In this post, you’ll be presented with 13 best IELTS courses on Udemy. These online classes offer amazing tips on Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing to help you get a better score on your IELTS exam.
But, before discussing the excellent Udemy courses, let’s tackle a more pressing matter: IELTS.
Five simple initials that have changed so many people’s life. Yet, that same five-letter word has also destroyed tons of test-takers’ educational opportunity, not to mention pocket.
How can such a normal combination of initials have that power?
First thing first, nothing about IELTS is normal. IELTS, or The International English Language Testing System, is a passageway for you to fly yourself to an international university or college of your dream. It’s also required if you want to immigrate to English-speaking countries or even some in Asia.
Oh, and if you haven’t noticed, the cost to take the IELTS examination has now reached up to USD240.
Let’s do some high-school math!
Let’s say you passed your IELTS exam with flying colors right in your first try. Lucky you! Two hundred forty bucks well-spent.
In another scenario, you failed. You couldn’t achieve the band score you so wanted. $240 got threw away the window. Your face was as red as a beetroot. You stumped your foot and yelled into nothingness, then willingly took the test for the second time. That’s $480.
Believe me. I have seen students who retake the IELTS test for five times straight but still couldn’t
If IELTS is that difficult and expensive, what can learners do?
Well, that’s where these top-rated IELTS courses on Udemy come in handy.
I proudly present to you thirteen best Udemy IELTS courses, which I have carefully selected and reviewed to help thousands of test takers achieve the necessary band score.
1. Best IELTS Course on Udemy:
IELTS Vocabulary: Learn 400 Essential Words for IELTS
Length: 11.5 hours
Includes: 10 articles, 113 downloadable resources
Requirements: a pre-intermediate level of English
Created by: Charles Cornelius
IELTS Vocabulary: Learn 400 Essential Words for IELTS is a collection of video presentations, worksheets, and quizzes. In total, the course contains almost 400 English words which have been carefully selected from the COBUILD English language corpus to cover functions and topics that are frequently found in the IELTS test.
By working through the materials, you will master the vocabulary needed to achieve a high IELTS score.
After the course, you can expect to:
- achieve a band score of 7 or above by using and understanding a wide range of English vocabulary;
- boost your IELTS Writing band score by writing essays using a wide range of vocabulary;
- speak more naturally in the IELTS Speaking test;
- improve your reading and listening skills for the IELTS Listening and IELTS Reading tests.
Pros
So far I’m quite happy with the course. Charles Cornelius, the instructor of the course, has a clear British accent, which you should absolutely get used to in case you’re going to tackle the IELTS exam. He clearly has an excellent grasp of the IELTS test format and the vocabulary required to crack it. The way Charles explained the words makes it easy for you to memorize the new vocabulary. The resources are good for further practice as well.
Cons
Even though the course content is awesome, I would love to see more explanation of collocations instead of just hearing about them. Also, you may have known some (more than half for some people) of the vocabulary already. But there’s always something new to learn, right? No sweat then.
Who This Course is for
This course is for learners of English who want to get a band score of 7.0 and above in the IELTS test or who are about to take the TOEFL, TOEIC, Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE), and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) tests.
It is also useful for anyone who wants to increase their English vocabulary in general.
2. IELTS Band 7+ Complete Prep Course
Length: 52.5 hours
Includes: 15 articles, 53 downloadable resources, 2 Practice Tests
Requirements: an intermediate level of English
Created by: Keino Campbell
IELTS Band 7+ Complete Prep Course is one of the best-selling courses on Udemy right now. The course is organized by skills (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking). Each skill area has four key components:
- Starting out: introducing the strategies and tactics for each area, explaining task types and providing hints not only on how to prepare but also on how to achieve the best marks on each test section.
- Advice and tutorial videos: Our experts explain the application of tactics and strategies.
- Practice zone: candidates practice tackling the various question types.
- Test practice: candidates simulate the test experience with mock tests.
After the course, you can expect to achieve a band score of 6 or higher.
Pros
Keino Campbell, the instructor of the course, does cover most aspects of the IELTS exam. I found PDF sheets provided with vocabulary, expressions, and quizzes quite useful.
Cons
The video content is completely unedited and unrevised. The speaker corrects himself and mostly solves questions as he goes on. The course is too long for such little content. The instructor is quite redundant, which might be good for other types of audience, but as I believe, not for 7+ students. Screens are frequently unfocused/unreadable and sound modulates a lot.
Who This Course is for
This course is for students who are preparing to take or retake the IELTS Examination.
