"It was an eye-opening experience. This online course showed me different ways to stimulate students' interests in learning the fundamental skills of taking the IELTS exam as well as some simple aids to help students pay special attention to the critical knowledge in the classroom."

Scott Cheng / IELTS Teacher

Examiner-developed IELTS exam strategies that work

This practical 30-hour course cuts through theory to deliver what really works in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) classroom. You will discover ready-to-use approaches for each test component that address the challenges your students actually face – from time management pressure to building test-specific vocabulary.

 

Unlike generic IELTS training, our Preparing Learners for IELTS course was developed by experienced examiners who understand exactly what separates average from exceptional preparation. Whether you are new to IELTS or looking to refresh your approach, you will gain immediate confidence in your ability to guide students toward their target scores.

 

Stop wondering if you’re covering everything your IELTS students need. Across 24 units in 8 modules, this course methodically works through the four skills, lesson planning and delivery, assessment and feedback, IELTS tutoring, practice, and resources – with 124 ready-to-use activities. You’ll also discover how to harness AI-powered tools that dramatically reduce your preparation time while giving students more effective independent practice.

What you will learn

Develop expert exam knowledge

  • Understand the structure of the Academic IELTS exam and its question types.
  • Interpret IELTS band‑descriptor language like an examiner.
  • Learn to guide students through effective exam strategies and techniques.

Teach practical test-taking skills

  • Implement targeted strategies for each section of the IELTS test.
  • Help students identify and overcome common exam challenges.

Create engaging IELTS lessons

  • Use interactive, communicative activities that develop real exam skills.
  • Balance exam-focused practice with meaningful language development.

Boost performance in all skills

  • Develop specific approaches for teaching listening, reading, writing and speaking.
  • Implement effective techniques for vocabulary acquisition and expansion.

Assess and give feedback with confidence

  • Use IELTS band descriptors to mark speaking and writing consistently.
  • Scaffold and prioritise correction, and use ready-made feedback sentence starters.
  • Bring self-assessment, peer assessment, and AI-assisted feedback into your lessons. 

Design and run your own IELTS course 

  • Plan syllabi at different lengths (20-hour, 40-hour, skills-focused) for your learners.
  • Market your services, attract students, and keep them engaged one-to-one and online.

Save time on preparation

  • Utilise proven lesson frameworks and ready-to-use activity ideas.
  • Access resources that streamline your planning and maximise student practice time. 

Leverage technology for learning

  • Implement AI tools to enhance independent exam practice.
  • Create blended learning opportunities that extend beyond the classroom.
Enhance your qualification! The course offers a valuable extension to the CertTESOL and CELTA for teachers looking to teach or specialise in exam preparation.

Expand your teaching options with in-demand IELTS teaching expertise

IELTS is the word's leading international English language test. Becoming a skilled IELTS preparation teacher positions you as a specialist in high demand across language centres worldwide. While enhancing your employability and teaching versatility, you will also transform your students' futures by setting the stage for their academic and career success.


By mastering effective exam preparation techniques, you will build students' confidence and open doors to their educational opportunities, whether they are aiming for university admission, professional registration, or immigration requirements. Your expertise in teaching exam skills for IELTS becomes their pathway to achieving life-changing band scores. 

Refine your IELTS teaching to

Develop strategic test-taking skills as you guide learners through proven approaches for each exam component.

Create a supportive learning atmosphere by implementing engaging activities that build confidence alongside competence.

Equip students with transferable skills that extend beyond the exam to real-world academic and professional contexts.

Enhance your professional standing in the education sector by demonstrating sought-after expertise in exam preparation and IELTS teaching.
Developed by experienced members of our TESOL team, including IELTS materials writers and examiners.

Who should take this course?

Perfect for teachers who

Want practical techniques and strategies for teaching IELTS exam skills.

Are new to IELTS preparation teaching and need foundational methodologies.

Seek practical ways to make IELTS preparation engaging and effective.

Are keen to include technology and AI tools in their exam preparation approach.

Want to develop a deeper understanding of assessment criteria and band descriptors.

Are considering setting up their own IELTS tutoring, one-to-one or online. 

Typical participants include

New or experienced language teachers.

Practicing IELTS teachers seeking fresh ideas and approaches.

Trinity CertTESOL or Cambridge CELTA graduates wanting to specialise in exam preparation.

