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IELTS Sample Paper with Answers

An IELTS paper has four parts: Listening (about 30 minutes, 40 questions), Reading (60 minutes, 40 questions), Writing (60 minutes, 2 tasks) and Speaking (11–14 minutes, 3 parts). Below is an original PrepEve practice set in the same format, with answers, so you can see each question type before you sit a full official practice test.

Last updated: 3 October 2026 · Written by the PrepEve team

Total time

About 2 hours 45 minutes

Listening

4 parts, 40 questions, about 30 minutes

Reading

3 passages, 40 questions, 60 minutes

Writing

Task 1 (150+ words) and Task 2 (250+ words), 60 minutes

Speaking

3 parts, 11–14 minutes, face to face

What does an IELTS sample paper look like?

Academic and General Training use the same Listening and Speaking tests. Reading and Writing Task 1 are different. This practice set is original material written by PrepEve trainers in the real format. It is not an official IELTS paper.

Sample Listening questions (Part 1 style)

Part 1 is an everyday conversation. Read this short transcript as if you heard it once, then answer. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.

Receptionist: City Sports Centre, how can I help?
Caller: Hi, I'd like to join the evening swimming class. My name is Ravi Menon, that's M-E-N-O-N.
Receptionist: Thanks. The evening class is on Tuesdays… sorry, it moved to Thursdays last month. It starts at 7:30.
Caller: And the fee?
Receptionist: It's 45 dollars a month, or 120 for three months.
Caller: I'll take three months. Do I need anything?
Receptionist: Just bring a swimming cap and your membership card.

1. Surname: ______
2. Day of class: ______
3. Start time: ______
4. Fee for three months: $______
5. Bring a swimming cap and a ______

Sample Reading passage and questions

Read the passage, then decide whether each statement is TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN.

Urban rooftop gardens have spread quickly in many large cities over the past decade. Supporters say they lower building temperatures in summer and give residents fresh vegetables close to home. A study of 40 buildings in one city found that rooftops with plants were, on average, several degrees cooler than bare rooftops on hot afternoons. However, gardens add weight, so older buildings often need structural checks before a garden can be installed. Some city councils now offer grants to cover part of this cost, although the amounts vary widely.

6. Rooftop gardens have become more common in recent years.
7. The study looked at buildings in several different cities.
8. Older buildings may need to be checked before a garden is added.
9. Every city council offers the same grant amount.
10. Rooftop gardens reduce residents' electricity bills by half.

Tip: "FALSE" means the passage says the opposite. "NOT GIVEN" means it does not say. See the IELTS Reading guide.

Sample Writing tasks

Academic Task 1 (20 minutes, 150+ words)

The table shows the percentage of households in a city that recycled paper, plastic and glass in 2010 and 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

General Training Task 1 (20 minutes, 150+ words)

You recently bought a laptop online, but it arrived damaged. Write a letter to the company. In your letter: describe the problem, explain how it affected you, and say what you want the company to do.

Task 2, Academic and General (40 minutes, 250+ words)

Some people believe that students should study only subjects that are useful for their future jobs. Others think a broad education is more valuable. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

For how these are marked, read how to score 7 in IELTS Writing.

Sample Speaking questions

Part 1: Introduction (4–5 minutes)

• Do you work or are you a student?
• What do you usually do at weekends?
• Do you prefer cooking at home or eating out? Why?

Part 2: Cue card (1 minute to prepare, up to 2 minutes to speak)

Describe a skill you learned that took a long time to master. You should say: what the skill is, when and how you learned it, why it took a long time, and explain how you feel about it now.

Part 3: Discussion (4–5 minutes)

• Why do some people give up learning new skills?
• Is it better to learn a skill from a teacher or online? Why?
• How might the skills people need change in the next 20 years?

Read how to score 8 in IELTS Speaking for how examiners mark these.

Answer key

Where can I find full official IELTS practice tests?

Use official material for full timed practice, because it matches the real difficulty exactly. The test owners publish free sample tests and paid practice books.

• ielts.org — free sample questions for every section
• IDP and British Council IELTS websites — free practice tests and preparation materials
• Cambridge IELTS practice books (paid) — full past-style papers with answers

Last reviewed: 3 October 2026.

How should you use an IELTS sample paper?

1. Time it. Practise each section under the real time limit.
2. Mark it honestly. Check spelling and word limits in Listening and Reading; one wrong letter costs the mark.
3. Find the pattern. Write down why each answer was wrong.
4. Get Writing and Speaking marked. You cannot reliably mark your own essay or speaking; a trainer can.

Estimate your overall score with the IELTS band calculator.

Ready for a full practice run? Read how to take an IELTS mock test and use the results.

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