IELTS Academic mock test
A mock test is a full practice exam taken under real timing. It shows where you stand across all four skills and which skill to work on next. This page explains how an IELTS Academic mock is built, how ours is marked, and how to get the most from one.
What a full IELTS Academic mock includes
Listening: four parts with ten questions each, about 30 minutes. As in the real test, you hear each recording once only.
Academic Reading: three long passages and 40 questions in 60 minutes. Question types include matching headings, matching information, True / False / Not Given, completion tasks and "Choose TWO letters" questions.
Writing: Task 1 asks you to describe a chart, table, map or process in at least 150 words; Task 2 is an essay of at least 250 words. You have 60 minutes for both, and Task 2 counts for more.
Speaking: a short interview on familiar topics, a two-minute talk from a task card after one minute of preparation, and a discussion linked to that talk.
How our mock is marked
Listening and Reading are marked automatically on our server, so the answer key never reaches your browser. Answers follow the published word limits, and British and American spellings are both accepted.
Your number of correct answers is converted to a band with the tables on our band score pages. Only some rows of those tables are official, so every band we show is labelled as an estimate.
Writing is scored by an AI marker that we check against examiner-marked answers. We show its result as a half-band range (for example 6.0–6.5), not a single number.
Speaking gets feedback on the four marking criteria. We do not show a Speaking band until our marker meets its accuracy target, and we never build an overall band on a part that is not calibrated.
How to use a mock test well
Take the first mock early, before you study, so you have a starting point. Sit it in one go with the timer running and no pauses during Listening.
Afterwards, look at the question types you missed rather than the total. A low Reading score is often one or two question types, not the whole section.
Practise those question types, then take the next mock. Three or four mocks spread over your preparation show real progress better than many in one week.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an IELTS Academic mock test take?
About 2 hours 45 minutes in total: Listening about 30 minutes, Reading 60 minutes, Writing 60 minutes and Speaking 11–14 minutes.
Is the Listening recording played twice in the mock?
No. In the real IELTS test you hear each recording once, so our mock plays it once too.
Are the band scores from a mock test official?
No. Only IELTS can give an official result. A mock gives an estimate; ours labels every band as estimated and explains which table rows come from official sources.
How is the overall band worked out?
It is the average of the four skill bands, rounded to the nearest half band (.25 rounds up to the next half, .75 up to the next whole band). Our calculator shows the rule step by step.
Is this mock for Academic or General Training?
Academic. Listening and Speaking are the same in both versions; Reading and Writing differ.
How many mock tests should I take?
Most learners benefit from three or four, spread across their preparation, with targeted practice between them.
Related pages
Sources
- IELTS Academic format: Listening (IELTS official site) — checked 2026-10-11
- IELTS scoring in detail (IELTS official site) — checked 2026-10-11
English Test Practice is an independent practice site and is not affiliated with IELTS, the British Council, IDP or Cambridge. Results from our tools are estimates, not official scores.