How to Prepare for IELTS Exam in One Month - Ielts 30 Days Study Plan

Bhargavee Sisodia

09 May 2024

The International English Language Testing System or IELTS assesses English language proficiency of non-native English language speakers who want to study or work in a country where English is used as a language of communication. Established in 1989, the IELTS is jointly managed by IELTS Australia, Cambridge Assessment English and British Council, IDP. Over 10,000 institutions in 140+ countries accept IELTS scores. IELTS is the world’s most popular English language proficiency test for students and working professionals. A good IELTS score can open doors to new opportunities. 

IELTS Test Format

Before joining an IELTS exam coaching, develop an understanding of the test format. The IELTS test consists of four sections

• Reading-60 minutes
• Writing-60 minutes
• Listening-30 minutes
• Speaking -11-14 minutes

IELTS Overall band score is calculated between 0-9. Refer to IELTS’ official websites for updates. Use reliable study material. Most importantly,  build a realistic study plan. When it comes to building an IELTS study plan, there is no such thing as one size fits all. Just because a plan works wonders for other students does not mean it is the right plan for you. There is no one particular IELTS study plan. You can customize a plan according to your requirements. Have just 30 days to prepare for your IELTS exam? Don’t panic! With proper planning and hard work, you can still achieve your target score. Here is a 1-month IELTS study guide you may find helpful.

Important Guidelines

• Study for at least four hours every day
• Take mock tests regularly. Focus on weaker areas
• Mistakes are part of the game. Instead of letting your mistakes define you, learn from them
• Practice reading, writing, speaking and listening every day

Here’s a 30-Day IELTS Study Plan summarized week by week for clarity and better readability:

Week 1: Foundation & Practice

Week 2: Exploring Essay Types

Week 3: Intensive Practice

Week 4: Final Polishing

This structured plan ensures comprehensive preparation across all four IELTS sections. Let me know if you’d like further tweaks!

30-day IELTS Study Plan

For your convenience, we have divided the 1-month study plan into four weeks.

Week-1

Day-1 (Monday)

• Reading- Read articles in newspapers and reputable magazines for at least an hour
• Writing: Try to understand the formats of writing tasks (1 & 2). Work through previous year papers for at least an hour
• Speaking: Speak on your favorite topic for at least 30 minutes. Record your speech. Self-evaluate
• Listening: Solve at least one audio script paper. Check your answers

Day-2 (Tuesday)

• Reading: Take a mock reading test. Rate your reading skills after completing
• Writing: Write essays on data description. Check your answers
• Speaking; Speak on any topic. Record your speech. Listen to the recordings. Self-evaluate. Work on your weak areas
• Listening: Listen to recorded monologues and conversations

Day-3 (Wednesday)

• Reading: Take a mock reading test. Try to complete it in an hour
• Writing: Write essays on data description. Check your answers
• Speaking: Speak on your favorite topic in front of people (friends/family members). Ask for feedback
• Listening: Solve an audio script paper. Check your answers

Day-4 (Thursday)

• Reading: Practice skimming and scanning (reading techniques)
• Writing: Write essays on map description. Answer at least five maps. Check your answers
• Speaking: Speak on a topic. Record your speech. Do a self-evaluation of your speaking skills (watch out for vocab mistakes and pronunciation errors)
• Listening: Take a mock test. Listen to audio news reports

Day-5 ( Friday) 

• Reading: Read a newspaper article or an article published in a reputable magazine
• Writing: Write an essay on both tasks from a previous year question paper
• Speaking: Practice your speaking skills
• Listening: Listen to an English documentary or an audio clip on your favorite topic for 30 minutes

Day-6 (Saturday)

• Reading: Read previous year test papers. Work on your reading speed
• Writing: Write task 1 in 20 minutes. Take a look at sample answers. Self-evaluate
• Speaking : Take a mock test. Ask friends/family members for feedback
• Listening: Listen to recorded monologues

Day-7 (Sunday)

• Reading: Review different aspects of IELTS reading
• Writing: Review essays in task 1. Work on your writing
• Speaking: Speak for 30 seconds-2 minutes on your favorite topic. Work on your vocab
• Listening: Take a mock test. Listen to the news or watch your favorite movie

Week-2

Day-1 (Monday)

• Reading: Read previous year IELTS question papers as fast as you can
• Writing: Try to gain an in-depth understanding of the format of Writing Task 2
• Speaking: Speak at least two minutes on your favorite topics
• Listening: Work on your listening. Listen to documentaries and audio clips

Day-2 (Tuesday)

• Reading: Read articles in English newspapers or magazines
• Writing: Learn to distinguish between Opinion essays and Discussion essays
• Speaking: Speak on your favorite topics. Request listeners to provide feedback
• Listening: Solve a past audio script paper. Evaluate your answers

Day-3 (Wednesday)

