Question 1

What exactly is BandNine? A course, a tutor, or a test prep app?

Accepted Answer

None of those. BandNine is a practice gym with an AI coach. It's a social enterprise that keeps real IELTS practice cheap. You write, speak, listen, and read. In 30 seconds, an AI trained on the official IELTS marking guide shows you exactly which words are losing you marks. No videos. No 50-lesson course. Just practice with feedback.

Question 2

I've already watched 40 hours of YouTube IELTS videos. Will this help me?

Accepted Answer

Yes, because videos are why your score is stuck. Watching makes you good at theory. But your band only goes up when you write a sentence, see it marked wrong, and see the fix. One session here will teach you more about your own mistakes than 40 hours of videos taught you about IELTS.

Question 3

How quickly can I get my first real band score?

Accepted Answer

In under three minutes. Take the free test, write a short essay or record a 60-second answer, and the AI gives you a score for all four things an examiner marks: your ideas, how you organise them, your vocabulary, and your grammar. It also highlights each sentence. No signup. No credit card.

Question 4

Do I need to be a certain level to start?

Accepted Answer

No. We have Band 4 students aiming for 6 and Band 7 students pushing for 8.5. The AI matches its feedback to your level. No baby explanations if you're already strong, and no hard words if you're still fixing 'a' and 'the'.

Question 5

Is BandNine really free, or is it a trial that expires?

Accepted Answer

Really free, forever. The free tier gives you 3 writing scores, 3 speaking scores, 2 reading passages, and 2 listening exercises. You see your real band score for free. Only the detailed AI feedback (fixes for each sentence, tips, and a study plan) needs a paid plan. We want you to check that the scoring is correct before you pay anything.

Question 6

Why one-time pricing instead of a subscription?

Accepted Answer

Because IELTS isn't Netflix. Most students study for 1 to 6 months, take the test, and never need IELTS prep again. Charging you every month for something you use for a short time isn't fair. Pay $12, $19, $39, or $59 once, get the time you need, and you're done. We keep no card on file, and there's no auto-renewal trap.

Question 7

Which plan should I pick?

Accepted Answer

Test in about two weeks? $12 / 15 Days: crash-prep mode. Test in under 4 weeks? $19 / 1 Month: get ready fast. Test in 1 to 3 months? $39 / 3 Months: the plan most students pick, and it includes our +0.5 band in 60 days guarantee. Test in 3 to 6 months, or just starting? $59 / 6 Months: the most time, faster AI scoring, and the same guarantee. All plans give you the same features. The only difference is how long your access lasts.

Question 8

Why is BandNine so much cheaper than coaching classes?

Accepted Answer

Coaching classes pay for tutors, classrooms, ads, and franchise fees, and you pay for all of it. BandNine has one cost: running the AI, which is about $0.03 to $0.50 per active user each month. We don't need to charge $400 for a course because we don't spend $400 per student. That saving goes to you.

Question 9

Why pay for BandNine when I can paste my essay into ChatGPT or Claude for free?

Accepted Answer

Fair question. We use AI too. The difference is what we've built around it. A normal chatbot gives okay essay feedback. But it will not: • Mark you on the four things a real examiner marks: your ideas, how you organise them, your vocabulary, and your grammar. That's the difference between a 6.5 and a 7. • Copy the real computer test layout for Listening and Reading. You can't practise staying focused for the whole test by chatting. • Show you the trick answers in Listening, where most students lose marks. • Follow your progress over weeks and tell you which part to practise on which day. • Turn your scores into Canada CRS or Australia points straight away. • Post how close it is to human examiners every Saturday. If your test is in two weeks and you just need one essay checked, a free chatbot is fine. If you need to raise your score across all four parts and a visa depends on it, you need a tool built for the exam. Try the free test. If the feedback isn't sharper than a chatbot's, don't pay us.

Question 10

How accurate is the AI scoring compared to a real IELTS examiner?

Accepted Answer

Within ±0.5 bands of official examiner scores after your first 3 to 4 exercises (the AI learns how you write). It's trained on the official IELTS marking guide and gives a separate score for the four things an examiner marks: your ideas, how you organise them, your vocabulary, and your grammar (Task Response, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range & Accuracy). We mark a little strict on purpose, so your real test score rarely comes back lower than you expect.

Question 11

Can the AI really understand pronunciation if it can't hear me the way a human can?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and maybe better. Your speaking is turned into text by OpenAI Whisper (the same tool big call-centre teams use), then the AI checks how smoothly you speak (pauses, restarts, filler words), your vocabulary, your grammar, and how you say the individual sounds. A human examiner has 11 minutes and one chance. The AI can replay your audio as many times as it needs and never gets tired.

Question 12

Does the AI just give generic feedback like 'use more linking words'?

