DTZ study plan
DTZ · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Listening & Reading
Transcribe 60 short spoken passages (announcements, voicemail-style messages, short dialogues) and mark every number, name, and time expression you hear
Build a personal error log that tags each listening mistake as vocabulary, sound discrimination, or attention lapse
Skim 8 short informational texts and underline the sentence that answers a who/what/when/where question
Classify 30 reading questions by type (main idea, detail, inference, purpose) and note which type you miss most
Set up a spaced-repetition deck with 100 high-frequency workplace and everyday-life words
Your checkpoint
A 100-item vocabulary deck plus a categorized listening error log covering 60 transcribed passages
Listening & Reading
Shadow 20 audio clips of 60-90 seconds, repeating aloud immediately after the speaker to train rhythm and connected speech
Practice note-taking shorthand for 15 listening passages, capturing digits, dates, and proper nouns without writing full sentences
Complete 6 timed reading sets and record completion time and accuracy per set
Rewrite 10 paraphrased answer choices in your own words to expose how distractors reuse text wording
Review your error log and retire any vocabulary item you have used correctly three times
Your checkpoint
A timing-and-accuracy table for 6 timed reading sets showing at least a 10 percent accuracy gain from the first to the last set
Listening & Reading
Answer 40 listening questions under exam pacing and mark which items you changed answers on and whether the change helped
Identify 15 signpost phrases (however, in fact, the main point is) in audio and note what follows each
Scan 10 long texts for specific data using headings, bold text, and first sentences only, without reading in full
Summarize 5 reading passages in two sentences each to verify you extracted the central claim
Drill 50 minimal-pair word contrasts to sharpen sound discrimination
Your checkpoint
A one-page cheat sheet of 15 listening signpost phrases with the type of information each typically introduces
Listening & Reading
Sit a full-length timed listening section and a full-length timed reading section in one sitting under exam conditions
Score both sections against an answer key and compute accuracy by question type
Re-listen to every missed listening item and write the exact phrase that carried the answer
Re-read every missed reading item and locate the single sentence in the text that justifies the key
Rank your five weakest question types across both domains
Your checkpoint
A diagnostic score report with per-type accuracy for listening and reading and a ranked list of five weak areas
Writing
Analyze 10 model responses to identify how they open, structure, and close within the word limit
Draft 5 timed short messages (60-120 words) in response to a prompt, each stating purpose in the first sentence
Build a reusable bank of 20 linking phrases for contrast, cause, and sequence and use at least 6 per draft
Self-edit 5 drafts against a checklist covering task completion, grammar, punctuation, and register
Rewrite your two weakest drafts and compare word count and clarity against the originals
Your checkpoint
A portfolio of 5 timed writing samples with a completed self-edit checklist for each
Writing & Speaking
Write 3 longer texts (150-200 words) that require you to compare options and recommend one with reasons
Record 10 spoken answers of 60-90 seconds on familiar topics and transcribe them to expose filler words and grammar slips
Practice 3 two-way role-play scenarios where you must ask for clarification and rephrase when you do not understand
Time 5 writing drafts to confirm you can plan, draft, and check within the allotted minutes
Replace filler sounds with deliberate short pauses across 5 recorded answers
Your checkpoint
A recording log of 10 spoken answers with a written count of filler words per answer showing a downward trend
Speaking & Writing
Deliver 8 spoken responses to unseen prompts with only 30 seconds of preparation each
Structure every spoken answer with a claim, one supporting detail, and a closing sentence
Write 4 timed responses under strict exam conditions with no dictionary or notes
Record 3 role-plays and evaluate each on turn-taking, question formation, and clarity of the main point
Ask a practice partner or language exchange contact for feedback on 3 recordings and act on one point per recording
Your checkpoint
Four exam-condition writing samples plus three recorded role-plays with written feedback notes
Listening & Reading & Writing & Speaking
Run two complete mock exams across all four sections within one week and score each section
Compare mock results against your week-4 diagnostic and confirm improvement in at least three of the five weak areas
Review only your error logs and cheat sheets, avoiding new material
Rehearse exam-day logistics: timing, breaks, ID requirements, and equipment checks
Write a final one-page summary of your three remaining risks and the tactic for each
Your checkpoint
Two scored full mock exams with a before-and-after comparison against the week-4 diagnostic
Milestones
Week 2: You can transcribe a 90-second passage with at least 80 percent of numbers and proper nouns correct, and your reading accuracy is stable across timed sets
Week 4: Full-length listening and reading mocks are scored with per-type accuracy recorded, and you can name your five weakest question types
Week 6: You have 5 self-edited writing samples and 10 recorded spoken answers, with filler-word counts tracked across recordings
Week 8: Two complete mock exams are scored, at least three of the five weak areas from week 4 show measurable improvement, and a final risk summary is written