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New to IELTS or not sure where to start?

On this page you can find a step-by-step guide to starting your IELTS journey. We will start with the basics, then work towards finding the best study plan for you. Everyone is different in their IELTS learning, but you can use the information in this guide to start you on your way to passing the IELTS, whether it's for work, study or migration.

So, where should you begin?

Step 1: Know your test - Academic or General Training? Computer or Paper?

Step 2: Set your goal - Is there a minimum score needed for your circumstances?

Step 3: Figure out where you're starting from - Take a free online level test!

Step 4: Put together a study plan - So you can plan your path to success!

Taking these first four steps will set you up for future success. You may have already done some of them, and in which case.. well done! You can skip to the steps you need by clicking on the descriptions above.

If you're still not sure where to begin, start here:

Step 1: Know your test

ACADEMIC VS GENERAL TRAINING

It's important that you know which version of the IELTS you need to take. There are separate versions of the test, depending on what your requirements are.

ACADEMIC: Generally taken by those applying to university/higher education. May be required by some companies.

GENERAL TRAINING: Normally taken by those applying for visas and for employment.

Your future university, migration authority or workplace will tell you which test to take, and therefore which test you should be studying for.

Some elements of the test are the same for both Academic and General Training, but the separation of the two for some units mean the vocabulary, difficulty and marking schemes will also vary.

You don't want to make the mistake of studying unnecessarily complex academic vocabulary if you're studying for the General Training exam. And you don't want to be underprepared for the Academic exam because you have only been studying for General Training.

That is why it is so important to check this information now.

The listening and speaking sections are the same for both Academic and General Training.

COMPUTER VS PAPER

As of mid-2026, the IELTS exam board is encouraging test centres to move towards a paperless model of the exam. This means that the availability of paper-based exams will begin to decrease.

There will still be paper-based exams available in certain countries, but you should check your local test centre to see what is available.

There is no difference between the marking scheme of computer vs paper exams, so previously the choice was due to personal preference and availability.

The speaking portion of the exam still remains the same, with an actual examiner. Other English Language Skill exams have begun to integrate AI into this portion, however IELTS continues to have an examiner for each individual speaking test.

Step 2: Set your goal

WHAT IELTS SCORE DO I NEED TO PASS?

There is no official pass mark from IELTS. This means you cannot get a 'pass/fail' grade from the examining board itself.

Instead, you need to check with whoever is asking you to take the exam to establish which score you need to aim for.

Generally, most places will ask for at least a 6.0. However, this can be more or less depending on the government/school/company. It is highly unlikely that you will be asked to achieve an overall band score of 9.0.

Have a look on our Band Scores page to see the proficiency level that each band shows.

It is really important that you check this before you start studying for the IELTS. By knowing what score you are aiming for, you can plan your time better and not "overstudy" - if you only need a 3.5, it is highly unlikely you need to spend several hours a day for months on end studying for the exam.

It is fine to try and achieve the best score possible, but make sure you are realistic with your expectations too. We all love a success story, but if your starting point is around 3.0 it is unlikely you will be able to increase your score to 8.0 in a couple of months. This might lead to burnout, which will damage your likelihood of success.

Step 3: Figure out where you're starting from

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT LEVEL I AM NOW?

1. Take an IELTS Practice Test (Full or Mini)

This is the most reliable way to estimate your current level.

Use an official IELTS practice test (from IELTS.org, IDP, or British Council).
Make sure it includes all four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.
Score it using the official IELTS band descriptors (Writing and Speaking may need a tutor or teacher to mark).
This will give you a rough idea of your current band score.

2. Have a Speaking and Writing Assessment by a Teacher

Many IELTS tutors or schools offer diagnostic tests. They are unlikely to give an official score for any given work, however they can help you with a self-assessment by highlighting the parts of the criteria that you have successfully included in your answers.
You can submit a writing task or do a short mock speaking test and get generalized band score feedback.
This is especially useful for understanding what you need to work on to move up to the next level and how to improve.

3. Self-Evaluation (Less Accurate but Useful)

You can use the IELTS band descriptors for each section to mark your own exam. This is less accurate because you need to know what you're looking for with the speaking and writing exam. It might be worth pairing up with a friend to mark each other and then give each other a score. This will give you a baseline to work off. If you record your speaking test, you can use this to track your progress as you go along. This is great for if you hit a slump and need proof that you're getting better!

Step 4: Putting together a study plan

By now you should know which test format to take, what score you need to pass, and approximately what band you are starting at.

WHAT NEXT?

Now you can start to put together a study plan. To do this, write the following down:

How long until your potential test date
How many hours you can study each day/overall each week
What area you find the most difficult (Reading, Writing, Listening or Speaking)

Halfway between now and your test date, you should mark a date to take a mock test. This should be under exam conditions so your score can be as accurate as possible. Mark 2-3 more mock tests on your calendar. Throughout your study time, you should also put time aside to practise individual sections using practice questions.

Each week, you should practice skills for each section of the exam so all skills stay fresh in your mind, but you can spend more time initially on the ones you find most difficult. You may also want to set apart some time for learning vocabulary each day/week, thinking realistically how much time it takes you to learn new words and phrases.

If you are starting out with only very basic English skills, start with getting to grips with grammar and vocabulary, then integrate IELTS skills into this time once you are comfortable using A2 CEFR level grammar.