No local options nearby

[Rappar]

Living in a smaller city where the only IELTS classes available are pretty mediocre and overpriced. Seriously considering switching to online prep instead but not sure if the discipline aspect would kill me. Anyone tried both formats? Which one actually moved the needle for your band score?

[gwyn]

I was in almost the same situation, local classes were just too pricey and honestly not great. I tried online prep and ended up doing much better with it. The discipline thing definitely matters, but once you set a routine it clicks. What worked for me was switching to a structured online course instead of random lessons. I used Online Cambridge Exam Preparation Teacher and it made a real difference because the whole thing was built around the Cambridge format, not just generic English. My band score went up more than I expected, especially in Writing and Speaking. The key was that I didn’t have to wait for a class schedule or deal with bad teachers. I could just follow the plan every day. If you’re consistent, online prep actually gives you more control and better results than mediocre in-person options.

[Rappar]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I ended up going the online route too after being disappointed with a couple of local options. What surprised me most was how much easier it was to stay consistent when I could study on my own schedule. The flexibility helped a lot, but having a clear structure mattered even more. Once I stopped hopping between different materials and followed a steady plan, my preparation felt far more productive. In the end, regular practice and consistency made a bigger difference than where I was studying.