Level 1 · Academic IELTS
Band 0–2.5 Beginner
From your first letter to simple sentences about you and your day. No English needed to begin.
- 12 modules
- 96 topics
- 8 ready
Road map · start here
Your road to IELTS, one friendly step at a time
Welcome! This page is your map. It explains how IELTS works, what each of the four skills asks of you, how your band is worked out, and how seven Academic IELTS levels, from Starter (band 0–2.5) to Expert (band 8–9), move you step by step toward 9. Read it once now, and come back whenever you need the big picture.
You don't need to be perfect. You need to show up.
Go at your own pace. Every lesson is made of small, clear steps, and each one gives you a win you can feel. Tick each step when you finish it. The progress bars on this page fill up as you go.
The test
IELTS in one minute
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is run by the British Council, IDP and Cambridge University Press & Assessment. It comes in two versions. Academic is for university study and professional registration, and it is the version this plan prepares you for. General Training is for work and migration. Listening and Speaking are the same in both. Reading and Writing are different.
- 2 h 45 minTotal test time, with Listening, Reading and Writing back to back
- 0–9Band scale, in half bands (6.5, 7.0, 7.5 …)
- 4 × 25%Each skill counts the same toward your overall band
- 1–5 daysResults on the computer test. Paper takes about 13 days
- 2 yearsHow long most universities and employers accept a result
- 1 retakeOne Skill Retake: redo a single skill within 60 days, at many centres
Listening
- 30 min
- 4 parts
- 40 questions
- Heard once
What happens
- Part 1: a conversation about everyday life, like booking a course.
- Part 2: one speaker on an everyday topic, like a tour guide.
- Part 3: up to four people talking about study.
- Part 4: a short university lecture, with no break.
How it is marked
- One mark for each correct answer, 40 in total.
- Spelling and plurals must be exact.
- About 30 correct = 7.0, 35 = 8.0, 39–40 = 9.0.
Quick win
Use every pause to read ahead and guess the answer type: a number, a name or a place?
Reading
- 60 min
- 3 passages
- 40 questions
- No transfer time
What happens
- Passage 1: the easiest, mostly facts.
- Passage 2: longer, often about a process or a project.
- Passage 3: the hardest, an argument full of opinions.
- About 2,150–2,750 words in total.
How it is marked
- One mark for each correct answer, 40 in total.
- Copy words exactly from the passage.
- About 30 correct = 7.0, 35 = 8.0, 39–40 = 9.0.
Quick win
Spend 17, 20 and 23 minutes on the three passages, and check the clock at 17 and 37.
Writing
- 60 min
- 2 tasks
- 150 + 250 words
- Task 2 counts double
What happens
- Task 1 (20 min): describe a chart, table, map or process in 150+ words.
- Task 2 (40 min): an essay with your opinion in 250+ words.
- Both tasks are in one hour, with no break.
How it is marked
- Four criteria, 25% each: task, organisation, vocabulary, grammar.
- Task 2 is worth about twice as much as Task 1.
- Under the word count loses marks.
Quick win
Always write an overview in Task 1, and keep one clear opinion from start to end in Task 2.
Speaking
- 11–14 min
- 3 parts
- Face to face
- Recorded
What happens
- Part 1 (4–5 min): short questions about you and your life.
- Part 2 (3–4 min): a topic card, 1 minute to prepare, then 2 minutes alone.
- Part 3 (4–5 min): a deeper discussion about the same topic.
How it is marked
- Fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation, 25% each.
- Your ideas are not marked, only your English.
- Any accent is fine if you are easy to understand.
Quick win
Give every answer a reason and an example. Short answers keep your score low.
Computer or paper?
