Are you looking for an efficient IELTS preparation schedule?
We know that many of our test takers are busy professionals and students. That’s why we have organised this 10-day study plan for you.
Each day, you’ll know exactly what to do.
You’ll also get the materials you’ll need to practice.
If you’re short on time or just want to be more organised in your IELTS preparation, this guide is for you!
How can you prepare for IELTS in 10 days?
You can prepare for IELTS in 10 days by following a structured study plan that focuses on one skill at a time while using targeted practice and full mock tests. You can spend 1.5–2 hours daily, review your common mistakes, and focus on improving your weakest areas to make the most of your time.
Before you start: How to use your 10 days effectively
Before you start, take a few minutes to set things up. This will help you stay consistent and avoid wasting time.
Set your target band score.
Block your daily study time.
Choose a designated study space you’ll use in the next 10 days.
Prepare your IELTS resources.
Focus on showing up each day, not being perfect.
Remember, your little progress each day will all help you improve and perform better on your test day!
Day 1: Assess your level and understand the test
By now, you probably already know your target band score. The next thing to know is: are you capable of meeting it? How far is your current level from your target?
For Day 1, you can take our IELTS self-assessment tool, where you’ll instant feedback and IELTS preparation tips you can use as you start this study plan. You can also practice using our practise tests. After this, take time to review the test format and marking criteria, so you know exactly what awaits you in the test and how you are scored.
Time: 1–2 hours Focus: Know your current band score. Understand the test format.
What to do:
Take an English self-assessment tool.
Start answering practice tests without any preparation yet to assess your current skills.
Learn the test format (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking).
Identify your strengths and weak areas.
Set a simple study focus for the next few days.
Materials you can use:
IELTS test format - Know the test format.
How is IELTS marked? - Know how your answers are scored.
Day 2 (Listening): Build listening fundamentals and accuracy
Day 2 helps you build the core skills you need for IELTS Listening.
The skills you will practise here are used across all Listening question types. When your basics are strong, you make fewer mistakes. This makes it easier to improve your Listening score in the next steps.
Time: 2-4 hours
Focus: Build core listening skills. Improve answer accuracy.
What to do:
Understand the IELTS Listening test format and question types.
Catch key details like names, numbers, and dates.
Follow the flow of the audio from start to end.
Write answers accurately with correct spelling and word forms.
Materials you can use:
IELTS Listening question types - Start here to get to know the IELTS Listening format.
IELTS Listening band scores - Know how IELTS Listening is marked.
IELTS Listening test format (overview)
Section | Type of Audio | Skills Tested | Common Question Types |
Section 1 | Conversation between 2 speakers in an everyday situation (e.g. booking, enquiry) | Listening for specific details | Form completion, short answer, multiple choice |
Section 2 | Monologue in an everyday context | Understanding main ideas and details | Map/diagram labelling, matching, multiple choice |
Section 3 | Conversation between 2–4 speakers in an academic or training setting | Following multiple speakers, opinions, and ideas | Matching, multiple choice, sentence completion |
Section 4 | Monologue in an academic setting | Understanding main ideas, details, and structure | Note completion, summary completion, multiple choice |
Practice tests and study guides per question type
Question type | Link to practice test | Study guides |
Multiple choice | ||
Matching | ||
Plan, map, diagram labelling | Expert tips for map, plan and diagram questions Master IELTS Listening Map Labelling | |
Form completion | ||
Note completion | ||
Sentence completion | ||
Short-answer questions |
Day 3 (Listening): Practise full Listening tests and analyse mistakes
This step helps you apply what you learned under real test conditions. In the IELTS test, you only hear the recording once, so you need to stay focused from start to finish. A full test shows you how well you can follow the audio and answer questions in real time. It also helps you see patterns in your mistakes so you can improve faster.
Time: 2-4 hours
Focus: Apply listening skills under timed conditions. Identify mistakes.
What to do:
Complete one full IELTS Listening test under timed conditions.
Answer all questions. Do not leave blanks.
Review your answers and check where you lost marks.
Practise the question types you struggled with.
Materials you can use:
Practice test:
Day 4 (Reading): Build reading speed and understand main ideas
For IELTS Reading, you need to understand the main ideas and find key details from informative texts. You also need to manage your time across all three passages. Today, you will focus on reading efficiently and answering questions correctly.
Time: 2-4 hours Focus: Improve reading speed. Understand main ideas and key details.
What to do:
Skim each passage to identify the main idea of every paragraph.
Scan for keywords and match them to the questions.
