IELTS Practice Tests: Free IELTS Online Practice Tests

Worried about your IELTS exam??? Not understanding which material to refer to???? Yes, in today's article we shall check out some important IELTS practice tests along with some strategies to answer the questions, so that you are able to evaluate yourself and get started with the right ways of achieving your band scores. For any candidate aspiring for success in the IELTS examination, IELTS practice tests are mandatory. These IELTS practice tests online can be beneficial for the candidates in a lot of ways from helping them in identifying their weakness to helping them in devising their IELTS preparation strategy. There are various free IELTS practice tests of variable difficulty available online for the candidate. These IELTS mock tests are designed to benefit your preparation time and let you know and track your progress in the right way. Although, IELTS is considered to be the most effective and easy to attempt study abroad English eligibility test, if you have a weak English base or low language skills, this might sound to be a rocket science. Anyways, making it a simple task for all of you, before you book your exam, we would highly recommend that you attempt the given IELTS mock test given in the article so that you can check your current band level. Practice more for the required bands from the given IELTS practice tests and then finally take the exam.

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This Story also Contains

1. IELTS strategies and IELTS practice tests
2. Reading Module Strategies
3. Writing Module Strategies:
4. Listening Module strategies:
5. Speaking Module Strategies

IELTS strategies and IELTS practice tests

IELTS assesses the candidates in the four modules of language that is reading, writing, listening and speaking. Analyzing and following the tips and tricks given will help you practice in a dedicated manner and finally achieve the band score. You should be evaluating your band scores by attempting the given IELTS sample tests in this article.

Reading Module Strategies

1. Types of questions and the number of questions:

• The IELTS academic and general reading module has 3 sections to attempt with a total of 40 questions to attempt in 60 minutes. The only difference is that academic reading will have 3 long passages as 3 sections while the general reading test will have 2 small passages (could be advertisements, brochures) in the first 2 sections and one long passage in section 3.

  IELTS 2024 Writing Task 1 & 2 - Study Materials

  Aspirants who are appearing for IELTS exam can download this eBook which have complete study material for academic writing task 1 (Data Interpretation) and academic writing task 2 (Essays) sections.

  Download EBook

• Carefully give the first IELTS reading practice test (academic) given below so that you are able to analyze your current band level and also experience the pattern and type of questions that are asked. The link to the test is: https://studyabroad.careers360.com/articles/ielts-reading-practice-test-1

• Check your answers and match it with the band score parameter given below and see how far you are from your desired score. Also, note if you were able to manage time.

• Reading band score according to the right answers:

IELTS Reading Score Chart

• In case you were not able to complete the reading module in 60 minutes, remember that you should be able to have a reading speed of minimum 200 words in a minute.

2. Strategies to solve completion type questions:

• Quickly read the instructions and note the word limit to answers the question, read the questions and skim the entire summary along with the blanks that are mentioned.

• Then go back to the passage and start reading.

• While you read, start annotating the passage by marking a square bracket to all nouns, circle all numbers or quantitative terms and underline the description of the nouns and key facts mentioned.

• You will soon be able to find your answer.

• After you finish reading a paragraph, write the central idea of the paragraph in the question paper so that you do not have to repeat the reading part.

• Reading completion type questions will be in sequence 99% of the time so you will easily be able to get your answers.

3. Strategies to solve TRUE/ False/ Not given or Yes/ No/ Not given type questions:

• The most important part is carefully reading the instructions, check what it exactly asks to write Ture/False/ Not given or Yes/No/Not given.

• Remember that you will be marked wrong if you write False instead of No or vice-versa.

• Read the question statement and break the sentence into chunks so that the sentence becomes easy to understand.

• After reading and understanding the question statement, go back to the passage and start the annotation as mentioned above.

• Now, if the information in the passage exactly matches with the question statement, the answer will be True/Yes

• If it totally contradicts, the answer will be False/ No as per the instructions.

• If the information is totally missing or there is a disconnect, the answer is not given.

• The tip over here is to match the synonyms that are used in the question statements and the passage to reach the accurate answer.

4. Strategies to solve Matching type of questions.

There are 3 types of matching questions in the IELTS reading module, each section would have a different type of matching question or any 2 types of matching question. However, there is no definite pattern of the number of question types in any reading test.

To attempt any matching question, you should be reading the passage carefully and annotating it as mentioned above along with writing down the gist of each paragraph in the question paper.

The 3-matching type of questions are:

• Matching heading

The best tip to get your answers here is:

• First start reading the passage.

• Annotate the paragraph

• Analyze the central idea of the paragraph

• Match it with the list of headings using the elimination method. Using the elimination method means that you should be reading the list of headings and eliminating all the headings that do not match with the central idea of the paragraph.