3. IELTS Preparation Masterclass: A Complete Guide to the IELTS
Length: 5 hours
Includes: 11 articles, 53 downloadable resources, 1 Practice Test
Requirements: a pre-intermediate level of English
Created by: Charles Cornelius
IELTS Preparation Masterclass: A Complete Guide to the IELTS is another course by Charles Cornelius. It contains over 20 video lectures and 3.5 hours of video content, tests, articles, quizzes, and downloadable study materials. A free eBook, The Essential Guide to the IELTS, is also provided.
You will find out how the IELTS exam is assessed and practice your IELTS Reading and IELTS Listening with sample tests. You will also discover the most important IELTS Writing exam tips and prepare for the IELTS Speaking test at home with some great preparation advice.
After the course, you can expect to:
- understand all the essential information about each of the four IELTS tests (listening, reading, speaking, and writing);
- take the IELTS test with confidence.
Pros
The course covers all aspects of the IELTS exam in a structured method and gives you a very good idea of what to expect on the test date. The videos have English and Vietnamese subtitles included. So, if you’re a Vietnamese, you will pretty much benefit from this course.
Cons
I personally think that this course is lacking sample answers. These are highly important, especially for the written section of the exam since it is, most of the time, the hardest part for IELTS test takers. Another turn-down point is that almost all of the todos from the course can easily be found on Internet sites like Youtube, British Council, or IDP.
Who This Course is for
This course is for students who are preparing to take or retake the IELTS Examination.
3. IELTS 7 Plus: Complete IELTS Preparation [Academic]
![IELTS 7 Plus: Complete IELTS Preparation [Academic]](https://i0.wp.com/listemall.com/wp-content/uploads/improve-your-scores-with-13-best-ielts-courses-on-udemy-3.jpg?resize=750%2C422&ssl=1)
Length: 17.5 hours
Includes: 22 articles, assignments
Requirements: an intermediate level of English
Created by: David Morris
IELTS 7 Plus: Complete IELTS Preparation [Academic] covers all sections of the IELTS Academic test: Writing (Task 1 and Task 2), Speaking, Listening and Reading.
Also included in the course are strategies and skills to pass the IELTS test and how IELTS examiners give you your band score.
After the course, you can expect to:
- grow fluency and conversational skills for IELTS Speaking;
- achieve an IELTS band score of 6 to 7 or higher.
Pros
The instructor, David Morris, is highly enthusiastic and therefore explains everything in a simple and precise manner. All the visual aids given are perfectly structured and presented to make the explanation as easily understood as possible.
Cons
The course provides a maximum of 2 model answers for each model in Writing Task 1. I feel it would be more helpful if more sample answers for each model in Writing Task 1 as well as for Task 2.
Who This Course is for
This course is for students who are preparing to take or retake the IELTS Examination.
4. Get 7-9 in IELTS Speaking: IELTS Speaking Masterclass
Length: 2 hours
Includes: 2 articles, 49 downloadable resources
Requirements: Band 6 to Band 6.5
Created by: Nestor Kiourtzidis
Get 7-9 in IELTS Speaking: IELTS Speaking Masterclass teaches essential language skills and preparation methods to help you achieve your target band. In the course, you will study some effective strategies, learn special words, phrases and structures to impress the examiner, and observe a model candidate putting everything into practice.
Besides the lectures, the course includes 20 model answers for Part 2 of the test and 5 videos that show you how to use synonyms to improve your speaking skill.
After the course, you can expect to:
- use advanced vocabulary and synonyms;
- improve your grammar and pronunciation;
- give opinions and connect your ideas;
- deal with difficult questions;
- improve your speaking confidence;
- develop your answers and manage your time;
- answer any question, even if you don’t know what to say.
Pros
In Lecture 47, you will get a free 70-page ebook, Correct your English: Learn to Speak More Like a Native, by Nestor Kiourtzidis himself. This book alone is worth $9.99 in paperback form and $7.99 in Kindle form on Amazon. So, yeah, you can kill two birds with one stone by enrolling in the course.
Cons
I would suggest an improvement by adding more work exercises. Also, the girl in the examples spoke quite low so it might be a bit hard to hear.
Who This Course is for
This course is suitable for IELTS candidates who need Band 7 or higher.
6. Mastering IELTS Writing: Task 2 (Achieve Band 7+ in 5 Hours)
Length: 5 hours
Includes: 1 article, 1 downloadable resource
Requirements: B1 / IELTS 5 / intermediate minimum
Created by: Matt Rainsbury
Mastering IELTS Writing: Task 2 (Achieve Band 7+ in 5 Hours) will teach you how to write what the IELTS examiners want to read in IELTS Writing Task 2.
After the course, you can expect to:
- Approach any topic or question type in IELTS Writing Task 2
- Write high-quality introductions and conclusions quickly and efficiently
- Build a high-scoring body paragraph with well-developed ideas and arguments
Pros
The instructor, Matt Rainsbury, who is an experienced IELTS teacher, has a great and understandable accent. He is very responsive to any kind of students’ questions. Course contents are organized and well-structured.
