IELTS Mock Test — Full Practice Online
Practice all four IELTS skills in one place. This hub links to full Listening and Reading practice tests with transcripts and answer keys, Writing Checker for instant AI band feedback, Speaking Simulator for a full 3-part mock speaking test, model answers for all essay types, and band score conversion tables.
What does a full IELTS mock test cover?
A full IELTS mock test covers all four skills: Listening (30 min, 40 questions, 4 sections), Reading (60 min, 40 questions, 3 passages), Writing (60 min, 2 tasks — graph/chart description + essay), and Speaking (11–14 min, 3 parts). Listening and Reading are scored using a raw-to-band conversion table. Writing and Speaking are assessed on four criteria each (Task Achievement, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range & Accuracy).
Quick Facts
- Skills covered
- Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking
- Total time (full test)
- ~2 hrs 45 min
- Total questions
- 80 (Listening + Reading)
- Available
- Free — no account needed
Practice by skill
IELTS Listening
| Section |
|---|
| Section 1 |
| Section 2 |
| Section 3 |
| Section 4 |
- →Pre-read every question set during the pause before each section — know what to listen for before the audio starts.
- →Each recording plays once only. Never leave a blank — move forward and mark your best guess.
- →Copy exact words from the recording. Synonyms and paraphrases are marked wrong in completion tasks.
IELTS Reading
| Section |
|---|
| Passage 1 |
| Passage 2 |
| Passage 3 |
- →Skim for structure (paragraph labels, first/last sentences) before looking at any question.
- →Allocate 20 minutes per passage strictly — no single question is worth more than one mark.
- →NOT GIVEN means the passage is silent on the topic — not that it's false. Test: 'Does the text say the opposite?' If no, it's NOT GIVEN.
IELTS Writing
| Section |
|---|
| Task 1 (Academic) |
| Task 1 (General) |
| Task 2 (Both) |
- →Task 2 is worth twice as many marks as Task 1 — always start with Task 2 if time is tight.
- →Task 1 requires a clear overview (not just a list of facts). Examiners deduct marks when the overview is missing.
- →Writing Checker gives you instant band estimates on all four criteria — use it after timed practice.
IELTS Speaking
| Section |
|---|
| Part 1 |
| Part 2 |
| Part 3 |
- →You are scored on Fluency, Vocabulary, Grammar, and Pronunciation — not on your opinions or whether the examiner agrees with you.
- →Part 3 is where band 7+ candidates separate themselves: abstract reasoning, hedging language, and complex sentence structures.
- →Record yourself with your phone, then play it back — most candidates are surprised by their actual pace and filler word frequency.
Band score conversion — Listening & Reading
Listening and Reading are marked by raw score (number of correct answers, 0–40) and converted to a band using Cambridge's conversion table. The table varies slightly between test papers. Writing and Speaking bands are awarded by a trained examiner — there is no raw score.
| Raw score (out of 40) | Listening band | Reading band |
|---|---|---|
| 39–40 | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| 37–38 | 8.5 | 8.5 |
| 35–36 | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| 32–34 | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| 30–31 | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| 26–29 | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| 23–25 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| 18–22 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| 16–17 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| 13–15 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
Note: Listening and Reading use the same conversion scale but separate raw scores. A Band 7.0 in Listening requires 30–31 correct; a Band 7.0 in Reading also requires 30–31 correct (Academic) — though Reading conversions may differ slightly by version.
How IELTS is scored — Writing and Speaking criteria
Writing and Speaking are each scored on four equally-weighted criteria. Your band for each criterion is averaged to give your skill band (rounded to the nearest 0.5). Your overall IELTS band is the average of all four skill bands (also rounded to the nearest 0.5).
Writing criteria
Task Achievement (Task 1) / Task Response (Task 2)
Does the response fully address the question? Is the position clear and supported?
Coherence & Cohesion
Is the response logically organised? Are paragraphs and sentences linked clearly?
Lexical Resource
Range and accuracy of vocabulary — collocations, topic-specific language, precision.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy
Variety of structures (simple, compound, complex) and accuracy of grammar.
Speaking criteria
Fluency & Coherence
Speed, pausing, self-correction, logical development of ideas.
Lexical Resource
Range and precision of vocabulary, ability to paraphrase when needed.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy
Accuracy and variety of grammatical structures across all three parts.
