IELTS is the English test most universities ask for if you want to study in the UK, Australia, Canada, Ireland or New Zealand, and it’s widely accepted in the USA and Europe too. Booking it is expensive, so you should practise properly before test day. You don’t need to pay for practice tests to do that: the organisations that run IELTS, several universities and many independent IELTS sites all offer free ones.
We’ve collected 50 of them in one place, with a link to each: official sample tests and familiarisation tests, free courses from universities, free full mock tests, and free practice for each skill. Some entries are a set of several tests, so in total there are far more than 50 practice tests here. Every link was checked in October 2026.
First, a quick reminder of the IELTS format
- Two versions: IELTS Academic (for university study) and IELTS General Training (mainly for work and migration). Listening and Speaking are the same in both; Reading and Writing are different.
- Listening: 30 minutes, 4 recordings, 40 questions.
- Reading: 60 minutes, 3 sections, 40 questions.
- Writing: 60 minutes, 2 tasks. In Academic Task 1 you describe a chart, graph, process or map; in General Training Task 1 you write a letter. Task 2 is an essay.
- Speaking: 11 to 14 minutes, a face-to-face conversation with an examiner, in 3 parts.
- Scores are given as bands from 1 to 9 for each skill, plus an overall band.
- On computer: IELTS is now taken on a computer. In some places you can still choose to do the Writing test on paper. So practise on screen, and use the official familiarisation tests below to get used to the computer test.
If you need IELTS for a UK visa, check whether you need IELTS for UKVI. It uses the same test format, and there are free official samples for it below.
Official IELTS practice from ielts.org
IELTS is owned by the British Council, IDP and Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Their joint website has free official sample questions for every part of the test, with answer keys, recording transcripts and model answers.
1. Official Listening sample tests
Interactive sample tasks for every Listening question type (multiple choice, map labelling, form completion and more), in the computer format, with answer keys and transcripts. Start here.
2. Official Academic Reading sample tests
Official Academic Reading tasks with answers, so you can try each question type under timed conditions. Start here.
3. Official Academic Writing sample tasks
Academic Writing Task 1 and Task 2 samples with model answers, for both the computer test and Writing on Paper. Start here.
4. Official Speaking samples
Official Speaking test samples, so you know what to expect from the examiner. Start here.
5. Official General Training Reading sample tests
Official General Training Reading tasks with answers. Start here.
6. Official General Training Writing sample tasks
General Training letter (Task 1) and essay (Task 2) samples with model answers. Start here.
7. Official IELTS Life Skills samples (UKVI)
Free sample Speaking and Listening questions for IELTS Life Skills, which some UK visa routes require. Start here.
8. IELTS Trial Test
A free practice test of Listening, Reading and Writing, taken at a participating official test centre under real test timing and marked by an IELTS examiner. Results come in about 13 days. They aren’t official scores, but they’re the most realistic free practice you can get. Find out more.
Free practice from the British Council
9. British Council IELTS familiarisation test
The official sample computer test, covering all four skills on the same screens you’ll see on test day, in Academic and General Training versions. Your Listening and Reading answers are marked free. Start here.
10. British Council free Academic practice tests
Free Academic practice for every skill, including Listening exercises with different accents and Writing tasks on describing data. Start here.
11. British Council free General Training practice tests
Free General Training practice for every skill, based on sample questions from past papers. Start here.
12. British Council free IELTS for UKVI and Life Skills practice
Free practice for IELTS for UKVI and IELTS Life Skills, including audio samples for the Speaking and Listening test. Start here.
13. British Council IELTS Ready (free member account)
A free account, even before you book a test. It includes mock tests with feedback and model answers, plus a short mini mock with an estimated band score. Exactly what’s included varies by country. Sign up here.
Free practice from IDP
14. IDP IELTS familiarisation tests
Free, untimed computer versions of Listening (40 questions), Academic Reading (40 questions) and Academic Writing, with answer keys. Great for getting used to the screens. Start here.
15. IDP Academic practice tests
IDP’s free practice materials for IELTS Academic and Academic UKVI, sorted by skill. Start here.
16. IDP General Training practice tests
IDP’s free practice materials for IELTS General Training and General Training UKVI. Start here.
17. IDP English self-assessment tool
A free reading and listening check to see roughly where your English is before you start preparing. Start here.
18. IELTS by IDP app
IDP’s free app for iPhone and Android, with practice material, quizzes, flashcards, videos and podcasts. Get the app.
Free IELTS preparation from universities
19. University of Cambridge: official IELTS sample papers
Cambridge University Press & Assessment, part of the University of Cambridge, writes the IELTS test. Its preparation page has free downloadable sample papers. Start here.
20. University of Cambridge: Write & Improve
A free writing tool developed by the University of Cambridge. Write a response and get instant automatic feedback on what to improve. Very useful for Writing practice between full tests. Start here.
