For many, IELTS is a stepping stone. For others, it’s a lifeline. For this remarkable Palestinian student, it was the bridge from a conflict zone to a future full of potential.
Finding a way out
“I’m originally from the Gaza Strip in Palestine,” he explains. “The living conditions there are unbearable, and that was my number-one motivation to study for IELTS. All my siblings had university scholarships overseas, and I wanted to pursue the same path.”
With limited access to resources, he committed to two years of self-study, without any paid courses, online or face-to-face.
“I did it completely by myself. No tutors, no courses, just discipline, time, and a lot of trial and error.”
A moment that changed everything
The journey to IELTS success wasn’t easy but it was transformative.
“This experience is what pushed me to rely on myself more and more,” he reflects. “It built the mindset that shaped who I am today.”
On 22 August 2023, he sat for the IELTS Speaking test, and it was a breakthrough moment.
“I walked into the test room with confidence. When I walked out of Speaking test, I was so happy with how I’d performed. I still remember the examiner nodding along, clearly impressed and entertained by the level of English I was using. It felt like all my hard work had paid off.”
“After my written test, I felt I’d done really well, but I told my family, I’m not sure I’ll get a 6.5’, that was my target at the time. What I truly believed in was the effort I had put in. I gave it everything.”
He waited anxiously for his results. The moment finally came the following Saturday. “I came back from school and I checked my phone. The results were in. I asked my sister to open the link and read them to me. I wasn’t expecting much. I would’ve been happy with a 6.”
But the result was far beyond his expectations. “When I saw that big 8 in the middle of the screen, it was the happiest day of my life. From the very first attempt, I achieved something huge, starting from nothing. I’m extremely proud of myself.”
Now living in Australia with his family, he’s focused on building a new life—and helping others reach their own IELTS goals.
“I’ve developed a solid approach to teaching and preparing for IELTS, based on what actually works. I’m passionate about it, and I’d love to find ways to help others succeed too.”
Rebuilding in a new land
Since arriving in Australia, his focus has been on starting fresh and creating stability for himself and his family.
“My life here has revolved around rebuilding everything we lost,” he says. “But even with that pressure, I’ve hit some milestones I’m proud of.”
He’s now undergoing management training at a fast-food restaurant and is set to become a manager. He tutors a Year 6 student in Maths and provides private English support, both online and in person, to Emirati students at La Trobe University. On top of that, he’s also working toward referee accreditation with Football Victoria.
“I think what I’m most proud of is how quickly I’ve adapted. I blended into society like I’ve been here my whole life.”
Achieving more in just one year
Balancing a full-time high school schedule with his extracurricular achievements hasn’t been easy but it's something he takes great pride in.
“It’s been just one year, and I’ve managed to achieve all of this. I didn’t expect to get this far, this quickly,” he says. “And I’m just getting started.”
His next goal is to study Engineering at university, something he’s now well-positioned to pursue.
IELTS changed my life
IELTS played a critical role in making his Australian education dream a reality.
“Without IELTS, I would’ve had to go through TAFE before even thinking about university. But thanks to my IELTS results, I was able to pursue my academic path much sooner. It truly changed the course of my life.”
He believes the test had a significant impact on the direction his life has taken.
“It changed everything. The whole trajectory of my future could have been different without IELTS.”
Choosing IELTS over other English tests
For him, IELTS was the natural choice over other English language tests.
“I knew IELTS was the most recognised by universities,” he explains. “And I liked the fact that IELTS had a real human interaction in the Speaking test.”
Confidence in real-life English
His journey to IELTS success also gave him the tools to support others in their English learning.
“Through IELTS, I discovered the most effective way to learn English. Now I’m teaching those same methods to my students,” he says. “They’ve shown huge improvement in less than a month.”
Even before moving to Australia, he was already standing out. “When I was still in Gaza, I applied to a scholarship program with Amideast. I did the test with 5,000 students and got the highest score. Later, I won a writing competition among 600 top-performing students. That gave me the confidence to keep going.”
Speaking with a human made the difference
One of the highlights of his IELTS experience was the face-to-face Speaking test.
“This is actually one of the main reasons I chose IELTS over TOEFL,” he says. “Having a real examiner in front of me felt like a genuine conversation. It gave me the chance to truly show what I could do.”
A clear recommendation
When asked if he would recommend IELTS to others, his answer is simple: “Of course.”
“I wouldn’t even highlight one specific part, I think the whole experience is worth it.”