IELTS · Practice tests

IELTS practice tests: the mock test format, and what you can practise free

An IELTS mock test is a timed run through all four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. This page gives you the official format and timing for Academic and General Training, a way to run your own mock, and exactly what LingoLeap can score for you, free and paid.

Straight answer first: LingoLeap does not offer a full-length IELTS mock test to new accounts yet. You can practise IELTS Speaking and Writing with AI scoring, and check a Task 2 essay free. For Listening and Reading, use the official free sample tests on ielts.org.

Practise IELTS Speaking Check a Task 2 essay free

Last updated: 28 September 2026 · By the LingoLeap team

What an IELTS mock test is

A mock test copies the real exam: the same sections, in the same order, under the same time limits, with no pauses to look anything up. Its job is to show you whether you can hold your level for the whole test, not only in one exercise.

A good mock gives you a band for each section, so you know where the next half band is most likely to come from. Listening and Reading are marked right or wrong, so you can score them yourself. Writing and Speaking need a trained examiner or an AI estimate against the official criteria.

IELTS test format and timing

Both versions of IELTS have the same four sections and the same timings. Listening and Speaking are identical; Reading and Writing differ.

IELTS Academic and General Training sections, timing and content
Section	Time	Academic	General Training
Listening	About 30 minutes	4 parts, 40 questions. Parts 1–2 are everyday situations, Parts 3–4 education and training. You hear each recording once.	The same test as Academic.
Reading	60 minutes	3 sections, 40 questions, 2,150–2,750 words in total. Texts from books, journals, magazines, newspapers and online sources.	3 sections, 40 questions, 2,150–2,375 words in total: everyday texts (notices, advertisements), work texts, then one longer text of general interest.
Writing	60 minutes	Task 1: describe a graph, table, chart or diagram in at least 150 words (about 20 minutes). Task 2: an essay of at least 250 words (about 40 minutes).	Task 1: a letter of at least 150 words (about 20 minutes). Task 2: an essay of at least 250 words (about 40 minutes).
Speaking	11–14 minutes	A face-to-face interview with an examiner, in 3 parts: an interview (4–5 minutes), a long turn on a task card (3–4 minutes) and a discussion (4–5 minutes).	The same test as Academic.

The whole test takes 2 hours and 45 minutes.
On paper, Listening has an extra 10 minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet. Reading has no extra transfer time.
Writing Task 2 counts twice as much as Task 1, so do not let Task 1 run past 20 minutes.
In Speaking Part 2 you get one minute to prepare, with pencil and paper, and then speak for up to 2 minutes.

What you can practise on LingoLeap

Section by section, with what is free and what costs credits. Scores are AI estimates against the official criteria, for practice.

Speaking: Part 1 and Parts 2–3
Available
Pick a question from the question bank (or, once signed in, enter your own), record your answer, and get an estimated band with feedback. You can browse the questions without an account.
Cost: 200 credits per scored answer. Sign-up credits cover your first scored answers.
Open IELTS Speaking practice →
Writing: Task 1 and Task 2
Available
Answer a Task 1 or Task 2 question from the question bank (or, once signed in, your own question) and get an estimated band with a score for each of the four writing criteria.
Cost: 200 credits per scored essay. Sign-up credits cover your first scored essays.
Open IELTS Writing practice →
Free Writing Task 2 checker
Free
Write a Task 2 essay to one of three published questions and get an estimated overall band, a score and explanation for each criterion, and the first suggestions.
Cost: Free: 2 checks a day, no account needed.
Check a Task 2 essay →
Listening and Reading
Not open to new accounts yet
IELTS Listening and Reading practice is not yet available to new LingoLeap accounts. The official IELTS site publishes free sample questions for both, for Academic and General Training.
Cost: The ielts.org samples are free.
Official free IELTS sample tests (ielts.org) →
Full-length IELTS mock test
Not open to new accounts yet
A timed, full-length IELTS mock is not yet available to new accounts. Until it is, the next section shows how to run one yourself with the official samples and LingoLeap's Speaking and Writing scoring.
Cost: Nothing to pay: it is not on sale.

A new account starts with 200 or 500 free credits, depending on where and how you sign up; they expire after 90 days. Paid plans add more. See IELTS plans

How to run your own IELTS mock test

You can put a realistic mock together today. Do it in one sitting, in the real order, with a timer.

Listening (about 30 minutes): use an official ielts.org sample. Play each recording once only, then mark your answers.
Reading (60 minutes): use the official sample for your version, Academic or General Training. Stop at 60 minutes, even if you have not finished.
Writing (60 minutes): Task 1 in about 20 minutes, then Task 2 in about 40. Score Task 2 in the free checker, or both tasks in LingoLeap Writing practice.
Speaking (11–14 minutes): record a Part 1 answer, then a Part 2 talk after one minute of preparation, then Part 3, in LingoLeap Speaking practice.
Work out your overall band: add the four section bands, divide by four, and round as IELTS does (below).

How IELTS scoring works

Each section gets a band from 0 to 9, in whole or half bands, and the four make an overall band.

Listening and Reading: 40 questions each, one mark per correct answer. The number of correct answers is converted to a band.
Writing: Four equally weighted criteria: Task Achievement (Task 1) or Task Response (Task 2), Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Task 2 carries more weight than Task 1.
Speaking: Four equally weighted criteria: Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation.
Overall band: The average of the four section bands, rounded to the nearest half 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.

LingoLeap's Speaking and Writing bands are AI estimates to practise with. Only an IELTS test gives an official band score.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free IELTS mock test?

The official IELTS site publishes free sample questions for every section, for Academic and General Training. On LingoLeap, the Writing Task 2 checker is free (2 checks a day, no account), and your sign-up credits cover your first scored Speaking or Writing answers. LingoLeap does not offer a full-length IELTS mock to new accounts yet.

Can I take an IELTS practice test online?

Yes, in parts. LingoLeap scores IELTS Speaking and Writing online, and the ielts.org Listening and Reading samples can be done on any computer. Put them together with a timer and you have a full mock, as described above.

What is computer-delivered IELTS?

It is IELTS taken on a computer at a test centre. The sections and timings are the same as on paper. According to IELTS, results on computer usually arrive within 1–2 days, against 13 days for IELTS on paper (7 days in India).

How long is the IELTS test?

2 hours and 45 minutes: Listening about 30 minutes, Reading 60 minutes, Writing 60 minutes and Speaking 11–14 minutes. On paper, Listening adds 10 minutes to transfer your answers.

Should I practise Academic or General Training?

Practise the version you will take. Listening and Speaking are the same in both, so that practice counts either way. Reading and Writing Task 1 differ: Academic Task 1 is a graph, table, chart or diagram, and General Training Task 1 is a letter. IELTS describes General Training as the test for migrating to an English-speaking country or for training or study below degree level.

Is a LingoLeap band score an official IELTS score?

No. It is an AI estimate against the official criteria, to practise with. Only an IELTS test gives an official band.

Sources

The format, timing and scoring on this page come from the official IELTS website, read on 28 September 2026.