1. Record a usable starting point
Choose one current official sample and complete it without looking at answers. Record the source, date, time taken and which parts were unfinished. For writing and speaking, save the response rather than awarding yourself an unsupported score. Note whether a difficulty came from language knowledge, task understanding or time pressure; each requires a different next step.
2. Put study into your real week
List the times you can reliably protect around work, school and family commitments. Begin with four manageable sessions and one review slot, rather than an ideal schedule you cannot repeat. Give each session an output: one corrected paragraph, a set of explained answers or one reviewed recording. Keep an easier backup task for a disrupted day.
3. Give each session a simple shape
Try a 40-minute practice block: five minutes recalling yesterday's work, twenty minutes on one focused task, ten minutes checking your reasoning and five minutes planning the next attempt. These are suggested study intervals, not official exam timings. Close the answer key during recall. If you repeatedly need more review time, reduce the number of new questions.
4. Turn errors into instructions
Use four columns: the task, what went wrong, the evidence for the correct response and the next action. Replace 'bad at listening' with something specific, such as 'missed the contrast after however; replay and summarise that sentence'. Revisit the error on a later day with the answer hidden. If you can explain it independently, try a new task of the same type.
5. Balance repair with complete practice
Spend focused time on recurring weaknesses, but keep every required skill in the weekly rotation. Add a timed section once you understand its instructions, then practise a complete official sample when useful. Keep the conditions consistent so comparisons mean something. Repeating a familiar paper from memory should be logged as review, not treated as fresh evidence of readiness.
6. Review the plan, then make one change
At the end of the week, compare completed outputs with the plan and read your three most frequent error types. Choose one adjustment for next week: shorter sessions, a targeted grammar review or feedback on one speaking skill. Preserve rest and a realistic workload. If you miss a day, resume at the next planned session instead of doubling every task.