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IELTS Preparation Course

Course Title: IELTS Preparation Course

Hours per Week: 5 hours

Duration: 18 weeks

More Course Details: Prospectus List | ontrack: Learner Hub

To Join: How can you join?

Course Description:

This 18-week IELTS Preparation course is designed to help learners build the skills, strategies, and confidence needed to achieve their target band scores in the IELTS Academic or General Training exams.

You will develop effective techniques for answering different types of IELTS questions, expand your academic vocabulary, and improve your grammar, coherence, and fluency. Regular feedback and targeted guidance will support your progress and help you meet the IELTS assessment criteria.

The course covers all four language skills—Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking—while providing opportunities to engage with authentic spoken and written texts relevant to life and work in the UK. You will enhance your critical thinking and your ability to develop and express arguments and opinions clearly in both writing and speaking.

Additionally, you will gain essential study skills to support your success in further or higher education.

Course Objectives:

  1. Demonstrate familiarity with the format, timing, and requirements of all four IELTS test components: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.
  2. Apply effective strategies to accurately respond to a variety of IELTS question types across both Academic and General Training modules.
  3. Use a wide range of academic and general vocabulary appropriately in spoken and written communication.
  4. Apply accurate grammatical structures to improve clarity, coherence, and fluency in both writing and speaking tasks.
  5. Produce well-structured written responses to the Task 1 and Task 2 that meet IELTS assessment criteria including task achievement, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy.
  6. Speak confidently and fluently in structured and unstructured speaking tasks, demonstrating the ability to express ideas, opinions, and arguments clearly.
  7. Interpret and analyse spoken and written texts from a variety of academic and real-world UK contexts.
  8. Employ critical thinking skills to evaluate information and develop logical arguments in both oral and written tasks.
  9. Receive and act on formative feedback, using it to monitor and improve performance in line with IELTS band descriptors.
  10. Develop independent study and test-taking strategies to support continued language development and exam success beyond the course.

Entry Requirements:

You should be at CEFR B1+ (Intermediate) level or above. Ideally, you have completed an ESOL Level 1 or equivalent, and you can read and write with reasonable fluency, understand spoken English, and participate in structured conversations.

What Do I Need to Bring?

  • A folder
  • Pens and pencils
  • Lined A4 paper
  • A smartphone (if available)
  • A reusable water bottle
  • A personal Gmail account (for Google Classroom access)

 

If you need help with devices or Gmail, speak to your tutor in your first class. WIFI will be provided.

 

What can I do after I complete the course?

This course is a preparation course only and does not include the cost of the IELTS Academic or General Training Exam itself. If you do wish to take the exam you must book this externally and cover the cost yourself. We can give you advice on the booking process.

IELTS can be a requirement for university or college admission or professional registration in the UK. If you are looking to gain university admission or professional registration, it is important that you are aware of the specific requirements of the course or professional body you are looking to apply to, as different band achievements may be required.

You may be able to progress to accredited (Level 2) or non-accredited advanced ESOL courses, as well as Functional Skills English.

Speak to your tutor or email ESOLAdvice@towerhamlets.gov.uk for guidance.

How will I know I am making progress?

You will complete mock IELTS tests in listening, reading, writing, and speaking to build familiarity with the exam format and develop confidence. You will regularly practise writing essays and participating in speaking activities on IELTS-related topics. Personalised feedback will be provided based on the IELTS band descriptors, helping you understand your strengths and areas for improvement. Progress will be tracked through an Individual Learning Plan, supported by regular tutorial meetings to set goals and monitor development.

You must attend at least 80% of classes to stay on the course.

Extra Support:

If you have declared a learning difficulty, disability or support need whilst enrolling and you require support/assistance in class or to complete your course, please discuss your needs with your tutor at the first lesson.