IELTS (International English Testing System) tests students’ English language proficiency.
Students take the IELTS exam to prove language proficiency to work or study in an English-speaking nation.
Getting a good score (6+ band score) is very important to full the language proficiency of 80 to 90% of organizations abroad.
So to get a good score on the IELTS exam, you must follow a specific IELTS study plan.
In the upcoming blog, I will explain the study plan for each section of the IELTS exam.
To score well in any exam, you must know its syllabus and pattern to know the exam properly.
So let’s start with the IELTS exam format!
IELTS Pattern / Format
IDP has a proper format or pattern for the IELTS exam they follow in every IELTS exam. You must look at the IELTS exam pattern once before I move to the IELTS study plan. I will discuss the format for the IELTS exam below:
Module Name | Number of questions | Type of Questions | Duration |
Listening | 4 sections and 10 questions in each section | 1. Matching information 2. Form, note, flow chart, table 3. Sentence completion 4. Summary completion 5. Plan, diagram labeling, map 6. Multiple choice Short answer questions | 30 minutes (10 minutes extra for transferring answers to an answer sheet) |
Reading | 3 passages and 13-14 questions in each passage | 1. Identifying the writer’s claims/views 2. Matching headings 3. Multiple choice 4. Identifying information 5. Matching sentence endings 6. Sentence completion 7. Matching features 8. Summary, table, note completion, flow-chart 9. Diagram labeling completion 10. Short answer questions | 1-hour |
Writing | 2 tasks and 1 question in each task | Task 1 ( Academic ) 1. Line Chart 2. Table Chart 3. Bar Graph 4. Pie Chart 5. ProcessMap 6. Diagram Task 1 ( General Training GT ) 1. Formal letter 2. Semi-formal letter 3. An informal or personal letter Task 2 (academic and general training ) 1. Agree or disagree 2. Advantages and disadvantages 3. Cause and solution 4. Discuss both views 5. Opinion 6. Point of view 7. Argumentive 8. Double-question essays | 1-hour |
Speaking | 3 parts in speaking Introduction Cue-card Follow-upNumber of questions depends on how long your speaking goes (there is only 1 question in Cue-card). | 3 parts in speakingIntroductionCue-cardFollow-upNumber of questions depend on how long your speaking goes (there is only 1 question in Cue-card). | 10-15 minutes |
Duration | 2 hours 45 minutes (no break allowed) |
Now, when you know the IELTS syllabus, let’s discuss the IELTS study plan to help you get an 8+ band in your IELTS exam. But before that, let’s see why we need a good study plan.
Why We Need A Good Study Plan?
By making a study plan, you can track how you spend your time and ensure you have enough time to finish your tasks, prepare for tests, and review and remember the material you are learning.
IELTS study plan
Here, I will provide information about the study plan for different IELTS exam modules.
Study Plan IELTS Listening
- First of all, you need to know the format of the listening test, as there are 4 sections in the listening test. Let’s look at what type of recording you will listen to in the
IELTS listening modules:
Section 1 – Two people’s conversations about daily social context.
Section 2 – You will hear a speech about the town’s local facilities in this section.
Section 3 – Discuss an assignment between 3 or 4 students with a tutor.
Section 4 – A speech on an academic subject, such as a university lecture.
- After knowing the format of IELTS listening, start listening to the IELTS listening samples. You can get that on the official site of the IDP, and you can also search on Google or youtube.
- Start listening to English songs or Podcasts to improve your hearing ability. Also, watch English movies.
- Make it a habit to practice IELTS listening daily to get a good band score.
This is everything you need to know about the IELTS listening study plan.
Study Plan IELTS Reading
- First, decide which exam you want to take, IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training. You will have 3 passages in the IELTS reading for academic reading and a total of 4 passages for the IELTS GT reading.
- In starting, start practicing without looking at the watch. Try to increase your speed slowly. To increase your speed, don’t read the complete passage, implement the skimming technique. Try to find the keyword of the question in the passage.
- Once you think your speed is good, start practicing with time, try to finish your reading in 50 to 55 minutes. Don’t spend more than 20 minutes in any passage; try to save at least 25 minutes for your third passage.
