IELTS Academic study plan
IELTS Academic · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Listening & Reading
Diagnose baseline Listening and Reading band scores by completing one full timed test of each under exam conditions and recording raw scores per section
Transcribe every Listening spelling error from the diagnostic and drill those words until you spell them correctly from dictation three times in a row
Map Reading question types to a fixed strategy sheet covering True/False/Not Given, Matching Headings, and Matching Information, writing one worked example for each from your own diagnostic
Build a personal error log spreadsheet with columns for question type, cause of error, and the fix you will apply next time
Practise 15 minutes of shadowing a British or Australian news clip daily to sharpen phoneme discrimination for accents
Your checkpoint
A completed error-log spreadsheet with at least 40 logged Listening and Reading errors classified by question type and cause
Listening & Reading
Complete four timed Listening section-by-section drills, each followed by a full audio re-listen with the transcript to catch every missed cue word
Drill 60 academic vocabulary items drawn from your Reading passages into spaced-repetition cards with example sentences
Practise skimming and scanning under a strict time cap: 20 minutes per passage with a visible timer, then review where you lost time
Answer 30 True/False/Not Given items and write a one-line justification for each answer before checking the key
Identify your two weakest Listening section types (for example maps, form completion, or multiple choice) and list the specific sub-skills to fix
Your checkpoint
A timed Reading test scored and annotated, with every wrong answer assigned a written reason and a corrected strategy
Listening & Reading & Writing
Sit one full timed Listening test and one full timed Reading test, then compare scores against week 1 baseline
Draft two Task 2 essays in 40 minutes each, then self-assess against the four public band descriptors and underline every instance of repetition, vagueness, or unsupported claims
Compile a bank of 12 flexible Task 2 argument structures with topic-specific vocabulary for education, environment, technology, and health
Practise paraphrasing 20 Task 1 data prompts without copying the original wording
Reduce your average Reading error rate on one question type by 50 percent through targeted drilling of 40 items
Your checkpoint
Two timed Task 2 essays with a written self-assessment scoring each on Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Writing & Listening
Write four Task 1 responses across all major chart types, each within 20 minutes, and check that every one has a clear overview sentence
Rewrite each Task 1 response after feedback, cutting word count by 10 percent without losing key data
Complete two full timed Listening tests and log every error by section and question type
Build a checklist of the ten most common Task 1 grammar errors and proofread three of your own responses against it
Record yourself summarising two Listening passages aloud in 60 seconds to reinforce comprehension and note-taking
Your checkpoint
A portfolio of four Task 1 responses in first and revised drafts, each with a marked overview sentence and a corrected grammar checklist
Writing & Speaking
Write three timed Task 2 essays in 40 minutes each, using a different essay type (opinion, discussion, problem-solution) for each
Record answers to all three Speaking Part 2 cue card categories (person, place, object) at 2 minutes each and transcribe them to spot filler words and tense slips
Practise Speaking Part 3 follow-up questions for 20 minutes daily with a partner or voice-recording app, aiming for extended answers of 30 to 45 seconds
Reduce filler-word frequency in your recordings by half, counting occurrences before and after
Self-assess all three Task 2 essays against band descriptors and identify the single criterion holding your score down
Your checkpoint
Three timed Task 2 essays plus three recorded Part 2 answers with transcriptions, filler-word counts, and a written improvement target for each
Writing & Speaking
Complete two full Writing tests (Task 1 plus Task 2 in 60 minutes) and finish both tasks within the time limit
Run two full mock Speaking tests of 11 to 14 minutes each, recorded, covering all three parts without a script
Practise 15 minutes daily of pronunciation work on word stress and connected speech, recording and comparing against a model
Rewrite your weakest Task 2 essay from week 5 to raise it by a full band on at least one criterion, documenting the specific changes
Build a bank of 20 idiomatic but natural phrases for Speaking and test each one aloud in a relevant answer
Your checkpoint
Two full timed Writing tests and two recorded mock Speaking interviews, each with a completed self-assessment against the public band descriptors
Listening & Reading & Writing & Speaking
Sit two complete mock exams under strict timing, one early in the week and one late, covering all four domains in sequence
Review every mock error and update the error log with a fix and a re-test date for each item
Drill your three highest-frequency error types from the log until you answer 20 consecutive items correctly
Rehearse Speaking Parts 1 and 2 with a timer, targeting fluency and full two-minute Part 2 answers without repetition
Write one Task 2 essay in 35 minutes to build time buffer for exam-day nerves
Your checkpoint
Two full mock exam score reports with a consolidated error log showing your top three recurring error types and evidence of correction
Listening & Reading & Writing & Speaking
Sit one final full mock exam early in the week and confirm scores are at or above your target band
Complete light daily review of the error log and vocabulary cards only, avoiding new material after midweek
Rehearse the Speaking test format twice more with a timer, focusing on calm openings and extended Part 3 answers
Finalise a one-page exam-day checklist covering timing, answer-sheet transfer, and Writing task order
Rest and sleep adequately in the final 48 hours and confirm test logistics
Your checkpoint
A final mock exam score report, a one-page exam-day checklist, and a written comparison of week 1 baseline versus final scores across all four domains
Milestones
Week 2: Baseline scores are recorded for Listening and Reading, and the error log contains at least 40 classified errors with written fixes
Week 4: Listening and Reading mock scores have improved by at least 0.5 band over week 1, and four Task 1 responses are drafted and revised
Week 6: All four Writing task types and all three Speaking parts have been practised under timed conditions, with self-assessment completed against the public band descriptors
Week 8: Final mock exam scores meet or approach the target band in all four domains, and the exam-day checklist is complete