Cons
The instructor mostly just reads from the slides so it becomes quite boring after the first few lectures. In fact, I ended up downloading the PDF and reading most of it myself rather than sitting through the whole videos.
Who This Course is for
Although this course is aimed at those who need a Band 7 and above in Task 2, it will also help those trying to get a 6 or 6.5.
This course is NOT appropriate for students who need help in IELTS Writing Task 1, Listening, Reading or Speaking.
7. Mastering IELTS Writing: Task 1 (Academic)
Length: 4.5 hours
Includes: 1 article, 2 downloadable resources
Requirements: B1 / IELTS 5 / intermediate minimum
Created by: Matt Rainsbury
Mastering IELTS Writing: Task 1 (Academic) will teach you how to write what the IELTS examiners want to read in IELTS Writing Task 1.
After the course, you can expect to:
- create coherent, organized responses to a variety of different question types;
- select appropriate data accurately and quickly for your response;
- use a range of vocabulary appropriately and with precision for a variety of questions;
- create a variety of complex grammatical constructions with flexibility and accuracy.
Pros
The material is taught clearly, and it’s easy to follow. The descriptions are given based on IELTS band descriptor so we can determine all the essential things, which we must include in our writing to achieve the desired band.
Cons
Overall, the course provides some excellent tips for those interested in developing their writing skills. Although the course is geared well towards advanced users, novices will not find it as nearly useful as the formers will.
Who This Course is for
Students who want to learn how to get a high score (Band 7+) in Task 1 of the IELTS Writing test, Academic module.
Although this course is aimed at those who need a Band 7 and above in Task 1 Academic, it will also help those trying to get a 6 or 6.5.
8. Mastering IELTS Writing: Task 2 (Band 9 Model Answers)
Length: 6.5 hours
Includes: 11 articles, 30 downloadable resources
Requirements: a general understanding of the IELTS exam and the different types of questions in IELTS Writing Task 2
Created by: Matt Rainsbury
In Mastering IELTS Writing: Task 2 (Band 9 Model Answers), there are two complete walkthroughs for essays according to each of the four question types, along with two walkthroughs for essays which do not neatly fall into these question type categories. Altogether, this makes a total of ten complete walkthroughs of Band 9 essays.
Each of the essays focuses on a different topic (including technology, work, culture and education among many others), helping you to generate ideas about a variety of fields and boost your range of topic-related vocabulary.
After the course, you can expect to:
- create coherent, organized responses to a variety of different question types;
- select appropriate data accurately and quickly for your response;
- use a range of vocabulary appropriately and with precision for a variety of questions;
- create a variety of complex grammatical constructions with flexibility and accuracy.
Pros
The lessons are well-structured. The model essays are presented methodically and crystal clear with the help of the interface and kit.
Cons
The subtitles sometimes appear incorrect on screen. The instructor, Matt Rainsbury, often refers to his other courses on Udemy, which can be a bit annoying at times.
Who This Course is for
This course is suitable for anyone aiming to score a band 6.5 or above in the IELTS Writing exam.
9. IELTS – Prepare for IELTS Speaking by Former IELTS Examiners
Length: 13 hours
Includes: 2 articles, 84 downloadable resources
Requirements: a basic understanding of English
Created by: Prepare for IELTS
IELTS – Prepare for IELTS Speaking by Former IELTS Examiners will help you prepare for the IELTS Speaking exam for both General and Academic test type by giving you an insight into how IELTS examiners assess your band score.
The course focuses on current and recent IELTS speaking topics so you will become familiar with some of the questions that IELTS examiners are currently asking and it will focus on the kinds of things IELTS examiners are particularly listening for.
After the course, you can expect to:
- Be better prepared for your IELTS exam by studying current IELTS speaking topics with a former IELTS examiner
- Have a richer vocabulary with lots of collocations, which are vital for higher band scores
Pros
The instructor gives the precise techniques that can lead to the best IELTS result. Every single lesson is meaningful and is filled with essential advanced vocabulary and complex sentence structures. Furthermore, the instructor can clarify any confusing phrases if you ask her in the question section.
Cons
No trouble has been recorded so far, which is a good sign.
Who This Course is for
This IELTS course on Udemy fits anyone who is taking either Academic or General IELTS.
10. IELTS Writing Task 1 (General) – Master Letter Writing
Length: 10 hours
Includes: 2 articles, 25 downloadable resources
Created by: Prepare for IELTS
After the course, you can expect to be able to write formal, semi-formal, and informal letters
Pros
The content highlights the specific language native speakers use. Additionally, the tutor takes care in explaining, even every little detail. He is keen on repeating certain important requirements, like the importance of present perfect tense, so that it gets registered in students’ mind.
