There are plenty of companies and individuals out there offering some kind of IELTS preparation course online or face-to-face; this is nothing new. I’m not interested in offering what everyone else does though. I want to know what you can’t find, what you wish was available, and how you want to prepare for IELTS.

What is IELTS and Why Do People Need Classes?

IELTS is the Cambridge International English Language Testing System which many universities and governments use to test English skills. International students, and people looking for VISAs to English-speaking countries, are often only accepted if they achieve a certain band (grade or score). Unfortunately, IELTS is very different to every other English language test out there, and to get a good band, you need more than good English skills; you need to know all the strange rules hidden in the questions.

What I Have Noticed About Traditional IELTS Classes

• Courses are too general - there is no opportunity to study just what you need.

• They are expensive but also not personalised - you could learn the same from a student book.

• There aren’t many materials available for people who just want to learn the test, and don’t need language training. The available books are expensive.

• It can be difficult to afford UK, US, Canadian, or Australian prices if you are in a country with a very different currency and economy.

• Course starting times, lengths, topics, and practice sessions are not flexible.

What I Already Offer

You can already have a free trial lesson with me where we get to know each other, we talk about what you personally need support with, the time you have, and how you like to learn. I also offer consultations so that anyone interested in learning a small amount of information specifically, or to simply ask me some questions, can get information without buying a book or a long course. I also offer flexible lesson timing and course lengths, individual sessions, and price my sessions at the same price as school students to help you go forward in your life and career.

What I Want to Know

What more can I do to support your move to an English-speaking country, to get that international study visa, to get into your university course, or whatever IELTS needs you have? What problems can you see in what is available already? What do you wish IELTS trainers did differently? What do you need that is just not available? Please, bring me your thoughts, your experiences, and your frustrations. I want to offer what you need in the way that helps you best.

What’s Already Planned?

I plan to create a downloadable ‘tips and tricks’ pdf that teaches IELTS students about all the strange and specific things that you should and should not do in your IELTS exams, because they can lose you points (and they don’t tell you). I plan to make this available either for free, or for an extremely low cost, to make it accessible to anybody who needs to take the IELTS test. I may start with it being under 1GBP for the entire guide, and when Wright English is older and more established I can move it on to being a free resource for everyone.

Planned Guide Contents

• What to expect in general and academic versions of the test.

• Descriptions of what to expect in each question in each section.

• Visual examples.

• Helpful tips and what not to do for each question.

• Information about what further services I provide so you can decide if you need them, or not.

• Links to helpful resources including free practice phone apps and practice exams online.

• Recommendations on which paid-for materials are helpful and for who.

• Careful use of colour and design to help dyslexic people easily see differences.

Summing Up

I want to provide the international community with IELTS support that is affordable and flexible enough to be useful. I’m already creating an IELTS exam strategy guide, but I would love to know what you want to see in it. What do you think of the ideas I have planned for the guide? Please share your opinions because it’s all about you, and what you need!