Prepare for the four different sections of the IELTS by downloading free practice materials below.
IELTS Listening practice tests
The Listening test is the same for both Academic and General Training tests. During the listening exam, you will hear several recordings which may have Australian, British, or North-American accents. Please note that when you transfer your answers you are mindful of spelling as incorrect spelling will be marked wrong.
Format:
The Listening test is 30 minutes long (plus 10 minutes transfer time) and covers four separate recordings.
| Sections | Description |
|---|---|
| Section 1 | is a conversation between two people set in an everyday context (e.g. a conversation in an accommodation agency). |
| Section 2 | is a monologue set in an everyday social context (e.g. a speech about local families). |
| Section 3 | is a conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context (e.g. a university tutor and student discussing an assignment). |
| Section 4 | is a monologue on an academic subject (e.g. a university lecture). |
Sample Listening Tasks for Download:
The following IELTS Listening Sample Tasks are to be used with the answer sheet and MP3 audio files/transcripts. Each answer sheet indicates which recording to listen to, or if a transcript is provided.
| Sections | Descriptions | Worksheet | Audio File |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section 1 | Listening Sample Task Form Completion |  | Recording (MP3, 402KB) |
| Section 2 Sample A | Multiple Choice | | Recording (MP3, 402KB) |
| Section 2 Sample B | Listening Sample B Questions | | Recording (MP3, 402KB) |
| Section 2 Sample B | Listening Sample B Answers | |
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| Section 3 Sample A | Listening Sample Task Short Answer | | Recording (MP3, 574KB) |
| Section 3 Sample B | Listening Sample B Questions | | Recording (MP3, 549KB) |
| Section 3 Sample B | Listening Sample B Answers | |
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| Section 4 | Listening Sample Task Sentence Completion | | Recording (MP3, 549KB) |
| NEW Samples: | Listening Sample Task Matching (example 1) | | Recording (MP3, 2.7MB) |
| Listening Sample Task Matching (example 2) | | Recording (MP3, 2.7MB) | |
| Plan/Map/Diagram/Labelling | | Recording (MP3, 2.7MB) | |
| Answer Sheet | Listening General Answer Sheet | |
IELTS Academic Reading Practice Tests
Texts for the reading section are authentic and are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers. Texts range from descriptive and factual to the conversational and analytical, and may contain non-verbal materials, such as diagrams, graphs or illustrations. If texts contain technical terms, a simple glossary is provided.
The content of the Reading Section will differ for the Academic and General Tests.
Format:
The Academic Reading test is 60 minutes long. There are 3 sections, and the total text length is 2,150 – 2,750 words. Each section of the reading exam contains one long text. A variety of questions are used to evaluate your reading comprehension. They are chosen from the following types: multiple choice, identifying information, identifying writer’s views/claims, matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, sentence completion, summary completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion, short-answer questions.
IELTS Academic Reading sample tasks for download:
The following IELTS Listening Sample Tasks are to be used with the answer sheet and MP3 audio files/transcripts. Each answer sheet indicates which recording to listen to, or if a transcript is provided.
| Description | Worksheet |
|---|---|
| Answer sheet | |
| Identifying information | |
| Identifying writer's views | |
| Matching features | |
| Matching headings | |
| Multiple choice questions | |
| Table completion | |
| Diagram label completion | |
IELTS Academic Writing Practice Tests
The Writing section of the test includes two tasks and both must be completed. Each task is assessed independently. The assessment of Task 2 carries more weight in marking than Task 1, so be sure to plan your time accordingly. The content of the Reading Section will differ for the Academic and General Tests.
Format:
The Academic Writing test is 60 minutes long and includes two tasks. Candidates are required to write at least 150 words for Task 1 and at least 250 words for Task 2. Both responses should be written in a formal style.
| Sections | Description |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic Task 1 | You will be asked to describe some visual information (graph/table/chart/diagram), and to present the description in your own words. You may be asked to describe and explain data, describe the stages of a process, how something works, or write about an object or event. You need to write 150 words in about 20 minutes. |
| IELTS Academic Task 2 | You will be presented with a point of view, argument or problem. You need to write 250 words in about 40 minutes. |
Sample Writing Tasks for Download:
You will be presented with a point of view, argument or problem. You need to write 250 words in about 40 minutes.
| Description | Worksheet |
|---|---|
| Academic Writing Sample Task 1 | |
| Academic Writing Sample Task 2 | |
| IELTS Writing Answer sheet - Task 1 | |
| IELTS Writing Answer sheet - Task 2 | |
| IELTS Academic Writing Sample Script | |
IELTS Speaking Practice Tests
The speaking test is the same for both the Academic and General Training Exam. During the Speaking test, you will have a discussion with a certified IELTS Examiner. It is interactive and as close to a real-life situation as a test can get. Be prepared by familiarizing yourself with the format of the test.
