Private online IELTS coaching
Work directly with Dave — a British native speaker and IDP-certified IELTS instructor — through personalised 1-to-1 coaching built around your current performance, target band and individual areas for improvement.
A complimentary 15-minute conversation about your current IELTS performance, target band and preparation needs.
More than IELTS lessons.
Private coaching starts with your performance. We identify what's limiting your score, decide what needs the most attention and build your preparation around those priorities.
That means less time covering things you already do well and more time working on the areas that can make a meaningful difference.
Dave's Examiner Perspective
The Secret to Band 7+: It's Not Just English
After years of coaching students who plateaued at Band 6.0–6.5, I noticed a pattern: they weren't failing because their English was weak — they were failing because they didn't understand what the examiner was actually looking for. IELTS is as much an exam of test-taking strategy as it is of language ability.
Speaking
Examiners reward signposting — phrases like "What I mean by that is…" and "To give you an example…" signal fluency and organisation, even if your grammar isn't perfect.
Writing Task 2
Band 7 essays use complex linking devices ("Notwithstanding this…", "A corollary of this is…") that signal sophistication. I'll give you a bank of 20 that fit any topic.
Reading
Most students re-read entire paragraphs. I teach the "keyword anchor" method — locate, confirm, move on. It saves 15+ minutes and dramatically reduces errors.
Master All Four IELTS Modules
Each module has a specific weakness pattern I've seen hundreds of times. Here's the problem — and my exact strategy to fix it.
Reading
60 minutes
The Problem
Running out of time trying to understand every word.
Dave's Strategy
The 'Keyword Anchor' method — scan for synonyms of the question keywords, confirm in two sentences, move on. Saves 15+ minutes per paper.
- Skimming & scanning for speed
- Synonym recognition across question types
- True/False/Not Given trap avoidance
- Multiple-choice elimination strategy
Listening
40 minutes
The Problem
Missing answers because of fast speech or unfamiliar accents.
Dave's Strategy
Pre-reading questions in the 30-second gap and predicting answer types (number, name, adjective) so you're never caught off guard.
- Note-taking in parallel with listening
- Distractor identification
- Following diverse global accents
- Section 4 academic monologue technique
Writing
60 minutes
The Problem
Task 2 essays that feel generic and score below Band 7.
Dave's Strategy
The '3-Column Plan' — in 5 minutes, map your position, two arguments, and a counter-argument. A clear structure helps you organise your essay and supports stronger band performance.
- Task 1: Data description & trend language
- Task 2: Argument structure & cohesion
- High-band lexical range & collocations
- Grammar accuracy under timed conditions
Speaking
11–14 minutes
The Problem
Sounding rehearsed in Part 2 or running dry in Part 3.
Dave's Strategy
I simulate real examiner pressure in every session. You'll practice 'thinking aloud' techniques so you always have something intelligent to say — even on unexpected topics.
- Part 1: Natural, extended answers
- Part 2: Fluent monologue with examples
- Part 3: Abstract discussion & opinion depth
- Signposting language for Band 7+ fluency
Your Path to Band 7+
Assessment & Strategy
Mock exam assessment. Identify your starting level and develop a personalized roadmap to reach your target band.
Module Mastery
Deep dive into each module. Build vocabulary, grammar, and technique for each section. Weekly progress tracking.
Mock Exams & Refinement
Full-length mock exams under exam conditions. Detailed feedback on each section. Target high-frequency question types.
Final Optimization
Polish weak areas. Build test confidence. Review common mistakes. Final mock exam to validate readiness.
Real Student Result
"My student Ahmed had been stuck at Band 6.0 for two attempts. When I reviewed his Task 2 essays, the issue was immediately clear — his arguments were valid, but his essay structure and linking devices were signalling Band 5 to the examiner. We spent three sessions purely on essay architecture and high-band cohesion language. On his third attempt, he scored 7.5 in Writing."
Dave — DLR Coaching
IDP-Certified IELTS Instructor
Free IELTS 12-Week Study Plan
The exact week-by-week plan Dave uses with students who achieve Band 7+
- 8-week structured plan (6, 8 & 12-week variants included)
- Daily session template: Warm-up → Skills → Review → Speaking
- Diagnostic, mid-plan & final mock test milestones
- Practice test schedule for every plan duration
- Quick-start checklist to begin today
Need to strengthen your general English first?
If your underlying English needs further development before specialist IELTS preparation, the DLR English Learning Hub provides structured self-paced English learning from A1 to C2.
Explore the Learning Hub →