Understanding IELTS

The British Council’s four Understanding IELTS courses will give you a complete guide to everything you need to know as you prepare for the IELTS test.

During our free 3-week IELTS online preparation courses, you find out about each section of the IELTS test – Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.

You’ll receive advice on each part of the test from our video tutor and a team of experienced IELTS educators. You can also share your experiences, tips and opinions with other learners.

What will I learn?

By the end of the Understanding IELTS: Speaking course, you will learn about:

• the IELTS Speaking test format
• the assessment criteria
• giving a talk
• what to expect on test day.

By the end of the Understanding IELTS: Reading course, you will learn about:

• the IELTS Reading test format
• reading strategies
• IELTS Reading task types
• dealing with vocabulary
• what to expect on test day.

By the end of the Understanding IELTS: Listening course, you will learn about:

• the IELTS Listening test format
• IELTS Listening task types
• Listening skills and strategies
• texts on unfamiliar topics
• what to expect on test day.

By the end of the Understanding IELTS: Writing course, you will learn about:

• the IELTS Academic Writing test format
• the Academic Writing task types
• graphs and charts – language for successful answers
• planning, writing and checking an academic essay
• assessment criteria
• what to expect on test day.