Pronunciation
Clarity at the level of sounds, stress, intonation, and rhythm — not accent.
How to use mock tests effectively
Diagnose first
Do one timed mock test before beginning any targeted study. Record your score per skill. This tells you where to invest your preparation time — not guessing.
Drill by type, not by test
Spend 70% of study time on targeted practice (specific question types, essay structures, grammar points). Full mock tests are good for stamina and timing — not for learning technique.
Review every wrong answer
After each mock or practice test, read the explanation for every wrong answer. Most candidates skip this step. The review session is where the actual score improvement happens.
Recommended weekly schedule
- Monday–Thursday: targeted skill practice (30–45 min/day)
- Friday: timed full mock test (Reading + Listening, 90 min)
- Saturday: Writing practice under timed conditions, then Writing Checker
- Sunday: Speaking practice with Speaking Simulator or recording review
Not hitting your target band on mock tests?
A 1-to-1 session with Sahil identifies exactly which question types and skills are holding your score back — and gives you a targeted plan to close the gap.
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Frequently Asked Questions
An IELTS mock test is a full simulation of the real IELTS exam covering all four skills: Listening (30 minutes, 40 questions), Reading (60 minutes, 40 questions), Writing (60 minutes, 2 tasks), and Speaking (11–14 minutes, 3 parts). Mock tests help you practise under timed conditions and identify the specific skills and question types where you lose marks.
A full IELTS mock test takes approximately 2 hours 45 minutes: Listening 30 minutes + 10 minutes transfer time (paper), Reading 60 minutes, Writing 60 minutes, Speaking 11–14 minutes. In real exam conditions, Listening, Reading, and Writing are taken in one sitting with a short break. Speaking is usually on a different day.
Listening and Speaking are identical for both. Reading differs: Academic uses longer, denser academic passages; General Training uses shorter practical texts (notices, instructions) plus one longer passage. Writing differs: Task 1 Academic requires describing a graph, chart, or diagram; Task 1 General Training requires writing a formal or semi-formal letter. Task 2 (essay) is the same for both.
Most trainers recommend doing a full mock test once a week during active preparation, with targeted skill and question-type practice filling the rest of your study time. Doing mock tests every day without reviewing your mistakes is ineffective — the review is where improvement happens.
Mock test scores are indicative, not definitive. Cambridge Official Practice Materials are the closest simulation to the real test. Third-party practice materials vary in difficulty. As a rule, treat your mock test band as a range (±0.5) rather than a precise prediction. Consistent performance across three or more mock tests is a more reliable predictor than a single result.
The most reliable free resources are: (1) Cambridge IELTS books 1–18 — the closest to real test papers, (2) the British Council and IDP official practice tests on their websites, (3) the individual skill practice tests on this site — Listening and Reading practice tests with full answer keys and strategies.
Listening and Reading use a raw score (0–40) which converts to a band using the official Cambridge table (39–40 = Band 9, 37–38 = 8.5, etc.). Writing and Speaking are assessed by a trained examiner using four criteria each (Task Achievement/Response, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range & Accuracy). There is no raw score — the band is a holistic judgement against the Cambridge band descriptors.
This depends on your goal: IELTS Academic is required for university entry, professional registration (NMC nurses, GMC doctors, HCPC), and most skilled migration pathways (Australia 189/190, Canada Express Entry). IELTS General Training is accepted for many UK and Canadian immigration routes, IELTS Life Skills (ILR and citizenship) requires neither — it is a separate Speaking and Listening only test.
Related Guides & Resources
IELTS Listening Practice Test — All 4 Sections with Answers
Full listening practice test with transcripts, 32 questions across form completion, map labelling, multiple choice, and note completion.
Explore FreeIELTS Reading Practice Test — Free Full Passage
Full academic reading passage with 18 questions — True/False/Not Given, Matching Headings, Multiple Choice, and Summary Completion.
ExploreIELTS Writing Checker
Paste your Task 1 or Task 2 essay and get an instant AI band score and examiner-style feedback on all four writing criteria.
ExploreIELTS Speaking Simulator
Full 3-part AI mock speaking test with real-time feedback on fluency, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
Explore FreeIELTS Band Score Calculator
Convert your raw Listening and Reading scores to a band, or calculate what overall band your four skill scores produce.
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