IELTSforFREE is a division of IELTStestONLINE Free IELTS preparation, with no signup and no payment
Want your writing and speaking assessed against the four IELTS criteria, instantly and as often as you like? See what full membership includes

Academic module

IELTS Academic reading practice test 3

Three passages, forty questions, sixty minutes. Answers, explanations and a band score, with no signup.

Get your writing marked By a former IELTS examiner and examiner trainer

This is a complete IELTS Academic reading practice test: three passages, forty questions, sixty minutes. The passages cover driverless cars, Scandinavian design and the Nobel Prize.

Academic reading is marked less strictly than General Training because the texts are harder, so you need fewer correct answers for the same band. The conversion table at the end of this page shows what each score is worth.

Timer 60:00

Passage 1

Reading Passage 1

Driverless cars

A) Could driving yourself soon be a thing of the past? Internet giant Google certainly thinks so. It started work on a driverless car back in 2010, and now the US state of Nevada has granted it a licence to trial them on public roads, bringing self-driving vehicles one step closer to reality. The car is based on a Toyota Prius, but it's fitted with a wide range of technologies that allows it to drive itself. The most notable is the large, roof-mounted LIDAR (light detection and ranging) unit, which spins around at high speed to give the computers a constant 360-degree view of the car's immediate surroundings. This combines with another radar in the grille (which detects objects in front of the car) and positioning sensors that pinpoint the Toyota's exact location, while a computer works out whether the car should brake, speed up or steer to avoid obstacles.

B) Google themselves have stated that before any route is driven using automated technology, a manned vehicle is first driven along the roads to create a detailed digital map of all of the features on the way (much the same as Google Maps street view is recorded). By mapping things like lane markers and traffic signs, the software in the car becomes familiar with the environment and characteristics in advance. When the car later tackles the route without driver assistance, all previously recorded data is used, as well as current obstacles such as where other cars are and how fast they're moving. Acceleration and deceleration are controlled accordingly and can interpret traffic lights, sign and road signs. The challenge of how to get the right information to the cars at the right time has been made possible by Google's vase network of data centres, which can process enormous amounts of info gathered by these vehicles.

C) The potential benefits of the driverless car are significant. The majority of road incidents are related to driver error – perhaps a lack of concentration or slower reflexes. In fact, driver error is responsible for over 60% of all traffic accidents. The use of computers making calculated decisions in microseconds means that reaction times are greatly reduced and collisions avoided – clearly a step in the right direction given that traffic accidents involving human error claim over one million fatalities annually. With the concept of the driver becoming the passenger, there are also personal benefits and advantages – the daily commute could be used in a much more productive manner as the people previously spending time slowly moving through morning traffic jams are now able to work as they are driven to the office. With people in larger urban areas often spending an hour or more simply in trying to get to work, this would mean a significant boost in productivity as well as reduction in stress. Road rage, where one driver becomes irritated and acts aggressively towards (or because of) the actions of another driver, would be reduced if not eliminated.

D) Driverless cars would also mean a much greater level of mobility for people who previously were unable to operate a car. Those with disabilities or issues like epilepsy, as well as the visually impaired, would be independently mobile. Children would also benefit, as they could be driven to school without a parent or guardian having to drive them. But the gains aren't purely for the person being driven – there are also environmental gains. As driverless cars are controlled by highly sensitive computers, excess fuel that a human driver often wastes with over acceleration or heavy braking will be saved. The cars would be able to maintain a constant speed, again allowing for better fuel consumption and therefore fewer emissions.

E) The idea for a vehicle that no longer needs a human driver is the brainchild of Sebastian Thrun, a professor at Stanford University who was also part of the team that developed Google Street View. In the early days of this developing technology, Thrun led a Stanford team to victory in the 2005 DARPA Challenge, a race for driverless vehicles sponsored by the US Department of Defence. He has used the knowledge gained in that event to develop the Google driverless car. During its development the self-driving Prius has clocked up more than 200,000 miles, traversed the Golden Gate Bridge and driven down San Francisco's notoriously tricky Lombard Street one of the steepest, twistiest urban roads in the world.

