Free 30-Day IELTS Study Plan

Follow this practical 30-day IELTS study plan to build confidence, improve your English skills and prepare for the test with focused daily practice. Set aside 30–60 minutes each day and adjust the tasks to match your target band score.

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Prefer studying offline? Download the free printable PDF version of this 30-day IELTS study plan.
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Choose Your Learner Pathway

Use the same daily plan, but change the difficulty and amount of practice to match your current level.

Foundation pathway: Focus on grammar accuracy, essential vocabulary, short passages and clear basic answers. Complete the core task and spend extra time reviewing mistakes.
Band 5–6 pathway: Complete the core task under the suggested time limit and add one timed exercise or a short recorded speaking answer.
Band 7+ pathway: Complete the core task under strict timing, use more complex paraphrasing and review your work for precision, cohesion and natural language.

How to use the page: Tick each box when you finish a task. Keep a mistake notebook and record one improvement target every day. Do not treat the plan as a guaranteed increase in your score. Your results depend on your starting level, consistency and the quality of your practice.

30-Day Progress Tracker

Tick the day after completing its main task and review your progress at the end of each week.

☐ Day 1 ☐ Day 2 ☐ Day 3 ☐ Day 4 ☐ Day 5
☐ Day 6 ☐ Day 7 ☐ Day 8 ☐ Day 9 ☐ Day 10
☐ Day 11 ☐ Day 12 ☐ Day 13 ☐ Day 14 ☐ Day 15
☐ Day 16 ☐ Day 17 ☐ Day 18 ☐ Day 19 ☐ Day 20
☐ Day 21 ☐ Day 22 ☐ Day 23 ☐ Day 24 ☐ Day 25
☐ Day 26 ☐ Day 27 ☐ Day 28 ☐ Day 29 ☐ Day 30

Before You Begin

☐ Choose your target IELTS test date and target band score.
☐ Write down a target score for Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking.
☐ Prepare a notebook or digital document for vocabulary, mistakes and useful phrases.
☐ Take a short diagnostic test so you know your starting point.

Week 1: Understand the Test and Build Your Foundation

Day 1: Set your target and take a diagnostic test

☐ Write your target overall band score and skill scores.
☐ Complete one short Reading section and one short Listening section.
☐ Write 150 words for a Task 2 question and record a two-minute Speaking Part 2 answer.
☐ Note your three biggest weaknesses.

Day 2: Learn the IELTS format

☐ Review the question types and timing for all four skills.
☐ Complete five Listening questions and explain each answer.
☐ Practise spelling numbers, names, dates and addresses.

Day 3: Build high-value vocabulary

☐ Choose education, work, health or the environment as your topic.
☐ Learn 15 useful words and collocations.
☐ Write one sentence for each and use five in a one-minute speaking answer.

Day 4: Reading skimming and scanning

☐ Read one article and write its main idea in one sentence.
☐ Find names, dates, numbers and keywords quickly.
☐ Complete a matching-information or True/False/Not Given exercise.
☐ Identify the evidence for every wrong answer.

Day 5: Listening prediction

☐ Predict the answer type before listening.
☐ Complete one short Listening section.
☐ Check spelling, word limits and singular/plural forms.
☐ Listen again to difficult parts and write what you hear.

Day 6: Grammar accuracy

☐ Review sentence structure, articles, verb tense and subject–verb agreement.
☐ Correct 10 common IELTS grammar errors.
☐ Write one paragraph and check every sentence.

Day 7: Weekly review

☐ Review your vocabulary and grammar notes.
☐ Complete a 20-minute mixed Reading and Listening session.
☐ Record a two-minute familiar-topic answer.

Week 1 checkpoint: ☐ I completed at least five study days. ☐ I can name my two biggest weaknesses. ☐ I selected the pathway I will follow next week. ☐ My next improvement target is: ____________________

Week 2: Improve Reading and Listening

Day 8: Reading headings and main ideas

☐ Match headings to paragraphs in one passage.
☐ Underline evidence for each answer.
☐ Separate a paragraph’s main idea from its supporting detail.

Day 9: True, False and Not Given

☐ Complete one True/False/Not Given exercise.
☐ Use only information in the passage.
☐ Write a short reason for each answer.

Day 10: Multiple choice and sentence completion

☐ Complete one multiple-choice and one sentence-completion exercise.
☐ Locate paraphrases for the keywords.
☐ Explain why the incorrect options are wrong.

Day 11: Listening Sections 1 and 2

☐ Complete Sections 1 and 2 under timed conditions.
☐ Predict answers before the recording begins.
☐ Review spelling, numbers, dates and distractors.

Day 12: Listening Sections 3 and 4

☐ Complete Sections 3 and 4 under timed conditions.
☐ Follow different speakers and academic explanations.
☐ Note transition words that helped you follow the recording.