The model answers with in-depth analysis help us understand diverse features like grammar, lexical, coherence and cohesion, in an IELTS background.
Above all, the “The strategies” section of each model letter gives an exceedingly huge resource of standard phrases to improve writing.
Cons
Many of the model answers used in the videos are over 150 words. However, as explained in the description of the course, this is because the instructor wants to show you as many things as possible, which need to take up more than 150 words.
Who This Course is for
This course works best if you are an IELTS candidate for the General IELTS exam.
11. Score High IELTS Writing (General Training Module)
Length: 3 hours
Includes: 2 articles, 57 downloadable resources
Requirements: a basic level of English
Created by: Grace Je
Score High IELTS Writing (General Training Module) will take you through simple progressive steps in writing using contents-tailored and compact PowerPoint videos and 20 PDF study files.
After the course, you can expect to:
- have an excellent understanding of what exactly you need to do to receive a good score in the writing section (General Training module);
- produce both a letter and an essay under 60 minutes with confidence.
Pros
This course is quite relevant to the dilemma and confusion that most test-takers face. The course covers topics in the way to achieve high scores and not try to be too preachy.
Cons
I didn’t run into this myself but one of the students reviewed some of the videos are not working properly. Don’t know if they have been fixed by now.
Who This Course is for
This course was designed for anyone who’s planning to take an IELTS exam in General Training module and wishes to get a satisfactory result as fast and easily as possible.
12. IELTS Band 7+ Preparation Reading Course
Length: 9.5 hours
Includes: 2 articles, 2 downloadable resources
Requirements: an intermediate level of English
Created by: Keino Campbell
IELTS Band 7+ Preparation Reading Course prepares participants for all parts of the IELTS Reading exam. It focuses on the skills and techniques required to sit for the test by helping them to familiarize with the various test formats and acquire test-taking strategies.
After the course, you can expect to:
- be familiar with all parts of the IELTS Reading test
- have some useful tips to help you achieve your IELTS goals
- understand how the IELTS Reading test is assessed
Pros
The overall description and strategy are great for different types of questions in the IELTS exam.
Cons
As in IELTS Band 7+ Complete Prep Course, the videos and speeches are not thoroughly prepared. Some parts of the lectures are a little confusing to me.
Who This Course is for
This course is created for learners who are preparing to take or retake the IELTS Examination.
13. IELTS – Vocabulary Strategies for IELTS
Length: 9 hours
Includes: 9 articles, 11 downloadable resources
Requirements: none listed
Created by: Prepare for IELTS
In IELTS – Vocabulary Strategies for IELTS, there are 9 units comprising 25 lessons, which amounts to over ten hours of study. As well as helping you with IELTS Writing, this course will improve your vocabulary for other parts of the IELTS test.
After the course, you can expect to know how to use lexical resources in order to get a higher band score.
Pros
The instructor owns a clear British accent, which you can definitely benefit for your own listening skill. The slides and materials are quite easy to follow as well.
Cons
As for most of the writing courses, there are lots of useful materials, which you can use to practice all you want. But in the end, the instructor is not going to be there to fix the mistakes you’ve made in your writing. So, you’re pretty much on your own.
Who This Course is for
This course is mainly aimed at candidates taking Academic IELTS. H
Final Words
Phew! There goes another list.
As for the time of posting this, there’s a New Year’s sale on Udemy (the biggest sale season of the year), in which you can get the most popular courses for just $9.99. That’s a pretty good price if you ask me, especially when their 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee policy is still up and running.
But, if you’re short in budget, or want to experience before you officially register and spend money on a specific course, you can always try out these free ones first.
Best Free IELTS Courses on Udemy
- IELTS Band 7 Preparation Speaking Course
- Understanding IELTS Exam: The Basics
- Pass IELTS with a score of 7-9 and live or work overseas!
- IELTS Strategies (English Version)
- TOEFL vs. IELTS: Differences btw TOEFL & IELTS
- IELTS Academic Reading & Listening Achieve Band 9
- Father IELTS — Test Preparation
- IELTS WRITING – Opinion Essay : Guide to Band 7-9
- PREMIER IELTS SPEAKING – Jan to April 2018 Model Answers
- IELTS MASTERCLASS – The Fast Track to Speaking like a Native
- The IELTS Guide to Writing with Nas Cee
TOEFL is another popular test among English learners. Even though TOEFL and IELTS are two very different tests, their usages can be interchangeable in some countries. So, make sure to understand each test to see which will best suit your needs.
Happy learning!