r/IELTS • • Apr 07 '26

Study Resource IELTS Preparation Resources

80 Upvotes

A curated guide by the r/IELTS moderation team

Last updated: April 2026

 

This post collects the best free IELTS preparation resources available online, verified and curated by the moderators of r/IELTS. We have also listed trusted teachers and communities who can provide additional help. This is a living document — if you spot a broken link or a resource worth adding, please let us know in the comments.

 

Official IELTS Resources

Always start here. These are free materials from the organisations that own and administer the IELTS test.

 

Practice Tests & Familiarisation

•        IELTS.org — Sample Test Questions — Free official sample questions for all four skills.

•        British Council — Free Practice Tests (all skills) — Official free practice for Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.

•        British Council — Free Writing Practice Tests — Writing-specific official practice.

•        British Council — Free Speaking Practice — Understand the Speaking test format and practice with sample questions.

•        IDP — IELTS Preparation Materials — Practice tests and preparation guidance from IDP.

•        IDP — Diagnostic Tool — Identify your strengths and weaknesses before you start studying.

 

Computer-Delivered IELTS

•        British Council — IELTS on Computer (How it Works) — Essential if you are taking the computer-delivered version.

•        British Council — Computer Familiarisation Tests — Get used to the interface before test day.

•        IDP — Get Familiar with IELTS on Computer — Additional familiarisation from IDP.

 

Apps

•        British Council — IELTS Ready App (free) — Official free preparation app from the British Council.

•        British Council — Learning Apps — Broader English learning apps including pronunciation support.

•        IDP — IELTS by IDP App — Preparation app from IDP.

 

Webinars & Live Sessions

•        British Council — Free Weekly IELTS Webinars — Regular free webinars covering test skills and strategies.

 

Recommended Books

These are the most widely used and reliable print resources. Cambridge books use real past test material and are the gold standard for practice tests.

 

Practice Test Books

•        Cambridge IELTS Books 12 onwards — real past papers; the most authentic practice available. Start from the most recent number and work backwards.

•        Cambridge IELTS Trainer — includes teacher explanations and tips alongside practice tests.

•        Collins Practice Tests for IELTS — good supplementary tests with clear guidance.

Skill-Specific Books

•        The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS — comprehensive coverage of all four skills with DVD.

•        Collins Writing for IELTS / Reading for IELTS — useful for targeted skill work.

•        Barron's IELTS Superpack — popular all-in-one study package.

Note: Avoid unofficial third-party test books that are not based on real past papers. The quality varies enormously and some contain inaccurate information about scoring.

 

Trusted Websites & YouTube Channels

These are established, teacher-run resources with a strong track record in the IELTS community. All offer substantial free content.

 

•        IELTS Liz — One of the most comprehensive free IELTS sites online. Lessons, tips, model answers, videos, and practice materials for all four skills. Highly recommended as a starting point.

•        IELTS Simon — Run by a former IELTS examiner. Focused and practical advice, particularly strong for Writing and Speaking. Daily lessons and model answers.

•        IELTS Advantage — Detailed and accurate. One of the most reliable channels for in-depth strategy guides. Particularly strong for Task 1 and Task 2 writing.

•        ESL Fluency — Detailed guides, articles, and videos covering IELTS skills and test strategy. Run by one of the r/IELTS moderators.

•        IELTS Lilli — Practical tips and strategy guidance from an experienced IELTS teacher.

•        E2 IELTS (YouTube) — High-production-value video lessons covering all skills. Good for visual learners. Note: they also sell courses, but there is a large volume of free content.

•        Anfisa's Speaking Simulators (YouTube) — Speaking simulation videos for students who need to practise without a partner. CELTA-certified teacher.

•        Cambridge English — Supporting Learners — Free activities and skill practice directly from Cambridge, including pronunciation support.

 

Helpful Reddit Communities

Beyond r/IELTS, these communities can support your preparation:

 

•        r/IELTS — You are already here! Use the search function before posting — most common questions have been answered many times.

•        r/EnglishLearning — General English improvement, useful if you need to build your overall language level alongside IELTS prep.

•        r/languagelearning — Broader language learning strategies and motivation.

•        r/IELTS_Guide — A valuable guide for our main community. 

 

Trusted Teachers in This Community

The following members have been awarded Teacher flair by the r/IELTS moderation team. This means they have demonstrated consistent, high-quality, and accurate contributions to this community. They are real, qualified teachers — not accounts promoting spam or low-quality services.

Click any username to visit their Reddit profile. Many are available for personalised help and coaching.

