You’ve probably already seen the free version of every IELTS tip that exists. Reading strategy videos. Listening prediction tricks. Writing templates copied and pasted from a hundred different blogs. None of it is wrong, exactly — it’s just not enough on its own, because information was never the thing standing between you and a higher band score. Structure was.
If you’re aiming for a Reading, Listening or Writing score that’s higher than what you’re currently getting, and you’re planning to apply somewhere this application season, there’s a real deadline working against you right now, not just a soft “someday” goal.
Smooth English’s 12-Week Live IELTS Training — a live, coach-led programme covering Reading, Listening and Writing only (Speaking runs as a separate, smaller-group programme) — is open for enrolment, and this cohort’s registration closes September 14th. £97 / approximately ¥890 RMB, one payment, 30-day money-back guarantee.
This isn’t a new course you haven’t heard of. It’s the same live programme referenced elsewhere on this site — but this article exists to walk you through exactly what’s included, why the September 14th date actually matters for your specific timeline, and what real students have scored going through it.
What’s actually included in the £97 programme
Twelve weeks. Three live classes a week — Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 8:00–9:00 PM Beijing time (1:00–2:00 PM BST / 12:00–1:00 PM GMT for UK readers). Every class is recorded, so missing one live doesn’t mean missing the content — you watch the replay and stay on pace.
The training is deliberately narrow: Reading, Listening and Writing, nothing else. Not because those are the only skills that matter, but because trying to fix all four sections at once in a self-study routine is exactly how most students end up improving none of them. Reading work covers question recognition, paraphrase-spotting and evidence-finding under real time pressure. Listening covers prediction, distractor-spotting and the specific mistakes that cost marks even when you understood the audio. Writing covers task response, structure and the language control that separates a 6 from a 7.
It’s led live, every session, by Matthew Fabling — 15+ years coaching IELTS, 500+ students trained. Not a pre-recorded library you work through alone. A real class, at a fixed time, with a coach who corrects your actual work.
Why September 14th is a real deadline, not a sales trick
Here’s the actual math, not a countdown timer designed to rush you: enrol by September 14th and the 12-week programme finishes in early-to-mid December — before the winter break, and before the January application deadlines that a huge number of UK, Australian, Canadian and US programmes run on.
That timing matters because it’s the difference between walking into your test (or a retake) with 12 weeks of structured, corrected practice behind you, versus trying to cram in the two weeks before a January deadline with whatever self-study habits got you your current score. No one can honestly promise you’ll sit the test itself before Christmas, or that you’ll hit Band 7 by a specific date — anyone who promises that isn’t being straight with you. What this timeline does make possible is finishing real, structured training in time to actually use it before the deadlines that matter to you.
Miss September 14th and you’re not locked out of ever improving — you’re just looking at the next cohort, which pushes that finish line later into your application window, not earlier.
What real students have scored
Lee finished the programme with an overall Band 7.0 — 7.5 in Listening, 8.0 in Reading — verified against his official NEEA certificate. Jessica scored a 7.5 overall. Jess scored a 7.
None of these are the “before I even started” testimonials you see on pages that don’t actually teach anything. They’re what happens when someone shows up to a fixed time three times a week for 12 weeks, with a coach correcting the specific thing they’re getting wrong, instead of guessing alone.
The 30-day guarantee, and who this is actually for
If you join and decide within your first 30 days that the format isn’t right for you, you get your money back — no argument. That’s not a reason to hesitate; it’s there so hesitating isn’t the safer option.
This programme is built for you if you already have some English foundation and need your Reading, Listening and Writing scores specifically higher — not for someone starting from zero, and not for someone who only needs Speaking coaching (that’s a separate, smaller-group programme — check with Matthew directly if that’s your actual gap). If you’ve been self-studying for weeks or months and your score genuinely hasn’t moved, that’s usually not a you problem. It’s a structure problem, and it’s the specific thing this programme is built to fix.
Secure your spot before September 14th →
Is this suitable if I’m completely new to IELTS?
Yes. The programme is built to work whether you’re preparing for your first attempt or you’ve already sat the test and need a higher score. The 12 weeks build from the ground up on the skills each section actually tests, not just more practice tests.
What if I miss a live class?
Every class is recorded. Watch the replay whenever you have time and you stay on track — the schedule gives you structure without punishing you for a genuinely busy week.
Is Speaking included in this £97 offer?
No. This programme covers Reading, Listening and Writing only. Speaking coaching runs as a separate, smaller-group programme because it needs more individual feedback than a group class of this size can give — ask Matthew directly if Speaking is your main gap.
Is £97 really the full price, or are there extra costs later?
£97 is the complete price for the full 12-week live programme — one payment, no add-ons, no upsells buried in the course.
What happens if I join and it’s not right for me?
You have 30 days from enrolment to request a full refund, no questions asked. Take a few live classes, see how the format actually works for you, and decide from there.
Prefer a community to train alongside, not just a course?
Join the free Smooth English Fluency Clan on Skool — daily practice prompts, real feedback, and other students working toward the same band score.