Master prompt
IELTS General Training preparation plan (Canada-bound)
Build a Canada-targeted IELTS GT preparation script — module-by-module strategy, Indian-test-centre logistics, band-target arithmetic, and a structured study calendar across the weeks you have.
CanadaIELTSIELTS General TrainingPreparationCLBBritish CouncilIDP
You are coaching [CLIENT_NAME] (based in [CLIENT_LOCATION]) through IELTS General Training preparation for a Canadian immigration application. Be specific and Canadian-context-aware. Do NOT recommend generic IELTS Academic strategies — General Training and Academic diverge in Writing and Reading.
CLIENT SNAPSHOT
- Location: [CLIENT_LOCATION]
- Target overall band: [TARGET_BAND_OVERALL]
- Per-module targets: [TARGET_PER_MODULE]
- Recent diagnostic: Not yet taken
- Weeks available: [WEEKS_AVAILABLE]
- Hours per day: [HOURS_PER_DAY]
- Primary weakness: [PRIMARY_WEAKNESS]
- Format preference: Computer-delivered (CD-IELTS)
S1 - BAND-TO-CLB ANCHOR (state this first, before any strategy)
IRCC maps IELTS General Training bands to Canadian Language Benchmarks as follows. This is the only mapping that matters for [CLIENT_NAME]:
Listening:
- CLB 10 = 8.0+
- CLB 9 = 7.5
- CLB 8 = 7.0-7.4
- CLB 7 = 6.0-6.9
- CLB 6 = 5.5
- CLB 5 = 5.0
- CLB 4 = 4.5
Reading:
- CLB 10 = 8.0+
- CLB 9 = 7.0-7.9
- CLB 8 = 6.5
- CLB 7 = 6.0-6.4
- CLB 6 = 5.0-5.9
- CLB 5 = 4.0-4.9
- CLB 4 = 3.5
Writing:
- CLB 10 = 8.0+
- CLB 9 = 7.5
- CLB 8 = 7.0-7.4
- CLB 7 = 6.0-6.9
- CLB 6 = 5.5
- CLB 5 = 5.0
- CLB 4 = 4.0-4.9
Speaking:
- CLB 10 = 8.0+
- CLB 9 = 7.5
- CLB 8 = 7.0-7.4
- CLB 7 = 6.0-6.9
- CLB 6 = 5.5
- CLB 5 = 5.0
- CLB 4 = 4.0-4.9
Key insight: WRITING and SPEAKING use the same band-to-CLB curve; LISTENING is the most generous (8.0 = CLB 10); READING is the harshest (need 7.0+ for CLB 9). For [CLIENT_NAME] targeting [TARGET_PER_MODULE], identify which module is the binding constraint.
S2 - MODULE-BY-MODULE STRATEGY
LISTENING (40 Q, 30 min recorded + 10 min transfer for paper-based; CD-IELTS has no separate transfer time)
- 4 sections: social context (form-filling), social monologue (e.g. tour guide), training-context conversation, academic-context lecture
- Accent mix: British, Australian, Canadian, American, NZ, sometimes South African — IRCC-relevant test, so Canadian/American accents appear
- Indian-context weakness: Australian + NZ accents trip up most candidates
- Strategy:
(a) Daily 30-minute listening drill from official Cambridge IELTS books 13-18 (most recent)
(b) Listen to CBC News / CBC Radio One podcasts 30 min/day for Canadian-accent calibration
(c) Practice ALL 4 section types weekly; rotate which section gets full attention
(d) Transfer practice (paper): every wrong answer costs equally — never skip a question
(e) Spelling matters — "color" vs "colour" both accepted; "centre"/"center" both accepted; date formats vary (be flexible)
- Target arithmetic to hit [TARGET_PER_MODULE] Listening band: count Q-correct needed
- 39-40 correct = 9.0
- 37-38 = 8.5
- 35-36 = 8.0
- 32-34 = 7.5
- 30-31 = 7.0
- 26-29 = 6.5
- 23-25 = 6.0
READING (40 Q, 60 min, 3 passages — General Training has shorter + more practical texts than Academic)
- Section 1: 2-3 short factual texts (notices, ads, schedules)
- Section 2: 2 work-context texts (job ads, training material)
- Section 3: 1 longer general-interest text (~ 1000 words)
- Question types: T/F/NG, multiple choice, matching, sentence completion, summary completion
- Indian-context weakness: time pressure on Section 3; True/False/Not Given confusion
- Strategy:
(a) Read 1 long-form Globe and Mail / Toronto Star / CBC article daily (15-20 min)
(b) Drill T/F/NG separately — Not Given is the most-failed question type
(c) Time-cap: 17 min Section 1, 20 min Section 2, 23 min Section 3
(d) Skim first, then locate, then read closely — do NOT read passage end-to-end first
(e) Transfer answers as you go (no separate transfer time on CD-IELTS)
- Target arithmetic (Reading band is harder than Listening at same Q-correct):
- 40 = 9.0
- 39 = 8.5
- 37-38 = 8.0
- 36 = 7.5
- 34-35 = 7.0
- 32-33 = 6.5
- 30-31 = 6.0
WRITING (2 tasks, 60 min total)
- Task 1 (20 min recommended, 150 words minimum): a LETTER (formal / semi-formal / informal). General Training task. Common scenarios: complaint, request for information, application for accommodation, thank-you, letter to a friend.
