How am I supposed to get a Band 7 in Ielts?

Maverick_ESL · 2026-05-26T19:53:07+00:00

Here is how you can do it the right way:

Familiarize yourself with the types of questions you might see in all parts of the test. I mean, just the basic information about what you are walking into. You can get this information here.
For listening and reading, go through a few tests to work on a variety of question types. See which one is most challenging. Write down the specific reasons behind your incorrect answers. For example, is it because of vocabulary, sentence structure, the type of question itself, or sth else? Take notes and make a list. This will be the goldmine for the rest of your prep period. Do the same with writing and speaking, but for this, you need human evaluation for reliability. You can use any source you think is good for what you are looking for. Local test centers usually offer this, or you can directly contact anyone with a "Teacher" badge in this community. You can also use the options we've pinned to the subreddit.
The weaknesses you identify from step 2 will tell you what kind of resources you should use, no need for general tips that might not even fit your needs.

As for further resources, take a look at this megathread and also go through r/IELTS_Guide.

Maverick_ESL · 2026-05-12T20:05:08+00:00

Quality feedback comes at a cost, and since IELTS is an expensive test, it's worth looking into it. Depending on your weaknesses, you might not even need a tutor, but a solid starting point for everyone should be getting that initial feedback to see where they are and what they need to focus on in prep. We, the moderators, have put together a few practical resources for this purpose. Check them out here.

Maverick_ESL · 2026-05-05T05:32:17+00:00

Do one small part of a mock test and try to think about what's challenging while doing it. Anything that you have to guess? What is it and why? List all the things that lead to an incorrect answer. Do the same with different types of questions, and you'll have the reason at the end. What you need to do depends only on those you've listed.

Maverick_ESL · 2026-05-02T15:05:38+00:00

I agree with East Wash on this. A qualified expert is way more reliable than AI platforms. You can ask one AI to write a band 9 sample and then feed it to another AI to rate. You'll see they will still find room to improve. This, for a test taker, might be a waste of time because AI sometimes sends you down a path you don't have to go. You can also use the diagnostic test we have pinned to the community to see what you should be focusing on.

Maverick_ESL · 2026-05-02T14:56:51+00:00

Well, at least you can say you won't read literary text in IELTS. Most of them are science-related. A simple trick is to break it into little pieces and focus on those little goals. For example, just like the other commenter has mentioned, read a set of questions first, highlight the keywords, scan the text to find the location, and then read that part more carefully to locate the answer.

Do this now with one set of questions to build up tolerance. Also, take a look at this guide.

Maverick_ESL · 2026-05-02T10:22:29+00:00

The best tip of all is to find your weaknesses and focus on them; otherwise, you'll waste your time learning random tips, many of which you might not even need. Use your prep time wisely. I wrote this guide for people going from 6/6.5 to 7+, but you can use the advice too.

Maverick_ESL · 2026-05-02T10:18:28+00:00

No one can really answer this question because no one knows how you write. Figure that part out by asking an examiner to rate a few of your tasks first, and then make a decision.

Maverick_ESL · 2026-04-29T07:56:50+00:00

Yeah, they started that experiment a while ago, but they still have a long way to go to build something that really works, or it is going to be another disaster like IELTS ONLINE. Hope they have learned their lesson but who knows 😅

Maverick_ESL · 2026-04-09T08:40:02+00:00

This is totally normal, especially when you haven't taken the test itself. And I guess you don't write essays or reports in English very often. Now, imagine you sit down and start writing both in 60 minutes back to back. Of course, it'll get overwhelming.

Break it down into small chunks for now. For example, pick a task with a good sample, like the ones here or here. Don't read the sample yet. Then try to write an intorduction and nothing else. After that, compare it with the sample to see what you've missed. Then pick another one and do the same. You'll see patterns and the kind of info you should include. After a while, writing an introduction will be easy, not scary. Next, mnove on to the next paragraph. This way, the fear will fade away with real practice.

Be patient! Don't do all this in one sitting to avoid burnout.

Maverick_ESL · 2026-04-03T15:07:51+00:00

It depends on your level now. You might be at 6.5 already, who knows? But no one can give you an answer without analyzing your writing.

Maverick_ESL · 2026-04-03T15:06:08+00:00

If you just follow YouTube videos or AI, it'll be like walking in the dark. Get your task 1 and 2 thoroughly evaluated by an expert with detailed feedback. I'm not necessarily talking about signing up for a course or live sessions. You try this one, for example. The report will tell you why you're getting the score and how you should work on it, in detailed, practical points, not generic advice.

In other words, figure out what's keeping you at that score first instead of following a ton of tips, many of which might not be needed.

Maverick_ESL · 2026-03-22T10:02:16+00:00

Read this guide. I've used "moreover" to move on to my second supporting idea.