Answer questions under time limits to build pacing.
Review mistakes and check where you misunderstood the meaning.
Materials you can use:
How to increase reading speed and boost your IELTS Reading score
Strategies for skimming and scanning in the IELTS Reading test
IELTS Reading practice tests per question type:
IELTS Reading question types overview
Question Type | What You Need to do |
Multiple Choice | Identify the correct idea by matching meaning, not exact words. |
Identifying Information (True/False/Not Given) | Decide if the statement is true, false, or not mentioned. |
Identifying Writer’s Views (Yes/No/Not Given) | Match the statement with the writer’s views in the text. |
Matching Headings | Identify the main idea of each paragraph. |
Matching Information | Locate where certain information appears in the text. |
Matching Features | Track details and connect them to the correct category. |
Matching Sentence Endings | Understand sentence meaning and match it correctly. |
Sentence Completion | Find exact words from the passage and follow word limits. |
Summary Completion | Understand the overall idea and locate key details. |
Note Completion | Identify key information and write precise answers. |
Table Completion | Scan for specific data and place it correctly. |
Flow-chart Completion | Follow the sequence and find the missing details. |
Diagram Label Completion | Match information from the text to diagram labels. |
Short Answer Questions | Locate exact answers and follow word limits strictly. |
Focus on understanding the meaning and key ideas of paragraphs, not every word. The goal is to find answers faster and reduce time pressure.
Day 5 (Reading): Strengthen reading accuracy under time pressure
This step helps you turn your reading skills into correct answers. At higher bands, you need to understand the meanings of paragraphs and sentences well enough to choose the right answer, even if you miss some details. Sometimes, test takers lose scores from misreading questions or missing keywords. Today, you will focus on accuracy and fixing those mistakes.
Time: 2 hours Focus: Improve answer accuracy. Reduce common mistakes.
What to do:
Complete one full Reading test under timed conditions.
Match keywords in the questions with the passage.
Check how paraphrasing changes the meaning of the text.
Review mistakes and identify why your answers were wrong.
Materials you can use:
Practice test:
Focus on getting more answers correctly, not just finishing the test within the time limit. Pay attention to how questions are worded and how answers are hidden in the text.
Day 6 (Writing): Structure clear and high-scoring answers
This step helps you organise your ideas so your writing is easy to follow. In IELTS Writing, structure and clarity can quickly improve your score. You don’t need perfect vocabulary; you just need clear paragraphs and logical ideas. Today, you will focus on building that structure.
Time: 2-4 hours Focus: Learn the structure for Task 1 and Task 2
What to do:
Practice Task 1 and Task 2.
Use a clear structure for each response (introduction, body, and conclusion).
Review your writing and check if your ideas are easy to follow.
Improve one weak area, like grammar, idea development, or coherence.
Materials you can use:
Practice tests:
Day 7 (Writing): Improve writing clarity, structure, and accuracy
This step helps you improve your score based on how IELTS examiners mark your writing. The Writing test is graded on task response, coherence, vocabulary, and grammar. To reach Band 7-8, your ideas need to be clear, well-developed, and logically organised with accurate language. Today, you will focus on refining your writing to meet these expectations.
Time: 2-4 hours Focus: Refine writing and meet examiner expectations
What to do:
Answer every part of the question directly without going off-topic.
Organise your essay clearly and logically.
Use a range of vocabulary to express ideas clearly.
Compare your writing with high-scoring samples.
Materials you can use:
Below, we categorised some of our study guides according to which band score descriptors they help you improve:
To Improve This: | Use This: |
Task response (answering the question clearly and fully) | IELTS Writing Task 2: How to present your position |
Coherence and cohesion (organising ideas clearly and logically) | IELTS Writing Task 2: How to Write Good Body Paragraphs IELTS Writing Task 2: How to write a good conclusion Enhancing Coherence and Cohesion: Referencing in IELTS Writing |
Lexical resource (vocabulary range and accuracy) |
Practice test:
Learning checklist:
Use this checklist to review your writing and improve your score.
Task response:
I answered every part of the question clearly.
I stayed on topic and did not include irrelevant ideas.
I stated my main position clearly in the introduction.
I explained each idea, not just mentioned it.
I added a clear example to support each main idea. Each paragraph supports my overall answer.
Coherence and cohesion:
My ideas are organized in a clear and logical order.
Each paragraph focuses on one main idea.
I used linking words naturally. (e.g. however, for example)
My writing is easy to follow from start to end. My paragraphs are clearly structured.
