Overview
IELTS comes in two versions. Academic is used for university study and many professional registrations; General Training is mostly used for migration and work, including Canada's Express Entry. Listening and Speaking are identical in both, while Reading and Writing differ: Academic Writing Task 1 asks you to describe a chart, table, process or map, whereas General Training Task 1 is a letter. Both have a Task 2 essay. Before you book, we check which version your receiving organization asks for, because taking the wrong one is a costly mistake.
Our coaching is built on the public IELTS band descriptors. Writing is judged on Task Achievement (Task 1) or Task Response (Task 2), Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy; Speaking on Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation. Our feedback names the criterion, quotes your sentence, explains why it limits your band and shows what a stronger version looks like, so you learn to self-correct rather than memorize.
Listening and Reading improve most through method: predicting answer types, handling paraphrase, managing the transfer of answers on paper or the review screen on computer, and not losing minutes on a single True/False/Not Given item. We set timed sections, review every wrong answer with you and track error types across mocks.
Who it’s for and the problems it solves
This is for you if you are…
- Applicants to universities that set an overall band plus minimum bands per skill
- Migration or work applicants who need IELTS General Training for a points-based system
- Healthcare and other professionals who need IELTS Academic for registration
- Candidates who have taken IELTS more than once and are stuck at the same Writing or Speaking band
- Candidates deciding whether IELTS One Skill Retake makes sense after a computer-delivered test
Common problems we help with
- Your overall band is fine but one skill, usually Writing, is half a band below the minimum
- Task 2 essays are long and accurate but lose marks for not fully answering the question
- Academic Task 1 reports list every number instead of selecting key features and an overview
- Speaking Part 2 answers stop after one minute, or sound memorized and get cut short
- True/False/Not Given and matching headings questions eat most of your Reading time
- You are unsure whether to sit on paper, on computer or online, or whether One Skill Retake is accepted
What’s included — and what isn’t
Included
- Diagnostic in all four skills, with Writing and Speaking marked against the public band descriptors
- A written study plan linking your target bands, test date and weekly hours to specific skills
- Writing coaching for Academic Task 1 (charts, processes, maps) or General Training Task 1 (letters), and Task 2 essays
- Speaking practice across Part 1 (interview), Part 2 (long turn with one minute's preparation) and Part 3 (discussion), recorded for review
- Listening strategy for form completion, map/plan labelling, multiple choice and matching
- Reading strategy for True/False/Not Given, Yes/No/Not Given, matching headings and summary completion
- Timed full or part mocks with error logs and progress notes
- Test-day logistics for paper, computer or IELTS Online delivery, and a view on One Skill Retake where relevant
Not included
- Taking the test, or any part of it, on your behalf, or supplying live or leaked test content
- Promising a particular band score or visa, admission or registration outcome
- Immigration or legal advice about which visa or program to apply for; we point you to the official requirement
- Memorized model essays or Speaking scripts for reuse in the test — examiners discount memorized language
What you receive
- Diagnostic report
- Estimated band range per skill with the evidence behind it: descriptor-referenced notes for Writing and Speaking and error types for Listening and Reading.
- Band-gap study plan
- A week-by-week plan showing what to practice, for how long and in what order, sized to your available hours and test date.
- Marked Writing scripts
- Each Task 1 and Task 2 response annotated by criterion, with a short summary of the two or three changes most likely to move your band.
- Speaking recordings with feedback
- Recorded mock interviews with timestamped notes on fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation features such as stress and chunking.
- Mock and error log
- Timed practice results tracked over time, with a running list of question types and mistakes that still need work.
How it works
Confirm the requirement
You tell us the receiving organization, version (Academic or General Training), overall and per-skill minimums and deadline; we check it against their published requirement.
Diagnose
You complete a timed diagnostic. We mark Writing and Speaking by criterion and analyze Listening and Reading errors by question type.
Plan
We agree a study plan and session pattern — for example two coaching sessions a week plus set homework — and decide which skill gets most time.
Coach and practice
Sessions mix explanation, live practice and review of homework. Writing is resubmitted after feedback so you see whether the change stuck.
Mock and adjust
Timed mocks under realistic conditions show whether the plan is working; we adjust emphasis and advise honestly on whether your planned test date is realistic.
How each IELTS skill is coached
- Writing Task 1 (Academic)
- Selecting key features, writing a clear overview, grouping data and comparing rather than listing, in at least 150 words within about 20 minutes.
- Writing Task 1 (General Training)
- Covering all three bullet points, choosing formal, semi-formal or informal tone correctly and organizing a letter logically.
- Writing Task 2
- Analyzing the question type (opinion, discussion, problem–solution, two-part), planning a position that runs through the essay, and developing ideas with explanation and examples in at least 250 words.
- Speaking
- Extending answers naturally in Part 1, using the preparation minute in Part 2 to plan a two-minute talk, and handling abstract Part 3 questions with reasons, comparisons and speculation.
- Listening
- Anticipating answer type from the question, following signposting, catching self-corrections and spelling answers correctly within word limits.
