Thirty days is enough to move half a band to a full band if you practise the right things. This plan is built for the 2026 format and for students who study around classes or work.
Before you start
Write down two numbers: the overall band you need and any section minimums. If your requirement is still written on the 0–120 scale, convert it first. A clear target decides where every hour goes.
Then block a regular time in your day. Thirty to forty-five minutes, at the same time every day, beats occasional long sessions.
Week 1: find your baseline
- Day 1: take a full timed test in one sitting. Do not pause it.
- Day 2: review every wrong answer and list the task types you lost points on.
- Days 3–7: 30 minutes a day on your two weakest task types.
Week 2: build structure
Writing and Speaking reward a fixed structure. Learn one simple plan for each task so you never start from a blank page.
- Write an Email: greeting, one short paragraph per point in the prompt, polite close.
- Academic Discussion: your view, one reason, one example, a link to a classmate’s idea.
- Take an Interview: answer, reason, example, stop.
Write two emails and one discussion post this week, and record five interview answers. Compare them with the feedback, then rewrite one of each.
Week 3: speed and accuracy
Take a second full test at the start of the week and compare section bands with week 1. Then drill the short, fast tasks: Complete the Words, Build a Sentence, Listen and Choose a Response and Listen and Repeat.
These tasks reward repetition. Ten minutes of each, every day, will make them feel automatic by test day.
Week 4: test conditions
- 01Take a third full test at the same time of day as your real exam.
- 02Spend the next three days only on the section furthest below your target.
- 03Two days before the test, stop learning new material. Review your notes and sleep well.
A 40-minute daily routine
| Minutes | What to do |
|---|---|
| 0–10 | One short task type: Complete the Words or Build a Sentence |
| 10–20 | Listening: one conversation or academic talk |
| 20–35 | Writing or Speaking practice, alternating days |
| 35–40 | Review today’s mistakes and write one note for tomorrow |
Mistakes that waste a month
- Studying with old-format material that no longer matches the test.
- Only practising the sections you already enjoy.
- Never taking a full timed test until the week before.
- Watching strategy videos instead of answering questions.
Track the right numbers
Watch your section bands, not just the overall band. A section that is stuck tells you where the next hours should go.
Start week 1 today with a free full timed test.
Start freeQuvo is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with ETS. Check ets.org/toefl for official test information.
