Learning strategies is defined as actions done deliberately to learn language more effectively. Many learners do not know what the best learning strategies work for them. Nowadays, more learners are required to take IELTS for many purposes especially education. In order to achieve the targeted band score, learners need to employ the most effective learning strategies so that it will not be a waste of time and money. This study is aimed to examine what learning strategies employed by IELTS test takers with at least 7.5 as overall band score and how metacognitive strategies are implemented by them. The research questions are answered by collecting data through distributing SLIL questionnaires to 15 subjects obtaining at least 7.5 as overall band score and conducting written semi-structured interviews with two participants who employed metacognitive strategies as the most frequent learning strategies used. The findings of this study are many of participants employed various learning strategies and the most common learning strategies used were social, metacognitive, and compensation strategies. In contrast, the least common learning strategies used were affective and memory strategies. Furthermore, metacognitive strategies employed by the selected participants were paying attention, organizing, setting goals and objectives, identifying the purpose of a language task, seeking practice opportunities, self-monitoring, and self-evaluating.