F) There's been one accident, but Google claims the car was being driven manually at the time. It happened just outside company HQ in California, when another driver hit the back of the Prius at traffic lights. This shows the main impetus for driverless cars: taking humans out of the equation to improve safety. Thrun is naturally a strong supporter of driverless cars, but some people go even further – Google Chairman Eric Schmidt has commented that he thinks it's amazing humans were allowed to drive cars at all, and regards the need for a driver as a bug to be fixed. Driving enthusiasts may disagree with this view (the Hot Rod Association of Alberta, a group of car enthusiasts, have actually petitioned against further testing and development of the driverless car claiming that it would make car travel less interesting), but Tim Groesner, the director of the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, doesn't. He approved a driverless car licence for Google after riding in a Prius down the Las Vegas strip and seeing how much better it was than him at spotting hazards.

G) There is still considerable work to be done, but the potential advantages make this a concept well worth pursuing, even if some of us will miss being behind the wheel!

Questions 1 to 13

Questions 1 – 5. Reading Passage 1 has seven paragraphs, A – G. For paragraphs B – F, choose the most suitable heading from the list below. Choose the correct number, I – IX.

1Paragraph B

The correct answer is V, Processing the data in a live environment. Paragraph B explains how the driverless car processes sensor data in real-time to navigate the road safely.

2Paragraph C

The correct answer is VII.

3Paragraph D

The correct answer is IX.

4Paragraph E

The correct answer is I.

5Paragraph F

The correct answer is III.

Questions 6 – 9. Do the following statements agree with the information in Reading Passage 1? Choose TRUE if the statement agrees with the information, FALSE if it contradicts the information, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.

6Before the driverless car can navigate, a human driver must first drive the route.

The answer is TRUE. The correct answer is TRUE. Paragraph B says ‘that before any route is driven using automated technology, a manned vehicle is first driven along the roads’. Note that you should always take a guess in the IELTS test even if you don't know the answer - you don't lose points for a wrong answer, and you may get lucky!

7Cars driven by people cause nearly one million deaths per year.

The answer is FALSE. The correct answer is FALSE. Paragraph C states that 'traffic accidents involving human error claim OVER one million fatalities annually'. Since 'nearly one million' implies close to but less than one million, and the passage says 'over one million', the statement contradicts the passage. Note that you should always take a guess in the IELTS test even if you don't know the answer - you don't lose points for a wrong answer, and you may get lucky!

8Driverless cars travel at a slower speed than manned cars.

The answer is NOT GIVEN. The correct answer is NOT GIVEN. The passage does not provide any information comparing the speed of driverless cars to manned cars. Note that you should always take a guess in the IELTS test even if you don't know the answer - you don't lose points for a wrong answer, and you may get lucky!

9Driverless cars are expected to become mainstream in the next ten years.

The answer is NOT GIVEN. The correct answer is NOT GIVEN. The passage does not mention any specific timeframe for when driverless cars are expected to become mainstream. Note that you should always take a guess in the IELTS test even if you don't know the answer - you don't lose points for a wrong answer, and you may get lucky!

Questions 10 – 13. Match each statement with a person or organisation from the list. Choose the correct letter, A – E.

10Supported the early development of driverless cars through a sponsored competition.

The question asks who supported early development through a sponsored competition. Paragraph E mentions the '2005 DARPA Challenge, a race for driverless vehicles sponsored by the US Department of Defence.' This competition helped advance driverless car technology in its early stages. The correct answer is US Department of Defence.

11Claimed that this would reduce the interest in driving

The correct answer is Hot Rod Association of Alberta.

12Felt that the driverless car was more observant than a human driver

The correct answer is Tim Groesner.

13Believes that current driving conditions should not have come about in the first place

The correct answer is Eric Schmidt.

Passage 2

Reading Passage 2

Scandinavian Design

Traditionally, Scandinavia was recognised as the three kingdoms of Sweden, Norway and Denmark, but today that scope has widened to include both Finland and Iceland as well. With an impressive international reputation, designers and craftspeople from all five countries are often grouped under the collective name 'Scandinavian design', creating furniture with a unique and often simple appeal. It is claimed that the expression 'Scandinavian design' first came from a design exhibition which toured Canada and the United States in the mid-20th century, from 1954 to 1957, although there had been earlier exhibitions in Europe and North America showcasing the works of Scandinavian designers.

To understand both the origins and the concepts of Scandinavian design it is perhaps best to look at the historical context with some of the major trends in art and manufacturing through the 19th and 20th centuries. During the Industrial Revolution, generally considered to have been at its height in the first half of the 19th century, design was focused purely on being useful and functional. At the same time, Realism, a form of art that sprang from the introduction of the photograph, was used as a way to capture 'reality', and was linked to the reality of the mass production of the Industrial Revolution.

