Best Methods for Preparing for the IELTS Examination

Many students ask me, “How can we quickly prepare for the IELTS exam?” When you are busy with professional or personal commitments or academic studies, it can be quite difficult to find time for IELTS preparation. Today, I’m going to share a 30-day study plan to help you prepare for the IELTS at home by yourself.

I will divide this into two parts. The first part covers the method, and the second part outlines a 30-day daily routine. Let’s start with the method.

Listening

Well, I always recommend my students start with listening because it is the easiest part of the IELTS exam. Starting with the easiest section can boost your confidence. For beginners, IELTS listening has four parts, and part one is the easiest. So, you can begin your first day by listening part one.

Many students make a common mistake here. They take the test but never analyze their wrong answers. This is not the proper way. You need to take the test and immediately after completing it, check your answers and find out why your incorrect answers are wrong. The best practice is to listen to the audio while reading the audio script at the same time. By following these instructions, you can complete the entire listening section from part 1 to part 4 effectively.

Reading

After completing your listening practice, move on to the reading section. In the IELTS exam, the sequence is consistent: first listening, then reading, followed by writing, and finally the speaking module. You have a total of 60 minutes for the reading module, with an average of 15 minutes allotted for each of its four parts.

If you’re a beginner, don’t worry too much about time initially. However, if you’re familiar with the IELTS test, start using a timer and aim to complete your test within 1 hour. I recommend tackling each part individually, similar to the listening module approach: take the test for part 1, check your answers, and analyze any mistakes. It’s crucial to understand why correct answers are right and why wrong answers are wrong.

Allocate the first 15 minutes to taking the test and the next 15 minutes to checking your answers. Plan to spend a total of 2 hours to complete a full reading test. Before starting the 30-day daily study routine, practice more following these suggestions. Once you’re comfortable completing a full test within 1 hour, then transition to the 30-day daily routine plan.

Writing

In my opinion, the writing part is the most challenging of the four modules, so it requires careful management. While it’s beneficial to seek guidance from a mentor in this section, but it’s not essential. The writing module consists of two parts: Writing Task 1 and Writing Task 2.

Writing Task 1 typically involves summarizing information presented in charts (such as bar charts, line graphs, pie charts, tables, maps, or diagrams). Writing Task 2, on the other hand, requires writing a formal essay, usually on topics like opinion, discussion, advantage/disadvantage, direct questions, or solutions.

I recommend reading as many sample answers as possible to gain an understanding of the task. Then, start practicing. For Writing Task 2, write your answer and check it for grammatical mistakes using tools like ChatGPT. While there are many resources available on YouTube, they are often disorganized. In this case, I suggest following IELTS Liz. She is a British instructor who explains concepts slowly and clearly.

Feel free to contact us for guidance and necessary resources. Here, you’ll find tips and tricks, and for those who are weaker in English, some customized writing templates are available for them. Using these templates can help you achieve a score of 6.5 or higher in your IELTS exam easily.

Speaking

The Speaking module is an interesting part for me; I always enjoy it. It’s also relatively easy but can be lengthy. Many people struggle with consistency here due to its extended format. The module consists of 3 parts, each with distinct goals and requiring different approaches:

• Part 1: Questions about the test taker (4 – 5 mins)
• Part 2: Speaking about a topic for up to 2 minutes
• Part 3: General discussion linked to Part 2 (4 – 5 mins)

Success in Speaking depends entirely on practice. The more you practice, the more proficient you’ll become in English. To improve your Speaking skills, start by practicing regularly. It’s helpful to find a friend, family member, or cousin who can ask you questions and practice with you. If your friend is also preparing to study abroad, practicing together can be even more effective.

If you’re practicing alone, you can use a mirror or your smartphone. Record yourself answering questions using your phone’s selfie camera, listen to it, and identify areas for improvement. Ultimately, this module relies heavily on practice—so practice consistently, learn from your mistakes, and improve continuously.

NOTE: The second part outlines a 30-day daily routine here.