IELTS Band 7 Study Plan: Free 6-Week Plan with Practice

Study plans: Band 5 Study Plan · Band 6 Study Plan · Band 7 Study Plan (this 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 6 to 6.5 and need 7 in each skill, for example for visa points, professional registration or postgraduate study. You should already be comfortable with the test format; this plan is about precision, not basics.

How the plan works

Start with the quick check. About 35 minutes: one listening part, one reading passage, one Task 2 essay and a Part 2 and Part 3 speaking task. At band 7, the gap is often in one or two skills only, so the check tells you where to spend your time.
Five sessions a week, about 25–30 minutes each. Each session has one clear job. Tick it off when you finish; the plan remembers your place on this device.
One lesson a week. Each lesson explains what separates band 6 from band 7 in one skill, with examples of both. Read it on the first day of the week.
Weakest skill first. If one skill is half a band or more below the others, repeat its week before you move on, or swap one session a week for extra practice in that skill.
A weekly check. A full section test at the end of each week, so you can see whether your scores are moving.
A full mock test in week 6, with an estimated overall band.

What band 7 needs

Listening: about 30 correct out of 40. The difference from band 6 is mostly Parts 3 and 4: following speakers who change their minds, and catching answers that are paraphrased rather than repeated.
Academic Reading: about 30 out of 40 in 60 minutes. You need to match meaning, not words, and keep to time across three passages.
Writing: a clear position throughout, every main idea extended and supported, logical progression with cohesion that isn't mechanical, some less common vocabulary used accurately, and frequent error-free sentences, including complex ones.
Speaking: speak at length without effort, with only occasional hesitation for language; use some less common and idiomatic vocabulary, and a mix of simple and complex structures with good control.

An honest note

The bands here are practice estimates, not official results. Listening and Reading estimates are the most reliable, because answers are right or wrong. For Writing and Speaking, use our estimates as a guide and compare your answers closely with the model answers, especially for the band 7 features listed in each lesson.

The 6 weeks

Before you start

Read our strategy guide, how to get ielts 7, 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 it take to go from band 6 to band 7?

For many people it takes two to four months of regular practice, and writing and speaking usually take longest. This plan gives you a focused six weeks, which you can repeat for the skills that haven't reached 7.

Do I need 7 in every skill or 7 overall?

It depends on the organisation. Australian visas use 7 in each skill for Proficient English, and many professional bodies set a minimum per skill too. Check the exact requirement before you start.

Which skill is hardest to move to band 7?

Writing, for most people. The jump needs fully developed ideas and frequent error-free sentences, which takes deliberate practice. Weeks 3 and 5 of this plan focus on writing for that reason.

Should I do the band 6 plan first?

Only if your quick check shows a skill below 6. In that case, do the band 6 week for that skill, then come back to this plan.

Is my progress saved?

Yes, in your browser on this device. There's no sign-up, and nothing is sent to us. If you change devices, start the plan again there.

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