IELTS study plan, dated to your exam day
A good IELTS study plan works back from the exam date: find your starting point, build the language, practise each section on the official timing, sit full mock exams, then ease off. Fluentpace makes that plan for you, covering Listening, Reading (Academic), Writing (Academic), Speaking, with every task dated and sized to your hours.
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The IELTS format
Official timings, checked on 20 October 2026. Exam bodies change formats from time to time: check the official page before you book.
IELTS Academic
| Section | Time | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 30 min + 10 min to transfer answers (paper test) | 4 parts, 40 questions |
| Reading (Academic) | 60 min | 3 parts, 40 questions |
| Writing (Academic) | 60 min | 2 tasks, 150 + 250 words |
| Speaking | 11–14 min | 3 parts |
Source: IELTS Academic sample test questions (ielts.org); IELTS General Training test (ielts.org); Everything you need to know about IELTS and the CEFR (ielts.org)
IELTS General Training
| Section | Time | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | about 30 min + 10 min to transfer answers (paper test) | 4 parts, 40 questions |
| Reading (General Training) | 60 min | 3 parts, 40 questions |
| Writing (General Training) | 60 min | 2 tasks, 150 + 250 words |
| Speaking | 11–14 min | 3 parts |
Source: IELTS Academic sample test questions (ielts.org); IELTS General Training test (ielts.org); Everything you need to know about IELTS and the CEFR (ielts.org)
How it is scored
Each section gets a band score from 0 to 9 in half bands. The overall band is the average of the four sections, rounded to the nearest half band.
Fluentpace is independent. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by any exam body; exam names are trademarks of their owners.
Week 1 of a IELTS plan
From a real plan: IELTS Academic, exam in 12 weeks, 8 hours a week over five days. Yours follows your own dates, hours and weak spots.
| Day | Skill | Task | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 4 Jan | Diagnostic test | Diagnostic test, session 1 of 2: Listening, Reading (Academic), Writing (Academic), in the official timing. It shows where you start; do not prepare for it. | 150 |
| Tue 5 Jan | Diagnostic test | Diagnostic test, session 2 of 2: Speaking, in the official timing. It shows where you start; do not prepare for it. | 14 |
| Reading | Do one Reading (Academic) task untimed, then check the answers and write down why each wrong answer was wrong. | 31 | |
| Listening | Do one Listening part untimed, then listen again with the transcript and underline what you missed. | 20 | |
| Writing | Plan answers to two Writing (Academic) tasks in notes (five minutes each), then compare your notes with the task instructions. | 20 | |
| Wed 6 Jan | Marking and review | Mark the diagnostic test. Note your scores in the score log, copy every mistake into the error log, and circle your two weakest sections. | 45 |
| Speaking | Do one Speaking sample task aloud and time each part. Note where you ran short or over. | 40 | |
| Grammar | Find the grammar point behind each diagnostic mistake and write down one rule for each. | 15 | |
| Vocabulary | Choose three topics that come up often in IELTS Academic and start a word list for each. | 15 | |
| Thu 7 Jan | Listening | Listen to an official Listening sample, reading the questions first. Note how much time you get before each recording. | 30 |
| Writing | Read the official Writing (Academic) task descriptions and one sample task. List what a complete answer has to include. | 25 | |
| Reading | Read the official description of Reading (Academic) and try one task untimed. Note which question types slow you down. | 10 | |
| Fri 8 Jan | Weekly review | Weekly review: reread this week's error-log and vocabulary-log entries. | 15 |
| Speaking | Read how Speaking works: the parts, the timing and who you speak to. Record yourself answering one sample question. | 30 | |
| Grammar | List the grammar you are unsure of, from the diagnostic test and your error log. Choose the three most urgent points. | 20 | |
| Sat 9 Jan | Rest day | ||
| Sun 10 Jan | Rest day | ||
| 480 minutes this week | |||
When the mock exams fall
In the same 12-week plan. A mock is one sitting on the official timings; the speaking part goes on the next study day when the exam holds it separately.
- Diagnostic test 4 January 2027 + 5 January 2027, 164 min
- Mock exam 2 15 February 2027 + 16 February 2027, 164 min
- Mock exam 3 2 March 2027 + 3 March 2027, 164 min
- Mock exam 4 8 March 2027 + 9 March 2027, 164 min
- Mock exam 5 15 March 2027 + 16 March 2027, 164 min
- Mock exam 6 22 March 2027 + 23 March 2027, 164 min
Questions candidates ask
How long should I prepare for IELTS?
It depends on the gap between your level now and the level your result needs. As a rule of thumb, Cambridge English estimates about 200 hours of guided learning per CEFR level. If you are already at the level, 6 to 10 weeks of focused, timed practice is a common choice. A Fluentpace plan can run from two weeks to a year.
How many IELTS mock exams should I do?
Enough to learn the timing and see progress, but not so many that there is no time left to fix mistakes. The plan puts a diagnostic test in week 1, a mock every six weeks while you build, then one a week in the final phase (every other week when one mock fills more than half your week), the last at least three days before the exam.
Is this an official IELTS plan?
No. Fluentpace is independent and not affiliated with the exam body. The format summary in your plan comes from the official pages, with the date we checked them, and the practice links point to official free materials.
Can I see my plan before buying?
Yes. Make week 1 of your IELTS plan for free, in your browser, with your own dates. It is made by the same code as the paid plan.