Detailed and effective IELTS 6.5 learning roadmap within 6 months

Nowadays, learning IELTS is a great need of many young people to serve the purpose of studying, studying abroad or finding a good job opportunity. A fairly good level that many people aim for is 6.5 IELTS. So what do you need to do to achieve this band score? Let's find out with ETEST Study Abroad English IELTS 6.5 study roadmap right below.

Criteria to achieve IELTS band score 6.5

IELTS Overall score is calculated based on the average score of all 4 main skills. Therefore, to achieve the score 6.5 IELTS then you need to meet some of the following requirements:

For the Reading test

• For Reading Academic, the minimum number of correct answers you need to achieve is 27/40
• For Reading General, the minimum number of correct answers you need to achieve is 32/40

For the Listening test

To achieve a band score of 6.5, the minimum number of correct answers in the Listening test is 27/40

For the Writing test

In the Writing test, you need to pay attention to some of the following criteria to achieve a score of 6.5:

• State the problem that the question requires. Express personal opinions clearly, fully develop main ideas.
• The article layout is coherent, with effective use of linking devices.
• The vocabulary in the article is relatively diverse, but there may still be errors in some difficult academic words.
• Both complex and simple structures can be used in the test, with minor grammatical errors allowed.

For the Speaking test

Below are the criteria you need to pay attention to in order to achieve a Speaking score of 6.5:

• Pronunciation is quite good, but there may be some small mistakes.
• Candidates are able to speak at length, but some repetition is allowed and coherence may not be high.
• The vocabulary used is relatively diverse, but some difficult academic words may still be misused.
• Candidates can use both complex and simple structures, with minor errors allowed but not so that they confuse the listener.

IELTS 6.5 learning path in 6 months with high efficiency

To achieve the score IELTS 6.5 fastest, you need to build IELTS learning roadmap suitable to your ability. According to ETEST Study Abroad English, you should start studying according to the 4 specific stages below:

Phase 1: Strengthening the foundation

• Review time: From 1-2 months
• Content: Pronunciation – Grammar – Vocabulary

Part 1: Pronunciation

Review the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) using the links:

• British English: here
• American English (vowels): here
• American English (consonants): here

Use some additional support applications:

• ELSA: here
• Duolingo: here

Part 2: Grammar

For those who lack basic grammar: You can choose to review the following two types of documents in parallel:

• English grammar explanation by author Mai Lan Huong: here
• English grammar with mind map: here

For those who already have basic grammar: Review and learn more about some important grammar topics, refer to the following 2 documents:

• Grammar In Use (intermediate): here
• Grammar In Use (advanced): here

If you don't know your current level, take the test at:

• Oxford Online English: here
• examenglish: here

Part 3: Vocabulary

With a very limited vocabulary: If your vocabulary is very limited, review the following materials to supplement your vocabulary:

• Self-study 2000 English words by topic: here
• IELTS English Vocabulary by mind map: here

Have basic vocabulary: For those who already have basic vocabulary and want to upgrade, you can refer to the document Vocabulary In Use with different levels:

• Elementary: here
• Pre-inter + intermediate: here
• Upper-intermediate: here
• Advanced: here

To check your current level, take the test here:

• oxfordonlineenglish: here
• examenglish: here

Phase 2: Practice test types

• Review time: About 3 months
• Content: Practice test types according to 4 skills

Listening and Reading Test

The following factors need to be considered:

• Scoring: How many questions do you need to get correct to get 6.5 for each test?
• Main article format: What types of questions often appear in the exam, and how to do each type specifically. Remember to practice from easy to difficult.
• Implement Vocab + Keyword Table: This is the most important stage to achieve the final goal. Specifically, after finishing any lesson, do not skip it immediately but need to analyze it again, extract words to put in the Keyword Table to review.

Main types of questions commonly found in the IELTS Listening test:

• Short Answer Questions
• Form/Note/Table/Sentence Completion
• Summary Completion
• Flow-chart Completion
• Map Labeling
• Multiple choice
• Matching

Main types of questions commonly found in the IELTS Reading test:

• Short Answer Questions
• Form/Note/Table/Sentence Completion
• Summary Completion
• Flow-chart Completion
• Map Labeling
• Multiple choice
• Matching sentence Endings
• Matching Features
• Matching Headings
• True/False/Not Given – Yes/No/Not Given
• Which paragraph contains …

Speaking test 

Look at the following factors:

• IELTS Speaking Scoring Criteria (4 Criteria)
• The main question types and topics that appear commonly in each section.

Main question types commonly found in IELTS Speaking Part 1:

• Do you like ….?
• What kind of … do you like most?
• Do you prefer A or B?
• Is A popular in your country?
• What is the best time to do A?
• Did you do A when you were a child
• Is A suitable for …?
• Is it easy or difficult to do A?
• What do you dislike about A?
• How often do you do A?
• How has A changed?

