Improve Your IELTS Score by 1 Full Band in One Month at Home

Introduction

• Amata faced the challenge of improving her IELTS score from 6.5 to 7 in one month for her master’s program.
• After reviewing Amata's strategies and practice answers, a study plan was prepared for her.
• The plan helped Amata boost her score significantly.
• The provided tips and strategies can help anyone aiming to improve their IELTS score.

General Advice

• Spend more time on sections you find difficult.
• Take official practice tests to assess your level; Cambridge practice tests are recommended.
• Prioritize IELTS writing.

IELTS Reading

• Common issues: Running out of time, confusion over unknown words, using ineffective hacks.
• Tips:
  • Forget hacks such as reading only the first and last sentences.
  • Read the entire passage for better understanding.
  • Focus on main question types:
    • True/False/Not Given and Yes/No/Not Given
    • Matching Headings
    • Multiple Choice Questions
    • Filling the Gap Questions
  • Learn about the order of questions.
  • Develop time management skills:
    • 15 minutes for section one, 25 minutes for section three.
  • Use extensive (speed reading) and intensive reading techniques.
  • Never spend too much time on any single question; move on and return to difficult questions later.
• Amata improved her score from 6 to 7.5 in reading.

IELTS Writing

• Common problems: Overly complex writing, missing basic elements.
• Tips:
  • Avoid using unnecessary complex words and templates.
  • Focus on clarity and basic requirements.
  • Learn about task requirements:
    • Task Achievement/Response
    • Coherence and Cohesion
    • Lexical Resource
    • Grammatical Range and Accuracy
  • Understand each type of task:
    • Task 2: Know the five types: Advantages/Disadvantages, Two Views, Opinion Essays, etc.
    • Task 1: Learn about various visual information types (tables, charts, maps).
  • Write answers paragraph by paragraph, ensuring clear topic sentences and idea development.
  • Practice under time constraints.
  • Amata improved her writing from a 6 to 7.

IELTS Speaking

• Observation: Formal or reserved manner negatively affected performance.
• Tips:
  • Speak informally and naturally while being respectful.
  • Extend answers to showcase English proficiency.
  • Manage time effectively across parts:
    • Part 1: Approx. 20-25 seconds per question.
    • Part 2: Aim to speak for the full 2 minutes.
    • Part 3: Extend answers to about a minute.
  • Practice answering common and challenging topics in time conditions.
  • Mock tests can help understand what to expect.
  • Amata improved her speaking score to a 7.

IELTS Listening

• Students often get higher scores in listening.
• Tips:
  • Take a practice test to assess your level.
  • Learn about the four question types.
  • Understand the order of questions.
  • Manage your time effectively; read questions beforehand.
  • Learn and apply small tips and tricks (e.g., crossing out incorrect answers).
• Amata improved her listening score from 6.5 to 8.

Conclusion

• Focusing on improving your performance with efficient strategies can boost your IELTS score significantly.
• Fundamental improvement in English skills will help in the long term.
• Download the free IELTS study plan and consider taking specialized courses for in-depth preparation.
• Amata's overall score improved to 7.5, enabling her to start her master's program.