IELTS Band 5 Study Plan: Free 6-Week Plan, Simple Steps

Study plans: Band 5 Study Plan (this plan) · Band 6 Study Plan · Band 7 Study Plan · Band 8 Study Plan · All target scores

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Who this plan is for

This plan is for you if you're scoring around 4 to 4.5 now, or you're not sure of your level yet. Many people need band 5 in each skill, for example for Vocational English for an Australian visa, a vocational course or some jobs. The lessons use simple English, and every test word is explained.

How the plan works

Start with the quick check. It takes about 35 minutes: one listening part, one reading passage, one writing task and one speaking task. Don't worry if it feels hard. It just shows which skill needs the most help.
Five sessions a week, about 20–30 minutes each. Each session tells you what to do and gives you a link. Tick it when you finish. The plan remembers your place on this device.
One easy lesson a week. Read it on the first day of the week. It explains one skill in simple steps, with examples.
Your weakest skill first. If one skill is lower than the others, do that week twice before you move on. That's normal, and it works.
A weekly check. At the end of each week, do one longer test. Your result appears on your plan dashboard.
A full mock test in week 6. A mock test is a practice test with all four parts in order, like the real test. You get an estimated overall band.

What band 5 needs

Listening: about 16 correct answers out of 40. You don't need to understand every word. You need the easy answers right: names, numbers, days and places, spelled correctly.
Reading: about 15 out of 40 in Academic Reading, or about 23 out of 40 in General Training Reading. You need to find the right part of the text quickly.
Writing: answer the question, write in paragraphs, and reach the word count (150 words for Task 1, 250 for Task 2). Simple, clear sentences are better than long sentences with many mistakes.
Speaking: keep talking, give a reason for your answers, and speak clearly. Mistakes are OK. Silence is the problem.

An honest note

The bands on this site are practice estimates, not official results. Listening and Reading estimates are the most reliable, because the answers are right or wrong. For Writing and Speaking, use our estimates as a guide, and compare your answers with the model answers.

The 6 weeks

Before you start

Read our strategy guide, how to get ielts 5, for what this score needs in each skill. Then take the quick check so the plan knows your starting point.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the IELTS band 5 plan take?

Six weeks, with five sessions a week of about 20–30 minutes. If you're busy, do three sessions a week and take 10 to 12 weeks. Going slowly is fine.

Is my English good enough to start this plan?

If you can read this page, yes. The plan is for learners at about band 4 to 4.5. If the lessons feel too hard, start with our free A2 or B1 English course, then come back.

Do I need band 5 in each skill or band 5 overall?

It depends on what you need it for. For Vocational English for Australian visas, you need at least 5 in each of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, so a 5 overall with a 4.5 in one skill isn't enough. Check the exact requirement for your course, job or visa.

Do I need to sign up?

No. The plan is free and your progress is saved only in your browser. If you use another device, start the plan there too.

What should I do after the plan?

Take the full mock test again in two or three weeks. If you're scoring 5 or more in every skill and you want a higher band, move on to the IELTS Band 6 Study Plan.

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