IELTS Practice Tests: Free online tests

IELTS Practice Tests

IELTS Practice Tests can provide you with the preparation you need to do well in the IELTS exam.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is the exam used to evaluate people who wish to work or study in English speaking countries.

The IELTS preparation materials here will ensure you can have the practice you need before sitting the exam.

The tests vary slightly because if you are wanting to study abroad you take the Academic Module but if you are taking it for general immigration purposes such as for work you take the General Training Module.

Writing

In the academic part of the test you have to describe some kind of graph, diagram or map (Task 1) and write an essay (Task 2).

In the general part you have to write a letter (Task 1) and write an essay (Task 2).

Academic

General

Answer Sheets

IELTS Writing Answer Sheet.pdf

Listening

Listening is the same for academic and general training. Each section gets progressively more difficult.

Don't worry if you get low marks for section 4, it's very difficult. Concentrate on getting as many marks as you can from the first three sections.

Academic & General

Listening Test One

Sections One to Four

Listening Test Two

Listening Test Three

Listening Test Four

You can also check out this official listening IELTS practice test from the British Council who run the IELTS test:

British Council Listening Practice Test

Answer Sheet

IELTS Listening Answer Sheet.pdf

Reading

In a full reading test there are a total of three reading passages which you have to do in 60 minutes.

Each one of these is just one reading passage, so if you were doing it under timed conditions it should take 20 minutes. So doing three of them would be a full reading test.

There are readings from the Academic and General module.

Academic

Sample Reading 1 - Air Rage

Matching Headings
True/False/Not Given

Sample Reading 2 - Wind Power

Multiple Choice
Summary Completion
Matching Statements

Sample Reading 3 - The Container Trade

Multiple Choice
Cause & Effect Table
Sentence Completion

Sample Reading 4 - Australia and The Great War

Short Sentence Completion
Yes/No/Not Given

Sample Reading 5 - Indian Marriages

Multiple Choice
Short Sentence Completion

Sample Reading 6 - El Nino

Sentence Completion
Diagram Completion
Multiple Choice

You can download these readings here (PDF)

The British Council also has a full academic reading practice test on its site. You can check that out here:

British Council Reading Practice Test

General

Test 1 Section 1 - Rail Cards

Sentence Completion
True/False/Not Given

Test 1 Section 2 - Workstation Seating Safety / NHS Job Interviews

Matching Headings to Sections
Sentence Completion

Test 1 Section 3 - Growth of Pilates

Finding the Information
Summary Completion

The British Council also has a reading practice test for IELTS General Training:

British Council General Training Reading Test

Reading Answer Sheet

IELTS Reading Answer Sheet.pdf

Speaking

Speaking is the same for academic and general training. In part one you are asked easy questions about everyday topics such as work, hobbies, the weather, travelling etc.

In part two you have to speak for two minutes on a topic the examiner gives you. In part three you have a two-way discussion on with the examiner on more complicated topics related to your part two topic.