Day 13: Vocabulary through paraphrasing

☐ Select 15 phrases from a passage or transcript.
☐ Write one accurate synonym or paraphrase for each.
☐ Use five paraphrases in your own sentences.

Day 14: Reading and Listening mini-test

☐ Complete one timed Reading passage and one timed Listening section.
☐ Record your scores and the question types that caused problems.
☐ Choose two question types to practise again.

Week 2 checkpoint: ☐ I recorded my Reading score: ______ ☐ I recorded my Listening score: ______ ☐ I reviewed every wrong answer. ☐ My most difficult question type is: ____________________

Week 3: Strengthen Writing and Speaking

Day 15: Writing Task 1 structure

☐ Review the introduction, overview and detail paragraphs.
☐ Study one chart, graph, table, map or process.
☐ Write an introduction and overview in 10 minutes.

Day 16: Writing Task 1 comparisons

☐ Practise comparing the highest, lowest, largest changes and similar figures.
☐ Write two detail paragraphs with accurate comparison language.
☐ Check that you included the most important data.

Day 17: Task 2 introductions and conclusions

☐ Choose an opinion or discussion essay question.
☐ Write a clear introduction and position.
☐ Write a conclusion without adding a new idea.

Day 18: Task 2 body paragraphs

☐ Plan two main ideas for one essay question.
☐ Write one paragraph using main idea, explanation, example and result.
☐ Check that every sentence supports the main idea.

Day 19: Speaking Part 1

☐ Answer 10 familiar questions in two to four sentences each.
☐ Extend answers with a reason, example or contrast.
☐ Record and review repeated errors.

Day 20: Speaking Part 2

☐ Make notes for one minute on a cue card.
☐ Speak for up to two minutes.
☐ Repeat the task and improve fluency, detail and organisation.

Day 21: Speaking Part 3

☐ Practise six abstract questions.
☐ Use opinion, reason, example and result language.
☐ Review grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary errors.

Week 3 checkpoint: ☐ I completed one Task 1 practice. ☐ I completed one Task 2 paragraph. ☐ I recorded Speaking Parts 1–3. ☐ The skill needing the most attention is: ____________________

Week 4: Timed Practice and Exam Readiness

Day 22: Full Writing Task 1

☐ Complete Task 1 in 20 minutes.
☐ Check the overview, comparisons, grammar and spelling.

Day 23: Full Writing Task 2

☐ Complete Task 2 in 40 minutes.
☐ Spend five minutes planning and five minutes checking.
☐ Check task response, organisation, vocabulary and grammar.

Day 24: Speaking mock test

☐ Complete a full Speaking test: Parts 1, 2 and 3.
☐ Record it without stopping or restarting.
☐ Review fluency, pronunciation, grammar range and vocabulary.

Day 25: Reading mock test

☐ Complete a full Reading test in 60 minutes.
☐ Classify each error as vocabulary, timing, misunderstanding or careless reading.

Day 26: Listening mock test

☐ Complete a full Listening test under exam conditions.
☐ Review the transcript or explanations for every incorrect answer.

Day 27: Fix your two biggest weaknesses

☐ Choose the two areas that lowered your practice scores most.
☐ Complete focused exercises for both areas.
☐ Write one action rule for the exam.

Day 28: Second writing and speaking review

☐ Write a new Task 2 plan and one body paragraph.
☐ Complete one Speaking Part 2 recording.
☐ Compare your work with Day 1 and list three improvements.

Day 29: Full practice test

☐ Complete Listening and Reading under official timing.
☐ Complete Writing Task 1 and Task 2 under official timing.
☐ Record estimated scores and final revision areas.

Day 30: Final review and exam strategy

☐ Review your vocabulary, grammar and mistake lists.
☐ Practise a few Speaking answers without exhausting yourself.
☐ Prepare documents, travel plans and test-day materials.
☐ Choose three practical strategies for the exam.

Final checkpoint: ☐ I completed my full practice test. ☐ I know my strongest skill. ☐ I know my highest-priority weakness. ☐ I have three exam-day strategies. ☐ My next seven-day revision plan is: ____________________

Quick Daily Reflection

☐ Did I complete today’s task?
☐ What new vocabulary or grammar did I learn?
☐ What mistake did I make?
☐ What will I do differently tomorrow?

How to Continue After 30 Days

Use your practice results to create a new weekly routine. Repeat the question types that cause the most errors, continue timed practice and ask for detailed feedback on your Writing if you need help identifying the fastest improvements.

Tip: Consistent, focused practice is more useful than trying to study everything in one day. Keep your daily tasks realistic and review your mistakes regularly.