IELTS

As well as being important, the IELTS exam is also expensive! So you need to make sure you’re as well prepared as possible to pass first time. Attending a reputable preparation course – either online or in person – is fairly essential. There are skills you need to pass the exam which go far beyond your English language knowledge.

Group classes are cheaper than individual ones, but the content will not be tailored to your individual needs so you may find certain lessons too easy or difficult. For this reason, a one-to-one lesson once a week may be the best option. You can Google ‘IELTS specialist tutor’ to find your best choice. My own availability is very limited at the time of writing, but if you’re interested you can read more HERE.

Here are my recommendations for the best (free) IELTS preparation sites:

Start with the basics. The British Council IELTS site has all the essential information about taking the exam, as well as free online practice papers and exercises. They also list all the test centres where you can book your test date. Their Road to IELTS online self-study course has free options.

You can book an online class with the British Council and receive a 30% discount with THIS LINK.

The exam is administered by Cambridge University, and their IELTS.org site is a good place to find past exam papers and the latest information on taking the exam. You can also book your test through this site.

IELTS Buddy has some great downloadable study resources, including past papers, tips and advice, and individual questions with sample answers, all FREE to access.

IELTS LIZ

I strongly recommend anyone preparing for the IELTS exam to visit the site of IELTS Liz. A real teacher (not a company), she’s offering over 300 pages of FREE resources, including videos and sample answers on all aspects of the IELTS exam.