What good IELTS study material looks like
Plenty of material is available in Dhaka, from printed guides to notes passed between friends at university. Quality varies. Good material has a few things in common:
- It follows the real format. Question types, timings and word limits match the current test.
- It explains answers. A score without explanations teaches you little. You need to know why an answer is NOT GIVEN or why a heading is wrong.
- It is clear about Academic and General Training. Reading and Writing differ between the two.
- It teaches strategy, not shortcuts. Be cautious of lists of "magic phrases" for Writing or memorised Speaking answers. Examiners are trained to notice them.
- It is honest. No book, notes or course can guarantee a band.
Photocopied notes can be useful, but they are often old, sometimes describe outdated rules, and rarely include audio of good quality. Before you rely on any set of notes, check one detail against the official IELTS information, such as the Reading time or the Writing word limits. If that is wrong, put the notes aside.
How to make your own study notes
The most useful IELTS study notes are the ones you make yourself from your mistakes. Keep them short and organised by module.
- Listening: a spelling list and a list of number and letter errors.
- Reading: paraphrases you missed (for example, question says "fell", text says "declined sharply") and notes on NOT GIVEN mistakes.
- Writing: your three most frequent grammar errors, useful structures for each essay type, and Task 1 language for trends and comparisons.
- Speaking: vocabulary for common topics, and sounds you are working on.
Our Study Notes and free tools
IELTS Learning includes Study Notes, strategy chapters for each module and question type, written to be read in short sessions on a phone. You also get:
- Mistake Notebook: every wrong answer from practice and mocks is saved automatically, which becomes your personal set of notes.
- English Improvement: grammar and vocabulary practice for the areas that most affect Writing and Speaking.
- Spaced-repetition flashcards for vocabulary.
- A personal study plan based on your test date and target.
Some useful material is free, with no card needed:
- A complete free sample mock test with all four sections.
- Free sample Listening and Reading sets. Try the practice tests.
- Daily Vocabulary: five new words a day.
- The Band Score Calculator.
- The Quick Wrap last-minute checklist and our weekly IELTS tips blog.
Full Access, $12 for 2 months, unlocks the 15 mock tests and everything else.
Using Cambridge IELTS books alongside our tests
Many students in Dhaka also use the official Cambridge IELTS practice books, and they are a good source of authentic test papers. Our tests follow the same official format, so the two work well together.
A sensible way to combine them:
- Use our practice sets for daily skill-building, because they give instant scores, explanations and an automatic record of mistakes.
- Use a Cambridge test or one of our full mock tests every week or two for a timed, full-length check.
- Practise on our computer-style screens if you are taking the computer-delivered test, since the books are paper-based.
- Record all mistakes, from both sources, in one place.
Buy the books from a reputable seller so the audio and answer keys are complete.
A weekly study routine for Dhaka
This plan assumes about an hour a day on weekdays and a longer session on your day off. Adjust it for university exams, office hours or shifts.
- Day 1: Listening set (headphones, quiet room) and review.
- Day 2: Reading passage on your commute, then a Task 1 at home.
- Day 3: Speaking practice out loud for 20 minutes, Part 2 with the cue-card timer.
- Day 4: Task 2 essay, 40 minutes, then read the feedback.
- Day 5: Reading set and Study Notes on your weakest question type.
- Day 6 (day off): full mock test or Cambridge test, followed by review.
- Day 7: rest, or light vocabulary and a blog post.
Use the Metro Rail ride or the wait in traffic for Daily Vocabulary and flashcards. Keep scored Listening and Writing for home. In the monsoon, when journeys take longer, shift more reading and vocabulary to the commute and keep your evening for writing.
Ready to start?
You can register free and take the sample mock test today. It is the quickest way to find out which notes you actually need.