Is 60 days enough to improve my IELTS score?

60 days is sufficient for most students. If your target improvement is 1.0-1.5 bands with 2-3 hours daily study, this timeline works well. It provides a balanced approach between foundation building and intensive practice.

How many hours per day for a 60-day plan?

We recommend 2-3 hours daily for a 60-day plan. This allows enough time for skill development while maintaining a sustainable pace.

How many mock tests should I take in 60 days?

Take your first mock test around day 20, then every 10 days thereafter. This means approximately 5-6 mock tests in total, plus 1-2 final mock tests in the last week.

What if I can only study 1-2 hours per day?

With 1-2 hours daily, you can still improve by 0.5-1.0 band. Focus on quality over quantity, prioritize your weakest skill, and use official Cambridge materials.

How should I divide my study time?

Divide your time based on your weakest skill. If writing is your weakest, allocate more time to it. Otherwise, balance all four skills equally during foundation phase, then focus on weak areas in intensive phase.

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60-Day IELTS Study Plan: Comprehensive Band 7+ Preparation

A comprehensive 60-day IELTS study plan designed for thorough preparation. Maximize your score with daily practice covering all four skills: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.

Is 60 Days Right for Your IELTS Preparation?

This 60-day comprehensive study plan works best if you are aiming to improve by 1.0-1.5 bands and can commit 2-3 hours of daily study. It provides a balanced approach with enough time for skill development and practice.

What to Expect in Your 60-Day IELTS Study Plan

Three-Phase Structure for Effective IELTS Preparation

Week 1-2: IELTS Foundation

Build fundamental skills, understand test format, focus on vocabulary building.

Week 3-6: IELTS Development

Advanced techniques, timed practice, identify and work on weak areas.

Week 7-8: IELTS Refinement

Mock tests, final review, exam strategies, light practice.

Example Daily IELTS Study Schedule (Day 1-3)

Days 1-3: Foundation Building Phase

Day 1

• Listening: Section 2 practice (30min)
• Reading: Passage 1 timed (30min)
• Writing: Task 2 practice (45min)

Day 2

• Listening: Section 3 practice (30min)
• Reading: Passage 2 timed (30min)
• Speaking: Part 1 practice (30min)

Day 3

• Listening: Section 4 practice (30min)
• Reading: Passage 3 timed (30min)
• Writing: Task 1 practice (45min)

This is just a sample. Your personalized plan will be tailored to your current level and target score.

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Generate Your Personalized 60-Day IELTS Study Plan

Enter your exam date, current band score, and target score to create a customized 60-day study schedule tailored to your needs.

Daily Study Recommendations for IELTS Success

2-3 hours per dayRecommended study time per day
6-8 full mock tests during the 60-day periodScheduled throughout your study plan
Cambridge IELTS 14-18Use official Cambridge practice tests for authentic preparation
Focus on weak areasPrioritize your weakest skill (Listening/Reading/Writing/Speaking)

What Makes This 60-Day IELTS Plan Worth Indexing

Who the 60-Day IELTS Plan Is Best For

Students stuck between Band 6 and Band 6.5

Use the first 20 days to identify recurring mistakes, then spend days 21-45 converting those mistakes into targeted drills.

Working professionals with limited study time

A two-month window lets you study 2-3 hours per day without the burnout risk of a 30-day sprint.

Candidates who need balanced improvement

The schedule gives enough time to touch Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking every week while still prioritizing weak skills.

60-Day IELTS Milestones Google and Students Can Understand

Days 1-14: diagnostic baseline

Complete one full mock test, record raw Listening and Reading scores, and collect two Writing Task 2 samples.

Days 15-40: targeted development

Turn each weak question type into a weekly drill, such as headings, maps, Part 2 cue cards, or problem-solution essays.

Days 41-60: exam simulation

Shift from learning new strategies to timed full tests, answer transfer accuracy, essay planning, and test-day pacing.

Daily Study Habits for Your 60-Day IELTS Plan

Begin each morning with a 20-minute reading session — alternate between academic articles from The Economist and IELTS Reading passages to build both speed and comprehension.

Block 2 hours for focused skill work, rotating through a weekly schedule: Monday/Thursday for Listening and Reading, Tuesday/Friday for Writing, Wednesday/Saturday for Speaking.

Maintain a dedicated error log organized by skill and question type — review this log every Sunday to identify recurring patterns and measure your improvement over the 8-week period.

Practice paraphrasing daily by rewriting news headlines or short paragraphs in your own words — this builds the core skill needed for both Writing Task 1 and Task 2.

Set weekly micro-goals such as "achieve 35/40 in Reading this week" or "reduce Writing Task 2 planning time to 5 minutes" — tracking these small wins maintains motivation over 60 days.

Schedule two peer speaking practice sessions per week with a study partner or language exchange buddy — consistent speaking practice prevents the plateau that solo learners often hit.

Dedicate Sundays to full-length mock tests with strict timing, simulating real exam conditions including no phone, no breaks, and using only permitted materials.

Use the last 15 minutes of each study day to preview tomorrow's tasks — this primes your brain for the next day and reduces decision fatigue when you sit down to study.

Common Challenges in 60-Day IELTS Preparation

Mid-Plan Motivation Dip

Around Day 30-40, motivation often drops as the initial excitement fades. Combat this by revisiting your initial diagnostic test scores to see how far you've come. Schedule a lighter "reward week" with more varied, engaging materials.

Score Plateau in Specific Skills

When you stop seeing improvement in Reading or Listening around the 5-week mark, change your approach. Switch from timed practice to untimed deep analysis. Analyze question patterns rather than just taking more tests.

Balancing All Four Skills Equally

Use a skill-tracking spreadsheet to log weekly scores. If one skill lags behind for two consecutive weeks, reallocate 30% of your study time to that skill until it catches up. Balance is more important than perfection in any single area.

Overwhelm from Available Resources

With 60 days, it's tempting to use every resource available. Instead, select one primary resource per skill and stick with it. Switching between too many materials fragments your learning and slows progress.

Weekend Consistency Struggles

Designate Saturdays as "light study" days with only 1 hour of review and speaking practice. Sundays as full mock test days. Having a differentiated weekend routine prevents the guilt of taking a full break while maintaining momentum.

Essential Study Materials

1Cambridge IELTS Practice Tests (Books 12-18) — use older books (12-14) for untimed practice and newer books (15-18) for mock tests
2IELTS Simon's Video Lessons — former examiner Simon provides concise, high-yield lessons particularly strong for Writing Task 1 and Task 2
3The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS — comprehensive textbook covering all four skills with skill-building exercises and full practice tests
4IELTS Advantage Skills Series (Reading, Writing, Speaking) — separate books for each skill with graded exercises and answer explanations
5Magoosh IELTS Vocabulary Builder App — 600 essential IELTS words with definitions, example sentences, and spaced repetition review
6BBC 6 Minute English and TED Talks — varied listening materials with different accents (British, American, Australian) for Listening Section practice
7IELTS Online Tests Website — free timed mock tests on a simulated computer interface to practice the computer-based exam format
8LangCorrect or Write & Improve — free online platforms where native speakers or AI provide feedback on your writing samples

Last updated: May 1, 2025

References:

IELTS Official (ielts.org)
Cambridge Assessment English
British Council / IDP Education

Content is evidence-based and reviewed against official IELTS band descriptors and Cambridge practice materials. Read our editorial process.

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