IELTS exam: pattern, types and free practice
Practise on a screen that works like the real computer-delivered test. Listening and Reading are marked the moment you finish; Writing and Speaking come back with a band and feedback. All bands are estimates, not official IELTS results.
- Sections
- 4
- Total time
- About 2 h 45 min
- Bands
- 0 to 9
- Result valid
- Usually 2 years
Choose your module
Practise one section
Full mock tests
IELTS Academic Full Mock 1
Academic · Listening, Reading and Writing back to back (about 2 h 35 min), then Speaking
IELTS Academic Full Mock 2
Academic · Listening, Reading and Writing back to back (about 2 h 35 min), then Speaking
IELTS General Training Full Mock 1
General Training · Listening, Reading and Writing back to back (about 2 h 35 min), then Speaking
IELTS General Training Full Mock 2
General Training · Listening, Reading and Writing back to back (about 2 h 35 min), then Speaking
What IELTS is
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) tests your English in four skills: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Universities, employers, professional bodies and immigration authorities use it to check that you can study, work or live in English.
IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP IELTS and Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Depending on your country, you book through the British Council, IDP or both.
Types of IELTS
| Test | Who it is for | Sections | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | University study and professional registration | Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking | Band 0 to 9 |
| IELTS General Training | Work, training and migration | Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking | Band 0 to 9 |
| IELTS for UKVI | UK visa applications. Academic and General Training versions, same content, taken only at UKVI-approved centres | Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking | Band 0 to 9 |
| IELTS Life Skills (A1, A2, B1) | Some UK visa and settlement routes | Speaking and Listening together, in one session with 2 candidates and 1 examiner | Pass or Fail |
- Life Skills lengths: A1 16 to 18 minutes, A2 up to 20 minutes, B1 22 minutes.
- Not every Life Skills level is offered in every country.
- From 8 January 2026, some UK visa routes need English at CEFR B2: IELTS for UKVI 5.5 in each of the four skills. People already on the route who are extending their stay only need B1. Life Skills has no B2 level.
Ways to take the test in 2026
Most test centres now run IELTS on computer. IELTS announced on 5 March 2026 that paper-based tests are being withdrawn from mid-2026, with dates that vary by country, and IELTS for UKVI is on computer only. Paper results already issued stay valid for the usual 2 years.
| Mode | How it works | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS on Computer | All four sections at a test centre. Listening, Reading and Writing on a computer, Speaking face to face with an examiner | Offered at test centres in most countries |
| Writing on Paper | At a test centre. Listening and Reading on a computer, Writing by hand, Speaking face to face | Offered in selected countries, for Academic and General Training only (not IELTS for UKVI). Your Test Report Form does not show which mode you used |
| IELTS Online | At home, with Speaking by video call | Academic only, in selected countries, and not accepted for immigration |
One Skill Retake: if one section pulls your overall band down, you can retake just that section once, within 60 days of your original test. The retake must be in the same mode as the original (on computer or Writing on Paper). Availability and the fee depend on your country.
IELTS exam pattern
| Section | Time | Questions | Academic vs General Training |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | About 30 minutes, plus 2 minutes to check answers on computer | 4 parts, 40 questions | Same for both |
| Reading | 60 minutes | 3 sections, 40 questions | Different texts |
| Writing | 60 minutes | 2 tasks | Task 1 is different |
| Speaking | 11 to 14 minutes | 3 parts | Same for both |
The whole test takes about 2 hours 45 minutes. Listening, Reading and Writing are taken on the same day, one after another, with no breaks. Speaking is on the same day or up to 7 days before or after.
Listening
Four recordings, heard once: two everyday situations and two educational ones. See the full IELTS Listening format and question types.
Reading
Academic has three long texts from books, journals, magazines and newspapers. General Training has everyday texts, workplace texts and one longer text. See Academic Reading and General Training Reading.
Writing
Task 1 needs at least 150 words in about 20 minutes: a graph, table, chart, diagram, process or map for Academic, a letter for General Training. Task 2 is an essay of at least 250 words in about 40 minutes and counts twice as much. See Academic Writing and General Training Writing.
