Spoken English vs IELTS/PTE Preparation: What to Do First
Vikram Patel
Test Prep & Visa Strategy Head
Vikram heads EEC's test preparation and visa strategy division. An IELTS Band 9 scorer himself, he has trained 10,000+ students across IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, and GRE over 15 years. His visa interview coaching has an industry-leading high approval rate.
Should you start with Spoken English or jump directly into IELTS/PTE preparation? This is the most common question EEC counselors receive — and the answer can save you months of wasted time and thousands of rupees. Students who jump directly into IELTS/PTE with weak English foundations waste time and money. They struggle with Speaking and Writing sections, score below their target, and need to retake the exam. The smarter approach: build your English foundation first with Spoken English, then transition to exam-specific preparation. Both courses at EEC cost ₹7,500 each, CLASSROOM ONLY, at the same branch.
The Foundation Problem — Why IELTS/PTE Prep Fails Without Basic English
IELTS and PTE are not English teaching courses — they are test strategy courses. They teach you exam format, timing, question types, scoring criteria, and techniques. They ASSUME you already have a solid English foundation. If your English foundation is weak, exam strategies cannot help you because there is no English to strategize with.
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| Scenario | What Happens Without Foundation | What Happens With Foundation |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Speaking | Cannot form sentences → score 4.0-5.0 | Fluent responses → score 6.5-7.5 |
| IELTS Writing | Grammar errors everywhere → score 4.5-5.5 | Clear, structured essays → score 6.0-7.0 |
| PTE Speaking | Pronunciation issues → AI scores low | Clear pronunciation → AI scores high |
| PTE Writing | Cannot summarize → low marks | Strong summary skills → high marks |
| Listening | Cannot understand native accents | Comfortable with various accents |
| Reading | Slow reading, poor vocabulary | Fast reading, strong vocabulary |
| Exam retakes | 2-3 attempts = ₹15,000-₹45,000+ wasted | 1 attempt with target score |
Warning
Struggling with IELTS/PTE scores? The issue might be your English foundation, not your exam strategy. EEC\u2019s Spoken English course \u2014 \u20b97,500, CLASSROOM ONLY \u2014 fixes the root cause.
Book Free ConsultationDecision Flowchart: Should You Start with Spoken English or Exam Prep?
Answer these 4 questions honestly to determine your starting point:
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| Question | If YES | If NO |
|---|---|---|
| Can you hold a 5-minute conversation in English without freezing? | → You might be ready for exam prep | → Start with Spoken English |
| Can you understand an English news broadcast without subtitles? | → Your listening is exam-ready | → Start with Spoken English |
| Do you naturally use present, past, and future tenses correctly? | → Your grammar foundation is okay | → Start with Spoken English |
| Do you only need to improve test-specific strategy (timing, format)? | → Go directly to exam prep | → Start with Spoken English |
Pro Tip
“I failed IELTS twice with 5.0 and 5.5. My EEC counselor suggested I do Spoken English first. After 3 months of the Cambridge course, I retook IELTS and scored 7.0. The foundation made all the difference.”
— Karan Patel, MS in Data Science, Canada — EEC Ahmedabad student
The EEC Path: Spoken English → IELTS/PTE → Study Abroad
Spoken English (3-6 months) — ₹7,500
Build your English foundation with Cambridge Interchange. Focus: speaking fluency, vocabulary, grammar in context, pronunciation, confidence.
IELTS/PTE/TOEFL (2-3 months) — ₹7,500
Now that your English is strong, focus on exam strategy: question types, timing, scoring criteria, practice tests. Your strong foundation means higher scores.
Study Abroad Counseling (FREE)
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Students Who Did Spoken English First Score HIGHER in IELTS
EEC internal data shows that students who complete the Spoken English course before starting IELTS/PTE prep score an average of 0.5 to 1.0 band higher in IELTS Speaking, 0.5 bands higher in Writing, and 5-10 points higher in PTE Speaking. Why? Because a strong English foundation means: larger vocabulary → better Reading/Writing scores, natural grammar → fewer errors in Speaking/Writing, confident pronunciation → higher Speaking scores, and better listening comprehension → higher Listening scores.
Good News
Both Spoken English and Exam Prep at ₹7,500 Each
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| Course | Fee | Duration | Mode | Available At |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spoken English (Cambridge Interchange) | ₹7,500 | 3-6 months | Classroom only | All 26 branches |
| IELTS Coaching | ₹7,500 | 2-3 months | Classroom only | All 26 branches |
| PTE Coaching | ₹7,500 | 2-3 months | Classroom only | All 26 branches |
| TOEFL Coaching | ₹7,500 | 2-3 months | Classroom + online available | All 26 branches |
| Study Abroad Counseling | FREE | Ongoing | In-person | All 26 branches |
Book your FREE demo class. Find your branch: Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara. Related: Beginners guide, Fee guide.
The smartest study abroad investment: Spoken English (\u20b97,500) + IELTS/PTE/TOEFL (\u20b97,500) + FREE counseling \u2014 all at one EEC branch. Total: \u20b915,000 for the complete journey.
Book Free ConsultationEEC offers ALL major English exam types at the same branch — not just IELTS and PTE. Need CELPIP coaching for Canada Express Entry? Duolingo English Test (DET) prep for affordable university admissions? LanguageCert coaching for UK visa applications? EEC has you covered. Spoken English also powers specialized persona courses: English for complete beginners, English for working professionals, and a dedicated module to help you overcome the fear of speaking English — all built on the Cambridge Interchange foundation.
Ready to start your study abroad journey the smart way? EEC offers Spoken English, IELTS/PTE/TOEFL coaching, and FREE study abroad counseling at all 26 branches.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Spoken English vs IELTS/PTE
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