IELTS Preparation at Home: Tips, Books, and Sample Papers

Shubhankar Das

Sep 11, 2024

IELTS preparation at home with dedication and the right resources, helps you to achieve a good score. IELTS preparation from home allows you to set your own pace, focus on your weaknesses, and save money on courses. The ideal study time depends on your current English level and target score. Generally, 2-3 months of consistent effort is recommended for IELTS preparation at home. You can consider taking IELTS coaching at home for effective preparation under expert mentorship.

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The first step to start IELTS preparation at home by familiarize yourself with the syllabus; Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. You must understand the different question types in each section of IELTS syllabus. Set realistic goals, allocate time for each section based on your needs, and schedule regular practice sessions to effectively prepare for IELTS from home. Joining IELTS prep course online helps you to boost your preparation through customized study materials and expert guidance. 


Several reputed coaching centers offer IELTS course online with video lessons, practice materials, and feedback from instructors. You can find online tutors or connect with local tutors online in your area for personalized guidance while doing IELTS preparation from home. IELTS exam books are one of the best resources to effectively prepare from home. These books cover the full syllabus and also contain previous year's questions with sample answers.

Tips for IELTS Preparation at Home

IELTS preparation at home requires you to follow a proper study plan and improve your time-management skills. Taking IELTS coaching at home is one of the best and most convenient options to prepare for the exam under expert mentorship. Here are some of the best tips for IELTS preparation from home to achieve your targetted score:

Make a Study Plan 

A proper study plan can help you to disseminate your perfect timings on specific topics. If you are weak at IELTS Writing section, focus on practicing sample questions available online. 

Time Management 

As these competitive exams are time-bound, always measure your time spent on each question. With strict time management, you can plan your strategies accordingly. 

Read Newspapers

English newspapers, watching the news or sports channel will keep you acquainted with the native English speakers and their pronunciations.

Look out for Study Materials

With a little exhaustive hunt, you will find out the best possible study materials. Best IELTS Books for preparation you can get online. You can also register for any online IELTS Preparation App to have an overview idea about preparation. 

Look for the latest updates on the internet

In this technological era world, there is no better way than using the internet for the latest updates. The IELTS learners who are worried about how to prepare for IELTS exam at home can regularly check out the latest YouTube videos. The candidates may look for the top 10 searches of different English-speaking countries on YouTube. This will build strong listening skills to crack the IELTS exam. 

Watch English movies

Utilizing your free time watching English movies can improve your IELTS scores too. Students worried about how to prepare for IELTS at home, without coaching have enough at-home resources for IELTS preparation. 

Role-playing during or after a movie can enhance your English language proficiency. You can do this alone or in groups. It can help to learn a foreign accent as well. For the British accent, one can go to YouTube and type BBC Drama/BBC Documentary in the search box.

Explore your Passion 

Rather than reading the IELTS textbooks and past papers, again and again, you look for the topics of your interest. It is a more engaging way of expertizing the language. Select the topic, read experts’ blogs on that, and you can a range of new English words and phrases. 

Inspiring by these blogs, you may start writing your blog to develop writing skills for IELTS. You can also use the Grammarly tool to check common mistakes so that you don’t repeat them in the future.

In the blogs, you can write IELTS essays and ask your teachers and students to share their reviews of your writing. Your blogs can reach a global audience some of whom can help you to improve your content.

Also, you can forums and Facebook groups where you can find many IELTS examinees, get in touch with them, and learn with them.

Speak in English at Home

The students may hesitate, but regular speaking at home with their family members can help them to get a higher IELTS score. It enhances their fluency, accent, and sentence construction skills. 

Check Podcasts

There are unlimited podcasts available on the internet and some of these are specifically aimed at helping students prepare for the IELTS test. The podcasts are free and updated. So, one can improve listening skills while staying updated. 

Write letters and emails to friends

Letters and emails are a great way to boost up your IELTS’s reading and writing skills. The purpose of writing formal and informal letters state what your observation or remarks on a limited space. So, it will improve your writing skills a lot.

Record your speech

Recording your voice will help you to correct your mistakes. You just need to make sure that you don’t repeat it. Gradually, it will improve your accent and verbal skills.

