A 30-day IELTS study plan (self-study)
IELTS specialists — MUIC & Chulalongkorn University alumni, IELTS Speaking Band 9, IDP-certified.
A workable 30-day IELTS plan spends the first days diagnosing your band in each skill, then gives roughly half your time to your weakest skill while keeping the others warm. Practise everything under real time limits, and for Writing and Speaking use a feedback loop — score, fix, re-score — rather than piling up un-reviewed attempts. Finish the month with at least one full timed mock so test day feels familiar.
How much time you actually need
Most learners moving half a band (e.g. 6 to 6.5–7) need about 1–2 focused hours a day for a month. Consistency beats marathon weekends: short, timed, reviewed sessions move the needle.
Weeks at a glance
- Week 1: diagnostic in all four skills; start daily vocabulary and grammar.
- Week 2–3: 50% of time on your weakest skill; timed practice in the others; feedback loop on every Writing/Speaking attempt.
- Week 4: full timed mocks, error review, and light polishing — not cramming new material.
Make Writing and Speaking improve, not just accumulate
These are the skills people plateau on, because they need feedback, not volume. Score an attempt against the criteria, rewrite the weakest paragraph or re-record the answer using the feedback, then re-score. That rewrite-recheck loop is where the band moves.
30-day IELTS self-study plan
- 1Diagnose your level
Do one timed section in each skill to get an honest starting band, so you invest time where it pays off.
- 2Fix the weakest skill first
Give about half your study time to the lagging skill until it catches up with the others — balance raises the overall band more than a single high score.
- 3Always practise under time
Use real limits: 60 minutes for Reading, audio once for Listening, 40 minutes for the Task 2 essay, one minute of prep for the Speaking long turn.
- 4Run a feedback loop on Writing & Speaking
Score each attempt against the four criteria, rewrite or re-record the weakest part, then re-score — don't just start a new one.
- 5Sit a full timed mock
In the final week, complete at least one full test in one sitting to build stamina and remove test-day surprises.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get band 7 in 30 days?
If you're already near 6.5 and one skill is holding you back, a focused month can do it. Larger jumps usually need longer than 30 days.
How many hours a day should I study?
About 1–2 focused, timed hours daily beats occasional long sessions. Reviewing your mistakes matters more than sheer volume.
What should I do in the last week?
Full timed mocks and error review — not new material. The goal is to make the real test feel routine.
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