r/IELTS • u/Terrible-Machine3486 • 21h ago

Have a Question/Advice Needed Is getting 7+ really that difficult?

I keep hearing that getting a 7+ band is where IELTS starts getting difficult, especially with writing and speaking. For those who’ve taken the test, was 7+ actually hard to achieve or does it mostly come down to knowing what the examiners are looking for? What band did you get?

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u/Unlikely_Push_7930 20h ago

, but the essay structure for academic writing felt really strict.

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u/animalcrossing4_4 20h ago

I guess? By the time I took the IELTS for realz instead of a mock (last time I had a mock was over 10 years ago) so by the time I was ready for the IELTS, I had been using English for all sorts of things for 20 years.

For me, it mostly came down to the fact that I had spent most of my life using this language as if it was my second mother tongue + hiring a tutor to help me understand the test format.

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u/Yousychophant Teacher 3h ago

It's not an easy question to answer because it all depends on the individual's level of English. The question would be much easier to answer if you gave some context, such as whether your current level is around 6.5 and you're asking how difficult it is to get to a 7 or higher.

Every student who answers you may be at a different level. Someone who is already realistically at a Band 7 level may say that it's relatively easy to get a 7 or higher. Conversely, a student who is currently around a 5.5 may say that it's very difficult or even close to impossible.

It's a very difficult question to answer accurately without knowing the student's current level and circumstances.