Prepare for the IELTS test with the British Council’s free online courses Understanding IELTS.
Each course is 3 hours a week for 3 weeks. Start anytime.
- Understanding IELTS: Listening
- Understanding IELTS: Reading
- Understanding IELTS: Writing
- Understanding IELTS: Speaking
The Listening course covers:
- Listening test format
- Types of tasks and strategies to help with each
- General English listening strategies to help you cope with complex and unfamiliar topics
The Reading course covers:
- The Reading test format
- Reading strategies
- Reading task types
- Dealing with vocabulary
- What to expect on test day
The Writing course:
- Focuses on the Academic Writing test.
- Explores the test format and strategies for each type of task.
- Looks at graphs and charts in Task 1, how to approach the task and the language needed for a successful answer.
- Examines Task 2 questions and shows how to plan, write and check academic essays.
- Explains the assessment criteria, what the examiner looks for and how to write successfully for IELTS.
The Speaking course covers:
- The Speaking test format
- The assessment criteria
- Giving a talk
- What to expect on test day