The questions, timing and marking are the same. Speaking is always face to face with a real examiner. Most people find the computer test easier to manage, especially for Writing.
| Part of the test | Computer test | Paper test |
|---|---|---|
| Results | Usually 1–5 days | About 13 days |
| Listening answers | Typed during the test, 2 minutes to check at the end | Written on the question paper, then 10 minutes to copy onto the answer sheet |
| Reading answers | Typed as you go, you can highlight text | Written straight onto the answer sheet, no extra time |
| Writing | Typed, with a word counter on screen, easy to edit | Handwritten, so plan more before you start |
| Speaking | The same in both: a live examiner, often on a different day from the other three parts | |
Test day
What happens on the day, in order
- Check-inBring the same passport or ID you used to book. Your photo and fingerprint may be taken. Bags and phones go in a locker. Arrive early, as most centres ask you to be there 30–60 minutes before the start.
- Listening · 30 min4 recordings, played once. Paper test: plus 10 minutes to copy your answers.
- Reading · 60 minStarts straight after Listening. Write your answers as you go.
- Writing · 60 minStraight after Reading. You choose how to split the time; 20 minutes for Task 1 and 40 for Task 2 is the usual plan.
- Speaking · 11–14 minSame day, or up to about a week before or after. You'll get your exact time when you book.
Skill 1 of 4
Listening: hear it once, catch it all
Four recordings get harder as you go. You hear each one only once, so the real skill is reading ahead and knowing what to listen for. Questions follow the order of the recording.
The four parts
- Part 1: an everyday conversation between two people, for example booking a course or renting a flat.
- Part 2: one speaker on an everyday topic, for example a tour guide or a radio notice.
- Part 3: up to four people in a study setting, for example two students and a tutor.
- Part 4: a short university lecture by one speaker, with no break in the middle.
Question types
Watch out for
- Speakers who change their mind: "Tuesday… no, sorry, Thursday."
- Spelling, plurals and the word limit. Each one turns a right answer into a wrong one.
- Numbers, dates and letters spelled aloud, especially in Part 1.
Raw score → band (approximate)
- 39–40
- 9.0
- 37–38
- 8.5
- 35–36
- 8.0
- 32–34
- 7.5
- 30–31
- 7.0
- 26–29
- 6.5
- 23–25
- 6.0
- 18–22
- 5.5
Your band 8 habit
Every day, shadow 15 minutes of a podcast: listen, pause, repeat it out loud. In tests, use the reading time to circle the key words and guess the type of answer (a number? a name? a place?).
Full Listening guideSkill 2 of 4
Reading: three passages, sixty minutes, zero panic
Academic Reading has three long texts from books, journals, magazines and newspapers, between about 2,150 and 2,750 words in total. They get harder, and Passage 3 is usually an argument with the writer's opinions in it. You don't need to understand every word: you need to find the right sentence fast.
A time plan that works
- 17 minPassage 1
- 20 minPassage 2
- 23 minPassage 3
Check the clock at 17 and 37 minutes. If a question takes more than 90 seconds, guess, mark it and move on.
Question types
Raw score → band (Academic, approximate)
- 39–40
- 9.0
- 37–38
- 8.5
- 35–36
- 8.0
- 33–34
- 7.5
- 30–32
- 7.0
- 27–29
- 6.5
- 23–26
- 6.0
- 19–22
- 5.5
Watch out for
- FALSE means the text says the opposite. NOT GIVEN means the text doesn't say.
- Write TRUE/FALSE or YES/NO, whichever the question asks for. The wrong pair is marked wrong.
- Copy words exactly from the passage, and keep to the word limit.
Your band 8 habit
Read one long article a day on science, society or the environment: the kind of English Passage 3 is made of. Keep a "paraphrase list": every time a question says something in different words from the text, write down both versions.
Full Reading guideSkill 3 of 4
Writing: two tasks, one clear plan
Writing is where most people lose points, and where steady practice pays off the most. Task 2 counts about twice as much as Task 1, so give it the most time and care.
Task 1 · 20 min · 150+ words
Describe a line graph, bar chart, pie chart, table, map, process or a mix of these. No opinions. Report the main trends and compare the key numbers.
Must have: an overview, a sentence that sums up the main trends. Without one you can't get above 5 for Task Achievement.
Task 2 · 40 min · 250+ words
An academic essay giving your view on a topic, with reasons and examples. Five common question types:
Must have: a clear position from the introduction to the conclusion, and an answer to every part of the question.
