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. 



Listening Practice Tests

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

Listening Test Two

Listening Test Three 

Listening Test Four 

Listening Test Five 

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


Answer Sheet


Writing Practice Tests

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). 

You can also view questions with model answers:


Reading Practice Tests

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:



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:



Reading Answer Sheet


Speaking Practice Tests

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.


Academic & General


This is a further speaking practice test from the British Council:

IDP also has a number of IELTS practice tests and exercises on all the modules of the test:

Computer Based IELTS

If you are planning to take the computer based IELTS test you can find links to practice tests here:



 

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