IELTS Coaching at Home 

IELTS coaching at home offers structured learning plans, personalized feedback from tutors, and access to exclusive study resources. The average fee for IELTS course online ranges on a scale of INR 5,000 to 10,000.  Before enrolling in a paid IELTS online preparation course, consider factors like course format, instructor qualifications, student reviews, and the range of study materials provided.

IELTS Preparation Books

IELTS exam books cover the full syllabus and also contain vocabulary development and structuring of essays and reports for the exam. Some IELTS prep books contain previous year’s questions with sample answers and test-taking strategies. You can refer to the list below to check some of the best IELTS exam books:

  • Barron’s IELTS Super pack – Check PDF

  • The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS – Check PDF

  • Target Band 7: IELTS Academic Module: how to Maximize Your Score – Check PDF

  • Ace the IELTS: IELTS General Module - How to Maximize Your Score – Check PDF

  • Grammar For IELTS – Check PDF

Online IELTS Practice Tests

Many websites and apps provide paid and free online IELTS practice tests. Regularly solving IELTS sample papers will help you to understand the question pattern, and make you familiar with the real-time exam format.


IELTS Writing Practice Tests

IELTS Reading Practice Tests

IELTS Speaking Practice Tests

IELTS Listening Practice Tests

The first step to IELTS prepartion at home is familiarize yourself with the exam format; Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking - and the different question types in each section. The ideal study time depends on your current English level and target score. Generally, 2-3 months of consistent effort is recommended for IELTS preparation from home.

FAQs

Ques: Can I prepare for the IELTS at home?

Ans: With dedication and the right resources, you can achieve a great score on IELTS by preparing from the comfort of your home.

Ques: What are the benefits of preparing for the IELTS at home?  

Ans: IELTS preparation from home allows you to set your own pace, focus on your weaknesses, and save money on courses.

Ques: How long should I study for the IELTS at home?

Ans: The ideal study time depends on your current English level and target score. Generally, 2-3 months of consistent effort is recommended for IELTS preparation from home.

Ques: What's the first step in preparing for the IELTS at home?

Ans: Familiarize yourself with the IELTS format; Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking - and the different question types in each section.

Ques: How do I identify my strengths and weaknesses by preparing for IELTS at home?

Ans: Take online IELTS practice tests and analyze your performance. Online resources often provide score reports with breakdowns by section.  

Ques: How can I create a good study schedule for IELTS at home?

Ans: Set realistic goals, allocate time for each section based on your needs, and schedule regular practice sessions to effectively prepare for IELTS from home.

Ques: What resources can help me improve my reading skills?

Ans: Read a variety of materials like news articles, academic journals, and books related to your interests while preparing for IELTS at home.

Ques: How can I enhance my listening skills?

Ans: Listen to English podcasts, and audiobooks, and watch movies/TV shows in English with subtitles for IELTS preparation at home.

Ques: Where can I find practice tests for the IELTS?

Ans: The official IELTS website offers sample tests, and many online resources provide free or paid practice tests to help candidates with IELTS preparation at home.

Ques: How often should I take practice tests while preparing for IELTS at home?

Ans: Aim to take practice tests regularly throughout your study period to track progress and identify areas for improvement while doing IELTS preparation from home.

Ques: What are some time management strategies for IELTS preparation at home?

Ans: While doing IELTS preparation from home develop a plan for allocating time to each section and practice sticking to it during tests.

Ques: Are there online courses available for IELTS preparation at home? 

Ans: Several online platforms offer IELTS prep courses with video lessons, practice materials, and feedback from instructors.

Ques: Can I find a tutor for IELTS preparation from home? 

Ans: You can find online tutors or connect with local tutors online in your area for personalized guidance while preparing for IELTS at home.

Ques: What is a good score on the IELTS?

Ans: The score requirement depends on the university or program you are applying to. Achieving a score of 7 IELTS band is considered a good score.

Ques: Can I retake the IELTS if I'm not satisfied with my score?

Ans: You can retake the IELTS as many times as you need. you have to pay the full registration fee of INR 17,000 to retake IELTS.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.

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