Free IELTS preparation
Strategy lessons, original practice for every section, full practice tests — free, no sign-up.
KitWren is independent. This is original practice material written by KitWren; it is not official IELTS material and is not produced, approved or endorsed by the IELTS partners. Any band shown is an educational estimate — not an official IELTS score.
Practise by section
- IELTS AcademicPractice for the Academic module: academic reading passages and data-description writing.23 practice sets
- IELTS General TrainingPractice for the General Training module: everyday reading and letter writing.14 practice sets
- IELTS ListeningOriginal Part 1–4 listening practice with transcripts, explanations and a score estimate.16 practice sets
- IELTS ReadingOriginal reading passages with every question type, answer locations and explanations.14 practice sets
- IELTS Writing Task 1Charts, graphs, tables, processes, maps and letters, with model answers.14 practice sets
- IELTS Writing Task 2Opinion, discussion, advantage/disadvantage, problem/solution and two-part essays.9 practice sets
- IELTS SpeakingPart 1, Part 2 cue cards and Part 3 discussions with recording, transcripts and feedback.22 practice sets
- IELTS vocabularyTopic words with examples, flashcards and spaced repetition.
Full practice tests
- IELTS Academic practice test 1A full-length practice test: listening, reading, writing and speaking.About 164 minutes
- IELTS Academic practice test 2A full-length practice test: listening, reading, writing and speaking.About 164 minutes
- IELTS Academic practice test 3A full-length practice test: listening, reading, writing and speaking.About 164 minutes
- IELTS General Training practice test 1A full-length General Training practice test with a letter-writing task.About 164 minutes
- IELTS General Training practice test 2A full-length General Training practice test with a letter-writing task.About 164 minutes
Strategy lessons
38 lessons planned across 7 modules · 38 available now. See the full course
About the IELTS test
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) tests listening, reading, writing and speaking. There are two versions. IELTS Academic is for university study and some professional registration. IELTS General Training is for work, training and migration. Listening and Speaking are the same in both. Reading and Writing Task 1 differ.
This page is a free study plan built around original practice: strategy lessons, practice sets for every section with explanations, and full practice tests you can take under time. Start with the format and scoring below, then follow the plan.
IELTS format
| Section | Time | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | About 30 minutes | 4 parts, 40 questions. Each recording is heard once. Parts 1–2 are everyday situations; Parts 3–4 are academic. |
| Reading | 60 minutes | 3 sections, 40 questions. Academic uses long academic passages; General Training uses notices, workplace texts and one longer text. |
| Writing | 60 minutes | Task 1 (at least 150 words): describe a chart, table, process or map (Academic) or write a letter (General Training). Task 2 (at least 250 words): an essay, worth twice as much as Task 1. |
| Speaking | 11–14 minutes | A conversation with an examiner in 3 parts: questions about yourself, a 1–2 minute talk on a cue card, then a discussion. |
Listening, Reading and Writing are taken in one sitting; Speaking may be on the same day or within about a week. Check your booking for exact arrangements.
How IELTS scoring works
Each section gets a band from 0 to 9, in half bands. In Listening and Reading each correct answer is one mark out of 40, and the raw mark is converted to a band. Writing and Speaking are marked against public criteria: task response or achievement, coherence and cohesion, vocabulary, and grammar (plus pronunciation and fluency in Speaking).
The overall band is the average of the four, rounded to the nearest half band: an average ending in .25 rounds up to .5, and one ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band. For example, 6.5 + 6.5 + 5 + 7 = 25, and 25 ÷ 4 = 6.25, so the overall band is 6.5.
Universities and visa authorities usually ask for an overall band and a minimum in each section — check the exact requirement with the organisation you're applying to.
A 6-week IELTS study plan
About an hour a day. Adjust the pace to your test date; the order matters more than the speed.
Week 1 — find your level
Take the English level test, then one full practice test under time to see which section is weakest. English level test
Week 2 — Listening
Do Part 1–4 practice sets. After each, read the transcript and note why you missed answers (spelling, plurals, distractors). IELTS Listening practice
Week 3 — Reading
Practise one question type at a time, then whole passages in 20 minutes each. Check where every answer is in the text. IELTS Reading practice
Week 4 — Writing
Write one Task 1 and one Task 2 every other day. Compare with the model answers and count your words. IELTS Writing Task 2
Week 5 — Speaking
Answer Part 1 questions daily, record a 2-minute Part 2 talk, and listen back for fillers and pauses. IELTS Speaking practice
Week 6 — full tests
Take two full practice tests under exam timing, review every mistake, and work out your estimated overall band. IELTS band score calculator
Common IELTS mistakes
- Writing fewer than 150 or 250 words — short answers lose marks for task achievement.
- Spending too long on Task 1 and rushing Task 2, which is worth twice as much.
- Losing Listening marks to spelling and singular/plural errors.
- Memorised Speaking answers — examiners notice and it lowers the score for fluency.
- Never practising under time, so Reading runs out before the third passage.
IELTS questions
What is the difference between IELTS Academic and General Training?
Listening and Speaking are the same. Academic Reading uses longer academic texts and Academic Writing Task 1 asks you to describe a chart, table, process or map. General Training Reading uses everyday and workplace texts and Writing Task 1 is a letter. Take the version the university, employer or visa authority asks for.
How is the IELTS overall band calculated?
It's the average of your four section bands, rounded to the nearest half band. An average ending in .25 rounds up to .5, and one ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band.
How long should I prepare for IELTS?
It depends on the gap between your current level and the band you need. Many learners plan 4–8 weeks of regular practice to get used to the format; raising your English level by a whole band usually takes much longer. Start with a practice test to see where you are.
Is this practice official IELTS material?
No. KitWren writes original practice in the IELTS style. It isn't produced or endorsed by the IELTS partners, and any band shown is an estimate, not an official score.
Is it really free?
Yes. Lessons, practice sets and full practice tests are free, with no sign-up. Your progress is saved in your browser.