Free IELTS practice
Original sample questions with answer keys for all four skills, plus expert videos. Try each set first, then check your answers.
Watch: official IELTS prep videos
Expert guidance from IDP IELTS on the test and each skill.
Reading practice
Read the passage, answer the questions, then check the answer key below it. Allow yourself about seven minutes.
Passage — Coworking spaces: Twenty years ago, most people worked either at home or in a single company office. The coworking space changed that. The first widely recognised coworking space opened in San Francisco in 2005, offering freelancers a shared desk, fast internet and the company of others. The idea spread quickly: by 2019 there were thousands of such spaces worldwide. Their appeal is partly practical — members pay only for the time they use, and avoid the cost of a private office — but research suggests the bigger draw is social. People who work alone often report feeling isolated, and a shared space offers informal contact and a sense of routine. Critics note that the spaces can be noisy and that long-term costs may exceed a traditional lease, yet demand has continued to rise, especially among small startups and remote employees of large firms.
Questions 1–5 (True / False / Not Given)
Does the passage confirm (True), contradict (False), or not say (Not Given)?
- 1. The first recognised coworking space opened in San Francisco.
- 2. Coworking members always pay less than they would for a private office.
- 3. According to research, the main appeal of coworking is social rather than practical.
- 4. Coworking spaces are most popular with large established companies.
- 5. Some critics say coworking spaces can be noisy.
Reading answers: 1 True; 2 False (the passage says long-term costs may exceed a traditional lease); 3 True; 4 Not Given (it mentions small startups and remote employees, not which is most popular); 5 True.
Listening practice
In the real test you hear each recording once. Here is a short transcript of a Part 1 style conversation — read it, then answer as if you had heard it.
Transcript: "Good morning, City Tours. — Hi, I’d like to book the harbour tour for Saturday. — Of course. Can I take your name? — Yes, it’s Helen Porter, P-O-R-T-E-R. — And how many tickets? — Four adults, please. — The Saturday tour leaves at 9:30 from Pier 2, and the cost is 18 dinars each."
Questions 6–8 (complete the notes, one or a number)
- 6. Customer surname: ____
- 7. Number of adult tickets: ____
- 8. Departure point: ____
Listening answers: 6 Porter (listen for the spelled-out letters); 7 Four (or 4); 8 Pier 2. Spelling and number formats are marked, so write exactly what you hear.
Writing practice
Task 1 (Academic, ~20 minutes, at least 150 words): The chart below shows the percentage of households in Kuwait using the internet for shopping in 2010, 2015 and 2020 (15%, 38% and 62%). Summarise the information, describing the main trend and any notable change.
Task 2 (~40 minutes, at least 250 words): Some people believe that working from home benefits both employees and employers, while others think it harms teamwork and productivity. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
What a band 7+ answer does
- Task 1: states the overall trend first (a steady rise), then supports it with the figures, without listing every number mechanically.
- Task 2: answers every part — both views and your opinion — with a clear position held throughout.
- Organises ideas into paragraphs, each with one clear point linked to the next.
- Uses a range of accurate structures and topic vocabulary, and stays within the time and word count.
Speaking practice
Practise out loud, ideally recorded. The Speaking test is a face-to-face conversation in three parts.
Part 1 — familiar questions (answer in 2–3 sentences each)
- Do you work or are you a student?
- What do you enjoy most about your work or studies?
- How do you usually spend your weekends?
- Do you prefer reading books or watching films? Why?
Part 2 — cue card (1 minute to prepare, speak for 1–2 minutes)
- Describe a skill you would like to learn. You should say: what the skill is; why you want to learn it; how you would learn it; and how it would help you.
Part 3 — discussion
- Why do you think some skills are harder to learn as an adult?
- Should schools focus more on practical skills or academic knowledge?
- How has technology changed the way people learn new skills?
Model approach: extend every answer with a reason and an example, use the Part 2 minute to jot keywords (not full sentences), and in Part 3 give balanced, developed opinions. You are assessed on how well you communicate, not on having the "right" view.
Go deeper by skill
Ready for the real thing?
Try the timed IELTS Mock Test, then book computer-delivered IELTS in Kuwait.