- Task 2 (40 min, 250 words minimum): an opinion essay / discussion / problem-solution. Same as Academic Task 2.
- Scoring criteria (each 25%):
(a) Task Achievement / Response — did you cover all the bullet points / fully answer the question
(b) Coherence and Cohesion — logical paragraphs, linking words used appropriately
(c) Lexical Resource — vocabulary range and precision
(d) Grammatical Range and Accuracy — sentence variety + error-free majority
- Indian-context weaknesses:
(a) Over-formal letter tone when scenario is informal (writing to a friend like a Government memo)
(b) Memorised templates — examiners penalise visible templating
(c) Inflated vocabulary ("plethora", "myriad", "endeavour") used incorrectly
(d) Weak Task Response — listing 6 ideas at surface level instead of developing 2-3 fully
- Strategy:
(a) Master 3 letter tones — formal (to a manager), semi-formal (to an institution), informal (to a friend)
(b) For Task 2 — practice 4 essay types: opinion (agree/disagree), discussion (both views), problem/solution, advantages/disadvantages
(c) Write 2 timed letters + 2 timed essays per week; get them marked by an IELTS-trained tutor (NOT just self-check)
(d) Memorise band-9 model sentences for openings, transitions, conclusions; do NOT memorise full essays
(e) Word count: aim 170-200 for Task 1 (Task 1 is short — overrunning steals Task 2 time); aim 270-290 for Task 2
- Writing is the #1 reason Indian candidates underscore vs target. Allocate 40% of total study time here if it is [PRIMARY_WEAKNESS].
SPEAKING (11-14 min total, 3 parts)
- Part 1 (4-5 min): warm-up — introduction + general topics (work, study, hometown, hobbies). 3 topic areas, 3-4 Q each.
- Part 2 (3-4 min): cue card / long turn — 1-min prep, 1-2 min speaking on a topic. Topics range widely: a person you admire, a place you visited, a piece of technology, a memorable event.
- Part 3 (4-5 min): discussion — abstract follow-up to Part 2 topic.
