Most people start with "a bit of English every day" and, three months later, have no idea where they stand. The problem isn't effort — it's measurement. The plan below also tells you what to measure each week.
Week 0: fix your starting point
Take a diagnostic on day one. The goal isn't a high score, it's an accurate number. Write down all four skills: every decision after this leans on those numbers.
Your weakest skill usually returns the most. Moving 5.5 → 6.5 is easier than 6.5 → 7.0.
Weeks 1–4: the base
- 20–30 minutes of Reading or Listening daily — small, but every day.
- Two essays a week. No more: after each one, read the feedback and keep a running list of your errors.
- Speaking three times a week, 2 minutes each, recorded. Listening back is uncomfortable and it's the fastest-paying exercise there is.
- 10 new words a day — in context, not as a list.
Weeks 5–8: the format
Now switch to exam format: one full mock a week, plus a review. This plan needs about 12 tests: take them from Karvon Tests, and if you run out, use official IELTS practice books. It's normal for the review to take longer than the test — find the "why" behind every wrong answer.
- 1Separate the two causes: did you run out of time, or out of knowledge?
- 2Which Reading question type costs you most? (True/False/Not Given usually leads.)
- 3In Listening, was the mistake spelling, or did you not hear it?
Weeks 9–12: polish
In the final month, don't learn new things — make what you have faster. Two mocks a week, one essay or speaking task daily. Don't sit a full test in the last three days: fatigue costs more than the practice gains.
In the final week, write your 20 most frequent mistakes on one page and read it daily. That page is your personal textbook.