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IELTS course

Learn the hacks, then use them

45 short lessons in 9 modules (about 6 hours of reading, 16 videos). Every lesson ends with a Hack Drill and links to the practice-test questions where the hacks pay off.

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Start Here and the True / False / Not Given lesson are free. Sign in (free) to open every lesson and keep your progress on every device.

0. Start Here

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  1. How IELTS works: 4 papers, timing, Academic vs General Training7 minVideoDrill: 7 questionsFree
  2. Band scores decoded: raw marks, bands and the overall rounding8 minDrill: 7 questionsFree
  3. Your study plan: diagnostic test, weak spots, weekly routine8 minDrill: 7 questionsFree

1. Listening

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  1. The 4 parts: what each one sounds like and where marks are lost9 minVideoDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open
  2. Form & note completion: predict the gap before you hear it8 minVideoDrill: 20 questionsSign in to open
  3. Spelling, numbers and dates: the dictation traps9 minDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open
  4. Multiple choice: how distractors are built9 minVideoDrill: 8 questionsSign in to open
  5. Map & plan labelling: follow the speaker's route9 minDrill: 6 questionsSign in to open
  6. Matching: hold the list in your head8 minDrill: 6 questionsSign in to open
  7. Part 4 lectures: follow the signposts9 minDrill: 8 questionsSign in to open
  8. Word limits, transfer and final checks: keep the marks you already earned8 minDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open

2. Reading

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  1. True / False / Not Given: 5 hacks to stop losing easy marks8 minVideoDrill: 7 questionsFree
  2. Yes / No / Not Given: the writer's opinion version8 minDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open
  3. Matching Headings: 5 hacks to read the paragraph's job, not its words9 minVideoDrill: 6 questionsSign in to open
  4. Matching information, features and sentence endings9 minDrill: 8 questionsSign in to open
  5. Completion tasks: 5 hacks to stop losing gap-fill marks9 minVideoDrill: 21 questionsSign in to open
  6. Multiple choice and short-answer questions9 minDrill: 8 questionsSign in to open
  7. Skim, scan, spot the paraphrase: 5 hacks behind every Reading question9 minDrill: 8 questionsSign in to open
  8. The 60-minute plan: timing all 3 passages8 minVideoDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open
  9. General Training Sections 1–2: notices, ads and workplace texts8 minDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open

3. Writing Task 1 (Academic)

Academic only0/6 done
  1. How Writing is marked: the 4 criteria in plain English9 minVideoDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open
  2. The overview: the one sentence that decides your Task 1 band8 minVideoDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open
  3. Line and bar charts: the language of trends9 minDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open
  4. Tables and pie charts: comparing without listing9 minDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open
  5. Process diagrams: sequence and the passive9 minDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open
  6. Maps: describing change over time9 minDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open

4. Writing Task 1 (General Training)

General Training only0/2 done
  1. Letters: formal, semi-formal or informal? Pick the tone in 10 seconds8 minVideoDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open
  2. Cover all 3 bullet points: a letter structure that never misses8 minDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open

5. Writing Task 2 (both modules)

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  1. The 5 Task 2 question types and how to answer each9 minVideoDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open
  2. The 4-paragraph structure and a clear position9 minVideoDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open
  3. Body paragraphs that score: point, explain, example9 minDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open
  4. Band 6 vs band 7: the same essay, side by side10 minDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open
  5. 5-minute planning and the 40-minute clock8 minDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open

6. Speaking

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  1. The Speaking test in 3 parts and how it is marked8 minVideoDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open
  2. Part 1: answer, extend, stop8 minDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open
  3. Part 2: the 1-minute prep hack for the long turn8 minVideoDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open
  4. Part 3: discussing bigger ideas9 minDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open
  5. Fluency vs accuracy: fillers, pauses and self-correction9 minDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open
  6. Pronunciation basics that examiners notice9 minDrill: 8 questionsSign in to open

7. Vocabulary & Grammar for Band 7

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  1. The paraphrase toolkit: synonyms, word forms and structure changes9 minDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open
  2. Collocations that score (and the ones that sound wrong)9 minDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open
  3. Complex sentences without mistakes9 minDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open
  4. Common learner errors and quick fixes10 minDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open

8. Test Day

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  1. Computer vs paper IELTS: what changes8 minDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open
  2. Test-day checklist: before, during and between papers8 minVideoDrill: 7 questionsSign in to open

Not affiliated with IELTS, the British Council or IDP. All lessons, drills and videos are original SageTutor material.