How to Prepare for IELTS in Nigeria: A 6 to 8 Week Plan
Six to eight weeks of focused work is enough for most candidates to reach their target band. Start with a diagnostic, spend most of your time on Writing and Speaking, sit a full mock two weeks before the test, and book your date before you start.
The candidates who struggle with IELTS are rarely the ones with weak English. They are the ones who assume that because they speak English every day, they can walk in and get a 7. IELTS is a test of English, but it is also a test of a format, and the format can be learned. This is the plan I give candidates in their first class.
In this guide
Set your target band first
Your target band comes from whoever is asking for the result: the university, the immigration authority or the employer. Find the overall band and the minimum per skill they ask for, then aim half a band above it so a slightly weaker day does not cost you.
The per skill minimum is the part people miss. A UK university might ask for 6.5 overall with no skill below 6.0. Canada sets minimums for each of the four skills separately. A 7.0 overall with a 5.5 in Writing can still fail the requirement.
| Common purpose | Typical requirement | Module |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate or master's in the UK | 6.0 to 7.0 overall, with minimums per skill | Academic |
| Canada Express Entry, CLB 7 | 6.0 in each skill | General Training |
| Canada Express Entry, CLB 9 | 8.0 Listening, 7.0 in the other three | General Training |
| UK visa routes | Set by the visa, often by CEFR level | IELTS for UKVI |
Always check your own institution or visa route. Requirements differ by programme and change from time to time.
Start with a diagnostic
Before you plan anything, sit one full practice test under real timing. It tells you two things a textbook cannot: your starting band in each skill, and where your time goes. Most Nigerian candidates I test score highest in Listening and Speaking at the start and lowest in Writing, which is why the plan below gives Writing the most time.
Do the diagnostic on a computer. IELTS in Nigeria is now taken on computer, and typing your answers changes how long Reading and Writing take you.
The 6 to 8 week IELTS plan
This assumes about 8 to 12 hours a week. If your diagnostic is already close to your target, six weeks is usually enough. If you are a full band or more away, give yourself eight or more.
| Week | Focus | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Format and diagnostic | One full practice test. Learn every question type in all four skills. |
| 2 to 3 | Writing foundations | Task 2 structure and planning, Task 1 overviews. Two timed essays a week, each one reviewed. |
| 3 to 4 | Reading and Listening technique | Skimming, scanning and keeping to time. One timed section of each, every other day. |
| 4 to 5 | Speaking | Recorded practice of all three parts, three times a week. Work on extending answers. |
| 6 | Mock | A full mock under exam conditions, then a full review with your tutor. |
| 7 to 8 | Fix and polish | Spend most of the time on your weakest skill. Light practice in the final days, then rest. |
Listening
You hear each recording once. On the computer test you have only two minutes at the end to check answers, not the ten minutes paper candidates used to get to transfer them, so type your answers as you go. Read the questions before each part starts and underline what you are listening for. Spelling counts, so practise the words that keep coming up: dates, months, addresses, numbers.
Reading
You get 60 minutes for 40 questions and no extra time, so the skill is speed, not understanding every word. Read the questions first, then scan the passage for the part that answers each one. If a question is eating your time, move on and come back. For True, False and Not Given questions, answer only from what the passage says, not what you know about the topic.
Writing
Writing is where most bands are lost. Task 2 carries twice the weight of Task 1, so spend about 40 minutes on it and 20 on Task 1. Plan for five minutes before you type a word. Answer every part of the question, give each paragraph one clear idea with an example, and write in plain, accurate English rather than impressive sounding phrases. Our guide to IELTS Writing Task 2 goes through the habits that keep Nigerian candidates at Band 6.
Speaking
The Speaking test is a conversation with a trained examiner, about 11 to 14 minutes long. Your accent is not marked down; what matters is how clearly and fluently you speak, the range of your vocabulary and grammar, and whether you can keep going on a topic. Record yourself, listen back, and work on extending short answers. More in our IELTS Speaking guide.
Free practice material that works
- Official practice tests from the British Council and IDP, including computer based versions. Start here, because they are real test material.
- The Cambridge IELTS books, with past papers and answer keys. Good for timed practice in the middle weeks.
- Your Mafit study account, if you prepare with us: over 125 video lessons, more than 600 practice questions and instant scoring on Writing and Speaking.
Two good sources used properly beat ten PDFs downloaded from WhatsApp groups.
Studying around work
- Book your test date first. A date on the calendar is what keeps a plan moving.
- Use small pockets of time. A Listening section on the way to work, a Reading passage at lunch.
- Keep weekends for the long tasks. Full essays and full mocks need an unbroken hour or more.
- Get feedback on Writing and Speaking. They are the two skills you cannot mark yourself.
Prepare with Mafit
Physical classes in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, live online for every other state, a one on one tutor and a free mock CBT. Free when you register for IELTS with code MAFIT.
Common questions
How long does it take to prepare for IELTS?
Most candidates need 6 to 8 weeks of steady preparation, at about 8 to 12 hours a week. If your first practice test is more than a band below your target, allow eight weeks or more.
Can I prepare for IELTS on my own?
Yes, with official practice tests and the Cambridge books. The two skills that are hard to prepare alone are Writing and Speaking, because you need someone to mark them and tell you what to change.
What is the best way to prepare for IELTS in Nigeria?
Book a test date, sit a diagnostic practice test, spend most of your time on your weakest skill (usually Writing), take a full mock about two weeks before the test, and get feedback on your essays and speaking.
Is IELTS in Nigeria on paper or on computer?
The British Council now runs IELTS in Nigeria on computer. The questions are the same as on paper, but you type your answers, so practise on a computer.
Do I need classes to pass IELTS?
Not always, but classes help most with Writing and Speaking feedback, timing and a fixed routine. At Mafit the classes are free with IELTS registration.