Example learning journey · The university applicant
Preparing for IELTS Academic for university study
Strong reader who freezes in Speaking and runs out of time in Writing Task 2. A ten-week plan focused on timing, structure and spoken confidence.
This is an illustrative example, not a real student's story. It shows how a learning plan for this kind of goal could be structured. Every learner's plan is built around their own starting point.
At a glance
- Starting pointComfortable reading academic texts. Hesitant when speaking, and runs out of time in Writing Task 2.
- GoalA specific overall IELTS Academic band required by a university, with a minimum in each skill.
- Time availableAbout six hours a week alongside full-time work.
- Main focusSpeaking fluency, essay structure and timing.
The starting point
This learner reads well. They understand complex articles and score well on practice reading tests. But in speaking practice they give short answers and pause for long periods, and in Writing Task 2 they spend too long planning and finish with an incomplete conclusion.
The first step is a practice task in each skill. It confirms that Reading and Listening are close to the target, while Speaking and Writing need the most attention. The plan puts most of the time where the marks are.
The ten-week plan
- Weeks 1–2Understand the test and the criteriaLearn what the band descriptors reward. Record Part 1 answers and compare them against the four speaking criteria. Write one Task 2 essay without a time limit to see the natural approach.
- Weeks 3–4Structure firstPractise the four-paragraph essay structure and a five-minute plan. In Speaking, practise extending answers with reasons and examples.
- Weeks 5–6Build rangeTopic vocabulary for common themes (education, technology, environment, work). Part 2 long turns from keywords, building towards the full two minutes.
- Weeks 7–8Timed practice with feedbackTwo timed essays a week with detailed feedback. Part 3 discussion practice, giving balanced views and reaching a conclusion.
- Weeks 9–10Rehearse test dayFull practice tests under exam conditions. Review personal error patterns. Plan for timing and nerves on the day.
A typical week
| When | Activity | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Guided lesson: Writing Task 2 planning and feedback | 90 min |
| Tuesday | Speaking practice: Parts 1 and 2, recorded | 45 min |
| Wednesday | Topic vocabulary and one timed paragraph | 45 min |
| Thursday | Guided lesson: Speaking Part 3 and pronunciation | 90 min |
| Weekend | One timed essay and one listening practice section | 90 min |
How progress is checked
- Speaking recordings from week 1 and week 8 are compared side by side.
- Each essay is reviewed against the same criteria, so improvements are easy to see.
- Timed practice tracks whether the essay is finished, with checking time, inside 40 minutes.
What this example shows
- Strong skills still need maintenance, but most time should go to the weakest.
- Structure and timing often unlock writing scores faster than "more vocabulary".
- Speaking confidence grows through regular, recorded practice, not memorised answers.
Related reading: How to Structure an IELTS Writing Task 2 Essay and Common IELTS Speaking Mistakes.