IELTS preparation and academic English
Lessons with a specialist tutor from the EDMONT team: from the level assessment to the band score your chosen programme requires.
Why it matters
English is an entry requirement, not a detail of the application
Most English-taught programmes abroad require proof of English language proficiency. Without it, even a strong academic application is not considered at all, so English language preparation is planned alongside the choice of universities, not after a decision arrives.
- B1
Usually not enough for a university programme: further preparation is needed.
- B2
The indicative level for the minimum entry requirements of many programmes: approximately IELTS 5.5–6.5.
- C1
The level of confident academic work: approximately IELTS 7.0–8.0.
The alignment between CEFR levels and IELTS bands is indicative. Requirements for a specific programme are always checked separately: a university may ask not only for an overall band score but also for a minimum score in each component.
Inside the exam
How IELTS Academic works
The test assesses four skills and takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes. Listening, Reading and Writing are taken on the same day with no breaks; Speaking may be scheduled for that day or for another. Each component is scored on a scale from 0 to 9, and the overall band score is the average of the four.
- Listening30 minutes · 40 questions
Four recordings, from an everyday conversation to an academic lecture. Each is played only once.
- Reading60 minutes · 40 questions
Three academic texts, with tasks on the main idea, the detail and the logic of the argument.
- Writing60 minutes · 2 tasks
A description of a graph, diagram or process, and an essay arguing your own position in full.
- Speaking11–14 minutes
A live interview with an examiner: introductory questions, a monologue from a task card and a discussion of the topic.
Lesson formats
Preparation is built around your goal
- 01
IELTS preparation
Targeted work towards the band score you need: all four components, exam technique, practice tests and detailed feedback on every answer. This format suits you when the university asks for a formal English language certificate.
- Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking
- Practice tests under exam conditions
- Aimed at the band score a specific programme requires
- 02
Academic English without an exam
Work on the level of your English when no certificate is required, or when the exam is still a long way off: academic vocabulary, academic writing, reading research texts and confident speaking practice.
- Academic vocabulary and writing
- Reading demanding texts
- Fluent speaking
- 03
Interview practice with a native speaker
One-to-one lessons with a UK-based tutor who is a native speaker of English: pronunciation, speaking practice, talking about yourself confidently and practice with the questions asked at a university interview.
- A UK-based native speaker of English
- A mock university interview
- Pronunciation and talking about yourself confidently
How we work
From the first level assessment to a practice test
- 01Level assessment
The tutor establishes your current level and identifies the gap between it and what your chosen programmes require.
- 02Your study plan
We draw up a lesson plan with a realistic timeframe: which skills we work on, in what order and by when.
- 03Regular work
Lessons with the tutor, and independent practice between them. Progress is tracked and the plan is adjusted.
- 04Checking the result
Practice tests under exam conditions show how ready you are for the real test and which weak points remain.
Level check
Start from your current level
The short EDMONT level check – 16 tasks covering grammar, academic vocabulary and reading – gives an indication on the CEFR scale and an indicative IELTS range. It is the starting point for a conversation about preparation.
The level check takes 10–15 minutes; it does not replace the official test and does not give an IELTS band score.Questions
The questions we are asked most
How long does IELTS preparation take?
It depends on your current level and your target band score. Moving to the next CEFR level – from A2 to B2, for example – usually takes several months of regular work. The tutor states a precise timeframe after the level assessment.
What band score do you need to apply?
Requirements are set by the university and vary even within the same institution. Many undergraduate programmes work to a range of about 6.0–6.5, and master’s programmes often ask for a higher band score. We check the requirements of the specific programmes on your list.
How does Academic differ from General Training?
To apply to a university you take IELTS Academic: its texts and tasks are close to those of an academic environment. General Training is intended for migration and work purposes.
How long are IELTS results valid?
A result is normally accepted for two years from the test date. When you plan the date you sit the test, make sure the result is still accepted when you submit your application and when you enrol.
Can you take lessons if you do not need the exam yet?
Yes. If no certificate is required, or if your application is still a long way off, the lessons are built around academic English and confident speaking rather than around the format of the test.
What if a programme asks for TOEFL?
In most cases you will not need it: IELTS Academic is accepted by universities in the United Kingdom and across Europe, and by almost every university in the United States, so one exam is usually enough for an entire list of programmes. Where a chosen programme accepts only TOEFL, we verify that requirement on its official page and build the preparation around that exam — the underlying academic skills are the same; what differs is the format of the tasks.
Let us discuss your English language preparation
Tell us about your current level and your admissions goals. We will establish the lesson format and a realistic timeframe for preparation.
IELTS · Academic English · Interview practice