How to get a Band 9 in IELTS?

Hey! Let's be straight, my goal is Band 9! :))))

Well, let's see how proficient we are in English to get a band 9 in IELTS. 

As we all know, the test covers four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.  IELTS is graded on a scale of 1-9 and I will present the requirements of the Band 9 in each section below. 

READING & LISTENING: 

You have a full operational command of the language. Your use of English is appropriate, accurate and fluent, and you show complete understanding

SPEAKING

Fluency and Coherence 

• speaks fluently with only rare repetition or self-correction; any hesitation is content-related rather than to find words or grammar

• speaks coherently with fully appropriate cohesive features 

• develops topics fully and appropriately 

Lexical Resource

• uses vocabulary with full flexibility and precision in all topics 

• uses idiomatic language naturally and accurately

Grammatical range and accuracy

• uses a full range of structures naturally and appropriately 

• produces consistently accurate structures apart from ‘slips’ characteristic of native speaker speech 

(This refers to the speakers use of grammar (structures). The speaker almost always (consistently)says (produces) sentences which are grammatically correct. When the speaker does make a mistake (slip), it's the kind of mistake that a native speaker might make. )

Pronunciation

• uses a full range of pronunciation features with precision and subtlety 

• sustains flexible use of features throughout 

• is effortless to understand 

WRITING

TASK 1

Task Achievement

▪ fully satisfies all the requirements of the task 

▪ clearly presents a fully developed response 

Coherence and Cohesion 

▪ uses cohesion in such a way that it attracts no attention 

▪ skillfully manages paragraphing

Lexical Resource 

▪ uses a wide range of vocabulary with very natural and sophisticated control of lexical features; rare minor errors occur only as ‘slips’ 

Grammatical Range and Accuracy 

▪ uses a wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy; rare minor errors occur only as ‘slips’ 

TASK 2

Task Response

▪ fully addresses all parts of the task 

▪ presents a fully developed position in answer to the question with relevant, fully extended and well supported ideas

Coherence and Cohesion

▪ uses cohesion in such a way that it attracts no attention 

▪ skillfully manages paragraphing 

Lexical Resource 

▪ uses a wide range of vocabulary with very natural and sophisticated control of lexical features; rare minor errors occur only as ‘slips’

Grammatical Range and Accuracy 

▪ uses a wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy; rare minor errors occur only as ‘slips’ 

TIPS ON READING:

- Time management 

- Master skimming and scanning

3-4 mins: skimming

- Read the first sentence of the paragraph

- Key words: names of people, dates, concepts, terminology, and/or steps in a process

- Get the gist

- Label the paragraph

Answer

Don't answer questions in order

New words

Question types: https://magoosh.com/ielts/ielts-reading-question-types/

TIPS ON LISTENING: 

- analyze the prompts

transitions

- Don't get lost

- Listen to academic discussions and lectures regularly 

TOPIC

1. FREE TIME

2. TRAVEL

3. WORK

4. HOMETOWN

5. FRIENDS

6. FAMILY

7. SCHOOL

8. WEATHER/CLIMATE/SEASONS

9. RECREATION/EXERCISE/SPORTS

10. FOOD

11. ON A TYPICAL DAY

12. HOUSEHOLD

13. MUSIC, MOVIE, BOOKS, TELEVISION

14. TRADITION AND CELEBRATIONS, HOLIDAYS

15. NEWS AND CURRENT EVENTS

16. TECHNOLOGY, INTERNET...

17. SHOPPING

18. OTHER (PET, GARDENING, LAWS, TAKING PHOTOS, COMMUNICATION)

19. DECISIONS, ADVICE

20. ART, GIFTS

21. KINDNESS

22. LANGUAGE LEARNING