21. University of Queensland: IELTS Academic Test Preparation (edX)
A self-paced online course from the University of Queensland covering all four skills, with lots of interactive practice. You can audit it free; the certificate is paid. Enrol here.
22. Macquarie University IELTS course (in the IELTS by IDP app)
Macquarie University’s IELTS course, with video tutorials, practice questions and model answers for all four skills. It has a free 14-day trial, and the full course is free if you book your test with IDP. Get it in the app.
Free full IELTS mock tests
These independent sites aren’t official, so quality varies, and their band scores are only estimates. Some ask for an email address or a free account.
23. IELTS Online Tests
A popular free IELTS practice site, with Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking tests and monthly mock tests. Start here.
24. IELTSFreeTests: free full mock test
Full Mock Test 1 is free with no sign-up, in Academic and General Training versions. Listening and Reading are marked automatically, and Writing and Speaking get an estimated band score by email. Start here.
25. IELTSFreeTests: free section tests
Test 1 of each section (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking) is also free, with feedback. Start here.
26. Gurully free IELTS test
One free full-length IELTS test with instant AI scoring after you sign up. Start here.
27. Engnovate IELTS tests
A large free library of IELTS Reading and Listening tests. Start here.
28. Engnovate Speaking tests and AI checks
Free Speaking tests with answers. The free plan also includes two Writing and two Speaking evaluations a month. Start here.
29. Mini-IELTS Listening tests
Short free Listening tests with no registration needed. Start here.
30. Mini-IELTS Reading tests
Short free Reading tests based on single passages, with no registration needed. Start here.
Free practice tests for each skill
31. Magoosh IELTS Academic practice test (PDF)
A free downloadable Academic practice test. Download it.
32. Magoosh IELTS General Training practice test (PDF)
A free downloadable General Training practice test. Download it.
33. Magoosh Listening practice test (video)
A full Listening test in video format, with on-screen questions and an answer video. Start here.
34. Magoosh Academic Reading practice test (video)
An Academic Reading test with an on-screen timer and answers. Start here.
35. Magoosh General Training Reading test
A General Training Reading test with video explanations of the answers. Start here.
36. Magoosh Writing practice tests
Free Academic Writing practice tests (General Training versions are linked from the same page). Start here.
37. Magoosh Speaking interview practice (video)
A video that simulates the Speaking test: pause after each question and answer out loud, as you would with a real examiner. Start here.
38. IELTS Buddy Listening tests
Six free Listening practice tests, most with all four parts. Start here.
39. IELTS Buddy Reading tests
Ten free Academic Reading passages plus a full General Training Reading test. Start here.
40. IELTS Buddy Writing tests
Nine free Writing tests (six Academic and three General Training) as PDFs. Start here.
41. IELTS Buddy Speaking tests
Five free sample Speaking tests on common topics. Start here.
42. IELTS-up Listening tests
Free Listening practice tests. Start here.
43. IELTS-up Reading, Writing and Speaking practice
Free Academic and General Training Reading samples, Writing tasks, and a Speaking test simulator. Start here.
44. IELTS Mentor Listening samples
A large collection of free Listening tests, each with four sections. Start here.
45. IELTS Mentor Reading samples
Free Academic and General Training Reading passages, some with answer explanations. Start here.
46. IELTS Mentor Writing and Speaking samples
A large collection of Writing questions and Speaking cue cards with model answers. Start here.
47. Practice Test Geeks IELTS
700+ free questions with instant scoring, plus 24 short quizzes covering every skill. Start here.
48. Exam English IELTS practice
Free Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking practice, plus grammar and vocabulary tests. Start here.
49. IELTS Liz free practice
Hundreds of free lessons, practice exercises and model answers for every skill. Start here.
50. IELTS Exam practice tests
Free Reading, Writing and Listening practice tests in the IELTS format, plus Speaking samples. Start here.
How to get the most from free IELTS practice tests
- Start with an official test: do the official familiarisation test or sample tests first so you know the real format and screens.
- Practise on a computer: IELTS is now taken on computer, so type your Writing and get used to reading on screen.
- Time yourself strictly: especially in Reading, where many people run out of time on the third section.
- Get feedback on Writing and Speaking: these are marked by examiners, so self-checking isn’t enough. Use Write & Improve, the free AI checks above, or ask a teacher.
- Record your Speaking: answer sample questions out loud, record yourself and listen back for fluency and pronunciation.
- Treat unofficial band scores as estimates: use them to track progress, not to predict your exact result.
Which band score do you need?
Most universities ask for an overall band between 6.0 and 7.5, often with a minimum in each skill, and visas can have their own requirements. Always check the exact requirement on your course page. Our country guides for the UK, Australia, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand explain how studying there works. For help choosing where to apply, take our free study abroad assessment. Taking another test too? See our free GMAT and ACT practice test guides.
All links and free offers were checked in October 2026. Websites change what they offer free from time to time, so check the details on each site before you sign up. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with IELTS, the British Council, IDP, Cambridge University Press & Assessment or any of the other providers listed.