Practice for
IELTS Academic
For university study (undergraduate or postgraduate) and professional registration, such as doctors and nurses.
Taking General Training instead? Go to IELTS General Training →
The real test has four parts in this order. Listening and Speaking are the same for Academic and General Training; Reading and Writing below are the Academic versions.
Listening · Free
Listening Practice Test 1
40 minutes · 40 questions · 4 parts
Four recordings with different speakers and accents. Each part plays once, like the real test.
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Listening Practice Test 2
40 minutes · 40 questions · 4 parts
Four recordings with different speakers and accents. Each part plays once, like the real test.
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Listening Practice Test 3
40 minutes · 40 questions · 4 parts
Four recordings with different speakers and accents. Each part plays once, like the real test.
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Three long texts from books, journals and magazines, similar to what you read at university.
Academic Reading · Free
Academic Reading Practice Test 1
60 minutes · 40 questions · 3 parts
Passages: Bees on the Rooftops, The White Gold of the Ancient World, Why We Forget — and Why It Might Be Useful
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Academic Reading Practice Test 2
60 minutes · 40 questions · 3 parts
Passages: The Humble Pencil, Farming Upwards, Why Boredom Matters
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60 minutes · 2 tasks · AI-marked
- Task 1: Describe a chart, graph, table, map or process diagram in at least 150 words.
- Task 2: an essay of at least 250 words, worth twice as much as Task 1.
11–14 minutes · 3 parts · AI examiner
Speak out loud to an examiner who asks Part 1 questions, gives you a cue card, and follows up on your ideas in Part 3. Then get an estimated band with corrections.
Academic or General Training: what's different?
Listening and Speaking are the same for everyone. Only Reading and Writing change.
| Skill | Academic | General Training |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | Same for both4 recordings, 40 questions, about 30 minutes | |
| Reading | Three long texts from books, journals and magazines, similar to what you read at university. | Everyday texts such as notices, adverts and workplace guides, then one longer general-interest article. |
| Writing Task 1 | Describe a chart, graph, table, map or process diagram in at least 150 words. | Write a letter (formal, semi-formal or informal) about an everyday situation in at least 150 words. |
| Writing Task 2 | An essay of 250+ words on an academic topic | An essay of 250+ words, often on more everyday topics |
| Speaking | Same for bothAn 11–14 minute interview in 3 parts | |
| Who takes it | For university study (undergraduate or postgraduate) and professional registration, such as doctors and nurses. | For work, migration (for example to Canada, Australia, New Zealand or the UK) and secondary school or training courses. |
Not sure which you need? Check the requirements of the university, employer or immigration programme you are applying to.