Mastering IELTS: To make a habit, better make it obvious.

Jenn Author

Summary: Tired of feeling stuck? Discover these simple changes that can boost your IELTS prep and English practice.

Getting ready for the IELTS exam can be overwhelming, but success doesn't come from cramming or relying solely on willpower. Instead, it's about building consistent habits that help you improve over time. We’ve been discussing in our System vs. Goals series, key advice in James Clear’s book, Atomic Habits. This week we’re taking a deeper look at the strategies for forming good habits and how they relate to your English practice and IELTS preparation.

The first law: ‘make it obvious’. By following this principle and some key steps, you can create a clear, effective system to support your IELTS preparation.

When it comes to IELTS, most students know what they need to do—practice speaking, improve writing, read more English texts—but the challenge lies in turning these intentions into daily actions. Let’s look at how you can ‘make it obvious’ to make IELTS practice part of your daily routine in a natural and manageable way.

What Does ‘Make it Obvious’ Mean?

Clear explains that a crucial part of habit formation is to make your habits visible and easy to start. If you can set clear triggers or cues in your environment, you're far more likely to follow through. For IELTS learners, this means creating a system that makes studying obvious and automatic.

Set Clear Cues in Your Environment

Your environment plays a huge role in your habits. Think about when you feel like studying versus when you feel like going dancing or out with your friends. The environments are usually a bit different.

To prepare for IELTS, it’s essential to fill your surroundings with cues that prompt you to study. For example:

Create a dedicated study space: Designate a specific area in your home where you keep all your IELTS materials—practice books, audio recordings, and vocabulary lists. Each time you see this space, it will serve as a visual cue, reminding you to study.

Use visual reminders: Stick Post-It notes with IELTS prompts on your desk or computer or set your phone wallpaper to display a vocabulary word. These small, consistent reminders will keep your study goals top of mind.

Implementation Intentions

Clear's 'implementation intentions' are another way to make habits obvious. Instead of vague goals like "I'll study for IELTS today," be specific about when and where you will study. This makes it easier to start.

For instance, say:
“I will practice IELTS speaking at 7:00 a.m. in the kitchen” or “I will write an IELTS essay at 4:00 p.m. at my desk.”

This specificity removes any uncertainty, making the habit obvious and easier to follow.

Try some of these strategies to help you make it obvious.

The Power of Recognizable Patterns

Our brains are wired to recognize patterns and cues. For IELTS students, this means consciously setting up obvious triggers for study habits.

Set study cues in your environment: keep your IELTS books on your desk where you can see them every day. Or set your phone background to an IELTS question so that you’re reminded of your goal whenever you check your phone.

Morning trigger: Attach IELTS practice to a habit you already do, such as practicing speaking while you brew your coffee or tea or listening to English podcasts during your commute.

Habit Stacking and Specificity

Habit stacking is another powerful tool. It involves attaching a new habit to one you already do regularly, making it easier to integrate into your routine.

Try this formula: "I will [behavior] at [time] in [location]." For example, "I will practice IELTS speaking at 8:00 AM in my kitchen" or "I will write one IELTS essay at 4:00 PM at my desk."

This level of specificity makes the habit obvious and easier to start, rather than waiting for the "right time" to study.

For example: if you drink tea every afternoon, stack a study habit onto that: “After I pour my tea, I will spend 10 minutes reading an IELTS article.” Similarly, if you go for a walk or exercise regularly, use that time to listen to IELTS practice material or English podcasts.

Habit stacking ensures your new study habits are obvious because they’re tied to something you’re already doing regularly.

Design Your Environment for Success

Motivation alone isn't enough—your environment must support your habits. Instead of relying on discipline, set up a study-friendly environment where distractions are minimized, and study materials are easily accessible.

Keep your IELTS resources in a visible spot: your laptop, a notebook for writing tasks, and any practice books you’re using.

Make use of visual cues: place vocabulary flashcards on everyday items (mirrors, fridge) or create digital reminders on your phone.

Self-Control and Reducing Distractions

People with good self-control structure their lives to avoid things that might tempt them. For IELTS students, this means reducing the things that make it hard to start studying.

Avoid distractions: Find and get rid of things that distract you, like social media, TV, or noisy places. For example, leave your phone in another room or use apps that stop you from visiting distracting websites when you're studying.

Connect study habits with enjoyable activities: let yourself watch a favorite show in English after you finish an hour of focused study.

Schedule Study Time on a Calendar

Plan your study time just like you would plan a meeting or appointment.

Schedule it: Put specific study sessions on your calendar, such as reading for 20 minutes or practicing writing for 30 minutes, and set reminders to help you stay on track.

Pro Tip: Choose a time to study when you know you can focus best. Some people focus best in the morning, while others prefer evenings. Pick a time that suits your natural energy levels.

Track Your Progress

Make your progress visible to keep yourself motivated.

Create an IELTS tracker: use a notebook or app to keep track of each time you practice a specific IELTS skill.

Have a reward system: treat yourself after a week of consistent study by taking a break with a fun activity with family or friends.

The Power of Consistency

Making studying for IELTS obvious helps you create a routine that doesn’t feel hard. With small, regular habits, studying becomes something you do without even thinking. Over time, these habits add up and lead to noticeable improvements in your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.

Conclusion

By using the ‘Make it Obvious’ law from Atomic Habits and following these strategies, you can create an effective study routine that helps you reach your IELTS goals. Instead of relying on motivation, you’ll create systems that make studying easy and automatic. Start by making small changes today (even just 1% better), and soon you’ll see your English improve—and your IELTS score too!

If you are interested in learning how to apply time blocking or the Pomodoro method take a look at my blog here.

And don’t forget to check out two of my free resources to help your IELTS preparation:
Top 25 Tips for IELTS Success and 12 Common IELTS Problems & How to Avoid Them!

If you’d like to prepare for the IELTS or boost your speaking confidence take a look at my courses here.

And if you are curious and want to explore Systems vs. Goals in more detail, check out James Clear’s New York Times bestseller, Atomic Habits.

Categories: : IELTS, Study Habits