I went through the same pain preparing for IELTS last year. Honestly, what helped me the most was https://apps.apple.com/us/app/vocabloo/id6748016802 It uses a spaced repetition system (SRS), which means it reminds you of words right before you’re likely to forget them — it’s scientifically proven to help long-term memory. The app also gives examples and short quizzes so you can see how words are used in real IELTS-like contexts. I practiced about 15 minutes a day, and it became my secret weapon. During the test, I remembered phrases effortlessly. It’s much smarter than traditional flashcards.