【IELTS 7.5 Fast Track Guide】A three month strategy for results oriented learners｜The definitive roadmap for admission to international universities and MBA programs

Hello, this is TJ from Alpha Advisors.
As the January Round 2 MBA deadlines approach, we are receiving an increasing number of inquiries from applicants. Among all admissions tasks, more than 99 percent of people express concern about one thing: their test preparation, especially IELTS.

・"I want to reach IELTS 7.5 as quickly as possible"
・"My TOEFL score has plateaued and I am considering switching to IELTS"
・"I am running out of time before my university or MBA applications"
・"I have been studying IELTS on my own but my score is stuck"

Many of these individuals achieve 7.0 to 7.5 in as little as two to three months through Alpha’s personalized coaching and structured training. IELTS is a test where scores rise quickly once you understand its framework and logic.
This guide explains why short term score growth is possible and what to prioritize across all four skills.

IELTS performance is determined by the right strategy

The most dangerous approach to IELTS is simply increasing study hours. What truly matters comes down to three principles:

1. Understanding the test architecture and recurring question patterns
2. Using structured methods for Writing and Speaking, which rarely improve through self study alone
3. Eliminating unproductive study and focusing only on training that directly converts into points

Alpha students achieve rapid score gains because they follow these principles from the start and train the four skills in the order that maximizes score efficiency.

Why Alpha students reach IELTS 7.5 in three months

■ 1：Listening (the skill that improves fastest)

Listening is the quickest score builder in IELTS, but the following common study habits rarely move the needle:

・Streaming podcasts or news endlessly
・Listening for long hours without any improvement in accuracy

The biggest reason Listening scores stall is that learners are not using the listening approach the test actually requires.

To perform well on IELTS Listening, you must know
・where your attention should be
・when key information typically appears
・how to recover when you miss a detail

This is fundamentally different from general English listening practice. You must separate language ability from test scoring technique.

At Alpha, we address both dimensions, which is why so many students stabilize their Listening and frequently reach 8.0 or higher.

■ 2：Reading (solving the “I understand the text but still miss answers” problem)

Most Reading struggles look like this:

・The passage makes sense
・Vocabulary is adequate
・Yet the score drops because wrong options are chosen

This is because IELTS Reading is not a test of knowledge, but a test of how you read the test.

IELTS has its own reading logic and its own traps. Practicing without recognizing them leads to unstable accuracy.

Key factors include
・which sections to read and which to skip
・which questions deserve time investment
・what to do when you are unsure between two choices

At Alpha, we identify each person's weak points and refine those areas first, which is why Reading is often the earliest skill to stabilize.

■ 3：Writing (the area where many learners struggle the most)

Writing rarely improves through self study. Common issues include:

・Difficulty generating reasons for Task 2
・Writing a full response but not seeing score improvement
・Receiving feedback but not understanding what to fix next

This happens because Writing requires the integration of logic, expression, and loss avoidance.
Increasing word count alone never moves a 6.0 to a 7.0.

At Alpha, we analyze each learner’s actual writing to identify
・structural inconsistencies
・weak reasoning
・vocabulary bias
・grammatical tendencies

Then we focus only on the factors that truly unlock higher scores. As a result, many students reach 7.0 in a short period.

■ 4：Speaking (being fluent does not equal a high score)

Many fluent English speakers report:
"I thought Speaking would be my strength, but I am stuck in the mid 6 range."

The reason is simple: IELTS Speaking is not casual conversation but an assessed performance.

・Consistency of ideas
・Depth of reasoning
・Coherent structure
・Range of expressions

Without these, even advanced speakers struggle to improve.

Moreover, Parts 2 and 3 require an understanding of what examiners evaluate. At Alpha, we identify each learner’s speaking patterns and adjust them to align with IELTS scoring, producing results such as 6.0 to 7.0 and 6.5 to 7.5.

Why more test takers are shifting from TOEFL to IELTS

Recently, we have seen a sharp rise in questions from people studying for the TOEFL asking whether they should switch to IELTS due to unstable scores. There are several common reasons behind this trend.

