How I Got Band 7.5 in IELTS in Just 20 Days: My Exact Strategy for All Four Modules

20 days, no guesswork: Listening 8.5, Reading 8, Writing 6.5, Speaking 7. Reading was my weakest module, so I stopped taking full tests and drilled the three question types that kept beating me. Here's the whole plan.

By Aehtesham Mallick Reshad·9 October 2026·7 min read

Step 1: Understand the test before you study

The very first thing I did was watch some informative videos about the IELTS exam process, including details about each module, timings, and marking criteria, to become familiar with the test format. After reviewing the details, I felt listening and reading would be relatively easy for me.

Step 2: Take a diagnostic test (and get a reality check)

I decided to take a listening practice test first, just to check if my assumption was correct. I discovered that Engnovate provides Cambridge IELTS questions with an excellent exam interface. I took one of their listening tests and, boom, scored a 7 on my very first attempt.

That listening score boosted my confidence and encouraged me to attempt a reading test right away. However, I scored only a 6, which left me feeling a bit frustrated. It was a clear reality check: reading was going to be more challenging than I had anticipated.

My strategy for an overall band 7+

From YouTube videos, I realised that both speaking and writing take significant time to develop, and that a 7 in either module is considered exceptionally strong. So to secure an overall band of 7+, my strategy was clear: excel in listening and reading to pull up my average, while aiming for a solid 7 in both speaking and writing.

IELTS Reading: how I went from 6 to 8

With this goal in mind, I began my targeted preparation on September 9, exactly 20 days before my exam on September 29. Since fixing my reading performance was the top priority, I focused on identifying my weak areas, specifically the question types I struggled with most, so I could practise them systematically.

IELTSbiz was immensely helpful here, because it lets you practise one question type at a time. (Full disclosure: I'm also the developer behind IELTSbiz.) Three types proved particularly challenging and time-consuming for me:

• Matching Headings
• Matching Information
• True / False / Not Given

I practised these extensively. Over time I grew comfortable with their nuances and started getting almost every answer correct. Feeling prepared, I attempted a full reading test again, and this time my score jumped to an 8, which is exactly what I got in the real exam.

IELTS Listening: from 7 to 8.5 with tactics, not just practice

Next came listening, where I was consistently scoring around 7 or 7.5. Deep down, I knew that a high overall band needed listening at 8 or above. Surprisingly, simple practice wasn't enough to reach the top bands. Specific test-taking tactics were what made the difference. The Lelie IELTS YouTube channel gave me the strategies that worked:

• Read complex questions more than once before the audio starts.
• Identify and mark keywords quickly.
• Pre-read long multiple-choice options before the audio plays, so you know what you're listening for.

Once I used these tactics, the results were immediate: my listening scores moved from 7–7.5 to a consistent 8–8.5. I was thrilled to see such solid progress across both receptive skills. In the real exam I scored 8.5.

IELTS Writing: a 6.5 with AI feedback on every essay

Alongside listening and reading, I kept analysing writing content to understand the different task types and how to structure an effective response. Here again IELTSbiz helped, especially its AI writing evaluation tool, which highlighted my grammatical errors and suggested stronger phrasing for both Task 1 and Task 2.

I scored 6.5 in Writing, half a band below my target. Honestly, that's exactly why the strategy mattered: because Listening and Reading were strong, a 6.5 here didn't pull my overall band below 7.5. Writing improves the most slowly of the four, so if you have more time than I did, put it here.

IELTS Speaking: a 7 with ChatGPT Voice Mode as a strict examiner

For speaking, ChatGPT was my constant practice partner. I used Voice Mode to simulate real Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 exam scenarios and asked it to act as a strict IELTS examiner. I would record my responses, ask for real-time feedback on my fluency, vocabulary and pronunciation, and then retry the questions using the improved expressions it suggested.

This daily practice reduced my hesitation, expanded my topic-specific vocabulary, and made speaking fluently feel second nature. I scored a solid 7 in Speaking.

What made the difference

By combining structured practice, targeted feedback and practical tactics across all four modules, I turned my initial weak spots into strengths. Going into exam day, I wasn't relying on luck. I had built a reliable system that gave me complete confidence in reaching my target band. Twenty days after I started, I walked out with an overall 7.5.

If you're starting out, my advice is the same order I followed: understand the test, take one honest diagnostic, then spend most of your time on the specific things that are costing you marks.