Many IELTS aspirants from Kerala and the Gulf study hard but still struggle to cross Band 7. Why? Because they fall into common mistakes that affect scores. At Band Nine Academy, Elizabeth John and her team help students recognize and overcome these challenges through personalized training and proven strategies.

1. Over-Focusing on Grammar Instead of Communication
Many students believe flawless grammar guarantees a high score. But in IELTS Speaking and Writing, clarity and coherence matter more than perfection. At Band Nine Academy, learners are trained to express ideas naturally, while grammar is corrected gradually.

2. Mismanaging Time in Reading Tests
Kerala students often read every line instead of practicing skimming and scanning. This leads to running out of time. The academy’s reading module training emphasizes speed strategies and handling tricky questions effectively.

3. Memorizing Answers for Speaking
Some students memorize sample answers from the internet. Examiners easily spot this, resulting in lower scores. Band Nine Academy’s speaking clubs and practice sessions build real fluency and confidence without memorization.

4. Ignoring Task Response in Writing
In Writing Task 2, many candidates write beautifully but drift off-topic. Elizabeth John provides personalized feedback on essays, ensuring every answer meets IELTS criteria like Task response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical resources and Grammatical range and accuracy.

5. Not Practicing Under Real Exam Conditions
Mock tests are often skipped by students, but they are essential for score improvement. Band Nine Academy conducts regular mock exams with live evaluations so that students know exactly where they stand.

Conclusion
Mistakes are part of the learning process, but with the right guidance, they don’t have to cost you your dream score. Band Nine Academy equips Kerala and Gulf-based students with strategies to avoid these pitfalls and achieve Band 8+.