Your IELTS band score can decide a university admission, a work visa or a migration file, so preparation is not the place to gamble. Al Khawarizmi Institute has trained English learners in Lebanon since 2011. Our IELTS preparation course takes you from your current level to exam day with a clear plan, in person at three branches or live online via Zoom.
What is on the IELTS
The test has four parts, taken in one sitting for Listening, Reading and Writing, with Speaking either on the same day or within a week.
- Listening — about 30 minutes, 40 questions. Four recordings, from a everyday conversation through to an academic talk. You hear each one once.
- Reading — 60 minutes, 40 questions. Three passages. Academic uses journal and textbook material; General Training uses workplace and everyday texts.
- Writing — 60 minutes, two tasks. Task 2 is an essay and carries twice the weight of Task 1, which is why we spend more time on it.
- Speaking — 11 to 14 minutes, face to face with an examiner: an interview, a short talk from a prompt card, then a discussion.
Academic or General Training — get this right first
These are two different versions of the test and sitting the wrong one is an expensive mistake. Academic is for university admission and for professional registration. General Training is for migration to countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK, and for work or secondary study. Listening and Speaking are identical in both; Reading and Writing differ.
Tell us where you are applying and we will confirm which version your file needs before you book anything.
How band scores work
Each of the four parts gets a band from 1 to 9, and the overall band is their average, rounded to the nearest half band. Two things follow from that, and both change how you should prepare.
- One weak part drags the whole score down. A candidate strong in three areas and weak in Writing rarely fails because of the writing alone — they fail because the average lands half a band under the threshold.
- Many institutions set a minimum per part as well as an overall. An overall 7 with a 6 in Writing can still be refused. Check both numbers in your application before you set a target.
Band 6 is broadly “competent”, band 7 “good”, band 8 “very good”. Most undergraduate programmes ask for 6 to 6.5, postgraduate ones 6.5 to 7.5, and professional registration often more.
What the course covers
- All four exam sections — Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking — trained separately and together
- Exam strategy: timing, question types, and the mistakes that cost bands
- Writing feedback on real Task 1 and Task 2 answers, corrected individually against the band descriptors
- Speaking practice with teacher feedback until the exam format feels routine
- Targeted work on whichever part is holding your average down, since that is where a half band is cheapest to win
How we work
We start with a level assessment, because a student aiming to move from band 5 to 6.5 needs a different plan than one polishing from 6.5 to 7.5. Based on your level and target, we place you in the right group and tell you honestly how much preparation the jump usually takes. If your English base needs strengthening first, we will say so and route you through our general English course before you spend money on exam training.
Course length depends on your starting level and your target band, and we confirm it with you directly rather than publishing a fixed number that would not fit your case.
In person or online
Classes run at our three branches — Beirut (Mar Elias), the Chouf (Simkanieh) and Choueifat — and as live Zoom groups for students elsewhere in Lebanon or abroad. Same teachers, same materials, same result.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between IELTS Academic and General Training?
Academic is for university admission and professional registration. General Training is for migration, work and secondary study. Listening and Speaking are the same in both; Reading and Writing differ. Tell us where you are applying and we will confirm which one your file needs.
How is the IELTS band score calculated?
Each of the four parts is scored from 1 to 9, and your overall band is the average of the four, rounded to the nearest half band. Because it is an average, one weak part pulls the whole score down.
What IELTS score do I need for university?
It depends on the institution, but most undergraduate programmes ask for 6 to 6.5 overall and postgraduate ones 6.5 to 7.5. Many also set a minimum for each individual part, so check both numbers before you set your target.
How long is the IELTS preparation course?
Course length depends on your starting level and your target band score. We assess your level first, then recommend a realistic plan. Message us on WhatsApp for the current schedule and fees.
Can I prepare for IELTS online from outside Lebanon?
Yes. The same course runs as live Zoom classes with the same teachers, and students join from across Lebanon and from Arab countries abroad.
Where do IELTS classes run?
At our branches in Beirut (Mar Elias), the Chouf (Simkanieh) and Choueifat (Saida Old Street), and online via Zoom.
Related courses
- TOEFL Preparation — the other main English proficiency test
- IELTS or TOEFL? — our guide, if you have not chosen yet
- English Language Courses — all levels, placement exam first
- Cambridge English Preparation — for school students and adults
Start your preparation
Call 00961 71 27 67 13 or message us on WhatsApp with your target band and deadline — we will assess your level and send you the next group dates and fees the same day.