Speaking
A three-part interview with an examiner: questions about you, a 2-minute talk on a cue card after 1 minute to prepare, and a discussion. See the IELTS Speaking format.
IELTS band scores
Each section gets a band from 0 to 9, in whole or half bands. Your overall band is the average of the four sections.
| Band | Level |
|---|---|
| 9 | Expert |
| 8 | Very good |
| 7 | Good |
| 6 | Competent |
| 5 | Modest |
| 4 | Limited |
| 3 | Extremely limited |
| 2 | Intermittent |
| 1 | Non-user |
| 0 | Did not attempt the test |
Rounding the overall band: an average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band, and one ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band. Anything else rounds to the nearest half band.
| Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking | Average | Overall band |
|---|---|---|
| 6.5, 6.5, 5.5, 6.5 | 6.25 | 6.5 |
| 7, 7.5, 6, 6.5 | 6.75 | 7 |
| 6.5, 6, 6, 6 | 6.125 | 6 |
Listening and Reading are marked out of 40 and the raw score is converted to a band. The detailed tables are on the Listening, Academic Reading and General Training Reading pages.
Results, validity and fees
| Mode | Results |
|---|---|
| IELTS on Computer | 1 to 5 days |
| Writing on Paper | Up to 5 days |
| Life Skills | About 7 days |
Most organisations accept a result for 2 years from the test date. Check what the university, employer or visa authority asks for.
Fees are set in local currency by the test provider in each country and change from time to time. Check the fee where you plan to sit the test before you book.
Academic or General Training: which should you take?
- Take Academic if you are applying to a university or for professional registration. See IELTS Academic.
- Take General Training if you are applying for work, training or migration. See IELTS General Training.
- Listening and Speaking are the same in both. Only Reading and Writing Task 1 differ.
- Always check which test your university, employer or visa route accepts before booking. UK visas may need IELTS for UKVI specifically.
How to prepare on Padhantu
- Learn the format of each section from the guides linked above.
- Practise one section at a time: Listening, Academic Reading, General Training Reading, Academic Writing, General Training Writing and Speaking.
- Sit a full mock test under real timing, with no breaks between Listening, Reading and Writing.
- Work on the section with the lowest band, then sit another mock.
Bands on Padhantu are estimates to guide your practice. They are not official IELTS results.
Frequently asked questions
Is IELTS computer-based now?
Yes, mostly. IELTS announced on 5 March 2026 that paper-based tests are being withdrawn from mid-2026, with dates that vary by country, so most test centres now run IELTS on computer. Some countries also offer Writing on Paper for Academic and General Training: Listening and Reading on a computer, and Writing by hand.
How much does IELTS cost?
The fee is set in local currency by the test provider in each country, so it differs from place to place. IELTS for UKVI, Life Skills and One Skill Retake each have their own fee. Check the current fee where you plan to sit the test before you book.
How is the IELTS overall band calculated?
Add your four section bands and divide by four. An average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band, one ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band, and anything else rounds to the nearest half band. For example, 6.25 becomes 6.5 and 6.75 becomes 7.
How long is an IELTS score valid?
Most organisations accept an IELTS result for 2 years from the test date. Some set their own rules, so check with the one you are applying to.
Which is easier, IELTS Academic or General Training?
Neither is an easier version of the other. They are for different purposes. Listening and Speaking are identical. Reading and Writing Task 1 use different material: academic texts and a visual to describe in Academic, everyday and workplace texts and a letter in General Training. Take the one your university, employer or visa route asks for.
Can I retake just one section of IELTS?
Yes, with One Skill Retake. You can retake one section once, within 60 days of your original test, in the same mode you took it in. It has its own fee, set in each country.
What is a good IELTS score?
It depends on where you are applying, since each university, employer and visa route sets its own minimum. As a guide, IELTS calls band 7 'Good' and band 6 'Competent'. For example, some UK visa routes now need IELTS for UKVI 5.5 in each skill.
Can I take IELTS online at home?
Only IELTS Academic, and only in selected countries. IELTS Online is not accepted for immigration. If it is not offered where you live, or you need IELTS for a visa, take IELTS on Computer at a test centre.