Mistake 1: Choosing the exam based on what friends gave Your friend going to Canada for a diploma took IELTS General. You are going to the US for a Master’s. You need TOEFL or IELTS Academic. Don’t blindly follow the herd.

Mistake 2: Starting with full-length mocks before learning the format If you don’t know the rules of the game, you can’t win. Spend week one just understanding the question types before timing yourself.

Mistake 3: Ignoring the speaking section until the last week We Indians read and write English well, but spoken fluency takes time to build. You can’t cram for the speaking test.

Mistake 4: Not checking if their target university accepts the exam. Imagine scoring a 140 on Duolingo, paying the application fee, and getting an email saying, “We only accept TOEFL.” Always check the university’s international admissions page, or you can ask your counsellor

Mistake 5: Preparing for the wrong version of the exam People still study for the GMAT Classic when the GMAT Focus Edition is the main format running. People book IELTS General Training instead of IELTS Academic. Read the labels carefully.

Mistake 6: Booking the exam date before they’re ready Don’t book the test to “force” yourself to study. It just causes panic. Hit your target score in two consecutive mock tests at home, then book the real exam.