IELTS test tools for Band 6, 6.5, 7

 

IELTS Skill	Target Band	Strategy / Tool	Meaning	How to Use in Test	Example / Formula
Speaking Part 1	6–6.5	AREA	Answer → Reason → Example → Add-on	Give a direct answer, then add 1–2 natural details.	“Yes, I do. I like reading because it gives me new ideas. For example, I read business books. But I don’t read every day.”
Speaking Part 2	6–6.5	PPF	Past → Present → Future	Tell a story with time order. Useful when you need to speak for 2 minutes.	“At first… Later… Now… In the future…”
Speaking Part 3	6.5–7	O-R-E-O	Opinion → Reason → Example → Opinion again	Use this for abstract discussion questions.	“I think online learning is useful because it is flexible. For example… So overall, I believe…”
Speaking All Parts	6–6.5	5W+H	Who / What / When / Where / Why / How	Use when your answer is too short.	“Who was involved? Why did it happen? How did I feel?”
Listening Part 1–4	6–6.5	PPS	Preview → Predict → Select	Before listening, look at the blanks and predict answer type.	Blank = “The meeting is in ______” → predict a place.
Listening Part 2–4	6–6.5	KPS	Keyword → Paraphrase → Signal	Listen for the same meaning, not the same word.	“cost” = “price / fee / afford / expensive”
Listening Part 3	6.5–7	Speaker Attitude Tracking	Follow who agrees, disagrees, changes mind	Very useful when two students discuss options.	“I thought A, but actually B is better.” Answer = B.
Listening All Parts	6–6.5	Signpost Words	Words that show answer changes	Pay attention to contrast and correction words.	“but / however / actually / in fact / the main reason is…”
Reading All Parts	6–6.5	SSS	Skim → Scan → Select	First understand the topic, then search for keywords, then choose.	Don’t read like a novel. Read like a detective.
Reading All Parts	6–6.5	K-P Match	Keyword–Paraphrase Matching	Match question words with similar meaning in the passage.	“reduce spending” = “cut the budget”
Reading TFNG	6–6.5	T/F/NG Rule	True = same; False = opposite; NG = not mentioned	Don’t guess based on common sense. Only use the passage.	Related but not clearly stated = Not Given
Reading Matching Headings	6.5–7	Main Idea First	Find the paragraph’s central idea	Don’t choose based on one repeated word.	Ask: “What is this paragraph mainly about?”
Writing Task 1	6–6.5	4-Part Structure	Intro → Overview → Body 1 → Body 2	Use this structure every time.	1 paraphrase, 1 overview, 2 data paragraphs
Writing Task 1	6–6.5	Overview Tool	Main trend + main contrast	Write the big picture. This is essential.	“Overall, X increased significantly, while Y remained stable.”
Writing Task 1	6–6.5	Compare, Don’t List	Compare important numbers	Avoid describing every number one by one.	“A was much higher than B, especially in 2020.”
Writing Task 1	6.5–7	Data Grouping	Group similar trends together	Put rising items together, falling items together.	Body 1: increases. Body 2: decreases/stable items.
Writing Task 2	6–6.5	4-Paragraph Structure	Intro → Body 1 → Body 2 → Conclusion	Keep it simple and controlled.	Best for most opinion/discussion essays.
Writing Task 2	6–6.5	PEEL	Point → Explain → Example → Link	Use one clear idea per body paragraph.	“One reason is… This means… For example… Therefore…”
Writing Task 2	6.5–7	Balanced Position	Clear opinion with nuance	Don’t be too absolute unless the question asks.	“Although X has benefits, I believe Y is more important.”
Writing Task 2	6–6.5	Question Type Control	Answer the exact question type	Different essay types need different structures.	Opinion / Discussion / Advantage-disadvantage / Problem-solution

IELTS Reading Answer-First Strategy

 IELTS Reading Answer-First Strategy  |  雅思閱讀先做題策略（A4 一頁版）

Locate fast, avoid paraphrase traps  |  快速定位，避開同義改寫陷阱

Passage fit (typical) + time P1: factual + fill blanks (notes/table/flow) - 15 min P2: mixed + paragraph match + summary + choose-two - 20 min P3: abstract + headings + MCQ + matching people - 25 min	篇章特性（常見）+ 建議時間 P1：資訊型 + 填空（筆記/表格/流程）- 15 分 P2：混合型 + 段落配對 + 摘要 + 多選 - 20 分 P3：抽象型 + 標題配對 + 選擇題 + 人物配對 - 25 分
1) 30-second setup · Scan question types: sequential first; jumpy sets later. · Circle anchors: numbers/dates/names/places/rare terms.	1) 30秒準備 · 先看題型：順序型先做；跳段型後做。 · 圈錨點：數字/年份/人名/地名/專有名詞。
2) 2–3 min Skim Map + answer loop · Skim only 1st sentence of each paragraph; label each in 3–6 words. · Loop: Anchor -> Locate -> Confirm (meaning, not words). · Read only the lines around the anchor; avoid rereading.	2) 2–3分鐘段落地圖 + 解題迴圈 · 每段只看第一句；每段用 3–6 字寫功能。 · 迴圈：錨點 -> 定位 -> 確認（比對意思，不比對字）。 · 只讀錨點附近幾行；避免重讀整段。
3) Order rules (save time) · Do first: summary/notes/table, sentence completion, short answers. · Do later: matching headings, which paragraph contains…, matching people/ideas. · MCQ: locate the paragraph first, then choose (paraphrase match).	3) 題組順序（省時間） · 先做：摘要/筆記/表格填空、句子填空、簡答。 · 後做：標題配對、找段落、人物/觀點配對。 · 選擇題：先定位段落再選（看同義改寫）。
4) TFNG + MCQ trap checklist · TFNG: TRUE = supported; FALSE = contradicted; NOT GIVEN = not stated. · Beware extreme words: all/always/never/only/most + invented numbers. · MCQ: one option may be “true but irrelevant”; pick what answers the question.	4) TFNG + 選擇題陷阱清單 · TFNG：TRUE 支持；FALSE 相反；NOT GIVEN 沒講（不能腦補）。 · 小心極端字 all/always/never/only/most 與自己加的數字。 · 選擇題：有些選項「句子是真的但不回答題目」要排除。
5) Fill blanks + stop rule · Use grammar slot: article -> noun; very -> adjective; preposition -> noun phrase. · Copy exact words; keep spelling + singular/plural. · 45-sec rule: can’t locate/confirm -> guess, mark, move on.	5) 填空題 + 停止規則 · 看語法格：冠詞後名詞；very 後形容詞；介系詞後名詞片語。 · 原文取詞：拼字 + 單複數要對。 · 45秒規則：找不到/確認不了 -> 先猜、做記號、往下走。
6) 10-min review (raise score) · Write 1 line per mistake: Location / Paraphrase / Logic (TFNG guessing). · Daily drill: Map 3 min + Locate 8 min + Review 10 min. · Goal: fewer mistakes of the same type, not “more questions done”.	6) 10分鐘檢討（真正拉分） · 每題錯只寫一行：定位錯 / 改寫錯 / 邏輯錯（TFNG 腦補）。 · 每日訓練：地圖3分 + 定位8分 + 檢討10分。 · 目標：同類錯題變少，不是一直刷更多題。