The late 19th century saw the beginning of the Art Nouveau movement, which was seen as a reaction against the functional style of the industrial revolution. This new form of art incorporated not only art, but also architecture, design, furniture and jewellery, and was strongly based on nature with its fluid and natural shapes. Art Nouveau continued through the turn of the century and led to the birth of Modernism, the new movement which had links to social movements and political activism at the beginning of the 20th century. Events such as the horrors of the First World War drove the movement on, and there was a growing ideal which saw a tremendous reaction against the existing norms, which resulted in a range of art movements forming, all sharing a similar reactionary bent.

In 1914, a magazine was first published in Denmark called Skønvirke, which drew on the inspirations of traditional Danish, and by extension Scandinavian, design and local handicrafts. This design was seen as being functional, featuring simple lines and a minimalist element, while at the same time is was still designed to look appealing. It is noted that Scandinavian design is known as 'democratic design' because the masses are attracted to its affordability and accessibility, as well as the aesthetics (aesthetics being defined as the principle of nature and the appreciation of beauty). Wood was a major component in the construction of furniture from Scandinavian countries, and again this was driven by the constraining factors of the time: the difficulty in importing materials and economic issues leading to production problems. But, as a result, the finished products took on an identity of their own due to the signature wood design and the simplicity of the shape and the textures involved.

In the 1920s and 1930s, other Art Movements in Europe began exploring new concepts and, interestingly, their work embraced not only the final product but also the manufacturing process. Bauhaus in Germany and Dadaism in Switzerland were two of the more notable movements exploring these new concepts, along with Italy's Futurists and De Stijl in the Netherlands, who saw everything reduced to the simplest forms of lines and colour. As these ideas spread throughout the world, artists and designers from outside the region started integrating Scandinavian concepts of art and construction. However, as the 20th century progressed, the mass production techniques that were enveloping much of the rest of the world was not as prevalent in the Nordic countries, which were working to preserve the traditions of their crafts. In fact, preservation of these traditions had been a consideration in Scandinavia as far back as 1845, when the Swedish Society of Industrial Design was founded to ensure the highest levels of quality were maintained, while keeping safe the tradition of hand crafts. However, even Scandinavia was not immune to the need for mass production, and it is claimed that this focus on the detail of craftwork and merging it with commercial production has given rise to the term 'industrial arts'.

A number of Scandinavian designers have now become household names, at least within the international household of design. Denmark's Verner Panton created, in 1960, the famous single-molded plastic chair, symbolising the emerging Pop Art movement and exemplifying the famous simple lines and designs. Alvar Aalto, from Finland, worked with wood in his furniture manufacturing, and established a company which also championed other Finnish designers, and branched out into the production of accessories, such as lamps and textiles. The Danish architect Arne Jacobson began working with plywood in the 1950s, and although this material had been used for time, Jacobson perfected new techniques which allowed the plywood to be bent, while keeping its inherent strength, and in 1955 created a chair design which is still sold today. Eero Aarnio, from Finland, worked with fibreglass and came up with such simple but futuristic shapes that some of his designs have been utilized in science-fiction films as props.

In addition to furniture, Scandinavian design has also been applied to crafts and accessories. Tappo Wirkkal, from Finland, and Sweden's Kosta Boda company both work with glass, and have created works which have drawn praise from art critics as well as withstanding the test of functional design criteria. Today, the design concepts of Scandinavia have progressed beyond product and furniture manufacture and production and now embrace environmental considerations as well. The iconic Swedish company IKEA, for example, is insistent on only using timber from certified forests – a guarantee that it has not been illegally logged – as well as supporting 14 projects run by the World Wildlife Federation.

Questions 14 to 26

Questions 14 – 17. Do the following statements agree with the information in Reading Passage 2? Choose TRUE if the statement agrees with the information, FALSE if it contradicts the information, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.

14The first exhibition of Scandinavian design in Canada and the United States was from 1954 to 1957.

The answer is FALSE. This is FALSE. The opening paragraph mentions a touring exhibition in Canada and the U.S. from 1954 to 1957, but further that there ‘…had been earlier exhibitions’ there.

15The first ideas of a 'Scandinavian design' came about at the same time as new emerging movements in Art, such as Bauhaus and Dadaism.

