Yes, of course, hardworking certainly matters in the IELTS exams. Unless you are hardworking and decide to dedicate your time, effort and knowledge to acing the IELTS game, you won’t be recognized as a potential candidate with zeal to win more accolades each day. But what matters the most is smart work. Hard work will definitely help you advance towards your goals but smart work will help you achieve the same, seamlessly.