・IELTS scoring tends to be more consistent
・The question formats are easier to understand and more practical for short term preparation
・Leading MBA and graduate programs worldwide widely accept IELTS scores

In fact, many Alpha students have been admitted to top US MBA programs such as Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and Chicago using IELTS scores. There is no need to hold onto the idea that MBA applications automatically require the TOEFL.
The real question is which test allows you to build your score more efficiently.

An even more critical point is that English test selection is directly tied to your overall MBA application strategy. Devoting too much time to the TOEFL often reduces the time available for essays, interviews, and career positioning, all of which have a greater impact on your results.

If your TOEFL score has stagnated, this is the ideal time to reassess the entire application plan and ask:
"Is my choice of test truly the fastest route to the score I need?"
If IELTS turns out to be the shorter path, switching is a rational and strategic decision.

【Summary】Your English test is a strategic decision that determines your admissions outcome. If you aim to win, choose the fastest route

Increasing study hours without direction rarely improves scores. What truly drives results are an understanding of the test structure, the right methods, and a sequence of training that directly converts into points.
If your TOEFL score is stuck, it may not be a lack of effort but simply a mismatch between your strengths and the test format. Misjudging this can delay you by six to twelve months and jeopardize the time needed for essays and interviews.

If you are serious about top MBA programs, you must decide:

・Where should you invest your limited time right now?
・Which test allows you to reach your score target in the shortest period?

If your goals include
・“I want to secure admission this year”
・“I want to increase my income and build an international career”
・“I want to break out of my current plateau”

then this is the moment to take action.
With eighteen years of experience, Alpha Advisors and TJ, who has a background in a major global corporation, a Chicago MBA, and Goldman Sachs IBD, will guide you to the fastest possible path to your target score and successful admission.

Alpha Advisors is your go to partner for MBA applications and test preparation!

Free consultation here ＞ Free Consultation

Our most popular personalized coaching programs

・[IELTS 7.5 Advisory Program] A fast, cost efficient, and structured path to achieving 7.5 and beyond!](https://global.alpha-academy.com/dojos/951)

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IELTS 7.5 in three months How to reach the score fast. Consult Alpha Advisors today!

TJ Profile

TJ: Formerly with Sumitomo Corporation, where he worked in the Corporate Accounting Department overseeing budgeting, financial reporting, and performance management for over 800 domestic and overseas group companies, as well as IR (Investor Relations) activities. Selected as the youngest trainee for Sumitomo Corporation of America (New York), where he contributed to the restructuring of a U.S. electric arc furnace steel business invested in by Sumitomo. Later joined the Project Finance Department, where he was engaged in arranging large-scale financings for infrastructure projects in developing countries and financing for Jupiter Telecommunications. Selected as a company-sponsored candidate for overseas MBA programs.

Earned his MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, with concentrations in Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Organizational Management. Founder of the University of Chicago Japanese Association. Initiated and executed the school’s first-ever “Japan Trip”, which has since become an annual tradition.

Subsequently joined Goldman Sachs Japan’s Investment Banking Division, where he advised on numerous M&A transactions in the media and consumer sectors, supported capital raising including IPOs, and worked on private equity investments and corporate restructuring assignments.

Selected as one of only six fellows (out of over 200 applicants) for the 4th Entrepreneurial Leadership Program of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai), where he received mentorship from leading entrepreneurs including Hideo Sawada, Chairman of H.I.S.

Served as President of the Chicago Booth Alumni Association in Japan (2006–2010). Has guided numerous candidates to admission at top MBA programs (Harvard, Stanford, and other leading schools in the U.S., Europe, and Asia), graduate schools, universities, and boarding schools. Track record of placing students at leading global firms including Mitsubishi Corporation, McKinsey & Company, Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, Google, Big 4 consulting/FAS, Dentsu, Toyota, MUFG Bank, Nomura Securities, among others.

Renowned for his rigorous one-on-one coaching for TOEFL, GMAT, IELTS, and GRE, with a reputation for pushing candidates to fully complete their preparation. Highly regarded for his ability to design and achieve career and academic goals with unmatched quality and precision. As a result, he is in high demand as an advisor, with numerous requests to work directly under his guidance.