How long will it take to improve my IELTS band score? There’s no simple answer.
It’s the most commonly asked question asked amongst IELTS candidates who have already taken a test and – having fallen short of their target band score - need to do a retake. How long will it take to reach my target? In 2021, a team in South Korea conducted a study by looking at a group of Korean students who took a test then prepared for and retook the test and measured their scores across the two tests. Their research, funded and published by the British Council, IDP and Cambridge English Assessment, concluded that after around 3 months of study the students in the group were able to improve their previous score by half a band. Another study of a group of students taking intensive English Language study courses in Australia and New Zealand drew a similar conclusion.
So in short, according to these studies, it takes the average student around 200 hours or 3 months of study and practice to make an improvement of half a band in their overall IELTS band score. But in a blog post written on the Cambridge.org website Pete Jones (an experienced teacher, trainer and examiner), quite rightly points out that it’s not as simple as that. He argues that various factors about the student’s background and their learning situation have to be taken into account and that what is possible for one student may not be achievable for another. The most important factors are:
1. The student’s current level of English
2. The student’s target band score
3. The student’s date/deadline for their next test
4. The Student’s availability and motivation to study regularly before they take their next test.
Experienced teachers will obtain this information from a new student in order to assess the student’s ability to achieve their targets and as Jones points out, based on the information given, the student is going to get one of three possible answers:
a. Yes, your target is achievable in the time you have to study before your next test.
b. It is possible to achieve your target but it won’t be easy and you’re going to have to work very hard.
c. You’re going to need more time.
Let’s give this context by showing a typical student and their situation for each of these answers. Each student has taken the test within the past month:
Answer a.
A student scored 7 on their last test and they need an overall improvement to band 7.5. Their current English level is C1 and they use/have exposure to English regularly. They need to focus on just one skill where they fell short by half a band. They have 2-3 months to prepare before their re-take.
Answer b.
A student scored a band 7 on their last test and they need to improve to band 8. Their CEFR level is C1. They practice and use English regularly. They need to improve on one skill by one band. They have 1-2 months to prepare.
Answer c.
A student scored a band 5 on their last test and they are targeting a band 7. Their current English level is B1. They have little exposure to English and don’t practice outside of the classroom. They have 1-2 months before their retake.
If you’re facing a test, whether for the first time or doing a retake to try and improve, you need to ask yourself these questions.
1. What is my current level of English?
2. How long do I have to achieve my band score?
3. How much time can I devote to study and practice before I take my next test?
4. Is my target band score achievable in the time I have before my next test?
5. Can I delay my next test and give myself more time to improve my English if my teacher recommends it?
The last 2 questions are the most difficult for students to ask themselves because for some, the answers may involve a painful change of plan. It isn’t easy to have to admit to yourself that you won’t be able to attend your chosen University for another year or delay your plans to emigrate because you’re not going to achieve their required band scores by a given deadline. Nevertheless, it’s important to accept the reality of what you can achieve. So managing your expectations and being realistic are the first things you need to understand. There’s no ‘magic wand’ or short cut to improving your band score. As always, the best advice is: the more time you can give yourself to practice and prepare before a test, the better prepared you will be. This principle applies whatever your target band may be and whatever English level you have.
Further Reading
Pete Jone’s blog post here:
https://www.cambridge.org/elt/blog/2021/07/14/how-long-ielts-students-improve-score/
The 2021 report on a study of band score gains among Korean students enrolled in IELTS preparation classes in Korea:
2003 report on a study of band score gains among students from different non English-speaking backgrounds taking intensive English language courses in Australia and New Zealand:
