Free IELTS Practice Tests, Lessons and Preparation
Enter your current scores — we'll tell you your overall band and what to work on next
IELTS Hero gives you comprehensive, open-access preparation for every part of the exam — no forced sign-ups or hidden paywalls.
IELTS Hero was created by James Foley, an IELTS and TEFL-certified English teacher with 12 years of teaching experience. Get practical strategies, realistic practice, and expert guidance to help you prepare for test day.
Usually taken for undergraduate or postgraduate study, or for registration with a professional body such as nursing, medicine or engineering. Always check the requirements of your chosen institution or professional body.
Explore Academic Writing →Commonly used for migration, work experience, training and study below degree level. Requirements vary, so always check which IELTS test is accepted by your chosen visa authority, institution or organisation.
Explore General Training Writing →
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Avoid relying on one-word answers. Extend your response naturally with a reason, detail or example. This gives the examiner more language to assess and helps you demonstrate fluency and coherence.
Your introduction should make your position and the direction of your essay clear. Do not simply paraphrase the question—develop and support your position consistently throughout the response.
For many question types, reading the questions first helps you identify what information to look for. Practise different approaches to find the method that works best for you.
A missing or unclear overview can seriously limit your Task Achievement score. Summarise the principal trends, stages or differences clearly, while also selecting and supporting the most important details.
IELTS does not penalise wrong answers. In Reading and Listening, a guess costs you nothing but a blank guarantees a lost mark. If time is running out, make your best informed guess and ensure that it follows the question’s word-limit instructions.
Don’t write full sentences—jot down three or four quick bullet points covering the cue-card prompts. These provide a useful roadmap, reduce the risk of running out of ideas and help you continue speaking for up to two minutes.
Score your essay across the four IELTS criteria
How does IELTS calculate your overall band? What's the difference between Academic and General Training reading scores? Learn how Speaking and Writing criteria are weighted and how rounding works across all four modules.
Read the Scoring Guide →What does a Band 6.5 speaker actually sound like compared to a Band 7? Explore the official Speaking band descriptors alongside practical guidance for understanding performance from Band 5.5 to Band 9 — and use our self-assessment checklist to estimate your current level.
View Band Descriptors →Everything on IELTS Hero is completely free and open-access, with no registration required. Pick a module and begin right now.