Accepted Answer

That's the whole reason BandNine exists: to never do that. The AI points to the exact sentence losing you marks, shows the better version, and tells you which of the four things it changed and by how much. Here is real feedback: "Sentence 4 in paragraph 2 ('Many people they think') drops your grammar score from 7 to 6.5. Change it to: 'Many people think.' Saying the subject twice like this is common for Hindi speakers."

Question 13

What AI models are you using behind the scenes?

Accepted Answer

Anthropic's Claude Sonnet 4.6 does the scoring and feedback. OpenAI Whisper turns your speaking into text. We chose Claude because it follows detailed marking guides (like the IELTS one) more reliably than others, and it's less likely to make up feedback that sounds sure but is wrong.

Question 14

Will BandNine prep me for the paper-based or computer-based IELTS?

Accepted Answer

Both, but our layout is built for the computer test (the one most people take now). Our listening and reading exercises copy the computer test layout exactly: split-screen reading, buttons at the bottom, blanks to fill in, and timed sections. No surprises on test day. If you take the paper test, the content is the same. Only the screen looks different.

Question 15

Does this cover Academic, General Training, or both?

Accepted Answer

Both. Reading and Writing have separate Academic and General Training modes. Switch between them in your dashboard. Listening and Speaking are the same for both test types, just like the real IELTS.

Question 16

What about the Speaking interview? Can the AI simulate an examiner?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Mock Speaking Test runs the full 11 to 14 minute interview: Part 1 (intro questions), Part 2 (1 minute to prepare + a 2-minute talk), and Part 3 (deeper discussion). The AI plays the examiner, asks follow-up questions based on your answers, and scores the whole thing. Most students say it's "more nerve-wracking than the real thing". That's exactly the point.

Question 17

What ID and items do I need on test day, and what if I'm late?

Accepted Answer

Bring the same ID you booked with: a passport if you're an international candidate, or a national ID where that's allowed. Bring a clear water bottle with the label taken off, and nothing else; phones, watches, and notes go in a locker. Arrive at least 30 minutes early. If you're late, they won't let you in and you lose your fee. No exceptions, no refund. We email you a test-day checklist 48 hours before your date.

Question 18

What accents will I hear in the Listening test?

Accepted Answer

The real IELTS Listening uses several native accents: British, Australian, New Zealand, American and Canadian. British is the most common. The recordings play once only, so you can't replay them. BandNine's 320 listening exercises (plus unlimited AI-made ones) use British English: standard British plus UK regional accents (Southern, Northern, Scottish). That's because British is the most common accent on the real test and the one South-Asian candidates study most. After 20 exercises, no British speaker will surprise you.

Question 19

How do I beat the clock in Reading (40 questions in 60 minutes)?

Accepted Answer

A rule that works: 15-20-25 minutes per passage (they get harder). Don't read the passage first. Read the questions, then scan for key words. If a question takes more than 90 seconds, skip it and come back. There's no penalty for wrong answers in Reading or Listening, so never leave a blank. Always guess. BandNine's Reading mode shows a timer for each passage to help you learn this pace.

Question 20

How long is my IELTS score valid, and how do I send it to universities?

Accepted Answer

Two years from your test date (some Australian programs accept three). Your Test Report Form (TRF) is sent free to up to 5 places when you book. Extra copies cost a small fee. Universities and immigration offices check scores straight from IELTS, so nothing arrives late or gets "lost in the mail."

Question 21

What IELTS score do I actually need for Canada PR / Australia / UK / US?

Accepted Answer

Canada Express Entry: CLB 7 (Band 6 in each part) at least, CLB 9 (Band 8 in each part) for the most CRS points. Australia skilled migration: Band 6 in each part at least; Band 7+ for 10 extra points, Band 8+ for 20. UK Skilled Worker visa: Band 4 (CEFR B1) at least. US universities: Most want 6.5 to 7.5 overall; top ones want 7+ in each part. BandNine's Band Calculator turns your score into immigration points straight away.

Question 22

IELTS vs TOEFL vs PTE vs Duolingo: which test should I take?

Accepted Answer

IELTS: accepted by 11,000+ places, including UK, Australia, and Canada immigration. Known everywhere. TOEFL: strong for US universities; less used for migration. PTE Academic: fully computer-marked, fast results, popular for Australia. Duolingo English Test: the cheapest ($65) and taken at home, but accepted by far fewer places. For moving to Canada, the UK, or Australia, IELTS is the safest choice. For the US only, TOEFL works just as well.

Question 23

How long should I study before my test?

Accepted Answer

About 200 hours of focused practice to raise your score by one band. Real timelines: Band 5→6 = 6 to 8 weeks, Band 6→7 = 10 to 12 weeks, Band 7→8 = 12 to 16 weeks. But the number isn't the point. How often you practise is. 30 minutes every day beats 4 hours every Sunday. BandNine's plan keeps you going a little each day without burning you out.

