One of the biggest challenges for English learners is overcoming the ‘language learning plateau’.
This expression refers to a period in the learning process where your progress seems to slow down, despite consistent effort. It’s very common at the intermediate stage, where learners feel stuck and make little improvement in their language skills.
However, there are strategies you can use to overcome the challenge of the plateau and get an advanced score in IELTS.
Let’s take a look at what is considered an advanced score in IELTS. Then, we’ll explore how you can progress from intermediate to advanced with the language skills, strategies, and tools you have.
What is advanced English in IELTS?
According to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), IELTS scores of 5.5 to 7 are intermediate. A score above 7 is considered advanced.
These are the scores you need for each section to secure an advanced level of English language skills.
Advanced IELTS Listening scores
In the Listening section of IELTS you have to answer 40 questions, worth 1 point each. While required scores may vary slightly, these are the approximate scores you need to achieve in each band.
- Band 5: 16 points
- Band 6: 23 points
- Band 7: 30 points
- Band 8: 35 points
For an advanced score, you should aim to answer at least 30 questions correctly.
Advanced IELTS Reading scores
The IELTS Academic and General Training Reading tests also contain 40 questions, worth 1 point each. Note that the Academic Reading test may be more complex or have more difficult vocabulary.
The number of points you need to achieve a certain band score vary slightly between Academic IELTS and General Training IELTS:
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Academic Band Score 5: Reading 15 Band Score 6: Reading 23 Band Score 7: Reading 30 Band Score 8: Reading 35 |
General Training Band Score 4: Reading 15 Band Score 5: Reading 23 Band Score 6: Reading 30 Band Score 7: Reading 35 |
Advanced IELTS Writing scores
Your IELTS writing is marked on the following criteria:
- Task achievement (for Task 1) and Task response (for Task 2)
- Coherence and cohesion
- Lexical resource
- Grammatical range and accuracy
Each one is weighted equally, and your final score is the average of the four. You can see the full score guide to IELTS writing here (Task 1 and Task 2 band descriptors).
Advanced IELTS Speaking scores
Similarly, IELTS Speaking is assessed based on the following four criteria, each weighted equally:
- Fluency and coherence
- Lexical resource
- Grammatical range and accuracy
- Pronunciation
You can see the full score guide to IELTS Speaking band descriptors here.
How to progress from intermediate to advanced
Use the following tips to improve your existing language skills and progress from intermediate to advanced English in the IELTS test.
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1. Know your strengths (and stepping stones)
To achieve the highest band score on the IELTS exam and have an advanced level of English language skills, you need to know where you excel. Knowing your strengths means you can align them with different sections of the test to maximise your performance. It also allows you to identify your stepping stones – the areas that you still need to develop.
IELTS is divided into four sections: Writing, Reading, Listening, and Speaking. Write a list of the specific language skills you have for each one. Then, highlight how the skills can relate to the test, and what needs to be elaborated. For example:
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Listening
My current language skills
- I can understand everyday English spoken in films and podcasts if the speaker has a clear accent.
- I can follow conversations about familiar topics via phone call.
- I can pick out key words (like names, numbers, dates) during announcements or instructions.
IELTS relevance
- These skills are useful for Section 1 and 2 of the Listening test, where the topics are more social or about everyday situations.
- I need to practise understanding academic discussions and lectures (Sections 3 and 4), where speakers use more complex vocabulary and ideas.
-
Reading
My current language skills
- I can read and understand the main ideas in short articles or texts.
- I can decipher the meanings of some unknown words from context.
- I can find specific information in English, if I know what I’m looking for.
IELTS relevance:
- These skills allow me to scan for detail and match information in the General Training Reading exam.
- I need to use IELTS practice tests to easily follow long, academic texts and answer questions that require deeper understanding (such as inferencing or understanding writer’s opinion).
-
Writing
My current language skills
- I can write short texts with mostly correct grammar and a range of vocabulary.
- I can write at a moderate pace and still make sense.