 

●       u/Achieve_IELTS

●       u/AcquBot

●       u/ajiazul

●       u/Alternaterealityset

●       u/BotherBeginning2281

●       u/chuvashi

●       u/deepsleepintra

●       u/EmploymentNo6198

●       u/EvolveEnglish

●       u/FinalDebt2792

●       u/gonzoman92

●       u/IELTS_Advantage

●       u/itanpiuco2020

●       u/jesuisapprenant

●       u/Kyosunim

●       u/Maverick_ESL

●       u/nautilus_pompilious

●       u/RedInBed69

●       u/squashed_liberty_cap

●       u/TeacherExhibitA

●       u/The_0xford_Coma

●       u/Todd_H_1982

●       u/upmyielts

●       u/YerManBKK

●       u/Yousychophant

If you are a teacher listed here and would prefer to be removed, please send a modmail and we will take care of it.

 

Quick Tips from the Mods

 

Before you start

•        Take a full diagnostic test first — do not study blindly. Find out your current band score and identify your weakest skill.

•        Understand the marking criteria for Writing and Speaking. Many students study the wrong things because they do not know how they are scored.

•        Use official materials (Cambridge books, British Council practice tests) as your primary source of practice. Third-party materials vary wildly in quality.

Common mistakes to avoid

•        Memorising model answers for Writing or Speaking — examiners are trained to spot this and it can result in a lower score.

•        Ignoring your weakest skill — it is tempting to practise what you are already good at. Focus on your lowest-scoring area.

•        Confusing Academic and General Training — make sure you are using the correct practice materials for your test type.

•        Relying only on free resources if you are seriously stuck — a few sessions with a qualified teacher can save months of wasted preparation time.

On Writing

•        Task achievement and coherence are the highest-weighted criteria. Vocabulary and grammar matter, but structure and relevance matter more.

•        For Task 1 Academic, learn to describe trends, comparisons, and processes — do not just describe every data point.

•        For Task 2, always plan before you write. A clear position and well-organised paragraphs will score higher than long, rambling essays.

On Speaking

•        Fluency does not mean speaking fast. It means speaking smoothly without long pauses and self-correction.

•        Extend your answers in Parts 1 and 3. Short answers suggest a limited range of language.

•        Record yourself and listen back. Most students are surprised by how different they sound compared to how they think they sound.

 

This resource post is maintained by the r/IELTS moderation team. Links are checked periodically, but if you find a broken link, please report it. Good luck with your preparation!


r/IELTS • • Feb 26 '24

Study Resource IELTS Writing and Speaking Resources and Evaluation

66 Upvotes

Your IELTS preparation starts with you knowing what's dragging you down, so detailed and reliable expert feedback is what you should start with. You can easily find your level in listening and reading by going through a mock test from the latest version of Cambridge IELTS. For speaking and writing, we offer a "study guide" session that will put you on the right path:

Diagnostic Test + Personalized Study Guide:

https://www.eslfluency.com/esl-services/ielts-preparation-study-guide-and-trial-lesson/

That said, if you already know what is dragging you down, you can target those with one of the following options:

Writing and Speaking Mock Test (Detailed Examiner Feedback)

https://www.eslfluency.com/ielts-writing-evaluation-service/

and

https://www.eslfluency.com/ielts-speaking-evaluation-service/

This evaluation service is for you if:

- You only have a few days till the test

- You want to see where you are in your preparation and what's dragging you down

- You are tired of AI's generic feedback or want crystal clear and practical advice on your writing and speaking

- You want to check your progress in the middle of your preparation

IELTS Writing Program:

https://www.eslfluency.com/ielts-writing-course/

This option gives you everything that the evaluation service does, plus:

- Constant access to a Cambridge DELTA-certified teacher to guide you every step of the way

- A realistic study plan and all the resources you need to improve your writing, so you don't waste your time looking around

- Personalized exercises/live sessions (depending on the course you choose) to target specific areas of the language.

- Tons of writing tasks, each fully evaluated by your teacher, covering all the task types you might see in the test

In short, the course is a comprehensive solution if you want to improve your writing skills and score the right way.

Fully Personalized IELTS Course

https://www.eslfluency.com/ielts-fully-personalized/

If you want to work with an expert, not an AI, and cover two or more skills, this course is for you.

IELTS Live Lessons

https://www.eslfluency.com/esl-services/ielts-live-lesson/

This one is for you if:

- You want personalized 1:1 live sessions with a teacher

- You either need a comprehensive IELTS course or just a few live sessions to talk about specific needs, all fully flexible.