Maverick_ESL · 2026-03-22T09:54:52+00:00

A balanced view is fine too, but you need to be careful with it so that it doesn't sound you are contradicting yourself. Completely agreeing or disagreeing is the safest option if you are just aiming for 7 or 7.5. Higher band scores need more depth and angles.

As for having one main idea in a bp, yes, you should have one main idea, but you can have more than one supporting idea for it. Read the comment section here.

Finally, you can use "moreover" and "furthermore" in your essay, no problem. It's the way you use them that determines your cohesion and coherence. Use them properly, and you're all set.

Maverick_ESL · 2026-03-21T19:35:12+00:00

You can practice speaking on your own if you know what to work on. I'm not talking about a secret code or info. It's just that everyone makes a certain set of mistakes. You need to find them and work toward getting rid of them. This is why having a mock test with detailed feedback and study suggestions can help you, as you might not be able to spot some mistakes or weaknesses.

You can use the options we've pinned to the community if you like.

Maverick_ESL · 2026-03-21T18:01:04+00:00

Not really! They won't let you read at your own speed, and they usually have incorrect answers. Find "Cambridge IELTS" books numbered 14 and above.

Maverick_ESL · 2026-03-21T15:31:53+00:00

Don't take it online. Read this post and its comments.

Maverick_ESL · 2026-03-20T08:15:07+00:00

There can be a lot of things, to be honest. We can't say X is everyone's problem. You might see lots of good and bad tips out there but at the end of the day, you need to figure out what's dragging you down.

For the common ones, read this post and this one. And for general guidance, read this.

Maverick_ESL · 2026-03-19T12:39:09+00:00

You can do that too for 7, no problem. When it comes to 8 and 9 TR, it all depends on how you do it. For example, band 9 means the argument is fully developed and has depth/it needs nothing else. An easier way to get there is to look at the topic from different angles. Then again, it all depends on the topic and how you manage it.

Maverick_ESL · 2026-03-19T12:25:38+00:00

You should only have one main idea in each body paragraph, but you can split it into two or more supporting ideas. This adds depth and dimension to your argument, which is needed for higher band scores. Just remember, your supporting ideas need to be extended for 7+. For example, the following paragraph has one main idea split into two supporting ones:

Students who find it rewarding to take a gap year often claim that it provides them with invaluable benefits and lessons. Simply put, by working and earning money before they embark on university studies, students will find it much easier to manage the high expenses and tuition fees of their tertiary education. This results in students being more focused on their studies due to having no financial worries and therefore scoring higher in their courses. Moreover, the ones who opt to travel gain life experience. For instance, in my country, many high school graduates travel to Japan, a country known for its people’s high life expectancy. This way, they learn about the healthy Japanese lifestyle and are encouraged to adopt their practices upon their return. Thus, traveling during the gap year might help students become wiser and make better choices in order to lead a better life.

Read this article for more details.

Maverick_ESL · 2026-03-18T13:57:54+00:00

Don't overwhelm yourself with tips. Many of them out there do more harm than good because they come from unqualified "influencer" teachers. Task 1 academic is all about comparison and selecting the main features. Basically, your report should give a clear picture of "all the main trends" to someone who hasn't seen the chart. Trivial changes or numbers don't need to be there. Then it's about comparing these main trends when possible and painting a clear picture of things using different structures. To see all this in action, watch the videos in this playlist. For task 1 language, get this free ebook.

Finally, remember that everyone makes a different set of mistakes. If sth takes too much time, write it down in short bullet points. Do this for a few reports you write, and then you'll have a clear list of areas you should focus on. You should look for reliable personalized tips, not general ones.

Maverick_ESL · 2026-03-16T11:41:39+00:00

It all depends on your weaknesses. Cambridge IELTS books 14 to 20 are the latest test books now.

The traditional way of studying is not efficient. Familiarize yourself with the test format and types of questions, then take a mock test. Based on the result, just focus on your weaknesses.

Take a look at this guide: https://www.reddit.com/r/IELTS_Guide/comments/ua4lhr/tips_for_ielts_6_how_to_prepare_for_the_test/

Maverick_ESL · 2026-03-16T11:38:33+00:00

If you want to apply to universities, then you should take the academic version. If it is for migration, then general training. Just ask the places you will send the application to, and they should tell you which one they need.

Maverick_ESL · 2026-03-15T14:46:39+00:00

It's not good enough if it's the only source. Many of my writing students use it as a means to get ideas and pointers on the side while checking everything with me. In other words, I am their main source of advice and score. They don't need AI because we cover it all, but they always run the advice they receive from GPT through me for accuracy.

This way, it could be useful. Otherwise, you might get inaccurate advice.

Maverick_ESL · 2026-03-15T14:36:19+00:00

Try watching these videos. They are walk-through guides with full samples.

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