The IELTS practice test is a baby step to clear the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination. These practice tests help students understand the actual exam conditions and familiarize them with the type of questions asked, time constraints, and format of the exam. In short, practice tests give candidates a comprehensive understanding of the IELTS test. IELTS has four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking, and practice tests help students get a better understanding of these sections.
What Is IELTS?
IELTS, also called International English Language Testing System, is an English language proficiency test. Students who want to study abroad or individuals who want to work in English-speaking countries have to take the IELTS test.
The test assesses the applicants’ reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. This is a popular exam, and many universities abroad take it as an admission requirement. IELTS has two versions: those who want to study abroad must clear the IELTS Academic exam, and the IELTS General Training test is taken by the candidates seeking work visas.
The IELTS results are acknowledged by 12,000+ organizations, including employers, educational institutions, governments and professional associations, in around 140 countries across the globe.
IELTS Exam Fee
The IELTS exam fee details are as follows:
IELTS Test Type | IELTS Test Fee 2024 |
IELTS on Computer for UKVI | INR 17,250 |
IELTS on Computer | INR 17,000 |
IELTS Life Skills (A1 and B1) | INR 16,050 |
IELTS for UK Visas and Immigration | INR 17,250 |
IELTS on Paper | INR 17,000 |
One Skill Retake | INR 11,300 |
IELTS Exam Format & Syllabus
Here is a quick glance at the IELTS exam syllabus and format:
Section | No. of Questions | Duration | Purpose |
Listening | 40 | 30 minutes (+10 minutes if attempting a paper test) | This section tests a candidate’s ability to grasp core ideas, recognize a speaker’s opinions, and follow arguments from audio recordings. |
Reading | 40 | 60 minutes | This section tests a candidate’s ability to conduct focused reading. The questions require test-takers to read for specific details and understand meaning. |
Writing | 2 | 60 minutes (It is recommended to spend 20 minutes on Question 1 and 40 minutes on Question 2) | This section measures a candidate’s ability to draft a good argument, organize text, and make use of effective vocabulary. |
Speaking | 3 parts | 11-14 minutes | This section seeks to test a candidate’s ability in spoken language and how well they can organize ideas, use appropriate vocabulary, and pronounce words when speaking. |
Students get 2 hours and 45 minutes to finish the exam.
IELTS Online Prep
Managing other deadlines along with IELTS exam preparation can be difficult to plan. Thankfully, there are online preparation services that offer hours of customized material created by experts.
The Princeton Review’s Online Classroom Training gives students more than 40 hours of guided preparation. This includes test prep for each module and full-length IELTS practice tests. For students who need extra help, there is also an option to get private tutoring.
The Importance of Practice Tests
The importance of taking IELTS practice tests cannot be understated. It is an important consideration during preparation for the following reasons:
- Practice tests help set a benchmark for preparation. By understanding their focus areas, test-takers can plan their prep more effectively.
- They are the best way to track progress and set future goals.
- Practice tests can also help candidates familiarize themselves with the test’s format and question types, thereby ensuring they are sufficiently prepared.
- Taking practice tests and modules helps candidates reduce stress and prepare confidently for the exam.
Let’s understand each section of the IELTS test in detail.
IELTS Listening Test
Here is a quick glance at the IELTS listening test format:
- Recording 1: Candidates must listen to a dialogue used in daily life and context.
- Recording 2: In this section, candidates listen to the monologue about social context or everyday life. For example, a discussion on the street conditions of an area.
- Recording 3: Candidates listen to conversations between more than two people in an educational context or training. For example, teachers and students discuss an assignment.
- Recording 4: Candidates are given a monologue on academic subjects to listen to. For example, college lectures.