This is everything in the IELTS study plan for reading, let’s move to the study plan for IELTS writing.
Study Plan IELTS Writing
Writing is considered one of the toughest modules in the IELTS test, and you need to practice a lot for this module. Most students fail to get a good score in this exam module.
Don’t worry for students who fail to get a fair score in one module, For them, IDP has announced a new update, you can read about that update here on “IELTS Exam New Update.”
Here are some tips for an IELTS study plan for writing:
- First of all, get to know the type of writing questions that can come to the IELTS exam.
- You will get only 1 hour for your writing part, so do time management carefully. Don’t spend much time on task 1 because you have to write only 150 words for IELTS writing task 1. Try to finish your task 1 in 15 to 20 minutes so that you will have 40 to 45 minutes left for task 2 and proofreading. Always save at least 5 minutes for proofreading your content.
- Also, improve your vocabulary knowledge by learning new words. Read newspapers and magazines to learn new vocabulary.
- Always write new words in the notebook with their meaning and synonyms.
- Always give your writing to an expert to get to know any loophole in your writing.
- Use a proper format for your writing. Your writing must have an introduction, at least 2 body paragraphs, and a proper conclusion paragraph.
- You should also read the latest academic IELTS writing task 2 topics that have come to the IELTS exam.
Study Plan IELTS Speaking
For speaking, you need to practice as much as you can. I will provide a proper study plan to answer your queries about preparing for IELTS speaking.
- To master your speaking module, you must start from the basics.
- For the first week, spend more time on introductive and follow-up questions than cue cards.
- Start preparing for your cue card from the second week of your preparation. Don’t try to cover everything in a single day. Try to cover one cue card daily for a week and then increase your limit.
- Start speaking in English whether you are speaking it right or wrong. Becoming friends with English speakers will increase your confidence which is very important for speaking.
- Start recording yourself, reading books or newspapers loudly, and speaking in front of the mirror. All these activities will help you remove your hesitation and build self-confidence.
3 Special Study Techniques For IELTS
There are three main types of study techniques you can follow to get an 8+ band score in the IELTS exam.
These techniques are also a part of the IELTS study plan, which can help students to score high in the IELTS exam.
- Active learning
- Passive learning
- Time management
Active learning
Active learning means engaging yourself in the IELTS exam by properly studying from the best exam preparation resources. You should not just read or listen to the study material.
When you read or listen to a new technique, implement it and see its results.
Active learning includes;
- Summarize the study material and make key points you must remember.
- Take proper notes.
- Remember information by using rhymes and acronyms.
- Practice regularly to see your progress.
Passive learning
When you do not have enough time to implement new things you learn, you can go for passive learning.
It means learning something without engaging yourself in it.
Passive learning includes:
- Reading different materials to get a complete understanding of the exam.
- Listening to podcasts, lectures, or audio lectures improves your listening skills.
- Watching videos and lectures.
Time management
Here are some tips for time management, as it is crucial to manage your time effectively to succeed in the exam.
Using the following tips, you can manage your time properly.
- Start your preparation in advance.
- Set targets.
- Take proper breaks.
- Avoid distractions.
- Use a timer while studying.
Final Remark
In this blog, I have discussed the best IELTS study plan you can follow to get 8+ bands in your IELTS exam. I have also described why I need a good study plan.
I have provided detail about the IELTS and IELTS pattern before explaining the study plan for the IELTS exam.
Understanding the pattern for any exam before preparing for that is very important. If I know the pattern and the format of the exam, then I will know what I have to study.
Before ending the blog, I have described the best module-wise IELTS study plan for you. So that you can easily understand how to plan your study for the IELTS exam.
I hope I have cleared all your queries about the IELTS study plan. For more content like this, keep visiting CourseMentor™.
FAQs
Is 1 month enough to study for IELTS?
The answer to this question depends on person to person. Many students can prepare for the IELTS test in less than a month, and many need guidance for 3 months to get a good band score in the IELTS exam.
How many hours should I study for IELTS?
I recommend you study for the IELTS exam for at least 3 to 4 hours daily. You will need exactly 1-1 hour for the reading and writing modules and at least half an hour for the listening. After that, it only depends upon how much time you give to your speaking practice.