IELTS Guide

Know your level. Set your target. Learn what it takes to reach your dream IELTS score. Each CEFR level maps to an IELTS band range — find yours below and start studying the right vocabulary and grammar.

Want IELTS 7.5? Focus on

and

material

IELTS 7.5 requires C1-level vocabulary (~5,000 words), near-perfect grammar, natural collocations, and confident use of complex structures. Start with C1 vocab and grammar, then push into C2 for the highest band scores.

Study C1 vocabulary Study C1 grammar Push to C2

CEFR Level to IELTS Band

Every CEFR level maps to an IELTS band range. Find your target IELTS score and see which level you need to reach.

Beginner

IELTS 1.0 - 2.5

~600 words

~5 structures

What you can do:

Introduce yourself, basic greetings, simple phrases about daily life.

To reach the next level:

Build basic sentence structures, learn 600+ common words, master present simple tense.

Study vocab Study grammar

Elementary

IELTS 3.0 - 4.5

~1,200 words

~10 structures

What you can do:

Describe your background, talk about routines, handle simple transactions.

To reach the next level:

Past tense, future with "going to", expand topic vocabulary (work, travel, food).

Study vocab Study grammar

Intermediate

IELTS 4.5 - 5.5

~2,000 words

~15 structures

What you can do:

Hold conversations on familiar topics, express opinions, describe experiences.

To reach the next level:

Complex sentences, conditionals, passive voice, topic-specific vocabulary for IELTS.

Study vocab Study grammar

Upper Intermediate

IELTS 5.5 - 6.5

~3,500 words

~18 structures

What you can do:

Discuss abstract topics, present arguments, handle unfamiliar situations fluently.

To reach the next level:

Collocations, discourse markers, paraphrasing, advanced grammar (mixed conditionals, inversion).

Study vocab Study grammar

Advanced

IELTS 6.5 - 7.5

~5,000 words

~20 structures

What you can do:

Express ideas fluently and spontaneously, use language flexibly for social and professional purposes.

To reach the next level:

Precise word choice, idiomatic language, subtle grammar distinctions (modals in past, cleft sentences).

Study vocab Study grammar

Proficient

IELTS 7.5 - 9.0

8,000+ words

Full mastery structures

What you can do:

Understand everything heard or read, summarize information from different sources, express yourself spontaneously with precision.

To reach the next level:

Stylistic refinement, register control, nuance and subtlety in expression.

Study vocab Study grammar

Quick Tips by Skill

Key strategies for each section of the IELTS test.

Speaking

•Record yourself and listen back — notice hesitations and filler words
•Practice with topic cue cards (1 min prep, 2 min speak)
•Use discourse markers: "First of all", "Moreover", "On the other hand"
•Aim for 7+ words per sentence to show grammatical range

Writing

•Learn the Task 1 / Task 2 structure — each has a specific format
•Use academic vocabulary, not conversational speech
•Practice paraphrasing the question in your introduction
•Check your essay structure: Introduction → 2 body paragraphs → Conclusion

Listening

•Listen to English podcasts daily (BBC 6 Minute English is perfect)
•Focus on understanding the speaker's attitude, not just the words
•Practice with IELTS past papers under timed conditions
•Watch English shows with English subtitles first, then without

Reading

•Read academic articles (The Guardian, BBC, National Geographic)
•Practice skimming for main ideas and scanning for specific details
•Build topic-specific vocabulary: environment, technology, education, health
•Time yourself — 20 minutes per passage in the real test

Common Mistakes to Avoid

These mistakes regularly cost IELTS candidates 0.5-1.0 band score. Practice avoiding them and watch your score improve.