Format:
The test is 11 to 14 minutes long with three parts.
| Sections | Description |
|---|---|
| Part 1 | You answer questions about yourself, your family, your work and your interests. |
| Part 2 | You speak about a topic. You will be given a task card which asks you to speak about a particular topic and includes points that you can cover in your talk. You will be given 1 minute to prepare your talk. You will then speak for 1-2 minutes. |
| Part 3 | You have a longer discussion on the topic. The examiner will ask you further questions connected to the topic in Part 2. |
Sample Speaking Tasks for Download:
| Task | Description | Files |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking Sample Task Part 1 | Prompt | |
| Recording |  |
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| Transcript | |
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| Speaking Sample Task Part 2 | Prompt | |
| Recording | |
|
| Transcript | |
|
| Speaking Sample Task Part 3 | Prompt | |
| Recording | |
|
| Transcript | |
- Listening
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IELTS Listening practice tests
The Listening test is the same for both Academic and General Training tests. During the listening exam, you will hear several recordings which may have Australian, British, or North-American accents. Please note that when you transfer your answers you are mindful of spelling as incorrect spelling will be marked wrong.
Format:
The Listening test is 30 minutes long (plus 10 minutes transfer time) and covers four separate recordings.Sections Description Section 1 is a conversation between two people set in an everyday context (e.g. a conversation in an accommodation agency). Section 2 is a monologue set in an everyday social context (e.g. a speech about local families). Section 3 is a conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context (e.g. a university tutor and student discussing an assignment). Section 4 is a monologue on an academic subject (e.g. a university lecture). Sample Listening Tasks for Download:
The following IELTS Listening Sample Tasks are to be used with the answer sheet and MP3 audio files/transcripts. Each answer sheet indicates which recording to listen to, or if a transcript is provided.
Sections Descriptions Worksheet Audio File Section 1 Listening Sample Task
Form CompletionRecording (MP3, 402KB) Section 2
Sample AMultiple Choice Recording (MP3, 402KB) Section 2
Sample BListening Sample B Questions Recording (MP3, 402KB) Section 2
Sample BListening Sample B Answers Section 3
Sample AListening Sample Task
Short AnswerRecording (MP3, 574KB) Section 3
Sample BListening Sample B Questions
Recording (MP3, 549KB)Section 3
Sample BListening Sample B Answers Section 4 Listening Sample Task
Sentence CompletionRecording (MP3, 549KB) NEW Samples: Listening Sample Task
Matching (example 1)Recording (MP3, 2.7MB) Listening Sample Task
Matching (example 2)Recording (MP3, 2.7MB) Plan/Map/Diagram/Labelling Recording (MP3, 2.7MB) Answer Sheet Listening General Answer Sheet - Reading
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IELTS Academic Reading Practice Tests
Texts for the reading section are authentic and are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers. Texts range from descriptive and factual to the conversational and analytical, and may contain non-verbal materials, such as diagrams, graphs or illustrations. If texts contain technical terms, a simple glossary is provided.
The content of the Reading Section will differ for the Academic and General Tests.
Format:
The Academic Reading test is 60 minutes long. There are 3 sections, and the total text length is 2,150 – 2,750 words. Each section of the reading exam contains one long text. A variety of questions are used to evaluate your reading comprehension. They are chosen from the following types: multiple choice, identifying information, identifying writer’s views/claims, matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, sentence completion, summary completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion, short-answer questions.IELTS Academic Reading sample tasks for download:
The following IELTS Listening Sample Tasks are to be used with the answer sheet and MP3 audio files/transcripts. Each answer sheet indicates which recording to listen to, or if a transcript is provided.
Description Worksheet Answer sheet Identifying information Identifying writer's views Matching features Matching headings Multiple choice questions Table completion Diagram label completion - Writing
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IELTS Academic Writing Practice Tests
The Writing section of the test includes two tasks and both must be completed. Each task is assessed independently. The assessment of Task 2 carries more weight in marking than Task 1, so be sure to plan your time accordingly. The content of the Reading Section will differ for the Academic and General Tests.
Format:
The Academic Writing test is 60 minutes long and includes two tasks. Candidates are required to write at least 150 words for Task 1 and at least 250 words for Task 2. Both responses should be written in a formal style.Sections Description IELTS Academic Task 1 You will be asked to describe some visual information (graph/table/chart/diagram), and to present the description in your own words.
You may be asked to describe and explain data, describe the stages of a process, how something works, or write about an object or event. You need to write 150 words in about 20 minutes.IELTS Academic Task 2 You will be presented with a point of view, argument or problem. You need to write 250 words in about 40 minutes. Sample Writing Tasks for Download:
You will be presented with a point of view, argument or problem. You need to write 250 words in about 40 minutes.
Description Worksheet Academic Writing Sample Task 1 Academic Writing Sample Task 2 IELTS Writing Answer sheet - Task 1 IELTS Writing Answer sheet - Task 2 IELTS Academic Writing Sample Script - Speaking
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IELTS Speaking Practice Tests
The speaking test is the same for both the Academic and General Training Exam. During the Speaking test, you will have a discussion with a certified IELTS Examiner. It is interactive and as close to a real-life situation as a test can get. Be prepared by familiarizing yourself with the format of the test.
Format:
The test is 11 to 14 minutes long with three parts.Sections Description Part 1 You answer questions about yourself, your family, your work and your interests. Part 2 You speak about a topic. You will be given a task card which asks you to speak about a particular topic and includes points that you can cover in your talk. You will be given 1 minute to prepare your talk. You will then speak for 1-2 minutes. Part 3 You have a longer discussion on the topic. The examiner will ask you further questions connected to the topic in Part 2. Sample Speaking Tasks for Download:
Task Description Files Speaking Sample Task Part 1 Prompt Recording Transcript Speaking Sample Task Part 2 Prompt Recording Transcript Speaking Sample Task Part 3 Prompt Recording Transcript