How to Use ChatGPT to Plan Your IELTS Vocabulary Study

Many students often ask me how to effectively plan their IELTS preparation. They want to know what words to learn, how to organise their study time, and how to ensure they hit their target band score. So, in this article, I’m going to show you how to use ChatGPT as a helpful tool to plan your IELTS vocabulary study. Let’s get started!
Step 1: Assess Where You Are and What You Need
The first step is to figure out your current level and what band you want to achieve. Let’s say you’re aiming for Band 7. One simple way to get started is by asking ChatGPT to suggest vocabulary topics relevant to your goal.
For example, I asked ChatGPT:
"I'm preparing for IELTS Academic, aiming for Band 7. Can you suggest vocabulary topics I should focus on?"
In response, ChatGPT provided a list of vocabulary areas that are essential for IELTS, such as:

• Academic vocabulary
• Education
• Environment
• Technology
• Health
• Society and culture
• Work and employment
• Global issues
• Science and research
• Finance and business

This is a solid foundation! These topics cover a wide range of the subjects you’ll encounter in the IELTS exam, and starting with them ensures that you’re preparing in the right direction.
Step 2: Create a Study Plan
Now that you have a list of vocabulary topics, it’s time to create a personalised study plan. Here's where ChatGPT comes in handy again. I asked it to create a study plan for me, specifying that I wanted it to generate lists of 20 nouns, verbs, and collocations for each topic.
For example, I told ChatGPT:
"Create a list of 20 nouns, verbs, and collocations for the topic of Academic Vocabulary."
And it was delivered! The AI generated a comprehensive list of relevant vocabulary, which I could start studying right away. But that’s just the beginning. I asked ChatGPT to go further and create a structured daily study plan based on how much time I have available.
Step 3: Plan Your Time
I told ChatGPT that I only had one hour per day and two days to dedicate to each topic. Here’s how it helped me break it down:
Day 1

• Focus on nouns and verbs
• Practice creating sentences using these words
• Review and self-correct

Day 2

• Focus on collocations and phrases
• Write short academic paragraphs using the vocabulary
• Review your writing and correct any mistakes

By asking ChatGPT to split my study into manageable chunks, I had a clear and structured plan for each day, making my preparation much more focused.
Step 4: Use Tasks to Boost Your Learning
Next, I asked ChatGPT to create specific tasks for each day, which made the process even more engaging. Here’s an example task it provided:
Task 1 (Day 1):
Choose an IELTS-style topic, such as “The importance of education in modern society.” Record yourself speaking for two minutes on this topic, trying to use at least five nouns, five verbs, and five collocations from your vocabulary list. Then, listen to your recording and check whether you used the words correctly.
Task 2 (Day 2):
Write a short essay on the topic, “The role of renewable energy in combating climate change.” Make sure to include vocabulary from your list and focus on creating clear, coherent paragraphs.
These tasks are practical and directly relate to the kinds of challenges you’ll face in the IELTS exam.
Step 5: Fine-Tune the Plan
While ChatGPT can provide a general plan, it’s important to tailor it to your own needs. I realised that, for some topics, spending an entire week was too much, so I adjusted the timeline based on my own schedule. You can always ask ChatGPT to adjust the study plan according to how much time you have.
ChatGPT: A Great Tool, but Not a Substitute for a Teacher
While ChatGPT is an excellent tool for IELTS preparation, keep in mind that nothing can replace the guidance of a qualified teacher or instructor. However, using AI can keep you motivated and structured, especially when preparing alone.