Using "very + adjective" instead of stronger adjectives

"very tired" → "exhausted", "very big" → "enormous"

Forgetting to use articles (a, an, the)

Every singular countable noun needs an article

Subject-verb agreement errors

"He go" → "He goes", "They goes" → "They go"

Mixing up "since" and "for"

"since 2020" (point in time), "for 3 years" (duration)

Using present perfect with specific time

"I have been to Japan last year" → "I went to Japan last year"

Double comparatives

"more better" → "better", "more easier" → "easier"

Coming Soon - IELTS Lessons

We are building structured lessons and practice materials for each IELTS skill. Here is what is on the roadmap:

Band 7+ Collocations

Master natural word pairings for higher scores

Coming

Band 7+ Phrasal Verbs

Essential phrasal verbs for speaking and writing

Coming

Topic Vocabulary by Band

Environment, technology, education, health and more

Coming

Idioms for IELTS

Natural idioms that impress examiners

Coming

Part 3 Vocabulary

Advanced words for the most challenging section

Coming

Academic Word List

High-frequency academic vocabulary for Writing Task 2

Coming

Band Descriptors Guide

Understand exactly how examiners score you

Coming

Speaking Question Bank

Practice with real IELTS questions from 2023-2025

Coming

Not sure where to start?

Practice speaking now

CEFR Level to IELTS Band

Every CEFR level maps to an IELTS band range. Find your target IELTS score and see which level you need to reach.

Beginner

IELTS 1.0 - 2.5

~600 words

~5 structures

What you can do:

Introduce yourself, basic greetings, simple phrases about daily life.

To reach the next level:

Build basic sentence structures, learn 600+ common words, master present simple tense.

Study vocab Study grammar

Elementary

IELTS 3.0 - 4.5

~1,200 words

~10 structures

What you can do:

Describe your background, talk about routines, handle simple transactions.

To reach the next level:

Past tense, future with "going to", expand topic vocabulary (work, travel, food).

Study vocab Study grammar

Intermediate

IELTS 4.5 - 5.5

~2,000 words

~15 structures

What you can do:

Hold conversations on familiar topics, express opinions, describe experiences.

To reach the next level:

Complex sentences, conditionals, passive voice, topic-specific vocabulary for IELTS.

Study vocab Study grammar

Upper Intermediate

IELTS 5.5 - 6.5

~3,500 words

~18 structures

What you can do:

Discuss abstract topics, present arguments, handle unfamiliar situations fluently.

To reach the next level:

Collocations, discourse markers, paraphrasing, advanced grammar (mixed conditionals, inversion).

Study vocab Study grammar

Advanced

IELTS 6.5 - 7.5

~5,000 words

~20 structures

What you can do:

Express ideas fluently and spontaneously, use language flexibly for social and professional purposes.

To reach the next level:

Precise word choice, idiomatic language, subtle grammar distinctions (modals in past, cleft sentences).

Study vocab Study grammar

Proficient

IELTS 7.5 - 9.0

8,000+ words

Full mastery structures

What you can do:

Understand everything heard or read, summarize information from different sources, express yourself spontaneously with precision.

To reach the next level:

Stylistic refinement, register control, nuance and subtlety in expression.

Study vocab Study grammar

Quick Tips by Skill

Key strategies for each section of the IELTS test.

Speaking

•Record yourself and listen back — notice hesitations and filler words
•Practice with topic cue cards (1 min prep, 2 min speak)
•Use discourse markers: "First of all", "Moreover", "On the other hand"
•Aim for 7+ words per sentence to show grammatical range

Writing

•Learn the Task 1 / Task 2 structure — each has a specific format
•Use academic vocabulary, not conversational speech
•Practice paraphrasing the question in your introduction
•Check your essay structure: Introduction → 2 body paragraphs → Conclusion

Listening

•Listen to English podcasts daily (BBC 6 Minute English is perfect)
•Focus on understanding the speaker's attitude, not just the words
•Practice with IELTS past papers under timed conditions
•Watch English shows with English subtitles first, then without

Reading

•Read academic articles (The Guardian, BBC, National Geographic)
•Practice skimming for main ideas and scanning for specific details
•Build topic-specific vocabulary: environment, technology, education, health
•Time yourself — 20 minutes per passage in the real test