What good IELTS study material looks like
A lot of IELTS material circulating in Lagos is old, incomplete or copied so many times that the answers no longer match the questions. Before you spend hours on anything, check it against these standards:
- Current format. Questions, timings and task types should match today's test, including the computer-delivered version.
- Explanations, not just answers. Knowing that the answer is "NOT GIVEN" helps little; knowing why helps a lot.
- Clear sources. You should know who produced it and whether it is meant for Academic or General Training.
- Honest claims. Material that promises "secret tricks" or guaranteed bands is usually selling hope rather than skill.
IELTS Learning Study Notes
Study Notes on IELTS Learning are strategy chapters for each module, written to be read in short sessions. They cover:
- Listening: how each part works, signposting language, spelling and number traps, map questions.
- Reading: question-type strategies, skimming and scanning, timing plans for 60 minutes.
- Writing: structures for Task 1 reports and letters, Task 2 essay types, and what each of the four criteria rewards.
- Speaking: extending answers, Part 2 planning, Part 3 discussion techniques and pronunciation features.
Alongside them, English Improvement covers grammar and vocabulary, and spaced-repetition flashcards bring words back just before you are likely to forget them.
Free IELTS practice material you can use today
You do not need to pay to start. With a free account (no card), you get:
- a complete sample mock test with all four sections;
- free sample Listening and Reading sets;
- Daily Vocabulary: five new words a day;
- the Band Score Calculator to work out your overall band;
- the Quick Wrap last-minute checklist;
- the weekly IELTS tips blog.
That is enough to measure your level and test whether online study suits you before you decide on Full Access at $12 for 2 months.
Using Cambridge IELTS books alongside our tests
Many students in Lagos also use the official Cambridge IELTS practice books, which you can find in bookshops around the University of Lagos, Yaba and elsewhere in the city, or in digital form. They are a sensible addition, and they use the official test format, as our tests do.
A practical way to combine them:
- Use a Cambridge test as an occasional benchmark under strict, paper-style timing.
- Use IELTS Learning for regular practice, because the screens feel like the computer-delivered test and your Listening and Reading are marked instantly.
- Keep all your mistakes in one place: the Mistake Notebook saves errors from our tests automatically, and you can note book errors in the same categories.
- Get Writing and Speaking feedback here, since books cannot mark your essays or listen to you speak.
Avoid working through books from cover to cover without reviewing errors. One test analysed carefully is worth three rushed ones.
Also check that a book matches your track. Cambridge books include both Academic and General Training material, and a nurse preparing for Academic gains little from General Training letters, while a candidate heading abroad for work needs exactly those letters.
A weekly study routine for a busy Lagos student
This routine assumes about six to eight hours a week, which suits a UNILAG or LASU student during term, or a professional working in Ikeja or on the Island:
- Monday: Study Notes chapter (30 minutes) plus Daily Vocabulary.
- Tuesday: one Reading passage on your phone during the commute; review the explanations at home.
- Wednesday: one Task 2 essay (40 minutes), submitted for AI feedback.
- Thursday: one Listening set with headphones; spelling review in the Mistake Notebook.
- Friday: Speaking practice: two Part 2 cue cards with the real timer, plus Part 3 questions.
- Saturday: a full mock or a Cambridge test when power is stable, timed, in one sitting.
- Sunday: rest, or a light flashcard session and one blog article.
Adjust the days around your shifts or lectures, but keep the balance across all four skills.
Studying around power cuts and data costs
Keep your IELTS study material organised so outages do not stop you. Charge devices whenever there is light, do short phone-friendly tasks when you are on mobile data, and save long sessions for times when your power source is reliable. Your progress is stored in your online account, so you can pick up on any device.
Ready to replace scattered PDFs with organised IELTS study notes? Register free and start with the sample mock and your first Study Notes chapter.