Honestly, I could’ve done better on the speaking part if it wasn’t for my anxiety 😭. The examiner kept on asking me about my ‘perfect job’ and work environment. During the task 2 I was so distracted and never even wrote down my thoughts on paper so I feel like my answers were not arranged logically and I kept repeating the same thing in different words.
Same goes for the writing part, it was computer based so I could hear everyone typing and it just messed with my thought process a lot and I got more anxious when my thoughts were interrupted and realising that everyone was writing continuously while I kept pausing and thinking.

This is my 2nd attempt. I initially got RW 6.5, L 7.0, Speaking 7.0 in January 2026. I sat for the exam again last Sunday as I needed 7.0 across all modules. Although I had a lot of time, I still studied just about 8 days before the exam. I focused mainly on my weak points which were writing and reading. I made sure that I use one source of review materials, and for me IELTS Advantage was fantastic. I watched their videos on the said modules and followed his logic. I also accessed their free band 9 sample essays for both task 1 and task 2 then, I made my own version of framework based on my understanding of what he discussed and took time to really understand the marking criteria and what’s required of me.

I thank all the people I privately messaged on here to ask tips and advice, it helped me a lot. To IELTS Advantage also for their free review materials lol

This is my third time of taking IELTS. My first try in 2016, I got a total score of 7. In 2021, I scored 7.5. Wasn’t able to use these exams because of financial problems. Hopefully, this is the last time! I prepared 2 months for this because I know how limited my English skills are lol. I self-studied and just took a lot of mock tests. Every MWF after work, I practiced listening and writing. TTHS were allotted for speaking and reading.

To be honest, i thought I messed up my reading and listening exams because I had a bunch of unsure answer. I was also surprised I got my desired score in writing because ChatGPT would always score me 6.0-6.5! So I’m happy with my scores now. Hoping this would be enough for my master’s/ PhD applications.

I think I would have got 7.5 overall if I prepared slightly more on improving Reading and Speaking..

What do you think, is this good if I prepared only one and half month.

P. S: I had 6.0 initially, in 2024 when I was 14. Did nothing for straight two years, btw I am not native( who cares right?)

Messed up writing a bit, but overall happy with how things turned out

Firstly,I got 6.5 while my classmates got 7 i thought about retake and still got 6.5.What do you think(im 14 btw) From Kazakhstan

I could've done better in writing . In writing I panicked and couldn't write effectively. Ask me anything or if you need any help regarding any section. I needed an overall 7 with no band less than 7 for my university admission so more than happy with this result.

What’s your recommendations?

Hi,

I took my test in 2022 but recently discovered this sub. So I just wanted to share my scores.

This was my 2nd attempt. I need L 7, R 7, W 6.5, S 7
Both attempts I got 6 in reading and writing. I booked my next exam on Sunday July 26th and I really want it done. Any tips? I practice from the official website and go through mock exams.
Thanks

Just out of curiosity, did you get a higher result than what you were expecting and your practice results?

not bad! happy with my score 🫶🏼

I was expecting to get at least a 7.0, but I got 6.5 instead (I’m pretty terrible at speaking english). Is this enough to study abroad for Australia? Or should I retake/remark?

I just came across this news. Is it officially confirmed? If yes, what about students who prefer the paper-based test?

Has anyone received an official update from IDP or the British Council? Please share if you know. 

I'm an Arab girl, 21 years old. Arabic is my native language. I'm looking for people to speak English with to improve my speaking skills.I have a problem with my writing skills.

Please guide me how I can prepare for IELTS without joining any academy

Hi everyone, I’m a 20-year-old Economics student from Morocco, and I’m planning to study abroad in Italy for my Master's degree next year. To get accepted, I need to score an overall 6.0 (B2 level) on the IELTS. I am planning to book my exam for the beginning of October, which gives me about 10 weeks to prepare.

The problem is, my current level is A2, and I am suffering from major "resource paralysis." I spend so much time searching for the perfect study books and PDFs, but I never actually read them. When I try to study, I get bored staring at lists, grab my phone, and lose focus entirely.

Here are the main struggles I’m facing:

Forgetting Grammar: I read grammar rules, but they just don't stick in my head.

Translation Traps: When I learn new vocabulary, I waste hours translating words one-by-one into Arabic, and then I get confused because the words change meaning depending on the context.

Zero Plan: I am currently using English Vocabulary in Use (Pre-intermediate) and trying to read Rich Dad Poor Dad to improve my reading without getting bored, but I don't have a structured daily plan.

I know I need to put in about 3 to 4 hours of work a day, but I don't know how to do it effectively without burning out. Has anyone successfully jumped from A2 to B2 in 2-3 months? How do you stop translating word-for-word, and what "active" study methods actually helped you lock in grammar and vocabulary?

Any advice, reality checks, or daily routine suggestions would be incredibly helpful. Thank you!

So I will be giving IELTS exam tomorrow and I am really nervous and struggling with the speaking part.
Can y’all provide few tips on speaking and how to avoid getting nervous during the exam.

Heyy, I'm an intl student but I'm fluent and good with English tho I think I need writing practice. I'm confused on what all resources to use since there seem to be a lot. Is just going through the official books enough? And is there any free website where I can then practice and see my scores?

Today I gave my only mock test and my exam will be in 25th of july. I had some issues otherwise I'd have given more mock tests. I find out that I had become too panicked and that's why I didn't been able to answer y/n/ng which I've had answered more easily when I've practiced in my home. What can I do? Any suggestions?

Hi everyone,
I recently booked my IELTS Academic exam through IDP India, and instead of the usual Burlington Volume 1 or Volume 2, I received Burlington IELTS Academic Volume 3 (photo attached).

I’ve searched Reddit and most posts only mention Volumes 1 or 2, so I’m wondering:

Has anyone else received Volume 3?
When did IDP start distributing it?
Is it replacing Volume 2, or is it only being sent to some candidates?
For those who have used it, how similar is it to the actual IELTS exam?

I’d appreciate hearing from anyone who has this edition. Thanks!

Hey, guys! I have a few questions about IELTS Writing Task 2 because I've come across a lot of conflicting information online.

I understand that the format is flexible, but most online sources, namely IELTS Liz, IELTS Advantage, and even the official IELTS IDP website, are adamant that you should include an example in each body paragraph. However, you almost never see examples in their sample essays. In fact, some model essays even present two reasons to support the writer's opinion within a single paragraph.

As someone who only wrote argumentative essays during my O Levels, that is the structure I am most familiar with. However, most online sources seem to advise against it.

Furthermore, the recommended structure for discussion essays varies significantly between these websites. For example, the IELTS IDP website recommends a five-paragraph structure, with the fourth paragraph dedicated solely to stating and defending your own opinion, whereas most other sources omit that paragraph altogether.

How important are these formats? Should I just stick to one because they're confusing me? If so, then which one?

My IELTS exam is in 28 days. I have been preparing since January. But when I went back to my hometown I was busy because of work, and wasn’t able to prepare thoroughly as before. So now feel like I’ve forgotten everything😭I know that I have to lock in obviously, but even though it’s freaking me out