IELTS Preparation: 15 Creative & Effective Ways to Study for the Test

When was the last time you took a formal exam? 

If it’s been a while and you're struggling to get back into study mode, you're not alone. 

Many people find it difficult to stay motivated when they return to test preparation, especially if they’re studying the same way in every session. Doing IELTS practice tests or going over the same vocabulary lists every day can feel repetitive and unhelpful. 

If this sounds like you, the answer might be to change how you do it. By mixing up your IELTS study plan, you can keep things interesting and learn more effectively. 

In this post, we’ll share 15 creative IELTS preparation activities. Everyone has a different learning style—so whether you like to learn by listening, doing, drawing or talking, there’s something here for you. 

1. Movie night – IELTS style

Get out the popcorn and watch a documentary or a movie in English without subtitles. Try to jot down keywords or phrases you hear — especially numbers, names, places and opinions, which often appear in IELTS Listening tasks. When you’re done, rewatch it with subtitles to check your listening comprehension.

2. Retelling a podcast

Test your ability to identify main ideas by listening to podcasts on different topics and summarising what you heard. Mix this up and practise different skills by writing your summary or recording it as a voice memo on your phone.

Want to check how you did? Choose a podcast with an audio transcript, so you can compare your summary with what was said.

3. Themed listening weeks

Rather than repeating practice tests, pick a weekly theme based on common IELTS topics. For example: Week 1: Health. Week 2: Education. Week 3: Technology.

Then find all listening practice you can related to that theme, for example podcasts, documentaries, news clips and online talks. It not only takes you out of your usual study routine but also helps expand your topic-specific vocabulary.

4. Matching headings game  

This hands-on study activity is great practice for matching headings questions in the IELTS Reading test.  

Find an article with lots of subheadings. Take a photo of the article and then cut out the paragraphs and subheadings. Mix them up and then put them back together, checking against your photo.  

5. Skim & scan races 

Preparing for the IELTS Reading test doesn’t have to be a solo activity. Work with a study partner to create your own reading tasks.  

Each person chooses an article and writes a set of questions based on the content, asking the other person to find specific details (dates, names, places, times etc).   

Set a timer and race each other to find the answers. Enjoy some friendly competition while improving your reading speed for the IELTS test. 

6. Word type detective 

Take a problem-solving approach to the IELTS Reading test. Choose practice questions where you have to read a text to fill in the gap in a sentence. Turn it into a guessing game: 

1. Look at just the sentence with the blank. 

2. Guess the type of word that is missing (e.g. verb, adjective, number, noun etc). Look at the surrounding words for clues.  

3. Then try to guess the word or phrase before reading. This builds prediction skills—very helpful on test day. 

Watch our video podcast episode on IELTS Reading.

7. Create your own graphs 

Tired of preparing for the IELTS Academic Writing test on your own? Work with a study partner. Each person invents their own dataset (e.g., "Monthly coffee sales in 3 cities") and then creates a basic graph. Draw it on paper or use a program like Excel to make a digital version. 

Then swap graphs and describe it like it’s a real Task 1. You can do this both by talking and writing. Afterwards, swap your written descriptions and give each other feedback.

8. Creative planning 

Task 2 essay practice is an important part of any IELTS study plan. Take a few minutes to plan your essay before writing. Shake things up by doing this creatively with doodles, a mind map or colour coding. 

 9. Creative journaling 

Start a journal to practise writing on IELTS topics like the environment, travel and societal changes. Don’t just write essays. Include mini blog posts, short stories and freewriting. Experimenting with different types of writing can help you build vocabulary, improve grammar and boost writing fluency while adding variety to your practice.  

10. Role-play practice 

If you find the Individual Long Turn intimidating, try this activity on your own or with a study partner. Choose an IELTS Speaking Part 2 topic and break it down into a series of questions. Pretend you’re being interviewed for a documentary or podcast.  This feels more natural and takes the pressure off, giving you time to practise developing your ideas and speaking for longer periods of time.  

11. Voice memos challenge

Pick a new speaking topic daily and record your answer as a voice memo. Then play it back and transcribe it. It’ll help with both speaking, writing and self-correction.

12. Mirror talk 

Prefer a tech-free approach? Practise fluency and develop your confidence by explaining your day to the mirror. 

The last few activities on the list aren’t aimed at a specific IELTS test section, but they can still be valuable for improving your English and helping you stay focused on where you want to be. 

13. IELTS vocabulary game  

Take a break from your desk with this IELTS vocabulary game. One player describes a word related to common IELTS topics without using it; the other guesses. This game helps you remember new words and improve paraphrasing by challenging you to use different ways to express ideas. 

 14. IELTS game night

Turn IELTS preparation into a trivia or game night with friends using quiz apps, charades or boardgames. Need some inspiration? Check out our article Train Your Brain for IELTS: 7 Games to Boost Your English.  

 15. IELTS vision board 

Remind yourself why you’re taking the IELTS test. Make a collage of your new life after achieving the band score you need. Or use Pinterest to create a digital board. Include images related to further study goals, career opportunities or dream destinations. Keep it in sight for motivation.  

IELTS is more than just a test. With the right preparation, you won’t just get the score you need — you’ll also develop strong English skills that will help you succeed in your new life. 

Looking for more IELTS study materials? Our IELTS Prepare Hub gives you the flexibility to prepare your way with our wide range of IELTS test preparation resources.    

Get answers to frequently asked questions about IELTS preparation.