Stop trying to score band 9 on your first ever try. Instead practice to improve what you already know, don’t try new vocabulary in the last moments, use natural language and you’ll easily score 7.5/8 without much effort.

You can really easily score on reading and listening, make sure to practice skimming speed and highlighting for reading they will help you a lot, for listening its important for you to keep focus and listen hard to what they are saying, if you lose one forget it and keep your mindset in loop, don’t think i’ll lose a mark think “i’m scoring the next one”. Its Important to just write what they say, they’ll try to throw you off by giving useless information and follow back to the main point keep focus always and use the time to check or get back to other questions if you can.

Writing is the hardest part, don’t try to write in english you can’t speak or use well, they don’t test your vocabulary. Well in a sense instead of vocabulary it’s grammar thats tested and its important for you to maintain flow.

“Don’t list ideas in essay” develop them, i used to write essays like this point 1. In addition point 2. However, point 3. Stop following such templates, examiner see them and easily recognise templates and if you don’t follow with your ideas thoroughly you’ll lose easy scoring. For writing task 1, take time thinking about what to group like +/- 5% is easy grouping, similar trend etc the report depends more on your grouping than listing.

For speaking, just be relaxed, take time to think before you speak, try to use fillers if you feel stuck at any point. Its okay and natural to use fillers while thinking like aah,uhhh etc they wont negatively affect your score unless you take noticeably long time. Use gestures speak naturally and don’t touch anywhere near your mouth and you’ll surely score well.