Today, I stumbled upon my collection of IELTS Books while going through my bookshelves.
It brought back memories from 20 years ago when I was diligently preparing for the IELTS exam for academic purposes.
I dedicated all my energy and time to the test because achieving certain scores in each section was essential for my student visa to be granted.
In 1998, I made the decision to leave a permanent position in Shanghai, leaving me with only one path to follow.
Having dropped out of school after Junior High, I was fortunate enough to continue my studies at evening schools.
I always made it a point to invest in English books and eagerly purchase any excellent ones available in the market.
When it came to IELTS books, I bought a series from New Oriental School, published in 2001.
I would ride my bicycle to one of their schools, which was not very close to where I lived but within a reasonable distance.
Reflecting back, I now realize how lucky I was to be living in Shanghai at that time.
The New Oriental School's IELTS books were probably only available in a handful of big cities in China.
I was more than willing to invest in my education, and looking back, I feel grateful for the opportunity.
One of the best IELTS books I came across was "Insight Into IELTS" published by Cambridge Examinations Publishing.
After graduating from Latrobe Uni in Australia, I dedicated most of my time to figuring out how to pass the IELTS exam for immigration purposes.
During school breaks, I focused on improving my listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.
It was a time filled with stress and pressure, as passing the IELTS test was the key to making my dreams come true.
Now, I see it as a wonderful memory.
Life isn't just about taking shortcuts to achieve results, it's about the experience itself.
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