Free IELTS practice for all four skills
Question types, worked examples and full model answers for Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking - free, with no signup. Below you will also find how the test is built, how the band score is actually calculated, and how to tell whether you need Academic or General Training.
The test at a glance
Listening, Reading and Writing are taken on the same day, one after another, with no breaks between them. Speaking is either on the same day or up to seven days before or after.
| Section | Time | Length | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 30 mins | 40 marks | Four recorded parts, each heard once. On paper you get 10 extra minutes to transfer your answers. |
| Reading | 60 mins | 40 marks | Three passages. There is no extra transfer time - it is included in the hour. |
| Writing | 60 mins | 2 tasks | Task 1 is meant to take 20 minutes, Task 2 forty. Task 2 carries more weight in the marking. |
| Speaking | 11-14 mins | 3 parts | A face-to-face interview with an examiner, recorded. |
The single most common timing mistake is spending too long on Writing Task 1. Task 2 carries more weight in the marking, so it deserves the larger share of the hour - keep Task 1 to its twenty minutes.
Academic or General Training?
Choose by what you need the score for, not by which sounds easier. Listening and Speaking are identical in both - only Reading and Writing change.
Academic
- Usually required for university study and for professional registration.
- Reading: three long texts from books, journals, magazines and newspapers.
- Writing Task 1: describe a graph, chart, table or process in your own words.
- Formal register throughout.
General Training
- Usually required for migration and for work-related training.
- Reading: notices, advertisements, company handbooks and guidelines.
- Writing Task 1: write a letter - formal, semi-formal or personal.
- A more personal tone is acceptable where the task calls for it.
If you are not certain which one you need, check the requirement published by the university, employer or immigration authority you are applying to before you book. The two are not interchangeable.
How the band score actually works
You are given a band from 0 to 9 for each skill, in whole or half bands. Your overall score is the average of the four - but the rounding is not what most people assume.
an average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band
an average ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band
Listening 6.5 · Reading 6.5 · Writing 5.0 · Speaking 7.0 = 6.25 → overall band 6.5
This is why one weak skill is so expensive. In the example above, lifting Writing from 5.0 to 6.0 moves the overall score from 6.5 to 6.5 - no change at all - Writing would have to reach 7.0 before the average hits 6.75 and the overall band becomes 7.0. Before you decide what to revise, work out which single skill actually moves your average across a boundary - it is often not the one you are worst at.
Band 5 - Modest
Partial command of the language. You cope with overall meaning in most situations, though you are likely to make many mistakes. You can handle basic communication in your own field.
Band 6 - Competent
Generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies and misunderstandings. You can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations. This is the most commonly required band.
Band 7 - Good
Operational command of the language, with occasional inaccuracies and misunderstandings in some situations. You generally handle complex language well and understand detailed reasoning.
Band 8 - Very Good
Fully operational command with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies. You may misunderstand some things in unfamiliar situations, but you handle complex, detailed argument well.
Practise by skill
Every lesson is free and needs no signup. Each one takes a single question type and shows exactly what the examiner is looking for.
Common questions
How long are my IELTS results valid?
Two years from the date of your original test. That date, not the day you received your result, is what institutions check.
Can I retake just one skill instead of the whole test?
Sometimes. IELTS One Skill Retake lets you resit a single skill once, within 60 days of the original test, in the same country. It is only available if you took IELTS on computer at a centre that offers it - not for paper tests - and it is not currently available in the USA.
Is Speaking on the same day as the rest of the test?
Either the same day, or up to seven days before or after. Listening, Reading and Writing are always taken together on one day, with no breaks between them.
Which is easier, Academic or General Training?
Neither, and you do not get to choose. Take whichever version the university, employer or immigration authority you are applying to requires. Listening and Speaking are identical in both.
Should I guess if I do not know an answer?
Yes. Each correct answer is worth one mark and your score out of 40 is converted to a band, so nothing is gained by leaving a gap empty. Always write something.
How is my overall band score calculated?
It is the average of your four skill scores. An average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band, and one ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band.
Not sure you are ready for IELTS yet?
IELTS measures the English you already have - it does not teach it to you. If your test is still months away, general English practice will usually move your band further than exam technique will.
Find your level first
- A free placement test that tells you which level to work at.
- Worth doing before you book a test date, not after.
Build the English underneath
- Nearly 300 free grammar and vocabulary lessons, sorted by level.
- Each one has a story, a tutor tip and a quiz.
Taking IELTS soon?
Book a free trial and tell us your target band. We will look at your weakest skill and tell you honestly what stands between you and it.