Teachers transitioning from general English to IELTS exam-focused teaching.

Freelance and online tutors building an IELTS specialism.

Preparing Learners for IELTS curriculum

This 30-hour online course is designed for teachers of all experience levels, whether you’re new to IELTS or already have exam preparation experience. Across 24 units in 8 modules, the course covers a range of essential topics – from the four skills and lesson planning to assessment, tutoring, practice, and resources – all tailored to the needs of IELTS candidates and the skills essential for excelling in this international English language test. 

What to expect

The course features engaging multi-modal content, including

  • Trainer videos
  • Lesson observations
  • Discussion board tasks
  • Downloadable resources
  • Quizzes
  • Live drop-in study support

By the end of this course, you'll have a wide array of strategies and activities to engage your learners and support their IELTS exam preparation, including ready-to-use lesson plans and activities. The modules are arranged in a clear, step-by-step format, and to earn your digital credential, you'll need to complete each one in sequence. 

 

End of module quizzes

At the conclusion of each module, you'll take a short consolidation quiz designed to reinforce your understanding of key concepts. These quizzes focus on the essential points covered in the module and allow multiple attempts.

 

Final quiz

The course culminates in a comprehensive final quiz, testing your overall knowledge and readiness. You'll need to achieve a score of 50% or higher to pass. You have up to three attempts to succeed, ensuring you have ample opportunity to revisit course material and refine your understanding. Successfully passing the final quiz earns you a digital credential, which includes an e-certificate and a credential badge, verifiable on platforms like LinkedIn. 

Module 1: Introduction

In this module, you will

  • Understand the IELTS exam format, sections, and scoring system.
  • Distinguish between exam knowledge and exam skills.
  • Identify student needs and goals for successful exam preparation.
  • See how live drop-in study support and reflection tasks will support you throughout the course. 

Key units/topics

  • Welcome and platform orientation
  • Introduction to IELTS
  • Exam knowledge vs exam skills
  • Identifying wants and needs
  • Live drop-in study support and reflection tasks

Module 2: The Four Skills

In this module, you will

  • Understand what each IELTS paper tests and how it is scored.
  • Develop teaching approaches for listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
  • Build learners’ IELTS-specific vocabulary alongside the four skills.
  • Draw on 124 ready-to-use activities across the four skills and vocabulary. 

Key units/topics

  • Listening for IELTS
  • Reading for IELTS
  • Writing for IELTS (Task 1 and Task 2)
  • Speaking for IELTS (Parts 1, 2, and 3)
  • Vocabulary for IELTS 

Module 3: Planning and Delivering IELTS Lessons

In this module, you will

  • Apply a clear framework for planning IELTS lessons.
  • Stage listening and reading lessons – and speaking and writing lessons – appropriately.
  • Use ready-to-use example lesson plans across all four skills and vocabulary.
  • Watch video lessons demonstrating IELTS teaching across all four skills. 

Key units/topics

  • A framework for planning IELTS lessons
  • Staging listening and reading lessons
  • Staging speaking and writing lessons
  • Example lesson plans and video lessons across the four skills and vocabulary 

Module 4: Assessment and Feedback

In this module, you will

  • Identify common errors in each skill – including Writing Task 1 and Task 2 separately.
  • Use IELTS band descriptors to give consistent, criteria-based feedback.
  • Scaffold and prioritise correction, and use ready-made feedback sentence starters.
  • Bring self-assessment, peer assessment, and AI-assisted feedback into your lessons, with self-assessment checklists for each of the four skills.

Key units/topics

  • Common errors across the four skills (with Writing Task 1 and Task 2 separately)
  • Using IELTS band descriptors
  • Scaffolding and prioritising correction, and feedback sentence starters
  • Self and peer assessment, and using AI for feedback
  • Self-assessment checklists for each skill 

Module 5: IELTS Tutoring

In this module, you will

  • Design your own IELTS course and syllabus.
  • Market your services and attract students as an independent IELTS tutor.
  • Support and engage students across a course of study.
  • Teach IELTS effectively one-to-one and online, drawing on best-practice tools and techniques. 