The answer is NOT GIVEN. The correct answer is NOT GIVEN. While the passage mentions Skønvirke magazine in 1914 and states that Bauhaus and Dadaism emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, it also indicates that Skønvirke 'drew on the inspirations of traditional...Scandinavian design', meaning these ideas existed before 1914. The passage does not specify when these first ideas actually originated, so we cannot determine if they came about at the same time as Bauhaus and Dadaism. Note that you should always take a guess in the IELTS test even if you don't know the answer - you don't lose points for a wrong answer, and you may get lucky!

16The term 'industrial arts' was coined by Scandinavian designers and artists in the Art Nouveau movement together.

The answer is NOT GIVEN. The correct answer is NOT GIVEN. The passage mentions that the term 'industrial arts' arose from merging craftwork with commercial production, but it does not specify who actually coined the term or whether it was Scandinavian designers and Art Nouveau artists together. Note that you should always take a guess in the IELTS test even if you don't know the answer - you don't lose points for a wrong answer, and you may get lucky!

17As well as furniture and accessories, Scandinavian design philosophies now also include environmentalism.

The answer is TRUE. The correct answer is TRUE. The final paragraph of Reading Passage 2 clearly states: 'Today, the design concepts of Scandinavia have progressed beyond product and furniture manufacture and production and now embrace environmental considerations as well.' Note that you should always take a guess in the IELTS test even if you don't know the answer - you don't lose points for a wrong answer, and you may get lucky!

Questions 18 – 24. The passage refers to several movements in art, and to notable Scandinavian designers and institutions. Match each statement with the movement, designer or institution. Choose the correct letter, A – J.

18has been praised by art critics for the artistic achievements as well as being functional.

The correct answer is Tappo Wirkkal.

19is now another name for 'Scandinavian design'.

The correct answer is democratic design.

20came up with new ways to shape and use a traditional construction material.

The correct answer is Arne Jacobson.

21emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, along with other European movements.

The correct answer is Dadaism.

22was originally created to maintain standards of perfection.

The correct answer is Swedish Society of Industrial Design.

23moved from designing only furniture to accessories.

The correct answer is Alvar Aalto.

24designed a chair based on a new movement in Art.

The correct answer is Verner Panton.

Questions 25 and 26. Complete the sentences using NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage.

25The modern interpretation of Scandinavian design means that it now includes   concerns related to where the raw materials are sourced from.

The correct answer is environmental.

26concerns related to where the raw materials are sourced from. IKEA, the global Swedish furniture company, claims to only use wood from   .

The correct answer is certified forests.

Passage 3

Reading Passage 3

The Nobel Prize

A) The Nobel Prize was first introduced in 1895, and now, over a century later, they are still highly respected awards. Presented to those individuals and organizations that make outstanding contributions in the fields of chemistry, physics, literature, peace, and physiology or medicine, they are named after Alfred Nobel, the man who initially pioneered the idea. Yet the Prizes had an unlikely start; Nobel's contribution to science was actually the creation of dynamite. It was only when a French newspaper mistakenly believed Nobel had died, and subsequently printed an obituary referring to him as the 'Merchant of Death', that Nobel realised the full impact of the legacy he was leaving behind. He decided that after his death, a significant portion of his wealth should be devoted to seeking out and acknowledging those who had made 'the greatest contribution to mankind'. However, it was not until 5 years after his death that the first prizes were handed out – complications with the will and disagreements among his surviving relatives meant that the process was set back.

B) Each recipient received – and still receives – a medal, a diploma and a monetary award. As of 2010, 817 individuals and 23 organizations had been awarded a Nobel Prize. Yet not every winner, referred to as a 'laureate', has actually accepted the award. In the 1930s, three German winners were not permitted by their government to accept the Nobel Prize, and the government of the Soviet Union pressured Boris Pasternak into declining his award in 1958. In 1964, Jean Paul Sartre, a French writer, also declined the award, although this was not politically motivated – he simply did not accept any official honour.

C) Of all the recipients of Nobel Prizes, only one organisation or person has been awarded the honour multiple times – the Red Cross (which has been awarded a Prize three times). Another interesting statistic is that less than 5 percent of Nobel prizes have been awarded to women, the first of whom was Marie Curie, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903. Also, since its inception, there have been two occasions where no winner was found for the prizes – in 1941 and 1942. This was largely due to the world war that was being waged at the time.

