Practice Spelling for IELTS
Overview
In 2023, I built an interactive web-based tool to help IELTS candidates strengthen their spelling skills. Despite having a solid grasp of the concepts, many test-takers lose marks simply because of misspelled words. So, I created this application as a practical solution that combines effective learning principles with accessible technology.
Web app link: Practice Spelling for IELTS
Motivation
During IELTS practice sessions, I noticed that many of my friends could write well but struggled to spell academic vocabulary correctly, especially under timed conditions. In computer-based exams, every second counts, and confidence in spelling can save valuable time. I set out to design a tool that would not only provide practice but also help students build muscle memory for tricky words through repetition, tracing, immediate feedback, and visual reinforcement. I also wanted it to be accessible; without the ads, fees, or distractions common in many existing tools.
Key features
- 1,200+ frequently tested IELTS vocabulary words, organized by theme
- Character-by-character tracing to reinforce spelling through kinesthetic learning
- A personal flagging system to revisit difficult words
- Pronunciations in common accents in the IELTS listening test (e.g. British, American, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand)
- Category-based practice aligned with IELTS themes
- Privacy-first design: all progress stored locally in the browser
- Open-source codebase available on GitHub for collaboration and future improvements
Technical stack
- Frontend: HTML5, CSS3, Vanilla JavaScript
- Storage: Browser local storage (privacy-first, no external servers)
- Deployment: GitHub Pages
Cover photo of the 'Practice Spelling for IELTS' app
Technical considerations
I chose vanilla JavaScript, HTML5, and CSS3 to keep the application lightweight and universally accessible. The decision to use local browser storage rather than server-side data management was a deliberate decision to ensures student privacy. The word database reterived from GitHub and flagged words are stored locally. The application uses browser local storage to maintain user progress and flagged words between sessions.
Impact
The tool is freely available to support learners from different backgrounds in preparing more confidently for the IELTS examination. As this is an open-source project, other educators and developers can contribute to grow the project beyond my initial vision.