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IELTS · Academic · Bands 6 to 7.5+

The IELTS Route

One path from your first diagnostic to your last mock. Follow the stages in order — every lesson is chosen and placed for you.

How it works. The route has five stages. Stage 1 finds your starting point. Stages 2 to 5 build, test and finish your skills, with a different mix each week. Every step below is a lesson or practice page — click it, do it, tick it off.

A good week is one writing step, one speaking step, one reading or listening step, and ten minutes on the side lessons at the bottom. Steps marked ★ Band 7+ are for stretching beyond the core; everything else is for every student.

The whole route fits twelve weeks, but it moves at your pace. If your test is sooner, do Stage 1, then spend your time on the skills where your diagnostic was lowest.

Not sure where to begin? Start here.The test at a glance, the marking criteria in plain English, and a diagnostic to find your starting band.
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The route map — click any stage or lesson

Start here: the test and your diagnosticStart here: the test and your diagnosticWhat examiners countWhat examiners countFunnel introductionsFunnel introductionsBody paragraphsBody paragraphsReading skillsReading skillsSpeaking Part 1Speaking Part 1Writing Task 2Writing Task 2Writing Task 1Writing Task 1SpeakingSpeakingReadingReadingListeningListeningLanguageLanguageTime and planningTime and planningTimed essaysTimed essaysExam-mode essaysExam-mode essaysReading tests 4–7Reading tests 4–7Speaking simulatorSpeaking simulatorFull writing simulationFull writing simulationReading tests 8–10Reading tests 8–10Feedback analysisFeedback analysisFinal strategiesFinal strategiesIELTSyour routeStage 1: Start here1StartStage 2: Foundations2FoundationsStage 3: Build the skills3SkillsStage 4: Under the clock4ClockStage 5: Mock and finish5MockKeep these running all the way throughExample bankExample bankWord WallWord WallSpelling StoriesSpelling StoriesEssay BestiaryEssay Bestiary
The route map is best on a larger screen. On a phone, follow the stages below.

Five stages, clockwise from the top. Stage 3 opens into six tracks — click a track to jump to its lessons.

1

Start here

Week 1

Know exactly what the test asks, and find your starting point. Everything after this is chosen from what you learn here.

2

Foundations

Weeks 1–3

The habits every band depends on: what examiners count, how a paragraph works, and how the Reading and Speaking tests are built.

3

Build the skills

Weeks 3–8

Six tracks run side by side. Each week, take the next step in two or three of them — the order inside each track matters, the order between tracks does not.

4

Under the clock

Weeks 8–10

Now everything is timed. Plan quickly, write to the clock, and keep an error log so the same mistake never costs you twice.

5

Mock and finish

Weeks 11–12

Full test conditions, then a plain look at what is still costing marks. Finish with the exam-day strategy.

Keep these running all the way through

Ten minutes a day on any of these. They feed every stage.

Example bank: IELTS through Stories & HistoryTrue stories turned into ready Task 2 examples and Speaking material, matched to real exam questions. IELTS Word WallVocabulary games across the main IELTS topic areas. IELTS Spelling StoriesSix short stories that teach the words candidates misspell most. The Essay BestiaryA memory system for your essay skeleton — recall it in 2 minutes.

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