- Reading
- Skimming for structure, scanning for names and numbers, distinguishing False from Not Given, and managing 60 minutes across three long passages or several shorter General Training texts.
- Language work
- Targeted grammar and vocabulary based on errors in your own writing and speech, not generic word lists.
What the band descriptors reward — and what they don't
The descriptors reward a relevant, fully developed answer, logical organization, a range of vocabulary and grammar used accurately and appropriately, and in Speaking, clear and natural delivery. They do not reward length for its own sake, rare words used incorrectly or learned phrases pasted into any answer.
The public Writing descriptors, updated in 2023, note that memorized or copied language is discounted and that off-topic responses are limited to low bands. That is why we coach flexible planning and paraphrase rather than templates.
- Task Achievement / Task Response: does the answer do what the question asked, with a clear overview or position?
- Coherence and Cohesion: logical paragraphs, progression and referencing, not just linking words
- Lexical Resource: precise, natural word choice and collocation, with few errors
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: a mix of structures, most sentences error-free
Paper, computer or online — and One Skill Retake
IELTS can be taken on paper or on computer at a test centre, and in many countries online from home, with the same content and timing. Speaking is always a live conversation with an examiner, sometimes on a different day within a few days of the other sections. Computer delivery suits candidates who type quickly and like seeing a word count; paper suits those who plan by hand.
IELTS One Skill Retake lets candidates who took a full IELTS on computer at a participating centre retake one skill within 60 days. It is not accepted by every organization, so we check the receiving body's list first and help you judge whether one skill really is the only gap.
Timeline expectations
Moving half a band in one skill in a few weeks is sometimes realistic when the problem is technique, such as missing overviews or poor timing. Moving a full band or more overall usually needs sustained language development over months. After the diagnostic we tell you plainly which situation you are in.
What the work can look like
Illustrative example — fictional data
Sample Writing feedback excerpt (Task 2)
A fictional candidate needs 7.0 overall with no band below 6.5 for a master's program. Their diagnostic essay on whether governments should fund the arts is 340 words and mostly accurate, but reads as a list of arguments.
Task Response
The question asks 'to what extent do you agree', but your view only appears in the conclusion. State your position in the introduction and make each body paragraph support or qualify it. Estimated effect: this is the main limit on this criterion.
Coherence and Cohesion
Paragraph 2 contains three separate ideas each introduced with 'Moreover'. Choose one central idea, explain it and give one developed example. Referencing words such as 'this policy' would link sentences more naturally than stacked connectors.
Next practice task
Rewrite only the introduction and paragraph 2 in 15 minutes, then attempt a new 'to what extent' question under full timing.
Illustrative example with an invented candidate and essay. Feedback is an estimate against public descriptors; only an official IELTS examiner awards a band.
What you’ll need to provide
- The official requirement from your university, employer, regulator or immigration authority, including per-skill minimums
- Any previous IELTS Test Report Forms or practice scores
- Your test date, or the window you are considering, and preferred delivery mode
- Honest estimate of weekly study hours you can commit
- Writing responses and Speaking recordings completed under time limits when set as homework
You don’t need everything ready to ask for a quote — tell us what you have and we’ll say what’s missing.
What affects price and turnaround
Price depends on
- Number and length of coaching sessions
- How many Writing scripts and Speaking mocks you want marked in detail
- Whether you need all four skills or targeted work on one or two
- Academic and General Training preparation combined, if you are unsure which you will take
- Short intensive schedule versus a longer, spaced plan
Turnaround depends on
- Your test date and how far your diagnostic is from your target bands
- How quickly homework is completed and returned for feedback
- Session availability across time zones
Every project is quoted individually. How we price our work.
Questions people ask before starting
Academic or General Training — which one do I need?
It depends on the organization receiving your result, not on your own preference. Universities usually ask for Academic; many migration programs ask for General Training. Some require the IELTS for UKVI variant. Check the official requirement and, if it is unclear, ask the organization in writing before you book.
Can you tell me my band score?
We give an estimated band range per skill based on the public descriptors and marked practice, with our reasons. It is a guide for planning, not an official result, and the real test may differ.
Should I use a template for Task 2 or Speaking Part 2?
A planning routine is useful; a memorized script is not. Examiners are trained to recognize memorized language and the descriptors discount it. We help you build a flexible structure you can adapt to any question.
Is One Skill Retake a good idea for me?
It can be, if you took IELTS on computer at a participating centre, only one skill is below the requirement and your receiving organization accepts retake results. If two skills are borderline, a full retest with better preparation is often safer.
How long will it take to improve by half a band?
There is no reliable fixed answer. It depends on where the gap comes from, your study hours and your starting level. The diagnostic shows whether the issue is technique, which can change quickly, or underlying language range, which takes longer.
Do you use official practice materials?
We recommend official IELTS practice materials for full mocks because they reflect the real format, and use our own targeted exercises for specific weaknesses. We never use leaked or 'recent exam' question banks.