D) In 1969, having been running for nearly seventy years, a sixth area was introduced to the Nobel Prizes – economics. This was not a category defined in Nobel's will, but was established by Sweden's central bank in 1968 on the Bank's 300th anniversary. Since this time, no categories have been added or removed from the prizegiving.

E) There are of course certain rules governing who can be selected for a Nobel prize. You cannot nominate yourself, nor can a person be nominated after their death. However, it is possible to award a prize to someone who is dead as long as they were alive during the nomination process. Each year, between 100 and 250 people are nominated.

F) Arguably the most well-known of the Nobel prizes is the Nobel Peace Prize. According to the terms of Nobel's will, it is not the Swedish Academy of Science nor the Academy of Arts (both of which select the recipient for the other prizes); instead, the Peace Prize is awarded by 5 people selected by the Norwegian parliament. But it is not just these 5 people who are carefully chosen – even those who have the right to nominate others are selected from a narrow selection of candidates. Members of national assemblies and governments, as well as selected international governmental bodies, university professors of history, political science, philosophy, law and theology, university presidents and directors of peace research and international affairs institutes, as well as former recipients are among the privileged few.

G) For a nomination to be considered, only one acceptable nominator needs to suggest the name, but a shortlist of nominees, and the final recipient, is decided by the Nobel Institute, comprising of the 5 people selected by the Norwegian Parliament, as mentioned before.

H) Although there is always the aim of reaching a unanimous verdict amongst those judging, there are times when this has not always been the case. In fact, some of the judging panel have resigned following a final decision that they felt was not correct; since its inception, the Peace Prize nominees have included people like Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin and Benito Mussolini (although they were not awarded the prize). On the other side, there are certain people who are in many ways synonymous with the struggle for peace yet have not been recognised – Mahatma Gandhi, for example, was nominated 5 times but never actually won an award.

I) Unsurprisingly, there have been a number of controversial winners of the Nobel Peace prize over the last 100 years. In the 1940s, Cordell Hull won the Peace Prize for his efforts in putting together the United Nations, but this was in many respects overshadowed by allegations that he campaigned against allowing a boat of Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazi regime to seek asylum in America. Anti-Semitic allegations tarnished the prize awarded to John Forbes Nash, who was himself suffering from schizophrenia (a disease which is considered to have impacted on some of his more public comments). Rumours also surrounded Wangari Maathai, a scientist and the first African woman to receive the award, with some claiming that she had aimed certain aggressive remarks at non-African scientists. A claim was also publicly made against the successful nomination of Barack Obama, with the award being given for 'outstanding international diplomatic efforts' only 12 days after he took office, with many claiming that the nomination and award were politically motivated.

J) But regardless of the controversies, allegations and history of Nobel, there is no doubt that for many countries, and many people, the Nobel Prizes are a welcome recognition of efforts in a wide range of fields. The award ceremony has, in recent years, become something of a global media event. There is a 'Peace Prize Concert' which is broadcast to over 450 million households in over 150 countries.

Questions 27 to 40

Questions 27 – 32. Complete the sentences using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND A NUMBER from the passage.

27The Nobel prizes are awarded for   in a number of fields.

The correct answer is: outstanding contributions. Paragraph A states that the prizes are 'Presented to those individuals and organizations that make outstanding contributions in the fields of chemistry, physics, literature, peace, and physiology or medicine'.

28Nobel was inspired to establish the Prizes following an obituary issued in  .

The correct answer is: a French newspaper. Paragraph A states that 'a French newspaper mistakenly believed Nobel had died, and subsequently printed an obituary referring to him as the "Merchant of Death"', which inspired him to establish the prizes.

29Family arguments were part of the reason why there was a delay of   before the first prizes.

The correct answer is: 5 years or five years. Paragraph A states: 'However, it was not until 5 years after his death that the first prizes were handed out – complications with the will and disagreements among his surviving relatives meant that the process was set back.'

30In the middle of the last century, a Russian nominee was compelled into   the award.

The correct answer is: declining. Paragraph B states: 'the government of the Soviet Union pressured Boris Pasternak into declining his award in 1958.'

31  has earned a Prize on a number of occasions.

The correct answer is: the Red Cross. Paragraph C states: 'Of all the recipients of Nobel Prizes, only one organisation or person has been awarded the honour multiple times – the Red Cross (which has been awarded a Prize three times).'

32In the early 1940s, there was   on two occasions.