IELTS Listening Practice Tests
- IELTS Listening practice test 1: Play Audio | Download answer key
- IELTS Listening practice test 2: Note completion: Play Audio | Download answer key
- IELTS Listening practice test 3: Plan, Map, Diagram labeling: Play Audio | Download answer key
- IELTS Listening practice test 4: Multiple choice (more than one answer): Play Audio | Download answer key
- IELTS Listening practice test 5: Multiple choice (one answer): Play Audio | Download answer key
- IELTS Listening practice test 6: Short answers: Play Audio | Download answer key
- IELTS Listening practice test 7: Table completion: Play Audio | Download answer key
- IELTS Listening practice test 8: Sentence completion: Play Audio | Download answer key
- IELTS Listening practice test 9: Flow chart completion: Play Audio | Download answer key
- IELTS Listening practice test 10: Familiarization test: Play Audio | Download answer key
IELTS Reading Test
IELTS Academic Reading | Comprises 3 sections with 40 questions from different magazines, books and journals, covering the topics relevant and related to professional registration or university studies. |
IELTS General Training Reading | Comprises 3 sections that carry 40 questions based on work situations, everyday life, and general interest topics, taking extracts from different common sources. |
IELTS Reading Practice Lessons and Exercises
- IELTS Reading practice lesson 1: True, false, not given
- IELTS Reading practice lesson 2: Skimming and scanning
- IELTS Reading practice lesson 3: Matching heading questions
- IELTS Reading practice lesson 4: Analysing a writer’s views or claims
- IELTS Reading practice lesson 5: Diagram completion
- IELTS Reading practice lesson 6: Identifying information
- IELTS Reading practice lesson 7: Feature matching
- IELTS Reading practice lesson 8: Matching information
- IELTS Reading practice lesson 9: Multiple choice questions
- IELTS Reading practice lesson 10: Short answer questions
IELTS Exam Reading Practice Tests – Academic
- IELTS Academic Reading sample – Matching feature: Practice test | Download answer key
- IELTS Academic Reading sample – Matching sentence endings: Practice test | Download answer key
- IELTS Academic Reading sample – Sentence completion: Practice test | Download answer key
- IELTS Academic Reading sample – Summary completion (select words from text): Practice test | Download answer key
- IELTS Academic Reading sample – Summary completion (select from a list of words): Practice test | Download answer key
- IELTS Academic Reading sample – Note completion: Practice test | Download answer key
- IELTS Academic Reading sample – identifying information (True/False/Not Given): Practice test | Download answer key
- IELTS Academic Reading sample – Multiple choice (more than one answer): Practice test | Download answer key
- IELTS Academic Reading sample – Multiple choice (one answer): Practice test | Download answer key
- IELTS Academic Reading sample – Table completion: Practice test | Download answer key
- IELTS Academic Reading sample – Familiarization test: Practice test | Download answer key
IELTS Exam Reading Practice Tests (General Training)
- IELTS General Training Reading sample – Note completion: Practice test | Download answer key
- IELTS General Training Reading sample – Summary completion: Practice test | Download answer key
- IELTS General Training Reading sample – Matching features: Practice test | Download answer key
- IELTS General Training Reading sample – Matching information: Practice test | Download answer key
- IELTS General Training Reading sample – True/False/Not Given: Practice test | Download answer key
- IELTS General Training Reading sample – Multiple choice: Practice test | Download answer key
- IELTS General Training Reading sample – Sentence completion: Practice test | Download answer key
IELTS Academic Writing
In the IELTS academic writing task 1 section, students are given the following types of charts and 20 minutes to create a detailed report:
- Bar chart
- Line graph
- Pie chart
- Table
- Process diagram
- Map
- A combination of the above (multiple tasks)
Academic Writing (Task 1) Practice Test: Task 1
Academic Writing (Task 2) Practice Test: Task 2
IELTS Speaking Test
The IELTS Speaking Section is divided into three segments:
Section | Time | Type |
Part 1 | 4-5 minutes | The candidate is asked to introduce themselves and answer general questions about themselves |
Part 2 | 3-4 minutes | Candidates are given a cue card for a topic that includes important points. After a minute of preparation, they must speak about the topic. |
Part 3 | 4-5 minutes | The examiner asks about the topic the candidate spoke about. Additional ideas may be discussed here. |
IELTS Speaking Practice Test
- Speaking Part 1 practice test: Prompt | Recording | Transcript
- Speaking Part 2 practice test: Prompt | Recording | Transcript