Is IELTS Much Harder Than GCSE English? + How to Get a High Score

Hi everyone,
I’m thinking about taking the IELTS exam and wanted to ask a few things. I did GCSE English Language and got a grade 7, but I’m not sure what that means in terms of IELTS level.
Would anyone know what IELTS band that would roughly translate to? I’m aiming for a high score, ideally Band 7 (with at least 6.5 in each element), but I don’t know how different the IELTS exam is compared to GCSE English. Is IELTS a lot harder? And is it more academic or more about general English skills? (I'm taking the academic version for uni)
If you’ve taken IELTS before, I’d also love to hear any tips you have for getting a high score, especially in the writing and speaking parts. I want to start preparing early and avoid wasting time on the wrong things.
Thanks in advance for any advice or insight!

It might be worth you checking with the universities you're applying to to see if your grade 7 at GCSE English Language already meets their admissions requirements. There doesn't seem to be much point in spending time and money on doing an IELTS test if you don't need to.

Hi, the IELTS exam is not the same as English language GCSE. In terms of structure and types of questions, they are completely different. On the other hand, the level of “English” will not be as difficult as GCSE, probably even the same.
It is good to look up some practice papers and be familiar with 4 components!

As far as I know most if not all of them say if your first language is not enough you must take an English test