The correct answer is: no winner. Paragraph C states: 'since its inception, there have been two occasions where no winner was found for the prizes – in 1941 and 1942.'

Questions 33 – 37. Do the following statements agree with the information in Reading Passage 3? Choose TRUE if the statement agrees with the information, FALSE if it contradicts the information, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.

33Every winner of a Prize is referred to as a ‘laureate’.

The answer is TRUE. The correct answers is TRUE. Paragraph B says “not every winner, referred to as a ‘laureate’, has actually accepted the award.” This shows that winners are referred to as ‘laureates’, even if they later refuse the prize.

34Marie Curie is the only female to have been awarded a Prize.

The answer is FALSE. The correct answer is FALSE. Paragraph C states that 'less than 5 percent of Nobel prizes have been awarded to women, the first of whom was Marie Curie'. This means other women have also been awarded prizes, so Marie Curie is not the only one.

35There are currently 6 categories for which Prizes are awarded.

The answer is TRUE. The correct answer is TRUE. Paragraph A lists 5 original categories (chemistry, physics, literature, peace, and physiology or medicine), and Paragraph D states that 'In 1969...a sixth area was introduced to the Nobel Prizes – economics', making a total of 6 categories.

36Prizes cannot be awarded to people who have died.

The answer is FALSE. The correct answer is FALSE. Paragraph E states: 'However, it is possible to award a prize to someone who is dead as long as they were alive during the nomination process.' This directly contradicts the statement.

37Some members of the judging panel have resigned because they disagreed with how the winner was chosen.

The answer is TRUE. The correct answer is TRUE. Paragraph H explains that some members of the judging panel resigned because they disagreed with how the winner was chosen. Even if you’re unsure, it’s better to make a guess in the IELTS test — you won’t lose points for a wrong answer.

Questions 38 – 40. Match each statement with a person from the list. Choose the correct letter, A – D.

38Has been accused of not being sympathetic to refugees.

Cordell Hull faced accusations of lacking sympathy toward refugees during his tenure.

39Had a medical condition that could have influenced his decision making.

John Forbes Nash had a medical condition that may have affected his decision-making abilities.

40May have been made a recipient of the award for ulterior motives.

Barack Obama's Nobel Prize award has been questioned as potentially having political motivations.

Your result

Your band score for this Academic reading test

Answer the questions to see your score out of 40.

Your approximate band appears once you have answered every question.

Band boundaries vary slightly between test versions, so treat this as a guide rather than a prediction. It also flatters: a test taken at home, without the pressure of the day, usually scores higher than the real thing.

Approximate Academic reading conversion, out of 40
Correct answersApproximate band
39+Band 9
37+Band 8.5
35+Band 8
33+Band 7.5
30+Band 7
27+Band 6.5
23+Band 6
19+Band 5.5
15+Band 5

Reading and listening convert from a raw score. Writing and speaking do not: they are judged by an examiner against four criteria, which is why no calculator can estimate them.

Getting answers wrong and not sure why?

Every question here explains its answer. What an explanation cannot tell you is which question types you lose marks on repeatedly, which is the thing worth fixing.

The complete IELTS course on IELTStestONLINE has video lessons on every reading question type, many more full tests, and your own support tutor. Take a look at the complete course

Questions about this IELTS Academic reading practice test

Is this a real IELTS reading test?

It is a full-length practice test written to the same specification as the real Academic reading test: three passages, forty questions, sixty minutes. Past papers are not released by the test providers.

How long should this test take?

Sixty minutes for all three passages, about twenty minutes each. There is no extra time in the real test to transfer answers, so treat every answer as final when you choose it.

How many answers do I need for Band 7?

Around 30 out of 40 in Academic reading, though the boundary varies slightly between test versions. Roughly 27 is Band 6.5 and 23 is Band 6.

Do I need to sign up to take this test?

No. The passages, the questions, the answers and the explanations are all open, with no account and no payment.

Why is my practice score higher than my real test score?

A test taken at home has no time pressure, no unfamiliar room and no invigilation. Practice scores usually flatter, so plan for slightly less on the day.

Full membership

A reading band is not an IELTS band

You have just scored one of the four papers. Reading and listening convert from a raw score, so you can mark them yourself. Writing and speaking cannot be converted from anything, and they are the two that most often hold candidates below the band they need.

IELTStestONLINE assesses your writing and speaking against the four criteria, instantly and as often as you like, and keeps every score you record in one place with an estimated overall band.

See what membership includes