IELTS Academic Practice

The IELTS Academic test is the world's most widely recognised English proficiency qualification for higher education and professional registration. More than 11,000 organisations in over 140 countries — including universities in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States — accept IELTS Academic scores as proof of English language ability.

The test covers all four language skills. Listening (40 questions, approximately 30 minutes) tests your ability to follow conversations, monologues, and academic lectures. Reading (40 questions, 60 minutes) uses three long academic passages sourced from books, journals, and magazines; question types include True/False/Not Given, matching headings, sentence completion, and multiple choice. Writing (60 minutes) requires you to describe a graph, chart, table, or diagram in Task 1 (at least 150 words) and argue or discuss a position in Task 2 (at least 250 words). Speaking (11–14 minutes) is conducted face-to-face with a trained examiner across three structured parts.

Band scores range from 1 (non-user) to 9 (expert). Most undergraduate programmes require an overall band of 6.0–6.5, while competitive postgraduate programmes and medical or legal registration bodies typically require 7.0–7.5. Every half-band improvement matters, which is why consistent timed practice — with accurate feedback on grammar, vocabulary, and task achievement — is the most effective way to raise your score.

Bandleep gives you free, unlimited practice for all four IELTS Academic modules. Each Writing submission is analysed against the official band descriptors and returned with highlighted corrections, vocabulary suggestions, and an estimated band score in seconds. Reading and Listening tests include full answer explanations, and Speaking recordings receive AI feedback on all four scoring criteria. No account is required to get started.