The four marking criteria (25% each, for both tasks)
- Task Achievement / ResponseDid you answer the question fully?
- Coherence & CohesionIs it organised and easy to follow?
- Lexical ResourceIs your vocabulary wide and precise?
- Grammatical Range & AccuracyAre your sentences varied and mostly error-free?
Watch out for
- Going under 150 / 250 words. Words copied from the question don't count.
- Memorised phrases ("In this day and age…"). Examiners notice them and score them lower.
- Bullet points, headings or informal language. Write in full paragraphs.
Your band 8 habit
Write one essay every two days, then rewrite it after feedback. Rewriting fixes mistakes for good, and new essays alone don't. Add every repeated error to your error log.
Full Writing guideSkill 4 of 4
Speaking: a real conversation, not an interrogation
You talk with one examiner for 11–14 minutes. The examiner wants to hear you at your best, so be friendly, keep talking, and treat it like a chat with a curious stranger. Your ideas are not marked, only your English.
Part 1
4–5 min
Short questions about familiar topics: your home, work or studies, hobbies, daily life.
Part 2
3–4 min
A topic card. You get 1 minute to make notes, then talk alone for up to 2 minutes. Keep going until the examiner stops you.
Part 3
4–5 min
A deeper discussion linked to Part 2: society, the future, comparing ideas. Give opinions, reasons and examples.
The four marking criteria (25% each)
- Fluency & CoherenceCan you keep going and link your ideas?
- Lexical ResourceDo you have the words, including idiomatic ones?
- Grammatical Range & AccuracyDo you use complex sentences correctly?
- PronunciationAre you easy to understand? An accent is fine.
Watch out for
- One-line answers. Add a reason and an example to every answer.
- Memorised answers. They sound flat and get marked down.
- Freezing on a word. Describe it instead ("the thing you use to…").
- Silence. It's fine to say "That's a good question, let me think…"
Your band 8 habit
Record yourself three times a week, answering one Part 2 card and three Part 3 questions. Listen back once and write down one thing to fix next time. It feels strange for a week, then it becomes your fastest way to improve.
Full Speaking guideBand maths
How your overall band adds up
Your overall band is the average of your four skill bands, rounded to the nearest half band. An average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band, and one ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band. So an average of 8.75 gives you an overall 9: you can reach 9 without a 9 in Writing or Speaking.
| Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Average | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.0 | 9.0 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.75 | 9.0 |
| 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 8.0 | 8.75 | 9.0 |
| 9.0 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.625 | 8.5 |
| 8.5 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| 8.5 | 8.5 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.75 | 8.0 |
| 8.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| 7.5 | 7.0 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.875 | 7.0 |
| 6.5 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
Aim for 9 in Listening and Reading, and 8.5 in Writing and Speaking.
Listening and Reading are the fastest to raise, because every correct answer counts: band 9 needs 39–40 out of 40. Writing and Speaking at 8.5 mean almost every sentence is error-free and your English sounds natural.
An honest word: 9 is the top of the scale and very few people reach it. Set milestones on the way: each checkpoint test shows your new level, and every half band you gain is real progress. Wherever you start, the road is the same: accuracy, speed and lots of feedback.
Your journey
Seven IELTS levels, from your first letter to band 9
Start where you are. Each level builds on the one before it: 7 levels, 97 modules and 827 topics in all. Every topic is one lesson with an explanation, examples, practice and a short mastery check.
- Open course: Band 0–2.5 Beginner
- Open course: Band 3–3.5 Foundation
Level 2 · Academic IELTS
Band 3–3.5 Foundation
Past, present and future, everyday topics, and a first step in every IELTS skill (band 3–3.5).
- 12 modules
- 102 topics
- 9 ready
- Open course: Band 4–4.5 Bridge
Level 3 · Academic IELTS
Band 4–4.5 Bridge
Your first real IELTS tasks in all four skills, one theme at a time (band 4–4.5).
- 14 modules
- 138 topics
- 9 ready
- Open course: Band 5–5.5 Core
Level 4 · Academic IELTS
Band 5–5.5 Core
Learn every task type of Academic IELTS and sit your first full mock test (band 5–5.5).
