As a third-year student, when I decided to give the IELTS exam, it was not something wise. But undoubtedly, it was what time demanded. On one side I was managing my rigorous IBA academics with my part-time education consultant job, on the other side my writing gigs at TBS, not to mention university club and national event hosting. So, from my schedule, it is safe to assume I did not have time for coaching.

Because, I actually did not.

Then How to Prepare?

Honestly, I prepared with all the free materials. I know nothing to be flexed. I am not even so proud of my score. Most teenage kids get above that. But a band 7 is the standard and a goal for many. Anyway, I started with all sorts of authentic materials available online, even the mock tests. Though I invested no money in coaching or materials, my hours were taken by searching for reliable materials.

The reality is, the internet is full of IELTS content. But not all of it is trustworthy, and not all of it is useful. I spent considerable time filtering out what actually works. YouTube channels like IELTS Liz, E2 IELTS, and British Council Official are the hidden gems.

For practice tests, British Council IELTS Ready offers six free mock tests that are close to the real exam. IDP also provides free practice materials. And for writing feedback, ChatGPT proved surprisingly effective when prompted correctly, asking it to evaluate grammar, coherence and task achievement gives you structured feedback without paying a tutor.

But knowing which resources exist is only half the battle. The bigger challenge is knowing what to do with them, and in what order. That is where most self-learners lose momentum. They have the resources but no roadmap. They practice randomly, skip sections they find difficult, and burn out before exam day.

What actually gets someone to Band 7 is not expensive coaching. It is strategy and consistency. Band 7 is not perfection, it is controlled performance. In Listening and Reading, you need roughly 30 correct answers out of 40. In Writing, examiners want clear structure and coherent ideas, not complex vocabulary. In Speaking, fluency and natural delivery matter more than sounding like a native speaker.

Once you understand what the exam is actually testing, preparation becomes far less overwhelming.

Another common misconception is that you need to memorise essay templates for writing. Examiners are trained to detect templates and they penalise them. What scores higher is natural, accurate language with a clear argument. Similarly, spending money on multiple preparation books is rarely necessary when the British Council provides official practice tests for free.

Long story short

So, what’s the point of my ranting or sharing the story? You guessed it right. I am promoting something. I wrote an ebook compiling all the free materials that you can get on my Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/start.and.uppp.

I know my book is not something revolutionary but you can get an overall idea about the preparation process. It comes with a 30-day solid guide to achieve band 7. If you have the luxury of time and money, you are welcome to choose any traditional coaching place.

But my guide will ensure saving your time and money both. On top of that, you can prepare for an international exam at home. You will only need internet access.

The guide covers all four sections across a structured four-week plan. Building a foundation and comprehending the exam format are the main goals of the first week. Targeted skill development takes place in the second week. Half-tests are introduced in the third week to increase stamina. Each day has specific tasks, YouTube recommendations, and ChatGPT prompts so you are never left guessing what to do next.

IELTS preparation in Bangladesh should not cost 30,000 taka. The resources exist. The strategy exists. All it takes is consistency and the right roadmap.

Rezwana Anjum is a student at the Institute of Business Administration, Jahangirnagar University. Her interests range from literature, books, data and psychology to business. She is also involved in extracurricular activities related to communication, writing, and university clubs.