• Matching information

• Follow the same instructions as given for the matching heading, the only difference between both of them is that in the former you give a heading to each paragraph and in the latter, you match the central idea.

• Matching sentence endings

• In this type of question, you will first have to read the matching question statement and then go back to the passage.

• Start annotating and reach the relevant information asked.

• Start using the elimination method to match the exact ending as given in the options.

We highly recommend that you do not follow the skim and scan method of solving the reading module as the strategies mentioned above will surely raise your band level to plus 2 bands in comparison to skim and scan method. To follow the same, we request you to attempt the below given tests so that you can be confident in the IELTS reading module.

IELTS Practice reading tests:

Writing Module Strategies:

1. Types of questions in both general and academic type of IELTS exam

• The IELTS writing test has 2 tasks to attempt. While the second task is the same for both academic and general attempts, task 1 is different. Academic task 1 is report writing and the general task 1 is letter writing.

• The IELTS writing section will assess your writing in 4 band parameters of

• Task response/achievement

• Coherence and cohesion

• Lexical resources

• Grammatical range and accuracy

2. Strategies to approach Task 1 – Report writing

• Analyze the question properly and plan your response for about 8 minutes

• While you plan, pen down the paraphrasing words that can be used to write in the introduction paragraph

• Notice the trends that are changing

• Make a note of all major trends with full attention to detail

• Sequence the trends and plan the adjectives and adverbs that suit the trend.

• Remember that Task 1 carries 1/3rd weightage of your total writing bands

• After you finish the plan, it will be easy for you to write it finally in the next 8 minutes.

• You will still have 4 minutes to re-check and revise it.

• Do not forget to check that you have not written question words, apostrophe words or any short forms, if yes, change all of them as you are writing should be in an academic context.

3. Strategies to approach Task -1 – Letter writing

• Recognize the type of letter- Formal/Semi-formal/Informal

• Plan the letter according to the bullet points given in the question.

• Remember the difference in language that should be kept in mind while writing formal as well as informal letters.

• Follow the 8-8 rule, 8 minutes to plan and 8 minutes to write the final letter and then 4 minutes to check.

4. Strategies to approach Task 2- Essay writing

• The IELTS writing task 2 carries 2/3rd of total writing bands and so it is more important.

• As you have 40 minutes time to attempt the essay, plan the essay effectively in 20 minutes and then start writing the final essay in the last 20 minutes.

• Keep to the topic and do not write about unrelated subjects

• Keep a strict check on spelling, punctuation and organization of the essay plot.

• Follow the strategy of PEE which means point, explanation and example. So, your body paragraph should have only one main point, then its explanation and then example as proof of your explanation.

• At the time of planning, sequence your ideas using connective words and remember to not overuse them.

• Do not cram model answers

• Learn to write in the appropriate word limit of 250 -280 words.

We highly recommend that the below given IELTS writing practice test should be practiced by you to be well prepared.

IELTS Writing practice tests:

Listening Module strategies:

1. Types of questions

The listening module also has different types of questions which assess your listening and understanding ability of the language. Basically, you are expected to analyze the synonyms used in the audio in relation to the text in the question paper. Some basic type of questions is:

• Completion type of questions

• Choose the correct answer

2. Difference in each section

• The test is divided in 4 sections

• The first section is a basic conversation, second a monologue, third a conversation between 3-4 people with different accents and the fourth is a lecture on some academic context

• Before each section you get 30 seconds to read the questions and this time should be used in a logical manner.

• Read the instructions and questions properly and try to guess the answer as it could either be a noun, number or a description of the same.

• Remember that the audio will be played only once so staying focused is the only mantra that you have.

3. Best listening practices

• Listen to native English podcasts so that you are familiar with the pronunciation, accent and the vocabulary that is used.

• Practice listening using authenticated IELTS listening Practice tests given below.

We recommend you to practice the given IELTS listening practice test:

Tips:

1. As you hear the name spelled in the section 1 listening module, immediately note the alphabets clearly as this will not be repeated

2. Remember that IELTS listening will call zero number as alphabet ‘o’.

Speaking Module Strategies

1. Pattern of questions and the 3 different sections

• The first section will have simple 4-5 questions on personal preferences mostly

• The second section is the cue card round, you get one minute time to prepare and 2 minutes to speak on the given topic

• The third section is the discussion round – the discussion is related to the topic of your cue card.

2. Technique to apply for band 9 speaking

• Try to talk as much as you can

• Develop your answers

• Speak naturally and do not try fake accent

• Express your opinion and be clear and confident about your stance.

• You should answer all of them with a reason

• Remember that your answers should not be of 1 word