IELTS vocabulary flashcards and a study plan
Prepare for IELTS with daily vocabulary flashcards and timed practice in all four skills: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. IELTS takes about 2 hours 45 minutes and gives a band score from 0 to 9. Academic and General Training share Listening and Speaking but differ in Reading and Writing.
Facts checked Oct 27, 2026 against the official site
Where are you now, and where do you want to be?
The IELTS overall band runs from 0 to 9. Set your latest practice score and your target; the study plan follows it.
+1.5 bands: we suggest 20 minutes of cards a day, plus a timed practice section every few days.
What's on the IELTS?
Four parts. Listening, Reading and Writing are taken in one sitting; Speaking can be on the same day or up to a week before or after.
Listening
40 questionsAbout 30 min
- Four recordings, from everyday talk to a lecture
- Same test for Academic and General Training
Reading
40 questions60 min
- Three sections
- Academic uses texts from books and journals; General Training uses everyday and work texts
Writing
2 tasks60 min
- Task 1: at least 150 words. Academic describes a chart; General Training writes a letter
- Task 2: an essay of at least 250 words, worth twice as much as Task 1
Speaking
3 parts11 to 14 min
- A face-to-face talk with an examiner
- Recorded for marking
- Band scale
- 0 to 9, in half bands
- Overall band
- Average of the four parts
- Versions
- Academic or General Training
- Results valid
- 2 years, as IELTS advises
IELTS runs on computer at test centers on many days, and as IELTS Online. Pick the date you booked or plan to book.
Sources:IELTS Academic test formatIELTS scoring in detailIELTS One Skill Retake
What to memorize for the IELTS
Vocabulary and set phrases lift your Writing and Speaking bands. That's where flashcards help most.
Worth a flashcard
- Topic words: environment, education, technology, health
- Linking words for essays: however, whereas, consequently
- Chart verbs for Academic Task 1: rose sharply, fell slightly
- Word pairs that go together: make a decision, heavy traffic
Flashcards won't fix
- Following fast speakers: practise with real recordings
- Fluency in Speaking: talk out loud every day
- Writing 250 words in 40 minutes: write timed essays
Quick IELTS quiz
3 questions in the IELTS style, written by us. Each answer says why.
1 of 3“Prices ___ between 2010 and 2015, rising and falling each year.” Which verb fits?
IELTS Academic vs General Training: which one do you need?
Ask the university, employer or visa office which one they accept. Listening and Speaking are the same in both.
Academic
- Who takes it
- Students applying to university
- Listening
- Same test
- Reading
- Texts from books and journals
- Writing Task 1
- Describe a chart, table or diagram
- Speaking
- Same test
General Training
- Who takes it
- Work, migration and school below degree level
- Listening
- Same test
- Reading
- Everyday and workplace texts
- Writing Task 1
- Write a letter
- Speaking
- Same test
IELTS questions people ask
Short answers, checked against the official site.
How long should I study for IELTS?
It depends on your current band and your target. Moving up one band often takes a few months of steady practice. The score ruler on this page suggests a daily time for your gap.
How is the IELTS overall band worked out?
It's the average of your four part scores, rounded to the nearest half band. An average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band, and one ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band.
How long are IELTS results valid?
IELTS advises treating results as valid for two years. Some organisations accept older results, so ask them directly.
Can I retake just one part of IELTS?
Yes, with IELTS One Skill Retake, if you took the full test on computer at a center that offers it. You must sit the retake within 60 days.
Do flashcards help with IELTS?
Yes, for vocabulary, linking words and chart verbs. They won't build fluency on their own, so speak and write timed answers too.
Facts checked on Oct 27, 2026. IELTS is a registered trademark of the British Council, IDP IELTS and Cambridge University Press & Assessment, which are not linked to StudyVisually. Sample cards and questions are written by StudyVisually, not taken from official tests.