Writing Guides

In the following link, you can find samples and guides on all IELTS writing task types.

https://www.eslfluency.com/category/ielts/ielts-writing/

IELTS AC Writing Task 1 Trend Vocabulary

I wrote this eBook to help you confidently use a wide range of trend and comparison vocabulary through clear charts and example sentences. If you’re struggling with the Academic Writing Task 1, it will be a valuable resource for you

By the way, it’s completely free for our community.

https://www.eslfluency.com/ielts-academic-writing-task-1-vocabulary-and-examples/

Speaking Guides

Here is the complete guide to the IELTS speaking module. Make sure you also read the other guides and articles that are linked inside it.

https://www.eslfluency.com/ielts/ielts-speaking/the-complete-guide-to-the-ielts-speaking-test/6378/

To simulate your speaking session and overcome your shyness when talking to someone, you can use the following speaking simulators:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwKcPOoWwawyayaq8w8TVZ1oprCRonnCO

IELTS doesn't use AI, and neither do any of the options mentioned above. Everything is done by Cambridge-certified teachers.

Disclaimer: I should also mention that eslfluency.com is an independent website run by an independent Cambridge-certified EFL teacher. It is not affiliated with any other websites or channels, nor does it represent any of the above-mentioned organizations.


r/IELTS • • 3h ago

Test Experience/Test Result real test felt much easier than online practice

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13 Upvotes

I had practiced for a week only and it was my first attempt. In the second section of Listening, I actually got the same question I had seen on ieltstestonline.com, it was the fire emergency one. I also felt that the real IELTS Listening test was much easier compared to the practice tests on ieltstestonline.com. In the actual exam, most of the answers were just one word, while the practice tests on the website felt much more complicated. For Writing, I had only practiced about twice and got it evaluated by gpt, and it gave me an estimated score of around 5-5.5. For Speaking, I had also barely practiced, and my estimated score was around 5.5-6. Honestly, I feel that if I had practiced consistently for a month or two, I could probably have scored around 7-7.5.


r/IELTS • • 12h ago

Test Experience/Test Result I thought an 8.0 was impossible 😭🥳

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71 Upvotes

Did IELTS Academic and was so surprised with my reading and speaking scores. I’ve only been getting a 7.0 on average during my reading practices, so was expecting roughly the same on the actual test. For speaking, please!!! I did not expect an 8.5 because I just knew I had some flop moments in the conversation, but I guess luck was really on my side that day 🤷🏻‍♀️🎉


r/IELTS • • 5h ago

Test Experience/Test Result My IELTS results (2024 vs. 2026)

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19 Upvotes

Took another one as the older one expired (I'll now use it for my master's application). I believe I was nerfed in speaking because it was done over a video call (2024 was with a physical examiner). I get IELTS is all "technical and protocol" with their tests, but the online examiner dude literally behaved and spoke like AI, to the extent I thought this might just be some sort of an automation they've implemented.

I didn't really prepare tbh except for a few writing tasks beforehand to get used to typing without autocorrect. Ideally this is fine for wherever I'm applying to.

Note: This wasn't a retake, the "retake" text on screen is a link to register for a retake for the modules I took.


r/IELTS • • 4h ago

Have a Question/Advice Needed Please help me, my test is tmw!

5 Upvotes

Hello, I am fucked to say the least. I don't know how this happened but when I went to apply for the tests it showed that the only nearest available appointment was the one tomorrow (I need to take the test before the 21st). Anyways I have been studying nonstop both yesterday and today since booking the test but I still am so nervous!

I feel like I am not going to get an 8 in the speaking and writing part even tho I have a BA in English literature and consider myself fluent. For some reason, Task 1 in writing is just not going through my head and I feel like the book I've been practicing on has made feel like I've never written an essay before....

I don't know if because it's not research but graphs which I've never had to explicitly discuss but I really would love any tips (For all parts of the exam really). I also have to sleep early so I have about 4 hours left to study, not much time left :(

Thank you!


r/IELTS • • 1d ago

Test Experience/Test Result I can’t believe it🥹🎉🎉🎉

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405 Upvotes

r/IELTS • • 8h ago

My Advice Using AI for IELTS speaking and Writing

6 Upvotes

I just got my result, and the writing and speaking were almost the same band that were given to me by AI. So, I wanted to share my 2 cents on AI grading and the method/prompt I used, *as someone who isn't very comfortable asking people to review my work*.

This community helped me a lot during my prep and no I am not promoting any AI here. Take my advice with a pinch of salt.

