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IELTS Guides

IELTS Guides & Strategy

Clear, practical guides to how IELTS is scored and how to beat each question type — written to get you to your target band faster, for free.

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Scoring & bands

How the band scale works and how each skill is marked — so you know exactly what you're aiming for.

How IELTS Band Scores Work

The 9-band scale, how your overall score is averaged from the four skills, and how rounding decides your final band.

6 min read

IELTS Listening Band Score: Raw Score to Band

How your 40 answers convert to a band, how many you need for each band, and the marking rules that quietly cost points.

5 min read

IELTS Reading Band Score: Raw Score to Band

The Reading conversion — and why Academic and General Training use different tables for the same band.

5 min read

How IELTS Writing Is Marked

The four criteria examiners score you on, how Task 1 and Task 2 combine, and why Task 2 is worth twice as much.

6 min read

How IELTS Speaking Is Marked

The four criteria, the three-part interview, and what examiners actually reward in a 11–14 minute conversation.

5 min read

Question-type strategy

Question-by-question tactics for the tasks that decide your Reading, Writing and Listening bands.

IELTS Reading: True / False / Not Given

The one distinction — False versus Not Given — that decides this question type, with a repeatable step-by-step method.

6 min read

IELTS Reading: Matching Headings

Match each paragraph to its main idea — not to a stray detail — with a method that beats the classic trap.

5 min read

IELTS Writing Task 2: Essay Structure

A reliable four-paragraph template, the five question types, and how to answer the exact question asked.

7 min read

Test day & logistics

Test-day practicalities — formats, what to expect, and country-specific registration.

Computer vs Paper IELTS: Which to Choose

Same test, same scoring — but the format changes your tools, your timing, and how fast you get results.

6 min read

IELTS Test Day: What to Expect

What to bring, the order of the sections, the check-in rules, and when your Speaking test happens.

5 min read

IELTS in India: Registration, Fees & Preparation

Who conducts IELTS in India, where to sit it, the fee, and the One Skill Retake that can save you a full resit.

6 min read

IELTS in Bangladesh: Registration, Fees & Preparation

Who runs IELTS in Bangladesh, where to sit it, how to register, and how to prepare without spending money.

6 min read

Ready to put it into practice?

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IELTS Guides: Scoring, Strategy & Test-Day Help | IELTS Level Up