Key takeaways
- Run a mock in one sitting, in the real order and with the real timings, or the score will flatter you.
- The whole exam takes about 2 hours 45 minutes: Listening 30 minutes, Reading 60, Writing 60, Speaking 11 to 14.
- Convert Listening and Reading raw scores to approximate bands, and mark Writing and Speaking against the four criteria.
- Spend as long reviewing a mock as taking it. The review is where the band score moves.
An IELTS mock test is a full practice run of the exam under real conditions. People search for it as a mock test, a dummy test, a trial test or a practice exam, but the idea is the same: find out where you stand before test day. A mock only tells you something useful if you treat it like the real thing, so the setup matters more than the paper you use.
What a full IELTS mock looks like
- Listening: 30 minutes, 40 questions, plus 10 minutes to transfer answers on the paper test (2 minutes on the computer test).
- Reading: 60 minutes, 40 questions, with no extra transfer time.
- Writing: 60 minutes, Task 1 (at least 150 words) and Task 2 (at least 250 words).
- Speaking: 11 to 14 minutes, three parts, recorded.
The first three sections run back to back with no break, so a real mock takes about two and a half hours before Speaking. If you only ever practise one module at a time, you will not know how your concentration holds up in the last hour, and that is where many candidates lose Writing marks.
How to set up a mock test
- Choose a quiet slot and put your phone out of reach. Use one sitting, not two evenings.
- Take the sections in the real order: Listening, Reading, Writing. Speaking can be recorded the same day or the next.
- Use a visible timer and stop when it ends. Do not finish a passage because you are nearly done.
- Write the essays by hand if you will take the paper test, or type them if you will take the computer test. Practise the format you will sit.
You can build a mock from the free tests on this site. Take a Listening test, then a Reading test, then a Writing test, and record yourself on a Speaking test. Our Reading tests are shorter than the 60-minute exam, so pair two of them, or add an official full paper, when you want to test your stamina.
How to score your mock
Listening and Reading are marked by counting correct answers out of 40. The conversion to a band varies slightly between test versions, but these figures are a reasonable guide for Academic papers:
- About 23 correct answers is roughly band 6.
- About 30 correct answers is roughly band 7.
- About 35 correct answers is roughly band 8.
General Training Reading is marked more strictly, so you need a few more correct answers for the same band. Treat any conversion as an estimate, not a promise.
Writing and Speaking cannot be scored by counting. Mark each against the four criteria: task response or achievement, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy (plus fluency and pronunciation for Speaking). Be honest and score yourself half a band lower if you are unsure, then ask a teacher or an experienced friend to check one essay. Our guides to IELTS band scores explain what each band looks like.
Turn the result into a plan
- List every wrong answer and label the question type and the reason: ran out of time, misread the question, did not know the word, or guessed.
- Count the labels. If most mistakes are timing, work on pace. If they are one question type, drill that type. Our guide to reviewing Listening mistakes shows the method.
- Pick the weakest module and give it most of next week's study time.
- Retake a different mock in two weeks, not the same one, so you are measuring skill and not memory.
How many mocks should you take?
Most candidates need one full mock at the start to find their level, then one every two weeks in the last two months. More than that, with no review in between, only makes you familiar with the questions. A single well reviewed mock teaches more than three rushed ones.
Frequently asked questions
Are free IELTS mock tests accurate? They are good for practising question types and timing. For an accurate band estimate, use at least one official or officially styled full paper, because difficulty varies between providers.
Can I do a mock test one section at a time? Yes, for early practice. Before the exam, do at least one full run in one sitting.
When should I take my first mock? After you have learned the question types, usually two to three weeks into your preparation. Use it to find weak spots, not to measure progress too early.