- 15 modules
- 138 topics
- 30 ready
- Open course: Band 6–6.5 Competent
Level 5 · Academic IELTS
Band 6–6.5 Competent
The score most universities ask for: accurate, well-organised English under exam conditions (band 6–6.5).
- 16 modules
- 132 topics
- 10 ready
- Open course: Band 7–7.5 Good
Level 6 · Academic IELTS
Band 7–7.5 Good
What separates 6.5 from 7 and 7.5 in every skill, and how to cross that line (band 7–7.5).
- 15 modules
- 123 topics
- 1 ready
- Open course: Band 8–9 Expert
Level 7 · Academic IELTS
Band 8–9 Expert
The top of the road: expert English with full flexibility, and a test-day plan for band 9 (band 8–9).
- 13 modules
- 98 topics
- 0 ready
Every day
Three small daily habits
Lessons give you the big steps. These three habits keep your English moving every day in between, at any level.
New words
Review your Anki cards and add a few new words, each inside a sentence.
Listen and shadow
Listen to a short clip and repeat it out loud, copying the rhythm.
Fix one mistake
Read your error log and rewrite one wrong sentence correctly.
Motivation
For the days when it feels hard
"It always seems impossible until it's done."
Progress isn't a straight line
Scores often sit still for two or three weeks, then jump. A flat week doesn't mean nothing is happening. Your brain is still catching up with the work.
Never miss twice
Missing one day is normal. Missing two in a row starts a new habit. If yesterday went wrong, make today a small win.
Mistakes are the plan
Every error in your log is a point you won't lose on test day. A long error log is a sign you're working, not failing.
Compare with last week, not with others
Someone else's band 8 says nothing about your path. Your only rival is you, seven days ago.
The 20-minute rescue plan, for bad days
- 10 min review your Anki cards
- 5 min shadow one short clip out loud
- 5 min read your error log and fix one sentence
That's it. It still counts. The streak stays alive.
Small wins to celebrate
- Your first full mock test, done
- A 250-word essay finished inside 40 minutes
- Speaking for the full 2 minutes in Part 2
- 35 out of 40 in Listening or Reading
- Seven days in a row without a break
- Your error log reaches 100 fixed mistakes
Write down your why
Why do you want this band? A university place, a job, a new country, proving something to yourself? Write it in one sentence on the first page of your notebook. On the hard days, read it before you start.
Be ready
Test-day checklist
The week before
- Check the test time, address and travel route.
- Make sure your ID is valid and matches your booking.
- Do only light practice. No new full tests in the last two days.
- Sleep at your normal time every night.
The morning
- Eat a proper breakfast. The written test is almost 3 hours.
- Warm up: 10 minutes of English podcast, out loud.
- Pack your ID. Leave early enough to arrive without rushing.
In the room
- Never leave a blank in Listening or Reading. Wrong answers lose nothing.
- Watch the clock in Writing: start Task 2 by minute 20.
- In Speaking, smile, slow down and keep talking.
Questions
Quick answers to common questions
Should I take Academic or General Training?
Academic for university study and most professional registration (doctors, nurses, engineers). General Training for many work and migration routes. Check what the organisation you're applying to asks for. This plan is for Academic.
Is British or American spelling OK?
Both are accepted. Pick one and use it consistently in the same piece of writing.
Can I write answers in capital letters?
Yes. In Listening and Reading, writing everything in capitals is accepted and avoids messy handwriting. In Writing, use normal sentence case.
What if I don't get the band I need?
At many centres you can book a One Skill Retake for a single skill within 60 days of the test, instead of sitting the whole test again. You can also ask for a re-mark (Enquiry on Results), which is refunded if your band goes up.
Does my accent lower my Speaking score?
No. Pronunciation is about being easy to understand, with clear sounds, word stress and natural rhythm. Any accent can score 9.
Is band 9 really possible?
It depends on where you start. Band 9 means near-perfect English in all four skills, so it's the top of the road, not a shortcut. Steady work will move you up from wherever you are today. Aim high, and be proud of every half band.