Welcome! Here's how to get the most from GetBandReady
Hi, I'm Jess, a teacher from Ontario, Canada. I made GetBandReady so every student can have a clear, step-by-step path to their IELTS score. This short guide shows you how the course works, why it works, and a few simple tools that make studying online easier. It takes about five minutes to read.
1. How the course works
GetBandReady is an 8-week course with 5 study days each week. Go at your own pace: a day can take one sitting or a few shorter ones, and each day tells you roughly how long it takes.
Week 1: find your starting point
You set your goals and try each part of the test: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. There are no wrong answers yet. Week 1 simply shows you, and the course, where you're starting from. On the free trial, Week 1 Days 1–3 are yours to try.
Weeks 2–8: a rhythm you'll get used to
Weeks 7 and 8 build up to full mock tests, so test day feels familiar.
Check your answers
When you press Check my answers, your answers are marked and locked in, like a real test. Every question comes with an explanation, so you learn from each mistake.
Writing & Speaking
When you submit a Writing or Speaking response, you get instant feedback on things like length, structure and linking words, plus an annotated Band 8 sample answer to the same task.
Finish each week
When you've done everything on Day 5, press Finish. The week closes: you can still look back at everything, but your answers can't change.
Your weekly report
Then download your weekly report: your scores, rough Reading and Listening bands, feedback, what to work on next, a tip of the week, and, where you need it, a practice pack.
Your progress is saved
Everything saves to your account as you go. Switch between your phone and computer and pick up right where you left off (you can be signed in on two devices at a time).
Keep a notebook
Each day suggests what to write down. Writing by hand helps you remember new words and strategies, and gives you something to review before test day.
2. Why it works
Teach, practise, check
Every day follows the same pattern: a short lesson, plenty of guided practice, then a quick check. You don't just test what you already know. You build the technique, step by step.
Little and often
Short, regular study sessions stick far better than long cramming sessions. Testing yourself, and seeing the explanation straight away, is one of the best-researched ways to remember what you learn.
The real test format
Each Day 5 task follows the real IELTS format, timing and instructions as closely as possible, so nothing on test day comes as a surprise.
It's about you
The course uses your own results to show you what you're doing well and what to focus on next, week by week.
3. Helpful tools for studying online
A few free tools make online study much easier. Here's how to use them, step by step.
⚠️ Translate one word, not the whole page
Your browser may offer to translate the whole page into your language. Please say no. It would turn the IELTS questions and passages into your language too, and the practice only works in English. Translate just the word or sentence you're stuck on instead (see below).
💻 On a computer (Google Chrome): translate one word
- Highlight the word or sentence you don't know: click and drag over it.
- Right-click the highlighted text and choose "Translate selection to [your language]".
- A small box shows the meaning. Close it and carry on in English.
📱 On a phone or tablet: translate one word
- Press and hold the word until it's highlighted. Drag the little handles to select more words.
- In the small menu that pops up, tap Translate. On some phones it's behind the ⋮ or › button.
- Read the meaning, then tap outside it to close it.
🔊 Google Translate: meanings and pronunciation
Google Translate (translate.google.com, or the free app) is great for checking a meaning and hearing how a word sounds.
- Open translate.google.com in a new tab (keep the course open in its own tab).
- Choose English on the left and your language on the right, then type or paste the word.
- Tap the 🔊 speaker under the English word to hear it said aloud. Say it after it a few times.
Speaking answers: get a transcript
Each Speaking task asks you to type what you said. Two easy ways: record yourself, listen back and retype it, or open the free Speechnotes website in another tab, press its microphone and speak. (On a phone, the 🎤 button on your keyboard works too.) Then correct the text so it matches exactly what you said, including the "um"s.
Listening practice
Use headphones and find a quiet spot. Read the questions before you press play: each recording can only be played a limited number of times, just like the real test.
4. Who else is GetBandReady for?
The course is built for IELTS, but the skills behind it are the skills of real-world English. It's also a great fit if you:
Want to practise your English
Not taking IELTS yet? You'll still build reading, listening, writing and speaking skills you'll use every day, at work, at school and when you travel.
Want quick feedback
Every Reading and Listening question is marked instantly with an explanation, so you find out straight away how well you really understood.
Have limited time
Busy with work, school or family? Each day is broken into short sections, so you can do real practice in the time you have and pick up where you left off.
Are heading to university or college
The academic reading, essay writing and discussion skills you build here are the same ones you'll need in your studies.
Are moving abroad for work
The course covers the General Training test too, including letters and everyday-life reading.
Know someone who could use it? Feel free to share getbandready.com with them.
5. We're growing, and you're part of it
GetBandReady is just getting started. We have a long-term vision: a place where English learners can get everything they need to reach their goals, at a price that's fair. We're always adding new tools, and your feedback helps decide what comes next.
Here's what we're working on
- More feedback on your Writing and Speaking, including live feedback
- Extra grammar, writing and reading tools
- Additional resources and practice packs
- Options for feedback from live tutors
- …and more. Tell us what you'd find most useful!
These are plans, not promises with dates. We'll tell you as each new tool arrives.
6. Getting help
Something not working?
Click "Having an issue? Speak up!" at the bottom of any page. It comes straight to us, and it already knows which day you're on.
Join the community
Our GetBandReady Facebook group is the place to ask questions, share wins, and send us a message for more personal feedback.
To save it: press the button, then choose "Save as PDF" as the printer.
Happy studying, and welcome! — Jess