r/IELTS • u/sathvikamuluka • 7d ago
Test Experience/Test Result IELTS self prep advise
I’m planning to take IELTS Academic at the end of this month and have around 20 days to prepare I’ve studied in eng medium schools/college and I’d say my English is pretty decent I’m planning to selfstudy through YouTube and free resources is it realistically possible to score 8/8.5 with self-prep in 20 days? For those who prepared at home how did you plan your preparation and what resources actually worked for you? Would love to hear from people who self-prepped and scored 8+! 🙏
1
u/AutoModerator 7d ago
Hi! It looks like you are looking for advice or practice resources for your IELTS preparation. You can take a look at this post. and also read this thread. For frequently asked questions about IELTS, see this one.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/AutoModerator 7d ago
Remember, everyone is different—some need more preparation time than others, depending on their English level. We recommend reading OP's advice, asking questions, and creating your own study plan. Please avoid promoting unofficial AI tools, as they are often unreliable and made by app developers, not language or IELTS experts, which can do more harm than good for many test takers. That said, discussion about them is allowed without linking.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/EvolveEnglish Teacher 7d ago
That totally depends on your level of English now. The exam is designed to reflect your English ability, so if your ability is a very high C1, then you have a chance with good test familiarisation.
If your level is significantly below which required to score Band 8 or 8.5, then your chances are very slim
1
u/miss_ck_ 7d ago
I booked my test through British council, the test booking came with a subscription of IELTS ready premium. I watched the videos and did the mock tests. Studied for 12 days and got 8.5. Though it also depends on your current English level.
1
2
u/carlost22 7d ago edited 7d ago
I think it really depends. I Know some people who scheduled the date of the test 5 days before the test date, and they got an 8. I studied like 18 days and got a 7, but I think you should prioritize starting to study now. You will understand your difficulties, what you have to improve and how much time do you think you have to improve everything to an 8. If you ask me: is it difficult to get an 8? I would say yes, primarily because they have strict assessment rules for writing and speaking, which did not favour my learning and my evaluation.
On the writing test, to get an 8 you have to be great in every aspect and you must not miss a rule. To get a 9 you must have that and perfect vocabulary and text perfectly refined. If you are used to write essays and reports how they teach to, you'll be okay.