Main topics often encountered in the exam IELTS Speaking Part 2:

• Describe a person (someone you admire, a famous person in your country,…)
• Describe a place/building (a country you like to visit, your ideal home,…)
• Describe an object (a piece of furniture, a photo,…)
• Describe an event/activity (a festival, a wedding,…)
• Describe a situation (a time when you laughed a lot,…)
• Describe your favorite (book, movie, song,…)

Common question types in IELTS Speaking Part 3

• Agree or Disagree
• Advantages and Disadvantages
• Predictions
• Differences between A and B
• Writing

Writing Test

For the Writing test, you need to find out the following:

• 4 specific scoring criteria for each Task
• Main types of questions that appear in each Task
• Review Paraphrasing skills, one of the most important parts

For IELTS Writing Task 1: at this stage you need to grasp the Vocabulary and Structure for the following types of questions:

• Trend (Increasing – decreasing – fluctuating – stable)
• Comparison (Lower – Higher, Lowest – Highest, (nearly) equal)
• Prediction (For articles with future years)
• Process (including handmade and natural)
• Map

For IELTS Writing Task 2: at this stage you need to grasp the following Structure and Topics:

The structures only:

• Reason
• Affect
• Solution

Vocabulary topics:

• Health
• Work
• Environment

References for phase 2:

• Complete IELTS book series (Including 3 books corresponding to 3 levels): here
• Mindset For IELTS book series (Including 4 books corresponding to 4 levels): here
• Get Ready for IELTS book series (Including 4 books, 1 book for each skill): here
• Hacker IELTS book series (Including 4 books, 1 book for each skill - 2 sets: basic and normal): here

Phase 3: Practice each part of the exam

• Time: About 2-3 months
• Content: Practice each skill

Listening and Reading Test 

For the 2 skills, you should solve as many questions as possible. Do this until the number of correct answers in these 2 skills fluctuates according to the target we set earlier.

• Listening skills: There are 4 parts
• Reading Skills: There are 3 essays

For example: If the goal of Part 1 of Listening is at least 7 correct answers, you will solve Part 1 continuously until the number of correct answers fluctuates around 7/10, then continue to Part 2. Continue to analyze the lesson after finishing and add new vocabulary to the Keyword table.

Speaking test

Mainly review Part 1 and 2

For Part 3, practice extending your answers. You can refer to the 4 ways to extend your answers in the following link.

Writing Test

With this skill, practice writing in essay format, meaning that for each different topic, you do not write the whole essay but practice writing in parts.

References for phase 3:

• The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS: here
• Cambridge 7 – 16 set

Phase 4: Solving exam questions

• Time: About 2-3 months
• Content: Complete exam solution

Listening and Reading Test

Complete the test and get familiar with the Answer Sheet in the exam room. Continue to analyze the test after solving it and add words to the Keyword table.

Speaking test

• Practice all 3 parts completely, practice speaking all 3 parts at the same time
• You can practice speaking with your classmates or join IELTS Speaking courses with native speakers.

Writing Test

At this stage, you will write your essay and send it for revision. At the same time, analyze more sample essays, read more books and newspapers to develop your vocabulary and get more ideas for your writing.

References for phase 4:

• Cambridge 7 – 16 set
• IELTS Trainer 1: here
• IELTS Trainer 2: here
• Actual Tests: here

Documents for IELTS 6.5 study path that you should have

Besides the content about IELTS 6.5 study roadmap In addition to the above documents, ETEST also introduces you to other useful documents to support the most effective IELTS 6.5 learning path.

Grammar learning materials:

• Cambridge Grammar for IELTS: download link here

Vocabulary learning materials:

• Vocabulary for IELTS: download link here
• Collocations in Use – Cambridge: here

Listening practice materials:

• Basic IELTS Listening: download link

Reading practice materials:

• Reading Strategies for the IELTS Tests: here
• Improve your reading skills: here
• Reading for IELTS:

Speaking practice materials:

• Speak English like an American: here
• IELTS Speaking (Mat Clark): here
• Ideas for IELTS Topic (Simon): here
• IELTS Speaking – Mat Clark.: here
• Succeed in IELTS speaking: wherey

Writing practice materials:

• Academic Writing Practice for IELTS: here
• Writing for IELTS (Collins): here
• Academic Writing for IELTS by Sam McCarter: here
• Task 2 Writing Guide “How to write great essays”: here

If you are still unsure about IELTS 6.5 study roadmap for yourself then let ETEST English for Study Abroad help you. When you register for a course here, you will receive full support from level assessment to learning path planning, with dedicated instructors as well as providing IELTS materials necessary for you. Visit website https://etest.edu.vn/ ETEST English for Study Abroad for advice!

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