Practice for
IELTS General Training
For work, migration (for example to Canada, Australia, New Zealand or the UK) and secondary school or training courses.
Taking Academic instead? Go to IELTS Academic →
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 General Training 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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Everyday texts such as notices, adverts and workplace guides, then one longer general-interest article.
General Training Reading · Free
General Training Reading Practice Test 1
60 minutes · 40 questions · 3 parts
Passages: Northfield Community Notices, Harbourside Hotel: Information for New Staff, The Return of the Night Train
Start free testGeneral Training Reading · Free
General Training Reading Practice Test 2
60 minutes · 40 questions · 3 parts
Passages: Holiday Lets and Travel Information, Westbrook Logistics: Your Probation Period, Science by the People
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60 minutes · 2 tasks · AI-marked
- Task 1: Write a letter (formal, semi-formal or informal) about an everyday situation 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.