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Most universities and scholarships require a language test score. This course covers the structure of the IELTS Academic and Duolingo English Test, strategies for each section, academic writing and a targeted study plan.
Course page on the learning platform
Course details
| Level | B1 to B2+, based on the CEFR |
| Estimated duration | 50 hours of study and practice |
| Prerequisites | English at B1 level |
| Language of instruction | Farsi-e-Dari (with key terms in English) |
| Cost | Free |
| Assessment | A quiz after each section and a final exam; pass mark 70%; certificate after approval by the Academy |
After this course you will be able to
- Explain the structure and scoring of IELTS and the Duolingo English Test
- Apply a clear strategy for each section (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)
- Write an academic essay (Task 2) with sound structure and argument
- Describe charts and tables in academic English (Task 1)
- Build an eight-week study plan for your target score
Course outline
- IELTS and DET
- Scoring
- Choosing the right test
- Question strategies
- Academic vocabulary
- Time management
- Task 1: describing a chart
- Task 2: the essay
- Correcting common errors
- The three parts of IELTS Speaking
- Fluency and coherence
- Recorded practice
- Practice test
- Error analysis
- Eight-week plan
Week-by-week learning path
With about 30 to 45 minutes of study and practice a day, you will complete this course in 6 weeks:
| Week | Topic | Weekly outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Understanding the tests | Lessons, practical exercises and a short section quiz |
| Week 2 | Listening and reading | Lessons, practical exercises and a short section quiz |
| Week 3 | Writing | Lessons, practical exercises and a short section quiz |
| Week 4 | Speaking | Lessons, practical exercises and a short section quiz |
| Week 5 | Your plan for success | Lessons, practical exercises and a short section quiz |
| Week 6 | Final project and final exam | Completed project and a score of 70% or higher |
Final project
A full practice test, an analysis of errors in each section, two Task 2 essays rewritten after feedback, and a personal eight-week study plan for your target score.
Project assessment criteria:
- Accuracy of error analysis
- Progress in rewriting
- Realism of the plan
- Use of strategies
Key course terms
Band score
Argumentative essay
Coherence and cohesion
Academic vocabulary
Paraphrasing
Skimming
Scanning
Fluency
Assessment and certificate
- After each section: a short quiz (70% recommended before moving on)
- Practical exercises in each lesson are for learning; send your questions via the Questions section.
- End of course: final exam (pass mark 70%) and submission of the final project
- Digital certificate after review and approval by the Academy: Request a certificate
Teaching method
Each lesson includes learning objectives, explanations with real examples and images, key terms in Dari and English, common mistakes, practical exercises, a self-test and a summary. In every lesson you can put questions to the teacher using the Questions button. The courses are impartial, free and open to all young people.
Get ready now
- Take a free practice test to find your starting point
- Write down the language requirement of your target university or scholarship
- Listen to BBC Learning English for 20 minutes a day
Free and reliable resources
These resources have been selected by the Academy team, and most of them are in English (Chrome’s Translate option can translate them if needed). Large files (books, exercise files, videos) will be placed in the Academy’s official Google Drive folder when the course goes live and linked from this page.
- IELTS, official IELTS test information
- Duolingo English Test, an online English test accepted by many universities
- British Council – LearnEnglish, free English practice at all levels
- BBC Learning English, free English lessons with audio and video
Help and questions
Questions about this course: [email protected] · All courses: Online Learning Centre · Active course: Computer and Internet Basics
Women’s Academy, Afghanistan Youth Parliament · Free and open to all young people