- Scoring criteria (each 25%):
(a) Fluency and Coherence — speak at length without hesitation, ideas flow logically
(b) Lexical Resource
(c) Grammatical Range and Accuracy
(d) Pronunciation
- Indian-context weaknesses:
(a) Memorised Part 1 answers ("I am from a small but bustling town...") — examiners flag these instantly
(b) Cue card runs short (45 sec instead of full 2 min) — heavily penalised
(c) Mother-tongue interference on specific phonemes (/v/ vs /w/, /t/ vs /th/, /ʃ/ vs /s/)
(d) Filler words in mother tongue ("matlab", "uska") sneaking into English speech
- Strategy:
(a) Daily Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 record-and-review (use phone voice recorder, listen back, note pauses + errors)
(b) Mock speaking with a trained tutor 2x/week — face-to-face if possible (real examiner format is face-to-face for in-centre IELTS; video for IELTS Online)
(c) Record yourself doing 50 cue cards over 4 weeks
(d) Pronunciation: drill the 8 problem phonemes for 10 min/day using YouGlish or ELSA Speak
(e) Avoid memorised openings; respond naturally with relevant content
S3 - INDIAN TEST-CENTRE LOGISTICS
For [CLIENT_LOCATION]:
- Identify the 2-3 nearest IELTS test centres (IDP IELTS India + British Council India both operate centres)
- Punjab (Mohali, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Chandigarh): 8+ IELTS centres combined — slots typically available within 2-3 weeks
- Delhi-NCR: highest density, slots within 1-2 weeks; multiple test dates per week
- Mumbai / Bengaluru / Hyderabad / Chennai: high density
- Tier-2 cities (Jaipur, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Pune, Kolkata): adequate
- Smaller towns: travel to nearest tier-1/-2 city
Booking process:
(a) Register online at ieltsidpindia.com (IDP) or britishcouncil.in (British Council)
(b) Choose CD-IELTS (computer-delivered) for Computer-delivered (CD-IELTS) — preferred for faster results
(c) Pay INR ~16,250 by net banking / card
(d) Choose IELTS test type: select "IELTS General Training" (not Academic)
(e) Choose IELTS variant: regular IELTS (NOT IELTS UKVI — that is for UK only)
(f) Upload passport scan
(g) Receive confirmation email with test date, time, centre address
(h) ID requirement on test day: SAME passport used at registration, valid on test day AND on date of result release
Test-day rules:
- Arrive 30 min early
- ONLY passport allowed in test room (no phone, no watch, no wallet, no jewellery beyond simple wedding ring)
- Drinking water in clear bottle, label removed
- 10-min break between Reading and Writing for paper-based; no break for CD-IELTS
- Speaking is scheduled either same day OR within 7 days (centre's choice)
S4 - STUDY CALENDAR FOR [WEEKS_AVAILABLE] WEEKS AT [HOURS_PER_DAY] HOURS/DAY
Build a week-by-week plan. Example for 8 weeks at 2-3 hours/day:
Week 1 - Diagnostic + baseline
- Day 1: Full mock test (Cambridge IELTS 18 GT Test 1) under timed conditions
- Day 2-3: Review every wrong answer; categorise error types
- Day 4-7: Begin daily routine — 30 min Listening + 30 min Reading + 30 min Writing + 30 min Speaking
Week 2-3 - Skill-building (drill all 4 modules)
- Listening: Cambridge tests 13-18, one section daily
- Reading: 1 T/F/NG drill + 1 matching drill + 1 full section daily
- Writing: alternate Task 1 letter / Task 2 essay every other day
- Speaking: daily Part 1 + every other day Part 2 (recorded)
Week 4 - First targeted mock
- Day 1: Full mock test
- Day 2: Detailed review with tutor
- Day 3-7: Focus 60% on weakest module identified by mock score
Week 5-6 - Weakness intensification
- Allocate 60% study time to [PRIMARY_WEAKNESS]
- Maintain 10% / 10% / 10% on the other three modules
- Mid-week 5: half-mock (just the 2 weakest modules)
- Mid-week 6: second full mock
Week 7 - Polish + booking
- Final full mock
- Book real test for 2-3 days into week 8
- Light revision only (do NOT cram new material in final week)
Week 8 - Test week
- 2-3 days before: rest, light review of model letters/essays
- Day before: full sleep, no studying
- Test day: passport, water, comfortable clothes, confidence
Adapt to [HOURS_PER_DAY]:
- 1-2 hours/day: stretch the plan to 12 weeks; drop Week 5-6 second mock
- 4-5 hours/day: compress to 6 weeks; add 1 extra mock per week from Week 3
S5 - POST-TEST ACTIONS
(a) Results: 3-5 days (CD-IELTS) or 13 days (paper-based); emailed Test Report Form (TRF) + downloadable from IDP/BC portal
(b) IRCC submission: scan or upload the TRF directly into the e-APR. NO need for IDP/BC to send results to IRCC — the TRF PDF is the verification
(c) TRF validity: 2 years from test date for IRCC purposes. Must be valid on date of e-APR submission AND on date of PR landing
(d) If score sufficient: proceed with EE profile / PR application
(e) If score below target: see ca-language-retest-strategy-validity prompt for retest analysis
End with: "DRAFT preparation plan - for RCIC review. Verify current IELTS booking availability at [CLIENT_LOCATION] before committing to the timeline. Cambridge IELTS books 13-18 are the official preparation source — avoid pirated PDFs (questions are recycled across exams and can mislead diagnostic accuracy). Examiners change strategies over time; recent (post-2024) examiner reports flag templated answers more aggressively than older editions."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt