies, results, and American football comparisons were intriguing, so I set up a time to talk with him and tap into his insight.

In this interview, you will hear Slava talk about how he strengthened himself mentally through a somewhat Pavlovian approach to his training. Weeks ahead of time, he was progressing through his Saturdays as though they were exam days - getting up early, doing a few mild warmup exercises, and engaging a practise exam. His relentless approach to grooming himself for exam success paid off with the mark he needed. This is a great conversation, and I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to talk with Slava about this success.

If you are an IELTS candidate that has scored band 8 or higher, consider coming on the show and sharing your story. Your advice could be what unlocks IELTS success for another person, so don't hesitate - email me (Ryan) at [email protected]!

Be sure to visit ieltsnetwork.com for more episodes like this one and free feedback on your speaking and writing.

Don't stop at 7. Go and get that 9!