• Reading: Practice skimming and scanning
• Writing: Learn to distinguish between Problem and Solution essays
• Speaking: Speak on your favorite topics. Work on your fluency and confidence
• Listening: Take a mock test

Day-4 (Thursday)

• Reading: Read newspaper articles or essays in English magazines
• Writing: Learn about advantage and disadvantage essays. Take a sample test
• Speaking: Talk on your favorite topic for about 30 seconds-2 minutes. Work on your vocab
• Listening: Listen to an English documentary or audio clip for 30 minutes

Day-5 (Friday)

• Reading: Take a mock test. Evaluate your answers
• Writing: Learn about and write an essay on double/direct questions
• Speaking: Speak on a topic. Ask for feedback
• Listening: Solve a past audio script paper. Check your answers

Day-6 (Saturday)

• Reading: Read your favorite English book /novel
• Writing: Write essays on all the types in task 2 from previous year question papers
• Speaking: Speak on any topic for at least two minutes
• Listening: Take a mock test. Listen to audio clips

Day-7 (Sunday)

• Reading: Work on your reading. Try to read a newspaper article as fast as you can
• Writing: Complete task 2 in 40 minutes. Compare your answers with sample answers
• Speaking: Take a mock test. Ask friends/family members for feedback
• Listening: Review different aspects in the listening section

Week-3

Day-1 (Monday)

• Reading: Select a random article. Try reading it in 20 minutes
• Writing: Learn about the format of writing tasks 1 and 2
• Speaking: Speak on your favorite topics. Record your speeches. Evaluate them
• Listening: Solve a past audio script paper. Check your answers

Day-2 (Tuesday)

• Reading: Take a mock test
• Writing: Write essays on data description. Answer at least 10 questions
• Speaking: Speak on your favorite topics. Record your speeches. Self-evaluate
• Listening: Solve a past audio script paper. Check your answers

Day-3 (Wednesday)

• Reading: Take a mock test. Try to complete it in 60 minutes
• Writing: Write essays on process description. Answer at least 10 questions
• Speaking: Speak on any topic
• Listening: Listen to audio clips and audio versions of monologues

Day-4 (Thursday)

• Reading: Practice skimming and scanning
• Writing: Write essays on map descriptions
• Speaking: Speak on your favorite topics. Record your speeches. Self-evaluate
• Listening: Take a mock test

Day-5 (Friday)

• Reading: Read newspaper articles or essays in magazines
• Writing: Write an essay on each type
• Speaking: Practice English speaking. Try to speak as fluently and confidently as you can
• Listening: Listen to an English documentary/audio clip for 30 minutes

Day-6 (Saturday)

• Reading: Read test papers
• Writing: Complete task 1 in 20 minutes. Compare your answers with sample answers
• Speaking: Take a mock test. Ask others to provide feedback
• Listening: Listen to recorded monologues/audio clips

Day-7(Sunday)

• Reading: Read a book or a magazine
• Writing: Review your essays
• Speaking: Speak on your favorite topics in front of your friends or family members
• Listening: Take a lock test

Week-4

Day-1 (Monday)

• Reading: Read previous years IELTS papers as fast as you can
• Writing: Take a mock test on Opinion essay. Self-evaluate
• Speaking: Speak for at least two minutes on any topic
• Listening: Listen to a documentary for 30 minutes

Day-2 (Tuesday)

• Reading: Read articles in newspapers or English magazines
• Writing: Take a mock test on Discussion essay.
• Speaking: Speak on a topic. Ask for feedback
• Listening: Solve a previous audio script paper. Evaluate your answers

Day-3 (Wednesday)

• Reading: Practice skimming and scanning
• Writing: Write a Problem/solution essay. Self-evaluate
• Speaking: Speak on your favorite topics
• Listening: Take a mock test

Day-4 (Thursday)

• Reading: Read newspaper articles or essays in your favorite magazine
• Writing: Write an advantage/disadvantage essay. Self-evaluate
• Speaking: Talk for 30 seconds-2 minutes on a topic
• Listening: Listen to an English documentary

Day-5 (Friday)

• Reading: Take a mock reading test. Self-evaluate
• Writing: Learn about and write an essay on Double/direct questions
• Speaking: Speak on your favorite topic. Ask for feedback
• Listening: Solve a previous audio script paper

Day-6 (Saturday)

• Reading: Read newspaper articles
• Writing: Write an essay on each type from previous year question papers
• Speaking: Speak for at least two minutes on your favorite topic
• Listening: Take a mock test

Day-7 (Sunday)

• Reading: Take a final mock test. Try to complete the test in 60 minutes
• Writing: Take a final mock test on writing. Try to complete the test in 60 minutes
• Speaking: Take a final mock test on speaking. Try to complete the test in 60 minutes
• Listening: Take a final mock test on listening. Try to complete the test in 60 minutes