Key units/topics

  • Designing your own IELTS course
  • Marketing and finding students
  • Student support and engagement
  • Example syllabi (20-hour, 40-hour, Reading & Listening, Speaking, Writing)
  • Teaching one-to-one
  • Teaching IELTS online 

Module 6: IELTS Practice

In this module, you will

  • Draw on a wider bank of activities for each skill.
  • Use IELTS practice tests purposefully with your learners in each skill.
  • Encourage autonomous IELTS practice outside your lessons. 

Key units/topics

  • More activities per skill
  • Using practice tests for each skill
  • Autonomous learning strategies for each skill 

Module 7: IELTS Resources 

In this module, you will

  • Use AI tools to develop materials and support learners in each skill.
  • Deploy IELTS practice tests – including Writing Task 1, Writing Task 2, and Speaking Parts 1, 2, and 3.
  • Signpost further learning resources for each skill.

Key units/topics

  • Using AI for each skill
  • IELTS practice tests (Writing Task 1 and Task 2, Speaking Parts 1, 2 and 3)
  • Further learning resources per skill 

Module 8: Conclusion 

In this module, you will

  • Take away final tips for teaching each skill.
  • Consolidate your learning through the final quiz.
  • Reflect on your progress and plan how you’ll apply the course to your teaching. 

Key units/topics

  • Final tips per skill
  • Final quiz and digital credential
  • Reflection and next steps 

Verify your skills with a digital credential

Complete the course

After completing the course modules, you will need to take the final quiz. You will need to achieve a score of 50% or higher to complete the Preparing Learners for IELTS course and immediately receive your digital credential. You can retake the final quiz up to two times (three attempts in total), and you can revisit any sections of the course to study up on questions that you find challenging.

Instant, verifiable credential

Your digital credential includes an e-certificate, which can be downloaded and printed, and a credential badge which can be displayed on your social media and LinkedIn profiles, allowing you to showcase your achievements.
 

Our credentials are incorruptible digital certificates encoded on blockchain, to ensure they cannot be altered or copied by anyone and can be easily verified by institutions. We use the same credential issuing platform as leading universities including Harvard, Oxford, Berkeley, and Johns Hopkins.

Get to know our trainers

Click thumbnail to view full trainer details

Maria Björning-Gyde, Dedicated to animal welfare

Maria is an examiner, moderator and marker on all Trinity TESOL panels, including the DipTESOL, CertTESOL, TYLEC, CertPT and CertOT. She has more than 25 years’ experience in New Zealand, Mainland China, Hong Kong and Indonesia. Maria also dedicates her time to education and projects related to animal welfare issues and behavioural change for a One Health approach in Bali.

CertTESOL, DipTESOL, TYLEC, CertPT Examiner, Teacher Trainer, Course Writer

Clare Voke, Enjoys learning Mandarin

Clare began began her teaching career in 2008 and has experience in various roles in the UK, Mainland China and Hong Kong. She lived and worked in the south of China as a Regional Trainer for Education First and is particularly interested in Chinese learners of English. Clare has written online teaching courses and content, as well as presenting at conferences all over Asia.

Trinity DipTESOL, MA in TESOL

Ross Thorburn, Runs the TEFL Training Institute Podcast

Ross Thorburn is a teacher trainer, materials writer and consultant based in Shanghai. Ross started his career in language teaching in 2006. He holds a Trinity DipTESOL, a Trinity FTCL TESOL, an IDLTM from the University of Queensland and a Master’s Degree in Language Education from NILE. Ross is also a keen researcher and has published research articles on teacher training, teacher motivation, task-based learning and young learners. In 2020, Ross published his first book, Inside Online Language Teaching. He also is the host of the TEFL Training Institute podcast (http://www.tefltraininginstitute.com/).

Trinity DipTESOL, Trinity FTCL TESOL, IDLTM, MA Language Education

Kevin Clare, Enjoys a good bottle of wine

Since 2009, Kevin has been involved in teaching English in a range of different settings, teaching adults, teenagers and notably young learners in Australia, Daqing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. He has worked in language centres as a Director of Studies and in various roles in international schools. At English for Asia, Kevin directs courses and conducts online training for teachers in Hong Kong and around the world.

CELTA, PGCE, BA

Preparing Learners for IELTS

30 hours total study
Access for 3 months
Typically takes 3-6 weeks to complete
Live drop-in study support
Developed by experienced IELTS examiners
Digital credential Digital credential
Improve your students' band scores across all four skills
Your complete IELTS teaching blueprint.
$1,400
- % OFF
$1,400
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