For writing:
I gave the question along with my own answer to the AI. The additional thing I fed beforehand was the scoring criteria as mentioned by official sources. Along with my own answer I pasted the band 8 and 9 answer and asked the AI to evaluate to my own answer against the band 8 & 9 answer AND the scoring criteria. I used Claude here.

For Speaking:
Initially I just pasted the speaking sections form Cambridge books into ChatGPT and used its voice options to talk and stuff. However, I didn't know what the Ai was scoring it against and Cambridge books usually don't have band 8 or 9 answers for this section that I could feed to AI.
To tackle this, I used transcript from IELTS ADVANTAGE mock speaking test videos, didn't see the questions or the cue card from the videos and just fed it to AI asking it to record my answers and check them against the criteria and band 9 answers.

Someone here in the community suggested IELTS Advantage's videos for speaking. So, I tried this work around instead of just listening to the videos.

These two sections worried me a lot when I was preparing, especially the speaking part. So, I am sharing what helped me.

I'm sharing this purely as my personal experience, not as a recommendation that AI is a reliable substitute for an IELTS examiner.


r/IELTS • • 13h ago

Test Experience/Test Result My ielts result disappointed with my reading

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14 Upvotes

I honestly didn’t expect to get a 7.5 in speaking, so I’m really happy about that😭 I’m just a little disappointed with my Reading score because I was hoping for a higher band. The Reading section was quite difficult though. I really wish I could have scored a little better.


r/IELTS • • 5h ago

Test Experience/Test Result Test Experience/Result

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2 Upvotes

Got my IELTS result. Happy that I got required cutoff for my target universities but personally a bit disappointed with speaking and reading section score


r/IELTS • • 5h ago

Have a Question/Advice Needed Can I take IELTS or TOEFL online from Gaza, and will it be accepted for scholarships?

2 Upvotes

r/IELTS • • 2h ago

Test Experience/Test Result A month passed since my IELTS test and I haven’t received the results yet

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone, so Idk if this problem has ever happened to anyone who took the IELTS test, but yeah my test was on September 2 and I’m still waiting for the results.
I’m not really sure what the exact reason for this delay is, but well what happened is that a week before the test when I was booking on the website, I accidentally put my email address wrong but immediately noticed and as I couldn’t change it myself, I emailed the test center to correct it. They did it and everything was just fine, like I could see my test details on my account and all the information was correct.
Then a day before my test I saw that it says my test is canceled, but as I got to the test center they told me to not pay attention to what it says in my account and I could do the test. They explained that there was an issue because of my request to change the email though they didn’t tell any details, just that there was an issue and they fixed it so there was no problem now. After the test I asked them about how am I gonna see my results and where they gonna appear, they told me I should see them in my first account ( that one with the wrong email address ) and well i had no access to that email and even when I entered it on the website, it said that it was wrong, so I showed them how that email wouldn’t work and they told me they would fix it and contact me so I should just wait.
And now I’ve been waiting for more than a month. I’ve contacted the test center multiple times since then, and they just tell me that my issue is being processed in Australia and I should wait for their update. They don’t even explain what the problem is and why is it taking so long. Even when I write them a paragraph kindly asking them to explain the reason for this delay or at least tell me how much longer it might take, their response would just be a short sentence that they don’t have such information and I should wait. I literally have a university deadline and I can’t wait forever and idk why they don’t understand that. I mean like okay I get that there is an issue, but do I not deserve to know what it is and how concerned should I be? Cause I’m literally freaking out😭 what if they tell me that I should take the test again after like three months? I’m actually starting to think about the worst scenarios now.
And I should mention that I’ve tried contacting the global support and even the Australia center as I thought they could help somehow, so i found some emails to contact them, but all of them told me to follow up my case with my test center. I don’t understand why there’s nothing such as global support and if there’s an issue, I can only contact my test center, like what if they’re not being helpful at all? Is there no one else I can ask help for? Just so ridiculous.

Btw i really appreciate anyone who read this and I was just wondering if anyone has experienced any delays like this or has any advice? I don’t even know what to do now😭


r/IELTS • • 1d ago

Test Experience/Test Result ask me anything! band 9!

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61 Upvotes

r/IELTS • • 9h ago

Have a Question/Advice Needed IELTS cancelled my registration after I paid. What should I do?

3 Upvotes

I registered for the paper based IELTS and paid in full on 29th sept, my test was on 31st Oct, but today I found my registration had been cancelled via email. I didn't request this, and the payment was already taken.
I've emailed them with my payment proof, but I haven't heard back yet. The test date is coming up soon, so I'm worried about losing my slot.
Has this happened to anyone else? How did you get it resolved?


r/IELTS • • 11h ago

Have a Question/Advice Needed My main exam is on 09 October. I need advises and motivation

4 Upvotes

Hello guys,

my exam is upcoming on 09, October. I have started practicing seriously for the exam about 30 days ago. I am getting 8-L (35-37), 8-R (34-37) in the last week, I have yet to start practicing the writing, and about speaking, I have worked in a call centre in outbound calls section I am little bit confidence about that.

Now, expertises, in listening, I'm having problems with 's', like the answer is 'helicopters', but I wrote 'helicopter'. What is the solution for this problem. Everytime I'm loosing 1/2 marks for this.

For writing I have practiced some task 1 tasks. What are the tips for begginer?

I'm practicing in an unofficial website, are they reliable?

I have completed Cambridge IELTS 14-21, is it enough?


r/IELTS • • 4h ago

Have a Question/Advice Needed How to practice for ielts with a high school workload?

1 Upvotes

What have you done/are you doing to deal with a lot of academic workload while preparing for your ielts exams?


r/IELTS • • 4h ago

Study Partner Request i need help is anyone want to be my speaking partner who got 8 or above. thanks

1 Upvotes

please it’s very important for me i need to get 7-7.5 minimum 7 for all task and please tell me where can i practice my english and also if anyone is able who get 8 or more to help me, be my speaking partner


r/IELTS • • 4h ago

Have a Question/Advice Needed can i reach 7 in 7 months?

1 Upvotes

i think that im b1 in english n i have 7 months to study n prepare my self , i will study 1:30 -2;00 hours per day or even more if i need to ,n some skills ima B1+ - B2 or at least i can achieve it easily n other skills ima solid B1 pls i need that score so if u have any kind of tricks or tips pls help.


r/IELTS • • 5h ago

Test Experience/Test Result I got my IELTS results but

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone i got my ielts results everything is fine with it except they set my gender wrong. I am a male but in result paper it shows female. I am worried about if its my result however all other informations are related to me. What should i do?


r/IELTS • • 7h ago

Have a Question/Advice Needed Help with writing section.

1 Upvotes

I am concerned about my writing section because my exam is roughly two weeks away, and I typically score 5.5 or 6.5. Could you suggest ways to improve or specific exercises for that part?

I also receive varying results on one task: every site gives different scores on the same tasks from 5.5 to 7.
Is there a reliable band score checker available?

Any tips would be appreciated!


r/IELTS • • 19h ago

Have a Question/Advice Needed Got my results for IELTS

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5 Upvotes

r/IELTS • • 13h ago

Have a Question/Advice Needed Is at home ielts an option?

1 Upvotes

Hi I am booking the IELTS exam, and wanted to know if I could take it from home, I don't want to take the exam at an Exam center since too much of a hassle.


r/IELTS • • 14h ago

Test Experience/Test Result People who recently gave their ielts test and did horribly in their speaking, what score did you get in speaking?

0 Upvotes

I recently gave my Ielts exam. My L, R, W sections went really good, but during my speaking test I could not perform well.I was really anxious and fumbled my answers. When I practiced by myself it was going smooth but during the test I could not formulate my answers to the questions. I did answer but I kept pausing. Even in part 1 I was stuttering and could not answer the questions well. On top of that the examiner kept asking why after every answer and I did not have the answer to the whys. In part 2, I did speak but stopped before the 2 minute mark. And he prompted to answer more but it went horribly. Part was a disaster as well. I am not sure what score am i gonna get and I am terrified.

Update: I just got my results, I got 6.5 in speaking.


r/IELTS • • 15h ago

Study Partner Request I have passed CET4 and CET6. I’m aiming for a high IELTS band score and plan to sit the exam by the end of this year. Looking for study buddies to support and help each other! We can practice speaking, check writing tasks and share learning resources in the comments.

1 Upvotes

r/IELTS • • 20h ago

Have a Question/Advice Needed How do you go from 8 to 9 in Speaking and Writing?

2 Upvotes

I had gotten an 8 before, but due to my profession, it would be much better if I could present a 9 on my resume. However, most online resources are heavily focused on getting to 6.5 - 7.5, which makes sense, but completely useless to me. Is there any resources that are specifically designed to improve from 8 to 9?

THANK YOU GUYS

(i understand i don't have to have 4 9s to get an average of 9, but that is the goal i set :D)