Sample Test Questions
There are two types of IELTS Academic or General Training. All test takers take the same Listening and Speaking tests but different Reading and Writing tests. Make sure that you prepare for the correct version of the test.
Using IELTS official practice materials will enable you to:
- familiarize yourself with the test format
- experience the types of tasks you will be asked to undertake
- test yourself under timed conditions
- review your answers and compare them with model answers.
Listening (30 minutes)
The Listening test is the same for both Academic and General Training versions of IELTS and consists of four recorded monologues and conversations.
The following IELTS Listening sample tasks are to be used with the Answer Sheet and MP3 audio files and/or transcripts. Each answer sheet indicates which recording to listen to, or if a transcript is provided.
Listening sample tasks
Academic Reading (60 minutes)
Texts for the Academic Reading test are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers.
A variety of tasks is used, including: multiple choice questions, 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.
Academic Reading sample tasks
General Training Reading (60 minutes)
A variety of tasks is used including; multiple choice questions, 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.
General Training Reading sample tasks
Academic Writing (60 minutes)
A variety of tasks is used including; multiple choice questions, 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.
Academic Writing sample tasks
General Training Writing (60 minutes)
The General Writing test consists of two writing tasks of 150 words and 250 words.
In Task 1, test takers are asked to respond to a situation by writing a letter, for example, requesting information or explaining a situation.
In Task 2, test takers write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem.
Below are samples of Task 1 and Task 2.
Please note that test takers for IELTS General Training take a different Writing test in IELTS Academic.
General Training Writing samples
Speaking (11–14 minutes)
In the Speaking test, you have a discussion with a certified examiner. It is interactive and as close to a real-life situation as a test can get.
There are three parts to the test and each part fulfils a specific function in terms of interaction pattern, task input and test taker output.
In Part 1, you answer questions about yourself and your family. In Part 2, you speak about a topic. In Part 3, you have a longer discussion on the topic.
The Speaking test is the same for both Academic and General Training versions. Each of the three parts is designed to test a different aspect of your communication ability.
