Free IELTS Practice Tests with Instant Scoring
Practice all four IELTS skills — reading, listening, writing, and speaking — as many times as you need. Syllabus scores every response so you always know where you stand.
Start Practicing FreeWhat is the IELTS?
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the world's most widely accepted English-language proficiency test, recognised by over 12,000 organisations in more than 140 countries. It is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge University Press & Assessment.
IELTS is available in two versions: Academic (for university admissions and professional registration) and General Training (for immigration, work experience, and secondary education). Both versions assess four skills — Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking — and report results on a 9-band scale.
For Canadian immigration through Express Entry and other IRCC programs, the IELTS General Training test is required. Your IELTS band scores convert directly to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) levels, which determine your eligibility and Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points.
IELTS Test Format at a Glance
The test takes approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes. Listening, Reading, and Writing are completed in one sitting. Speaking may be scheduled on the same day or up to 7 days before or after.
Listening
- Sections: 4 recorded monologues & conversations
- Questions: 40
- Time: ~30 minutes + 10 min transfer time
- Question types: Multiple choice, matching, map/plan labelling, form completion, sentence completion
Reading
- Passages: 3 long texts (Academic) or multiple shorter texts (General)
- Questions: 40
- Time: 60 minutes
- Question types: True/False/Not Given, matching headings, summary completion, short answer
Writing
- Tasks: 2
- Task 1: 150+ words — describe a graph/chart (Academic) or write a letter (General)
- Task 2: 250+ words — essay on a given topic
- Time: 60 minutes total
Speaking
- Parts: 3
- Part 1: Introduction & interview (4-5 min)
- Part 2: Long turn — cue card topic (3-4 min incl. 1 min prep)
- Part 3: Two-way discussion (4-5 min)
- Time: 11-14 minutes total
How Syllabus Helps You Hit Your Target Band
Traditional practice tests give you questions. Syllabus gives you questions, scores, and a path to improvement.
Instant Scoring
Every response is evaluated against on official IELTS band descriptors. You get a predicted band score for each skill within seconds — no waiting days for results.
Detailed Feedback
Go beyond a number. Paid plans break down your Writing and Speaking by the four official criteria — Task Response, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range & Accuracy — with actionable suggestions.
Unlimited Practice
No test limits, no paywalls on practice. The free tier gives you real band scores for every attempt. Take as many full-length or section-specific tests as you need to build confidence.
IELTS — Key Facts
Fee
US$280–US$340 depending on location and test type.
Validity
Scores are valid for 2 years from the test date.
University Requirements
Most universities require 6.5+. Top schools like Harvard and Oxford look for 7.0–7.5.
Speaking Format
The speaking portion is always face-to-face with an examiner, whether you take the test online or in person.
IELTS for UKVI
If you need a UK visa for study or settlement, take IELTS for UKVI (Academic or General Training).
Preparation
The British Council offers free resources and official preparation materials to help you prepare.
IELTS Band Score Conversion Table
Use this table to understand how your IELTS band scores map to CLB levels (for Canadian immigration) and CEFR levels (the international standard).
| IELTS Band | CLB Level | CEFR Level | Proficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9.0 | 12 | C2 | Expert |
| 8.5 | 11 | C2 | Expert |
| 8.0 | 10 | C1 | Very Good |
| 7.5 | 9 | C1 | Good |
| 7.0 | 8 | C1 | Good |
| 6.5 | 7 | B2 | Competent |
| 6.0 | 7 | B2 | Competent |
| 5.5 | 6 | B2 | Modest |
| 5.0 | 5 | B1 | Modest |
| 4.5 | 4 | B1 | Limited |
| 4.0 | 4 | A2 | Limited |
| 3.5 | 3 | A2 | Extremely Limited |
CLB levels shown are approximate equivalents based on IRCC conversion charts for IELTS General Training. Actual CLB is determined per skill — your overall CLB equals your lowest individual skill CLB. CEFR mapping is based on official Cambridge Assessment research.
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