Question 24

What's the right plan if my test is in 2 weeks / 1 month / 3 months?

Accepted Answer

2 weeks: Get ready fast. Take the first test, do 1 mock test a day, and fix only your 2 weakest habits. No new words. Polish what you already know. 1 month: First test → 5 days on each part in turn, 1 full mock test a week, and fix each sentence mistake as it shows up. 3 months: Build your skills (weeks 1 to 4), work on your weak spots (weeks 5 to 9), then do full mock tests and practise for test day (weeks 10 to 12). The dashboard builds the right plan for you based on your test date.

Question 25

What is One Skill Retake, and should I use it?

Accepted Answer

One Skill Retake (OSR) lets you redo just one of the four parts within 60 days, instead of paying for a whole new test. It's only on the Computer-Delivered IELTS at some centres. Use it if 3 of your 4 scores are good enough and only one is too low. In some places it costs about the same as a full test, so check whether redoing all four might be the smarter move.

Question 26

I didn't get the score I needed. What now?

Accepted Answer

Three choices, in order: (1) Ask for an Enquiry on Results (EOR / re-mark) within 6 weeks if you think a part was marked wrong. About 50% of these lead to a higher score, and you get the fee back if your score changes. (2) Use One Skill Retake if only one part was too low. (3) Take the full test again. There's no waiting time and no limit on how often you retake it. Most important: don't guess what went wrong. Use the free test to find the real gap before you pay for another test.

Question 27

Is Band 9 really achievable, or just for native speakers?

Accepted Answer

You can reach it, and it's not rare. There are proven Band 9 scores from people whose first language isn't English, including in Speaking, where the rules clearly do not ask for a native accent. Band 9 means "expert user" (fluent, accurate, and natural), not "born in London." What it does need: being very careful in every sentence. BandNine's sentence-by-sentence feedback is built for exactly this: to find the last 5% that separates an 8 from a 9.

Question 28

Do I need a British or American accent to score well in Speaking?

Accepted Answer

No. The official IELTS Speaking rules score how clearly you speak, not your accent. An Indian, Nigerian, Filipino, or Korean accent is fine, as long as the individual sounds are clear and your stress doesn't hide your meaning. Many Band 9 speakers keep a strong first-language accent. Don't fake an accent. It usually lowers your score because it makes you less consistent.

Question 29

Does my handwriting affect my Writing score?

Accepted Answer

Only if the examiner truly can't read it. There's no mark for neatness. You can write in ALL CAPS if that's clearer. Cross out mistakes with one line. Examiners skip crossed-out text. The bigger risk with messy handwriting is wasted time: messy writers often rewrite sentences instead of moving on. On the computer test, this isn't a problem at all.

Question 30

Will writing fewer than 250 / 150 words actually cost me marks?

Accepted Answer

Yes, a lot. The fixed word-count penalty was removed in 2018, but examiners still take marks off your Task Achievement because a short essay can't fully answer the question. Real impact: a 230-word Task 2 essay usually gets no more than Band 6 for Task Achievement, no matter how good it is. Aim for 270 to 290 words (Task 2) and 165 to 185 (Task 1). BandNine warns you if your answer is too short before it scores it.

Question 31

What if I go blank or pause too long during Speaking?

Accepted Answer

It happens, and you can recover. Use a filler phrase to buy a few seconds to think: "That's an interesting question. Let me think for a moment." This counts as natural speech, not hesitation. Long silences do lower your fluency score, but a clear 10-second restart hurts far less than rambling. The Mock Speaking module trains this exact recovery. Most students stop going blank after 3 to 4 sessions.

Question 32

What's the band improvement guarantee?

Accepted Answer

On the 3-Month and 6-Month plans: take the first test as your starting point, practise 4 days a week (3 or more scored exercises), and if your predicted band hasn't gone up by at least 0.5 by day 60, we give you 100% of your money back. Just ask from your account between day 60 and day 75. No phone calls, and you don't have to "prove you tried." We can offer this because students who use BandNine often improve well past 0.5 of a band. The guarantee takes away the risk for people who've been let down by IELTS coaching before.

Question 33

Can I get a refund if I just change my mind?

Accepted Answer

Yes, a 7-day refund on every plan, no questions asked. After 7 days, refunds are tied to the +0.5-band guarantee on the 3 and 6-month plans. Email support@bandnine.ai from your account email. Most refunds are done within 24 hours.

Question 34

Is my data and writing safe? Will my essays be used to train AI?

Accepted Answer

Your essays, recordings, and scores are kept safe (encrypted) in Supabase. You pick EU or US. They are never used to train other companies' AI, never sold, and never shared with anyone outside the scoring process. You can delete your account and all your data with one click in Settings, and it's gone for good, not just hidden.