Level C1 (approx. band 7-8) · Academic and General Training On commonly published Academic tables, about 34 correct answers sits around band 7.5, and about 39 sits around band 9. These figures are approximate averages and shift slightly between test versions, but the gap is real: five marks. At this level you are not losing marks because you misunderstand the passage. In this episode: • Where the last five marks go • Precision with qualifiers • Not given discipline • Timing at the top • Reading lab • Language bridge • Practice • Self-check questions with answers Key points: • At band 8 and above, marks are lost to precision, not understanding. • Circle every qualifier in the statement, then find its partner in the text. • If the text allows both truth and falsity, it is Not Given. • Finish early, check in a fixed order, and change answers only for evidence. IELTS Complete Course: a self-study podcast from A1 to C2 for Academic and General Training. Listen, pause and answer, then take the 52-question quiz. Audio voiced with AI from an original script by Dr. Rashmi R Nair. Independent course, not affiliated with the IELTS test owners.