If you already understand the IELTS Reading format and have some practice under your belt, an 8-week structured plan can take you from a solid intermediate level toward your target band with steady, sustainable progress.
Weeks 1-2: Diagnose your weak points. Take a Full Mock Test in week one to establish your current baseline score. Review every wrong answer carefully and note which question types (True/False/Not Given, Matching Headings, completion questions) cause you the most trouble. This becomes your personal focus list for the weeks ahead.
Weeks 3-4: Targeted question-type practice. Spend these two weeks practicing passages while deliberately focusing on your weakest question types from the diagnostic. If Matching Headings was your weak point, seek out passages with that question type specifically and review the strategy article on it closely.
Weeks 5-6: Vocabulary and reading speed. Shift focus toward building academic vocabulary and reading speed, since intermediate learners often plateau here. Read a passage daily with a timer, and keep a running list of new academic words and their paraphrased forms.
Week 7: Full-length practice under pressure. Take two Full Mock Tests this week under strict, uninterrupted 60-minute conditions. Compare your score and question-type breakdown to your original week-one baseline to measure real progress.
Week 8: Final review and confidence building. Review your error patterns from the whole 8 weeks one more time, focusing on any question type that is still inconsistent. Avoid cramming new material in the final days — focus on reinforcing what you already know well.
Staying consistent matters more than intensity. A steady 30-45 minutes of daily practice across 8 weeks produces better results than occasional long, exhausting sessions. Use Readlify to keep a consistent daily habit with fresh passages and mock tests throughout the plan.