- I can describe past events or give simple opinions (e.g., "I think it’s a good idea because...").
IELTS relevance
- These skills align with Academic Writing Task 1, where I have to describe visual information in my own words.
- I should focus on more academic themes and writing styles for Task 2, where I need to connect ideas clearly and use different sentence structures.
-
Speaking
My current language skills
- I can hold a conversation in English and answer personal questions confidently.
- I can describe experiences and give simple opinions.
IELTS relevance
- I'm well-prepared for Part 1 of the Speaking test (about everyday topics).
- I need more practice with extended speaking in Part 2 and complex discussions in Part 3. and to reduce filler words like “um” and “you know”.
With these lists, you can remind yourself of the language skills that you possess – which builds your confidence and shows you that you’ve already improved so much in English, and you can do it again to reach an advanced level.
2. Use more complex language
By building on the English language skills that you have now at the intermediate level, you can make your speaking and writing more sophisticated.
Start with your grammar and sentence structure. Often, intermediate learners rely on short, simple sentences like “I agree with his opinion because he is a scientist”, or “The house is big and old, it isn’t suitable for a young couple to live in”. These are correct - but advanced English requires elements such as:
- Linking words
- Relative clauses
- Conditionals
- Diverse vocabulary
For the above examples, you could instead say “I support his viewpoint, especially considering that he is a scientist whose expertise lends credibility to his arguments”. Or, “While the house is spacious and traditional, it’s not ideal for a young couple if they are seeking a low-maintenance living space”. The meaning is the same as in the original sentences, but they display better fluency and grammatical range.
Pronunciation is also important, especially in the IELTS Speaking test. Not only do you want to deliver clear individual sounds for each word, but also the stress, rhythm, intonation, and connected speech of what you’re saying. You can improve by listening carefully to native speakers, and how they “run” words together.
For example, “I would like a cup of tea” is typically pronounced by British English speakers as “I’d likea cuppa tea”, with no pause between “like” and “a”, and “cup of” shortened to “cuppa”.
Try to repeat quotes that you hear from different media in English. Pay attention to the words and the music of the language. Use these tips as a general guide for your language skills development:
Rising intonation is commonly used in yes/no questions, where your pitch goes up at the end of the sentence.
Falling intonation is used for most statements and who/what/where/why questions, where your pitch drops at the end.
Mixed or fall-rise intonation can be used to show hesitation, uncertainty or a contrast.
Content words such as nouns, main verbs, adjectives, and adverbs are usually stressed.
Function words like prepositions, auxiliary verbs, and articles are usually unstressed.
3. Use IELTS strategies
To get an advanced score in IELTS, you’ll need to use task-specific strategies – these draw on language skills you already possess.
In the Listening section, you need to hear the tone, intent, and meaning of the speaker, not just their words. Inference and prediction techniques can help you. Before the audio begins, read the questions and anticipate what information is coming – for instance, an opinion, comparisons or formal information.
During the audio, notice how things are said. If the speaker says “I could give it to them later”, the stress on “could” might imply that they are reluctant to do so. These clues allow you to infer what is being said at a more advanced level.
In the Speaking section, range and accuracy matter as much as fluency for advanced speakers. Prepare for topics like health, technology, and travel, but also practise how to give opinions, compare ideas, describe past experiences, and speculate about the future. Use IELTS practice tests online free to write a mix of sentence structures, including relative clauses, conditionals, and passive voice. It’s also helpful to review model answers and aim for natural but precise language use.
Practise these strategies using IELTS practice tests free online.
Final thoughts
Achieving an advanced level of English can boost your confidence, broaden your career opportunities, and open doors to studying and living abroad.
On your journey to advanced English, rest assured that you already have the language skills needed to reach your goal. Start by identifying the IELTS band scores you aim for, then follow the steps outlined above to overcome the language learning plateau and make the leap from intermediate to advanced. Recognise your strengths, incorporate more complex language, and think like an advanced test taker - and your skills will continue to grow.
Ready for your IELTS test? Book with the British Council now