{"id":1709278,"date":"2019-02-22T11:41:22","date_gmt":"2019-02-22T11:41:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.staging.ieltsadvantage.com\/?p=1709278"},"modified":"2021-04-26T21:59:20","modified_gmt":"2021-04-26T20:59:20","slug":"how-long-will-it-take-me-to-get-band-x","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ieltsadvantage.com\/2019\/02\/22\/how-long-will-it-take-me-to-get-band-x\/","title":{"rendered":"How long will it take me to get Band ‘X’?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you need to prepare for the IELTS exam but have no idea how long it will take you? Perhaps you fear that you\u2019re running out of time before your exam?<\/p>\n

This article will help you determine the amount of time you should spend preparing for your IELTS exam and outline exactly how you can implement your plan of action.<\/p>\n

But before we begin, I want you to imagine a scenario for me\u2026<\/p>\n

***<\/h4>\n

Imagine that you have been feeling sick for some time and need to get better.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t know what the problem is.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve posted questions on Facebook, watched videos on YouTube, but there is so much conflicting and confusing information available that you can\u2019t find the answer anywhere!<\/p>\n

So you finally decide that it\u2019s time to see a professional.<\/p>\n

When the day arrives, you walk into the doctor\u2019s office, take a seat and ask:<\/p>\n

\u2018Doctor, how long will it take for me to get better?\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

In reality, the doctor will always reply:<\/p>\n

\u2018That depends \u2013 I need to know what\u2019s wrong, first!\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

***<\/h4>\n

The exact same principle also applies to IELTS preparation.<\/p>\n

No IELTS expert can tell you how long it will take to achieve your desired score if they don\u2019t know anything about you.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Below, I will list 8 questions you MUST ask yourself if you wish to determine how long it will take you to prepare for the IELTS exam:<\/p>\n

Give yourself the time to think about these questions and then record your answers on a blank sheet of paper or document<\/span>. It’s important that you complete this task because your answers will indicate how much work you have left to do. This should only take around ten minutes or so. I’ll include an example answer sheet below:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Now what? <\/strong><\/h4>\n

Once you have recorded your answers, you should review and annotate them. Unfortunately, I can’t do this for you!<\/p>\n

You will need to look for ‘telltale signs’ that indicate how much time you will need to spend studying.\u00a0For example, if you answered ‘NO’ to questions 6-8, it is likely that you should factor in extra time to do some research.<\/p>\n

You can use the key below to determine how much time you will need to get your required score:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n
    How is your general English?<\/span> <\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Answer this one honestly. There is no shame in saying \u2018my general English isn\u2019t great\u2019!<\/p>\n

    However, you should know that your general English skills will impact the time it takes for you to prepare for the IELTS exam.<\/p>\n

    If your general English is weak, you will need to learn the rules behind grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation, all of which require TIME and practice to improve.<\/p>\n

    If your general English is strong, your main focus will be improving your exam skills, which will require far LESS TIME.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. \n
      Where are you now and where do you need to be?<\/span> <\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Another way to phrase this question is: What is your current band score and what is your required band score?<\/p>\n

      The larger the gap between your current and required scores, the MORE TIME it will take you to prepare for your test.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. \n
        When is your exam?<\/span> <\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        If you have already booked your test, it\u2019s important that you are realistic with your expectations. For example, expecting to complete your preparation in just one month will damage both your confidence and your perception of the IELTS exam. The IELTS exam isn\u2019t difficult if you know what you\u2019re doing!<\/p>\n

        If you haven\u2019t booked your test yet \u2013 GOOD! You are in a very favourable position. My advice to you would be to set a realistic deadline by which you should complete your studies. Once you hit this deadline, you must ask yourself \u2013 \u2018Am I confident that I can get the score I need?\u2019 If the answer is \u2018no\u2019 then you should spend more time preparing.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. \n
          How much time can you spend studying each day?<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          This will impact the overall amount of time it will take you to complete your IELTS preparation. For example, an individual that can spare 4 hours of study per day will achieve their IELTS goals in a much SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME than a student that can only study for 30 minutes a day.<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. \n
            What are your specific weaknesses?<\/span> <\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Remember: weaknesses are specific reasons that prevent you from getting the score you need. It\u2019s up to you to identify your individual <\/strong>weaknesses so that you can tackle and improve them in time for your exam.<\/p>\n

            This will both speed up the preparation process AND make it more effective.<\/p>\n

            If you have lots of weak areas, you will need to spend MORE TIME preparing for your IELTS exam.<\/p>\n

            I would recommend prioritising your weaknesses in order of the most difficult. Ranking each area of difficulty will help you determine the areas that you should spend the most time on.<\/p>\n

              \n
            1. \n
              Do you have a positive mindset?<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              A positive mindset is more than just \u2018looking on the bright side\u2019.<\/p>\n

              In my experience, the pupils that achieve their required score the QUICKEST are the ones that view criticism as constructive, feedback as valuable and mistakes as opportunities to improve.<\/p>\n

                \n
              1. \n
                Are you using reliable materials?<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                I speak about the importance of using reliable materials constantly. The reason for this is simple: there is nothing more frustrating than seeing a student\u2019s progress handicapped because they depend on poor quality materials with inaccurate information or misleading advice.<\/p>\n

                Using reliable materials will help you achieve your IELTS goals much QUICKER.<\/p>\n

                Watch this video lesson<\/a> for some advice on finding reliable IELTS materials.<\/p>\n

                  \n
                1. \n
                  Do you have a strong strategy?<\/span> <\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                  It\u2019s important to be strategic while preparing for your IELTS exam; many IELTS students waste their valuable TIME searching for \u2018tips\u2019, \u2018tricks\u2019 and \u2018secrets\u2019 that they think will boost their score.<\/p>\n

                  Unfortunately, the only thing that will improve your score is hard work!<\/p>\n

                  ***<\/h4>\n

                  Once you\u2019ve determined how long it should take you to get your required score, you need to make a plan of action. You might also know this as a study plan or a revision schedule.<\/p>\n

                  In my experience, the best way of creating a study plan is by using your answers from the questions above<\/span>. This information can essentially be transferred into a study plan.<\/p>\n

                  Below I have drawn out a sample study plan based on the sample answer sheet I provided above.<\/p>\n

                  NOTE: this study plan is just an example and is not suitable for your own use. It’s important that your action plan suits your<\/strong> needs and weaknesses. I found the template by Google searching ‘March calendar 2019’ – you can do the same, draw out your own or use the calendar on your phone. Whatever works best for you.<\/p>\n

                  \"\"<\/p>\n

                  By comparing the sample answer sheet with the timetable above, you will notice that:<\/h5>\n