Course · English exam prep

IELTS Academic: Complete Preparation

A practical IELTS Academic prep course in English: how the test and the 0–9 band scale work, Reading question types and the True/False/Not Given trap, Listening strategy, Writing Task 1 (describing data) and Task 2 (essays) practised against the four official criteria, and Speaking. Strategy- and skill-focused, with band-7+ model answers.

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Unit 1 — The IELTS test and the band scale

The four sections and how the test day works

6 exercises · The learner can describe the four IELTS sections, their order, timings and question counts, and explain how Academic differs from General Training.

How the 0–9 bands and the overall average work

7 exercises · The learner can explain the 0–9 band scale with half bands and correctly compute an overall band from four section bands.

What the bands mean and setting a realistic target

6 exercises · The learner can interpret roughly what band levels mean and set a realistic target band and study plan for their goal.

Unit 2 — Reading: question types and strategy

Skimming, scanning and time management

6 exercises · The learner can apply skimming and scanning to a short academic passage and budget the 60 minutes across three passages and 40 questions.

True/False/Not Given and the Not Given trap

6 exercises · The learner can reliably distinguish TRUE, FALSE and NOT GIVEN (and Yes/No/Not Given) on statements about a short passage.

Matching Headings, completion, MCQ and Matching Information

6 exercises · The learner can choose the correct strategy for Matching Headings, completion, multiple choice and Matching Information question types on a short passage.

Unit 3 — Listening: question types, traps and note-taking

The four parts and predicting answers

6 exercises · The learner can describe the four Listening parts and predict the type of answer expected before listening, using only the question paper.

Spelling, number and word-limit traps

5 exercises · The learner can avoid the common spelling, number/date and word-limit traps that lose easy Listening marks, using a worked transcript.

Following signposting and note-taking

6 exercises · The learner can follow signposting language in a transcript and keep their place when the speaker corrects, contrasts or moves on.

Unit 4 — Writing Task 1 (Academic): describing data

Task 1 structure: overview plus key features

6 exercises · The learner can structure a Task 1 answer with an introduction, a clear overview, and grouped key features, and knows what NOT to do.

Language for trends, comparisons, processes and maps

6 exercises · The learner can use accurate language for describing trends, comparisons, processes and maps appropriate to the chart type.

Writing a full Task 1 answer with a model

4 exercises · The learner can write a complete Academic Task 1 description of a described chart and self-assess it against the four criteria.

Unit 5 — Writing Task 2: the essay

Essay question types and the four-paragraph structure

6 exercises · The learner can identify the Task 2 question type and outline a clear four-paragraph essay that answers it.

Thesis, topic sentences, cohesion and developing ideas

6 exercises · The learner can write a clear thesis and topic sentences, link ideas with appropriate cohesion, and develop an idea with explanation and example.

Writing a full Task 2 essay with a model

5 exercises · The learner can write a complete Task 2 essay on a given prompt and self-assess it against the four criteria.

Unit 6 — Speaking and final strategy

The three Speaking parts and the cue-card long turn

6 exercises · The learner can describe the three Speaking parts, plan a Part 2 cue-card long turn, and self-assess a spoken answer against the four criteria.

High-value vocabulary and grammar for bands 6.5–8

6 exercises · The learner can deploy higher-band vocabulary and grammar (collocations, paraphrase, complex sentences) accurately across writing and speaking.

Test-day strategy and putting it all together

6 exercises · The learner can build a complete test-day strategy and apply skills from all four sections under realistic constraints.