I never grew up wanting to leave India. I was, if anything, a patriotic person who assumed I’d settle down and build my career at home. That plan changed within a few months after my graduation, and IELTS became the very first hurdle standing between me and a masters abroad. Here’s my Leap Scholar review, in my words, on how a sudden decision turned into a 7.5 overall band, despite a stage fear I didn’t expect to be my most significant obstacle.
Q1. When did you actually decide to study abroad?
A) Honestly, it was very sudden. I never planned such a move as a child; I always imagined settling in India. But after I finished my graduation in August 2024, I started doing something else for a while, and doubts crept in. I kept questioning myself, wondering whether I’d really be able to settle down and compete here the way I wanted to. After some research and a few conversations, I decided to go abroad for my masters instead. That whole plan only started forming around March 2025, so it really was recent.
Q2. How did your family react when you told them?
A) It was a significant moment. We’re a nuclear family, and I’d always lived with my parents, even when I was at home. They genuinely couldn’t agree to it at first. My mom especially needed a lot of time to sit with the idea before she came around. I had to explain my reasoning clearly: why I wanted the change and why leaving them mattered enough to me. Eventually they saw the benefits, and my parents, especially my younger sister, were very supportive.
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Q3. How did you first hear about Leap Scholar?
A) Through a friend, a senior who had gone to the UK herself. She'd used Leap Scholar's services and was genuinely happy with the experience, so she referred me. At that point, IELTS was the thing I was most anxious about, since it's such a critical first step for anyone planning to study abroad. I had my doubts too, like most Indians probably do before trusting an app with something so crucial, but that changed within a week of working with my tutor.
Q4. What changed your mind that quickly?
A) My tutor, Pawandeep, was excellent. In a genuinely short amount of time, she taught me so much. I'll be upfront that most of the actual effort was mine, but I don't think I would have crossed a 7.5 band without her guidance and without Leap Scholar's support behind me.
Q5. Did you use the free tools before committing to the paid course?
A) Yes, my tutor actually suggested I take the free band prediction test as early as possible once classes began, just so I'd know exactly where I stood. I took her advice, and at that point I was scoring around 5.5 to 6. Even after multiple attempts, I couldn't get past 6.5 for a while. I also booked several speaking mock interviews through the app, and different interviewers across those sessions helped me a lot too. I think I ended up using nearly every service Leap Scholar offered.
Q6. Did you try anything else before enrolling, like YouTube?
A) I watched a few intro and prep videos from Leap Scholar itself, and I did try relying on YouTube separately at one point. But I quickly realized self-preparing that way would take far too long to actually get me anywhere. That's what convinced me to commit to Leap Scholar properly instead.
Q7. Which IELTS section gave you the hardest time?
A) Speaking, without question, right from the start. I have real stage fear; I'm not naturally a public speaker, and even with effort, I kept restricting how freely I spoke. Vocabulary and sentence construction matter a lot in speaking specifically, and getting comfortable with that took real work.
Q8. What tips actually helped you get past the stage fear?
A) Practice, honestly, more than anything else. I used subtitles while watching movies and read through them properly, I read English newspapers regularly, and I practiced speaking out loud with my sister repeatedly. Practicing physically with another person, even someone at home, made a real difference for me.
Q9. Walk me through your actual exam day.
A) I still remember the nervousness clearly. I could genuinely feel my own heartbeat standing outside the IDP center in Begumpet. My dad came with me, and he kept telling me to stay calm, that I could do it. I wasn't panicking exactly, but I was definitely nervous. Speaking was my very first round, and because of that early nervousness, I didn't perform as freely as I wanted; I ended up with a 6.5 specifically in speaking. But between that round and the remaining three, I took time to analyze what had gone wrong and consciously decided to stay as calm as possible for the rest. Reading, writing, and listening went beautifully after that.
Q10. How did you feel on results day?
A) Honestly, I wasn't expecting a 7.5 at all. I was sure my speaking hadn't gone perfectly, so I really worried it might lower my whole score, maybe even below a 7. All those doubts were running through my head. But when I opened my results and saw 7.5, it was an incredible feeling. I shared it with my family immediately, and they were thrilled; some of them were honestly a little shocked given how nervous I'd been. It's a day I'll remember for the rest of my life.
Q11. Was England always your first choice?
A) Not at all. Switzerland was my dream, specifically because it's such a strong financial hub, which fit perfectly with my background in finance and commerce. I spent two to three months researching it seriously and even applied to the University of Bern, but the deadlines had already passed by the time I was ready. Cost was the bigger issue, though; the loan alone would have crossed fifty lakhs. On top of that, Switzerland doesn't have a single dominant language; French, German, and a few others are all in play, and I worried that would make it genuinely challenging to network and communicate effectively. UK wasn't my first choice going in, but a good opening came through at University of Chester along with strong reviews, so that's where I redirected my plan.
Q12. How has adjusting to academic life in the UK gone for you?
A) One thing genuinely surprised me. In India, if a question is worth ten marks, you're expected to fill ten or twelve pages to actually earn those marks; that's just how it works from childhood onward. In the UK, if a question is worth ten marks, you just need ten or eleven clear, valid points. Quality over quantity, completely. I was genuinely shocked at first, since I was so used to writing pages and pages, but it was also a significant relief once I adjusted. It pushed me to focus on actual skill and content instead of just filling space.
Q13. What's your typical college day like now?
A) I only have campus days twice a week since Chester is a public university. On those days I wake up around 5:30 or 6 am, shower, and rush to catch a train from Liverpool, where I live, reaching campus by about 9:30 when my first class starts. I have a lunch break around 12:30 for an hour, then a second class, and I'm usually heading home by 3:30 or 4:30. By the time I'm back, it's around 5:30 or 6 pm, and I go through my notes on my iPad right away since I don't retain things well if I wait too long. Some evenings, I walk into the city center just to get some fresh air before the day wraps up.
Q14. What's it actually been like living in the UK, beyond studies?
A) I've lived in Sheffield, Manchester, and now Liverpool, which I find genuinely peaceful. Before I left, everyone warned me about racism in the UK, the usual things Indians grow up hearing about British attitudes. I did encounter a little of that myself; I won't pretend otherwise. But the overwhelming majority of people here have been kind; they mind their own business and are willing to help when it matters. What really struck me was how strictly people follow the rules here, especially traffic rules. You genuinely cannot jaywalk; there are proper signals even for pedestrians, and the fines are serious if you don't follow them. Even setting studies aside, I'd tell any recent graduate that an international trip like this is worth it just for how much it broadens your perspective and improves your communication.
Q15. Would you recommend Leap Scholar's IELTS program to others?
A) Completely, without hesitation. Leap Scholar was a genuine support system through one of the most important early steps of my entire study-abroad journey. When you receive real support at that first stage, it builds the motivation and confidence you need for everything that follows. I'd recommend the program to anyone who needs it.
From a decision that took shape almost overnight to a 7.5 band earned despite genuine stage fear and a country switch from a dream in Switzerland to a good opening in England, this journey proves that the path abroad rarely looks the way you first imagine it. For anyone nervous about IELTS or still deciding where they're headed, this Leap Scholar review is worth reading in full.
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