IELTS MASTER CHEAT SHEET – 28 FEB 2026 (AC / GT)
LISTENING — HOW TO SCORE 8+ CONSISTENTLY
GENERAL LISTENING RULES (NON-NEGOTIABLE)
Answers always come in order
You hear the answer once only
IELTS tests listening discipline, not vocabulary
GOLDEN METHOD (Use in all parts)
1. Read question
2. Predict answer type (number / noun / adjective)
3. Listen for paraphrase, not same words
4. Write answer as you hear
5. Don’t think about previous mistakes
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PART 1 – FORM / TABLE COMPLETION (FREE MARKS)
What IELTS is testing
Names, numbers, dates, spellings
Your ability to listen calmly
EXACT STRATEGY
Write in CAPITAL letters
Numbers:
Fifteen ≠ Fifty
13 ≠ 30
Addresses: street / road / avenue
Emails: stop listening after “dot com”
MOST COMMON TRAPS
Plurals (gym / gyms)
Phone numbers spoken fast
Distractors before correction:
> “It used to be… but now it’s…”
EXAM RULE
> If you miss Part 1 marks, Band 8 is already difficult.
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PART 2 – MULTIPLE CHOICE (MAP / SITUATION TALK)
What IELTS is testing
Your ability to follow one speaker + structure
EXECUTION METHOD
Read ALL options before audio starts
Underline difference words only
Ignore examples, listen for:
Reason
Preference
Final decision
BIG TRAP
The first answer is usually wrong
IELTS often changes opinion mid-talk
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PART 3 – MATCHING + MCQ (CONFUSION ZONE)
What IELTS is testing
Ability to follow multiple speakers
Academic discussion skills
HOW TO HANDLE
Focus on:
Who agrees
Who disagrees
Who gives reason
MENTAL RULE
> If you stop listening for 5 seconds, you lose the question.
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PART 4 – SUMMARY COMPLETION (VOCAB CONTROL)
What IELTS is testing
Exact word recognition
Grammar awareness
DO THIS
Predict grammar:
Verb? → probably ends in -ing
Noun? → countable or uncountable
Write ONLY what you hear
DO NOT
Paraphrase
Change tense
Add extra words
ACADEMIC + GENERAL TRAINING
(Exam-ready, zero fluff)
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GLOBAL READING RULES (NON-NEGOTIABLE)
Never read full passage first
Always read questions first
Underline keywords in questions
Answers come in order (90% of time)
No spelling tolerance
✘ Don’t rely on memory
✘ Don’t panic if first passage feels slow
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ACADEMIC READING
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PASSAGE 1 – EASY / SCORING PASSAGE
COMMON QUESTION TYPES
True / False / Not Given
Matching Information
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HOW TO ATTEMPT (STEP-BY-STEP)
1. Read first 2–3 questions
2. Underline names, dates, facts
3. Scan paragraph by paragraph
4. Answer immediately — don’t skip
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TRUE / FALSE / NOT GIVEN – CHEAT LOGIC
TRUE → exactly same meaning
FALSE → opposite meaning
NOT GIVEN → topic mentioned, detail missing
❗If you “think” → NOT GIVEN
❗If partly true → NOT GIVEN
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MATCHING INFORMATION
Match idea, not word
Paragraph can be used more than once
Look for:
cause
example
definition
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PASSAGE 2 – MODERATE / TIME TRAP
COMMON QUESTION TYPES
Matching Headings
Sentence Completion
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MATCHING HEADINGS – SURVIVAL METHOD
1. Read only first & last line of paragraph
2. Ignore examples
3. Choose heading for main idea only
✘ Don’t match keywords
✘ Don’t read full paragraph
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SENTENCE COMPLETION RULES
Answer = exact words from passage
Check:
grammar
plural / singular
Word limit is strict
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PASSAGE 3 – DIFFICULT / BAND DECIDER
COMMON QUESTION TYPES
Multiple Choice
Summary Completion
Matching
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MULTIPLE CHOICE – WINNING STRATEGY
Read question stem first
Predict answer in your head
Eliminate 2 wrong options
Choose best match, not perfect match
✘ Don’t choose option with extreme words
(always, never, completely)
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SUMMARY COMPLETION
Read summary first
Identify which paragraph it belongs to
Use exact words from passage
Grammar must fit sentence
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ACADEMIC TIME CONTROL
Passage Max Time
Passage 1 15 mins
Passage 2 20 mins
Passage 3 25 mins
If Passage 1 takes 25 mins → band drops automatically
