Improve Your IELTS Scores Easily with Daily Listening and Practice

Selected practical listening materials suitable for middle and high school students, trained scientifically, and easily breakthrough! From extensive listening to intensive listening, from catching keywords to understanding the full text, gradually conquer 90% of the content. Stick to it for 21 days, let your ears get used to the English rhythm, and you'll be amazed at the progress! Now start and witness a qualitative leap in your listening skills! Below is a collection from qicai.com of listening materials for improving English listening by half an hour every day.

I'm Nana, and I'm so excited to share my IELTS journey with you today. You know what? Sometimes life doesn't go exactly as planned, and that's totally okay. My first IELTS attempt was, well, let's just say it wasn't my proudest moment. But here's the thing I didn't give up and neither should you. I'm a 26-year-old working professional, which means I have a full-time job, bills to pay, and a life to live. When I decided to retake the IELTS exam, I knew I had to be smart about it. I couldn't just quit my job and study 24-7. That's not realistic for most of us, right? So I developed a strategy that worked around my busy schedule, and I want to share every detail with you. It was a Tuesday morning when I received my first IELTS results. I remember sitting at my desk, coffee in hand, nervously opening the email. My heart sank when I saw the scores. I had scored 6.0 overall, but I needed 7.0 for my dream university. The worst part? I had only three months to improve before the next application deadline. At first I felt overwhelmed. How was I supposed to improve my English while working 40 hours a week?

But then I realized something important: I had to treat this like a project at work. I needed a plan, clear goals, and a realistic timeline. The first thing I did was honestly assess my weaknesses. I took a practice test and discovered that my reading and listening were okay, but my writing and speaking needed serious work. So I created a personalized study schedule. Here's what my typical weekday looked like. 6am, 30 minutes of IELTS reading practice. 7:30am, listen to English podcasts during my commute. Lunch break, 20 minutes of writing practice. 8pm, 45 minutes of focus study, alternating between speaking and listening. On weekends I would do full mock tests to track my progress. The key was consistency. Even 30 minutes every day was better than cramming for hours once a week.

This was where things got interesting. I discovered some amazing techniques that really helped me improve. For writing, I started keeping a daily journal in English. At first it was just simple sentences like, today I went to work and had lunch with my colleague. But gradually I began using more complex structures and vocabulary. I also practiced writing different types of essays: opinion, discussion, problem-solution, until I felt comfortable with each format. For speaking, I found a study partner online and we practiced speaking for 30 minutes every evening. We would pick random topics and just talk. Sometimes we discussed current events, sometimes we shared personal stories. For reading, I started reading English news articles every morning. I would choose topics that interested me, technology, lifestyle, travel and read them carefully. I practiced skimming for main ideas and scanning for specific information, just like in the IELTS test. For listening, I became obsessed with English podcasts and YouTube videos. I would listen to them at 1.25x speed to challenge myself, then slow them down to 0.75x to catch details I missed. This really helped me get used to different accents and speaking speeds.

The final month was all about practice, practice, practice. I took a full mock test every weekend and analyzed my mistakes carefully. I noticed patterns: I was always running out of time in the reading section and I tended to repeat the same vocabulary in my writing. So I developed specific strategies. For reading, I learned to read the questions first, then scan the text for answers. For writing, I created a vocabulary bank of useful phrases and expressions. For speaking, I prepared some go-to responses for common topics. For listening, I practiced predicting what speakers might say based on context. Here's something I learned the hard way. IELTS is not just about English skills, it's also about mental preparation. I used to get so nervous during practice tests that I would make silly mistakes, so I developed some techniques to stay calm. Breathing exercises: before each practice session, I would take three deep breaths and remind myself that this was just practice. Positive self-talk: instead of thinking I'm going to fail, I would tell myself I'm prepared and I can do this. Visualization: I would imagine myself sitting in the exam room feeling confident and focused.

When the actual exam day arrived, I felt surprisingly calm. I had done everything I could to prepare and I knew that whatever happened, I had given it my best shot. The exam went better than I expected. The reading section felt manageable because I had practiced time management so much. The listening section was challenging, but I stayed focused and didn't panic when I missed a few answers. The writing section went smoothly because I had practiced the format so many times, and the speaking section felt like a natural conversation because I had built up my confidence through regular practice. Two weeks later I received my results: 7.5 overall. I had improved by 1.5 points and I had achieved the score I needed. But more importantly, I had proven to myself that with the right strategy and consistent effort, anything is possible. This journey taught me so much more than just English. I learned about time management, goal setting, and the power of consistent effort. I discovered that success doesn't happen overnight. It's the result of small, daily actions that add up over time. I also learned that everyone's journey is different. What worked for me might not work for you, and that's okay. The important thing is to find what works for your lifestyle and stick with it. If you're preparing for IELTS while working or studying, here's what I recommend: don't be unrealistic about your schedule. Don't try to study for six hours a day if you can only manage two. It's better to study consistently for a shorter time than to burn out quickly. Focus on your weaknesses: don't waste time on skills you're already good at. Identify your problem areas and work on them systematically. Practice regularly: even 20 minutes a day is better than nothing. Consistency is key. Don't compare yourself to others: everyone learns at their own pace. Focus on your own progress. Take care of yourself: get enough sleep, eat well, and take breaks when you need them. Your brain works better when you're healthy and rested. Looking back on this journey, I'm grateful for the experience. It wasn't easy, but it was worth it. I not only improved my English skills, but also developed discipline and resilience that will serve me well in the future. Remember, IELTS is just a test. It doesn't define your intelligence or your worth. It's simply a tool to help you achieve your goals. Whether you're taking it for university admission, immigration, or career advancement, the skills you develop during your preparation will benefit you long after the exam is over. So if you're feeling overwhelmed or discouraged, take a deep breath and remember you've got this. Every expert was once a beginner, and every success story started with a decision to try. What about you? Are you preparing for IELTS right now? What's your biggest challenge and how are you overcoming it? I'd love to hear your story in the comments below. Let's support each other on this journey. Thanks for listening to my story. I hope it inspires you to keep going, no matter where you are in your IELTS journey. Remember, the only way to fail is to give up. Keep pushing forward and you'll get there.

The above content is organized by qicai.com for those practicing half an hour of English listening daily, hoping it helps you improve your listening skills!