🎓 Students · IELTS中文版
Get ready for IELTS: the four papers and an 8-week plan
Need IELTS for university, a visa or a job abroad? Learn what each paper really tests, then practise with real English every day. Steady practice beats memorising model essays.
The four papers
Listening
About 30 minutes · 4 parts · 40 questions
Can you catch details like names, numbers and dates, and follow what speakers think, in conversations, talks and academic discussions?
Exam tipBefore each recording starts, read the questions and note the word limit (for example, NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS). Guess what kind of answer you need: a number, a name or a place.
How Dictionify helpsPractise with podcasts or videos that have a transcript. When a word in the transcript is new, double-click it to see its meaning in that sentence, its IPA, and hear it read aloud.
Reading
60 minutes · 3 passages · 40 questions
Can you find information fast, understand the writer's view, and tell True, False and Not Given apart under time pressure?
Exam tipDon't read every word. Skim the first sentence of each paragraph to see the structure, then use key words in each question to find the right part of the text. If nothing in the text supports an answer, it is often Not Given.
How Dictionify helpsWhen you read English articles at home, use Summary to check you got the main points, then double-click only the key words you need. You see the meaning that fits that sentence, not a long dictionary list.
Reading in English →Writing
60 minutes · Task 1: 150+ words · Task 2: 250+ words
Task 1: describe a chart, graph or diagram (Academic) or write a letter (General Training). Task 2: write an essay, which counts for about twice as much as Task 1.
Exam tipDo Task 2 first and give it about 40 minutes. Spend the first 5 minutes planning your position and two main ideas. Give each idea its own paragraph with one clear example.
How Dictionify helpsWrite your practice essay yourself, then press Polish. Every change is marked, so you can see what was wrong and why. Polish improves your own writing; it never writes the essay for you.
IELTS Writing Task 2 guide →Speaking
11–14 minutes · 3 parts · face to face with an examiner
Can you talk about everyday topics, speak for one to two minutes on a topic card, and discuss bigger ideas, with clear pronunciation and good grammar and vocabulary?
Exam tipIn Part 2 you get one minute to prepare. Write four or five key words, not full sentences, and speak in this order: what, when, why, and how you felt. It keeps you going for the full two minutes.
How Dictionify helpsPlay the read-aloud on any word you look up to hear the stress and sounds, and repeat it. Every example sentence on our website can be read aloud too, so you can practise saying new words in a full sentence.
Speaking practice →DictionifyChrome extension
Stuck on a word while you research?
Double-click any word on any website. Dictionify reads the whole sentence and explains what the word means in that sentence, in plain English. Go Pro for unlimited lookups, Summary for long readings and Polish for your writing.
Add to Chrome- Pro: unlimited lookups
- Summary and Polish
- 7-day Pro trial
What do the bands roughly mean?
You manage familiar topics and get the main idea of most texts, but long sentences and academic words slow you down. Your writing and speaking have quite a few mistakes and repeat the same words.
You handle most everyday and study situations. Your writing is well organised, with some grammar mistakes that don't block meaning. Many university courses ask for a score around here.
You understand difficult texts and discussions well. You choose words that are varied and fit the context, explain and support your ideas clearly, and make only small mistakes.
An 8-week study plan
- 8–6 weeks before Take one full practice test to find your weakest paper. Every day, read one English article and listen to 20 minutes of English. Save useful new words together with the sentence you found them in.
- 5–3 weeks before Focus on one or two question types each week, such as True/False/Not Given or describing trends in Task 1. Write two Task 2 essays a week, check them with Polish, and keep a list of the mistakes you make again and again.
- Last 2 weeks Do a timed practice test every two or three days so you learn to manage time. Review your mistake list and your saved words (flashcards on Pro). Practise Speaking Part 2 with a two-minute timer.
- The day before Don't start a new practice test. Read your mistake list once, check where the test centre is, what ID to bring and when to arrive, then get a good night's sleep.
Common preparation mistakes
MistakeMemorising model essays and "magic" sentences
FixExaminers notice memorised language, and it often doesn't answer the question, which costs you marks. Learn useful phrases and a clear essay structure instead, and build a fresh answer for each question.
MistakeDoing test after test without checking why you lost marks
FixYou will repeat the same errors. After each test, spend as long reviewing as you spent testing: was it a word you didn't know, a question you misread, or running out of time?
MistakeLearning word lists with no sentences
FixKnowing a translation is not the same as using a word. Learn how it is used and what words go with it, for example "have an impact on", not just one Chinese meaning.
MistakeLeaving speaking practice to the last month
FixFluency grows slowly. From week one, speak English for two minutes a day on any topic and record yourself. When you play it back, listen for long pauses and words you repeat.
Pages to practise with
FAQ
What IELTS score do I need?
It depends on your goal. Many universities often ask for about 6.0–7.0 overall, and some courses also set a minimum for each paper. Visa and job requirements vary, so always check the latest requirement from your own school or organisation.
What is the difference between Academic and General Training?
Listening and Speaking are the same in both. Academic Reading uses more academic texts, and Writing Task 1 asks you to describe a chart or diagram; it is usually for university study. General Training uses everyday texts, and Task 1 is a letter; it is often used for immigration and work. Check which one you need before you book.
Should I take IELTS or TOEFL?
First check which tests your school or organisation accepts; many accept both. In IELTS Speaking you talk with a real examiner face to face, which some people find more natural. If you are applying to schools in the US, find out whether TOEFL is more common there.
How long should I prepare?
If you are already close to your target band, 6 to 8 weeks of regular study is usually enough. If you need to go up a full band or more, plan for three months or longer, and spend that time reading, listening and building vocabulary, not just practising tests.
How long is an IELTS result valid?
Most schools and organisations usually accept results for two years. Some have their own rules, so check with them before you apply.