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GENERAL TRAINING READING
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SECTION 1 – VERY EASY (DON’T LOSE MARKS)
COMMON CONTENT
Advertisements
Notices
Timetables
Service information
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STRATEGY
Read everything (short text)
Answers are visible
No tricks
✘ Overthinking = silly mistakes
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SECTION 2 – MODERATE / CONFUSING
COMMON CONTENT
Workplace policies
Training guidelines
Staff responsibilities
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STRATEGY
Identify who / what / when
Questions follow order
Focus on instructions & conditions
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SECTION 3 – HARD / ACADEMIC STYLE
COMMON CONTENT
Career development
Employment trends
Work–life balance
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STRATEGY
Treat like Academic Passage 3
Use elimination
Focus on writer’s opinion
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GT YES / NO / NOT GIVEN – QUICK LOGIC
YES → writer agrees
NO → writer disagrees
NOT GIVEN → no clear opinion
❗ Don’t confuse with T/F/NG
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READING LAST-MINUTE DON’TS
✘ Don’t change answers at end
✘ Don’t leave blanks
✘ Don’t copy extra words
✘ Don’t assume logic outside passage
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MENTAL CHECK BEFORE SUBMIT
Spelling checked?
Word limit respected?
All answers filled?
WRITING
WRITING TASK 1 – ACADEMIC (ONE-LOOK CHEAT)
STRUCTURE (DO NOT CHANGE)
1. Intro – 1 sentence
2. Overview – 1 sentence (MANDATORY)
3. Body 1 – major trend
4. Body 2 – no / minor trend
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INTRO FORMULA
> The given chart illustrates + WHAT + WHERE + TIME.
✔ Use illustrates / compares / presents
✘ Never write “This chart shows”
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OVERVIEW FORMULA (MOST IMPORTANT)
> Overall, it is clear that + MAIN TREND, while + SECOND TREND.
✔ Use overall / it is clear
✘ No numbers
✘ No details
If no overview → Band 5 max
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BODY RULES
Group data (never line-by-line)
Compare highest vs lowest
Use:
increased / declined / remained stable
slightly / steadily / sharply
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ABSOLUTE DON’TS
✘ No opinion
✘ No reasons
✘ No prediction
✘ No conclusion
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WRITING TASK 1 – GT LETTER (READY FORMAT)
OPENING
Complaint → I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with…
Request → I am writing to request information regarding…
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BODY
Paragraph 1 → What happened
Paragraph 2 → What you want
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CLOSING
> I look forward to your prompt response.
✘ No “Thanks in advance” in complaint
✘ No informal words unless informal letter
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WRITING TASK 2 – ESSAY (BAND 7–8 SAFE)
INTRO (FIXED)
> Nowadays, … is widely discussed. While some believe…, I believe…
✔ Clear opinion in intro
✘ Never neutral
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BODY PARAGRAPH FORMULA
1. Topic sentence (main idea)
2. Explanation (why)
3. Example (simple, real)
4. Result
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CONCLUSION
> In conclusion, although…, I firmly believe…
✘ No new ideas
✘ No questions
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TASK 2 DON’TS (VERY IMPORTANT)
✘ Don’t memorise templates
✘ Don’t write both sides equally
✘ Don’t overuse “Moreover / Furthermore”
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SPEAKING PART 1 – CHEAT ANSWER STYLE
FORMAT
> Opinion → Reason → Small example
Example
> Honestly, I enjoy working from home because it saves time. It also helps me focus better.
✘ No yes/no
✘ No long stories
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SPEAKING PART 2 – 2-MINUTE SURVIVAL PLAN
STRUCTURE
1. What it is
2. When / where
3. What happens
4. Why it matters to me
✔ Simple story
✔ One emotion
✘ Don’t try to sound smart
✘ Don’t stop early
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SPEAKING PART 3 – EXAMINER-FRIENDLY FORMAT
ANSWER STYLE
> In general… However… For example…
✔ Compare past vs present
✔ Give balanced view
✘ No personal stories
✘ No short answers
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LAST 24-HOUR RULES
Don’t learn new words
Don’t change structure
Sleep > practice
Trust patterns
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