Proof of proficiency in English is one of the basic requirements that universities demand from those who wish to do a master's degree in the United Kingdom. Of course, there are some exceptions (which should be consulted on each university's website), but tests such as IELTS and TOEFL are still the most common means of meeting the proficiency criteria.
When I was studying for proficiency tests back in 2017, I used many great and free resources. As I had an intermediate level of English (B2), I decided that I would study alone for the test. Today I'm going to share with you some YouTube channels that were very useful in my preparation. Hope they can help you too 🙂
1. BBC Learning English
This is one of the best resources I've found for improving the vocabulary required on the test. I watched many videos from the “News Review” series, in which the presenters comment on a news story and explain the meaning of some words related to that news, in addition to giving other examples of these words in other contexts.
The “6 Minute English” playlist is also excellent for increasing vocabulary on certain topics. Each video addresses a subject, such as “Why do young people feel so lonely” and “The smell of coffee”. These videos can help you a lot in the speaking test, in addition to helping to train your ear for listening.
2. English Lessons With Adam
Adam has very good and specific videos for preparing for proficiency tests. His tips for writing were very helpful! He teaches how to structure texts, gives good tips on the use of transition words and comments on the most common mistakes made in tests. That is, it is a very rich source for you to study for writing!
3. TedX Talks
You've probably watched at least one of the videos from TedX events. These videos, in addition to being inspiring, are very good for training in listening. And the best of all is that you have the opportunity to watch videos of speakers from different countries: United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada... So you get used to hearing and understanding the most diverse accents, which will prepare you so much for the TOEFL as well as IELTS.
Try to watch videos of lectures that are not in your area. If you studied Law at graduation, for example, watch videos that deal with topics related to biology, technology, physics... This will give you the opportunity to acquire vocabulary that is not usual for you, but which is usually required in the test.
4. Learn English with Emma
Emma's channel is also full of tips for the test and to improve vocabulary.
5. British Council
In addition to these YouTube channels, check out the videos on the British Council page. They detail how each skill is assessed and provide excellent IELTS test tips.
These are the main videos and YouTube channels that I used in my preparation. Do you recommend any others? Share with us!
Taís Fernanda Blauth is a lawyer, from Rio Grande do Sul and passionate about British culture. He is studying for a Masters in Politics and International Relations at Durham University with the Chevening Scholarship.
