IELTS Preparation
Free IELTS guides covering band scores, test-day logistics and each of the four skills, written by qualified English-language teachers.
39 guides in this topic.
50 IELTS Speaking Topics to Practise (With Vocabulary)
22/07/2026Quick answer: The most reliable way to prepare for IELTS Speaking is to practise talking about...
How IELTS Speaking Is Scored: The Four Criteria Explained
22/07/2026Quick answer: IELTS Speaking is scored on four criteria, each marked from 0 to 9 and weighted...
IELTS Speaking Part 3: Discussion Questions and Techniques
22/07/2026Quick answer: IELTS Speaking Part 3 is a 4–5 minute discussion where the examiner asks broader,...
IELTS Speaking Part 2: How to Answer the Cue Card
22/07/2026Quick answer: In IELTS Speaking Part 2 you are given a cue card (task card) with a topic and three...
IELTS Speaking Part 1: Common Topics and Model Answers
22/07/2026Quick answer: IELTS Speaking Part 1 is a short, friendly interview of about 4–5 minutes where the...
IELTS Speaking: Format, Scoring and How to Prepare
22/07/2026Quick answer: The IELTS Speaking test is a short face-to-face interview with a certified examiner...
IELTS Listening Question Types Explained
22/07/2026Quick answer: IELTS Listening has four sections and 40 questions, and it reuses a fixed set of...
IELTS Reading Time Management (60 Minutes, 40 Questions)
22/07/2026Quick answer: You have 60 minutes for 3 passages and 40 questions, and there is no extra time to...
IELTS Listening: How to Avoid Losing Easy Marks
22/07/2026Quick answer: Most lost Listening marks are not about understanding the audio - they are careless...
IELTS Reading: Matching Headings Strategy
22/07/2026Quick answer: Matching headings tests whether you can identify the main idea of each paragraph -...
IELTS Reading: How to Beat True/False/Not Given
22/07/2026Quick answer: To beat True/False/Not Given, decide each statement against what the passage actually...
IELTS Reading and Listening: Question Types and Strategies
22/07/2026Quick answer: IELTS Reading and Listening are the two skills you can improve fastest, because they...
IELTS Mock Test at Home: How to Simulate Test Day
22/07/2026Quick answer: To run an IELTS mock test at home, sit all four sections back to back under real...
How to Build a 4-Week IELTS Study Plan
22/07/2026Quick answer: To build a four-week IELTS study plan, start with a full timed practice test to find...
How to Mark Your Own IELTS Practice Test
22/07/2026Quick answer: To mark your own IELTS practice test, check your Listening and Reading answers...
Free IELTS Reading Practice (Academic & General)
22/07/2026Quick answer: To practise IELTS Reading for free, sit realistic passages under the real limit: 40...
Free IELTS Listening Practice: Test Yourself Online
22/07/2026Quick answer: To practise IELTS Listening for free, sit realistic recordings and answer 40...
Free IELTS Practice Tests and How to Use Them
22/07/2026Quick answer: A free IELTS practice test lets you sit realistic Listening, Reading, Writing and...
How Much Does IELTS Cost and How Long Are Results Valid?
22/07/2026Quick answer: IELTS costs a set test fee that varies widely by country, test centre and version -...
IELTS Test Day: What to Bring and What to Expect
22/07/2026Quick answer: On IELTS test day, bring the same valid ID you registered with (usually your...
IELTS Online: What It Is and Who Can Take It
22/07/2026Quick answer: IELTS Online is a version of IELTS Academic and General Training that eligible...
IELTS One Skill Retake: How It Works
22/07/2026Quick answer: IELTS One Skill Retake (OSR) lets an eligible candidate re-sit just one of the four...
IELTS on Computer vs Paper: What's the Difference?
22/07/2026Quick answer: Computer-delivered and paper-based IELTS test exactly the same content, use the same...
IELTS Academic vs General Training: Which Do You Need?
22/07/2026Quick answer: Choose IELTS Academic if you are applying to university, higher education, or a...
How to Book and Take the IELTS Test: A Complete Guide
22/07/2026Quick answer: To book IELTS, first decide which version you need (Academic or General Training) and...
How Long Does It Take to Improve Your IELTS Band?
22/07/2026Quick answer: As a realistic rule of thumb, many learners need in the region of one to three months...
How Is Your Overall IELTS Band Calculated? (Rounding Rules)
22/07/2026Quick answer: Your Overall Band Score is the average of your four skill bands (Listening, Reading,...
IELTS Scores for Permanent Residency and Immigration
22/07/2026Quick answer: For permanent residency and skilled immigration, IELTS is usually not a simple...
What IELTS Score Do You Need for University?
22/07/2026Quick answer: Most universities that teach in English ask for an IELTS Academic result somewhere in...
What IELTS Score Do You Need for a UK, Australia or Canada Work Visa?
22/07/2026Quick answer: There is no single IELTS score for a work visa - the requirement depends on the...
How the IELTS Band Scale Works (0–9, and Half Bands)
22/07/2026Quick answer: The IELTS band scale runs from 0 to 9, where each whole band describes a level of...
IELTS Band Scores Explained: The 0–9 Scale and What You Need
22/07/2026Quick answer: IELTS is scored on a band scale from 0 to 9, in whole and half bands (5.0, 5.5, 6.0,...
How to Go From Band 6 to Band 7 in IELTS Writing
22/07/2026Quick answer: The jump from band 6 to band 7 in IELTS Writing is mostly about consistency and...
12 Common IELTS Writing Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
22/07/2026Quick answer: Most people lose IELTS Writing marks not because their English is weak but because of...
The IELTS Writing Band Descriptors Explained (Plain English)
22/07/2026Quick answer: IELTS Writing is marked on four criteria - Task Achievement/Response, Coherence &...
IELTS Writing Task 1 (General Training): Letter Writing Guide
22/07/2026Quick answer: In IELTS General Training Task 1 you write a letter of at least 150 words in about 20...
IELTS Writing Task 1 (Academic): Describing Charts and Graphs
22/07/2026Quick answer: In IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 you summarise a chart, graph, table, map or process...
How to Write an IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay (Step by Step)
22/07/2026Quick answer: To write an IELTS Writing Task 2 essay, spend about five minutes planning, then write...
IELTS Writing: How to Structure Essays and Improve Your Band Score
22/07/2026Quick answer: IELTS Writing has two tasks and both are scored on the same four criteria - Task...