Lexical resource (vocabulary):
I used a range of vocabulary to express my ideas.
I avoided repeating the same words too often.
I chose words that match what I mean accurately.
I used fewer common words correctly when needed.
Grammatical range and accuracy:
I used a mix of simple and complex sentences.
My sentences are clear and complete.
I checked for grammar mistakes. (verbs, tenses, and articles)
Most of my sentences are error-free.
Day 8 (Speaking): Practise fluency and clear communication
To improve your Speaking score, you need to express ideas clearly and continuously. This means each sentence should carry one clear idea, and your answers should be easy to follow from start to end. You should be able to speak without long pauses, connect ideas using simple linking words, and extend your answers beyond one sentence. Your goal is to sound clear, organised, and natural, even if your language is still simple.
Time: 3-4 hours
Focus: Fluency and coherence + clear idea development
What to do:
Speak continuously without long pauses.
Express one clear idea per sentence.
Extend answers with supporting sentences and examples.
Organise answers logically.
Use simple but correct vocabulary when speaking.
Materials you can use:
Below, we have categorised our study guides according to which IELTS Speaking band score descriptor they help you improve.
To Improve This | Use This |
Fluency and coherence (speaking smoothly and organising ideas clearly) | Useful phrases and linking words you can use Using discourse markers to communicate in IELTS Speaking IELTS Speaking Part 2: Brainstorming and idea generation IELTS Speaking Part 2: How to structure your response |
Lexical resource (using a range of vocabulary accurately) | |
Grammatical range and accuracy (using correct and varied sentence structures) | |
Pronunciation (clarity, stress, and intonation) |
Practice tests
IELTS Speaking, Part 1:
IELTS Speaking Part 2:
IELTS Speaking Part 2:
Day 9 (Speaking): Practise all parts of the IELTS Speaking test
To improve your Speaking score, you need to perform well across all three parts of the test. This means you can answer simple questions clearly in Part 1, speak at length with structure in Part 2, and discuss ideas more deeply in Part 3. You should be able to maintain fluency, organise your ideas, and adjust your language depending on the question. Your goal is to sound confident, flexible, and consistent from start to end.
Time: 2 hours
Focus: Apply all speaking skills across Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3
What to do:
Practise answering all parts of the IELTS Speaking test under timed conditions.
Materials you can use:
Practice tests
IELTS Speaking, Part 1:
IELTS Speaking Part 2
IELTS Speaking Part 2
Learning checklist:
Use this checklist to assess whether you were able to achieve the learning goals for this lesson.
Answer Part 1 questions clearly and naturally:
I can answer questions about familiar topics. (work, study, and hobbies)
I can extend my answers beyond one sentence.
I sound natural.
I can speak without long pauses.
Deliver a structured Part 2 long turn:
I can speak continuously.
I cover all points in the cue card.
I organise my answer clearly. (beginning, middle, and end)
I add details, explanations, and examples.
Discuss ideas in Part 3 with depth:
I can explain my opinions clearly.
I can compare ideas or give reasons.
I can extend my answers with examples.
I can handle more abstract topics.
Maintain fluency and coherence across all parts:
I can speak smoothly throughout the test.
My ideas are easy to follow.
I use linking words naturally.
I stay on topic in my answers.
Use a range of vocabulary, grammar, and clear pronunciation:
I use different words to express my ideas.
I use a mix of simple and complex sentences.
Most of my sentences are clear and accurate.
My pronunciation is easy to understand.
Day 10: Take a full practise test and prepare for test day
Finally, once you have finished practising all skills in the prior days, it’s time to retake a practice test and see how you improved. This helps you see if you can manage your time, stay focused, and perform consistently across all sections. You’ll also be able to identify any last weak areas and make quick adjustments before your actual test.
Time: 3–4 hours
Focus: Simulate the real test, identify weak areas, and build confidence.
What to do:
Take the official IELTS Familiarisation Test
Review your answers and identify your weakest section.
Do targeted practice for your weakest skill.
Review key strategies and common mistakes.
Final guide you can use:
Practice test:
IELTS Familiarisation Test
How to adapt this 10-day IELTS study plan
If you have more time → spread out practice.
If you want to focus on one skill → repeat key days.
If you want a higher band score → focus on accuracy and advanced skills.
Prepare more efficiently and effectively for your IELTS test
Now you know that preparing for IELTS doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
With the right materials and plan, you can perform your best on your test day.
Use everything we have discussed here, and wherever you are in your test preparation journey, you can practise more with our FREE practice tests, or book your IELTS at a nearest centre.