I’m going to be honest
with you. I didn’t buy any fancy course. No expensive academy. No paid tutor. I
just practiced. A lot. Because if there’s one thing you need to know about
the IELTS exam, it’s this: it’s not about how smart you are
— it’s about how prepared you are.
When I say “practice,” I
don’t mean sitting with a book the whole day. I mean smart practice.
Knowing what to expect on test day. Understanding the format inside out. And
working through the kind of questions that actually appear in the test. That’s
what I did. And it worked.
So today, I’m going to
walk you through exactly what I did to score a band 8.5, in
only five days of prep. Let’s go!
Step 1: Understand the Format — Really Understand It
IELTS tests four
things: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.
- Listening and Speaking are the same for everyone.
- Reading and Writing are slightly different depending on
whether you take Academic or General Training.
- The test lasts about 2 hours 45 minutes,
and there are no breaks between listening, reading, and writing.
- Speaking may happen on the same day or up to a week
before/after the test, depending on your test center.
I chose the computer-based
test — personally, I found it easier to type my essays and edit on
screen. But that’s just me. You can choose paper if you're more comfortable
with it.
Listening: Only One Chance to Hear the Audio
This part was
surprisingly fun. The only tricky thing is that you hear the recording once.
No second chance. You have to answer while listening.
You’ll hear 4
recordings:
1.
A casual conversation
(e.g., someone shipping a box)
2.
A monologue (like a
recorded tour guide)
3.
An educational
discussion (between teacher and students)
4.
A lecture (like a
university professor explaining ceramics)
The trick? Always read the
instructions first. If it says “no more than 3 words,” don’t write 4. And watch
out for units like meters or pounds. Sometimes you include them, sometimes not
— depending on what’s already mentioned.
Oh, and they often try
to trick you: they’ll give the wrong info first and correct it later in the
sentence. Stay alert.
Reading: True/False/Not Given Can Be Evil 😅
You get three passages,
40 questions, and 60 minutes.
Most people struggle
with the “True, False, Not Given” type. Here’s my approach:
- True means
the sentence matches exactly with what’s in the text.
- False means
it says the opposite.
- Not Given means
the passage doesn’t say anything about it — not even a hint.
Skim first. Just read
the first and last lines of each paragraph. That gives you a rough idea of
where things are.
Then go to the
questions. Read one, go back to the relevant paragraph, and read it carefully.
Never answer based on
what you “think” is right — only what’s written.
Writing: Stick to the Word Count!
There are 2 tasks. You
get 60 minutes total.
- Task 1 (150
words): A graph, letter, or diagram — depending on whether it’s academic
or general.
- Task 2 (250
words): An essay.
Here’s my big mistake: I
overwrote. I wrote 250 words for Task 1 and 500 for Task 2. I had no time to
edit, which probably cost me a few points.
Lesson: Write
just enough and leave time to proofread.
In your essay, divide
the answer clearly:
- Introduction
- Body paragraphs
- Conclusion
Use simple, correct
English. No need to impress with fancy words.
Speaking: Just Talk. Like, Really Talk.
This was my favorite
part. It’s split into 3 parts:
1.
Intro – They ask about your life, city, work, or
studies. Just answer honestly.
2.
Cue
Card – You get a topic
and 1 minute to prepare. Then you speak for 1–2 minutes.
3.
Follow-Up – General discussion based on the topic.
My cue card? It asked me
to describe a new routine. I blanked out… and ended up talking about how I
apply night moisturizer every day before bed 😂
But guess what? I
scored 8.5 because it’s an English test, not a
personality contest.
Be as descriptive as
possible. Don’t give one-liners. Use your full minute to talk.
Also, speak
slowly — especially if you have an accent. You don’t need idioms or
fancy expressions. Just speak naturally.
A Word About the Speaking Slot
I made the mistake of
booking my test late, and I got a speaking slot five hours after
my main test. Big mistake. I was tired and drained.
But at the test center,
I politely asked if there was any earlier slot. Thankfully, someone didn’t show
up, and I got theirs.
So pro tip: book
your speaking slot early. If not, try talking to the test center manager on
the day.
My Favorite Free Practice Resources
Here’s what I used:
- Take IELTS (British Council) – practice tests.
- IELTS.org –
official samples.
- Road to IELTS (free version) – great for beginners.
- IDP IELTS Prepare –
more free tests.
And the one paid
resource I 100% recommend:
- The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS — it’s the closest thing to the real test. Worth
every penny.
Final Thoughts
If you're preparing for
IELTS, trust me — you don’t need to pay for expensive courses. All you need
is focus, practice, and smart strategies.
Understand the format,
take real practice tests, and don’t stress. You’ve got this.
And hey, if I can score
8.5 in 5 days of prep, so can you.
If this helped you even
a little, do share it with your friends. Let’s all win this test together. 💪
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