IELTS Academic or General Training is a reasonably challenging exam and it demands thorough preparation from the students and candidates. For those who are going to take IELTS for the first time, it is something that can be compared to launching a rocket into space. You don’t know where to start and what to expect. Besides the IELTS exam itself, there are other types of tests most candidates take at different stages of their IELTS preparation. They are diagnostic, practice, and mock tests. Why, when, and how to complete them is discussed in this article.

IELTS diagnostic test

This type of test is usually taken before you start your IELTS preparation. It can be done online or offline depending on where you are going to do a course in IELTS preparation. It helps you and the course provider to see what your current bands are in IELTS Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking. Some schools or teachers give their students only reading and listening tests, some may check all four language skills. It also allows you to evaluate the range of your vocabulary and grammar, and realize what you have to improve. Diagnostic tests reveal the candidate’s weaknesses and strengths and allow the teacher or the course provider to customize the preparation and make an effective plan so that you could turn your weaknesses into strengths and cover all aspects of the exam. For example, if your level of English is high enough for the desired band score, you will likely work more on exam skills. And vice versa, if your English is not good enough, you will have to focus on language first, and only then master your exam skills.
After the diagnostic test has been graded, you can also ask the teacher why your answers are wrong and even for advice on how to progress in learning the language. Knowing your own English abilities is helpful for your progress.

Diagnostic tests are recommended but not compulsory. There are alternative ways to find out what needs to be improved.

RELATED READING: How to start your IELTS preparation?

IELTS practice tests

These tests are good for a few reasons:

• At the beginning of your IELTS preparation journey, they help you to familiarize yourself with the format of the exam. You will see how many tasks there are in the test, how they are ordered, and what they look like.
• They also help you to see what types of questions you might find difficult to deal with. For example, students often find True-False-Not given questions in the Reading section to be the most confusing.
• They are the best way to practice exam skills and build your confidence. That’s why they are called ‘practice tests’, and with having done many of them you will feel less stressed on the day of the exam.
• They also train your time management skills. You learn to manage your time well when it comes to certain parts of the exam. For example, when you have to do the tasks and transfer your answers to the answer sheet or better allocate time for an essay.

There are many IELTS practice tests on the Internet. However, it’s always better to use the official ones such as: 

• IELTS.ORG  whose practice tests look like the booklet you will receive for your actual exam;

• British Council IELTS Practice Tests which you can use to carry out timed practice sessions;
• IELTS Canada Practice Tests which offers downloadable practice materials.

These resources are free, and they will give you an indication of your band score and provide feedback on areas to improve.

READ ABOUT: IELTS Academic Writing tasks in 2021

IELTS mock tests

The main difference between the practice tests and the mock test is that it’s done in exam-like conditions. That means that you should treat them as actual tests. 

Mock tests help you get ready for any kind of challenge: time management, answering strategies, understanding of exam patterns, probable questions, assessment criteria, etc. 

The main purpose of the mock test is to provide you with a clear demonstration of the actual examination and to help you get accustomed to all aspects of the exam.

Here is why mock tests are important: 

• You will develop the right test-taking strategy. Learning and practising the strategies for each question type is part of your preparation, but sitting a real exam is quite different. By doing mock tests you will develop your own strategy for the whole exam.

• You will understand the time management better. The more mock tests you do, the higher are chances you will complete all tasks on time.
• You will analyze and better understand your mistakes. If you first try, you are likely to look out for solutions. 

The best time to take a mock exam is in the last stage of your full-fledged  IELTS preparation. If you take at least 2 mock tests, the actual test will feel nothing new and you can do your best. In our course, the mock tests are compulsory and are done online. All mock tests are assessed by IELTS experts.  After each test, you will want to know how you answered the questions, what your mistakes were and in which areas your weaknesses lie. You will receive valuable feedback and suggestions on how to fix your problems.

Finally, remember that tests are good for your IELTS preparation. However, IELTS preparation isn’t just about doing tests. It is a long and interesting journey full of unexpected curves and discoveries. Have a safe journey with us!

Test-takers and students often find IELTS Speaking to be difficult because they are not aware of what to expect in this section of the exam. In this article, we will tell you about the IELTS Speaking test, the parts it consists of and the types of questions to expect at the test. You will also learn what the examiner will be listening for during the test, and what your band will depend on.

Basic facts

Regardless the version of the test you choose, paper or computer-based, IELTS Speaking is always conducted face-to-face. You will take this part of the test in a private Speaking test room, free from noise and distraction with the examiner only. According to IELTS, it is the most effective way of assessing your speaking skills and it prompts a more lifelike performance. This is also an advantage because the examiner can repeat and rephrase questions for you.

You will take the Speaking test before or after other sections of IELTS. Some centers offer to take IELTS Speaking a day before Listening, Reading and Writing which is less stressful for candidates. Others conduct the Speaking test on the same day after the main session. It is up to you what option to choose. However, people tend to demonstrate better results when they are less tired and more relaxed.

IELTS Speaking is the shortest section of the test. It lasts only from 11 to 15 minutes. However, it may seem like you have spent forever and a day in the room with the examiner. The main reason for this is that candidates forget to relax and lose their confidence. The examiner knows you worry a lot, so he or she may also ask you how you feel to help you relax.

3 parts of the IELTS Speaking test

There are 3 parts in the speaking test:

• Introductions and general questions;
• Individual long turn;
• Two-way discussion.

Part 1 will last for only 4 – 5 minutes, and you will have to answer questions about your everyday life, for example, about your family, work or studies, hobbies, weather etc. These are the questions people often ask each other when they meet for the first time. This part of the test is a kind of warm-up before the next two parts.

In Part 2 the examiner gives the candidate a card with the task. You will have 1 minute to prepare and then talk for 1 – 2 minutes, with some questions from the examiner. The tasks in this part are usually about your experience. For example, you can be asked to speak about things you have or want to have, places you visited or would like to visit, situations and experiences you’ve had or would like to have. Use the preparation time to plan your answer and make some notes. You can look at your notes while answering.

READ ABOUT: How not to pass IELTS Speaking: common mistakes made by candidates

Below, there is an example of the prompt card you might get from the examiner:

In Part 3 the examiner asks further questions on the topic from Part 2, and gives the candidate the opportunity to discuss more abstract issues or ideas. This means that you will have to speak about other people, tendencies and social issues. For example, if you were to talk about the adventure in Part 2, now you may have to answer the following questions:

• How important is it to have adventure in our lives?
• What do people learn about themselves from having adventures?
• Should people always avoid danger, or is it a good idea sometimes to take risks?
• What risks should people try to avoid?
• Do you think people take fewer risks as they grow older? Why (not)?

The examiner will ask you questions, and you will have to give a response with as much detail as you can. Your answers should be clear and extended. It’s a good idea to support them with an example or two.

What do examiners look for in your response?

In IELTS Speaking you will be assessed according to the following criteria:

• Fluency and coherence. The examiner will listen if you can speak fluently without preparation, if you can organize your speech so that the listener could follow your ideas, if you make long pauses or not.
• Lexical resource. You should avoid repetition and show that you have a wide range of vocabulary. They also check if you can use less common and idiomatic vocabulary, or if you are good at paraphrasing.
• Grammatical range and accuracy. They will listen for simple and complex structures , and if you can use them appropriately. Try to avoid making mistakes as well.
• Pronunciation. Your pronunciation should be easy to understand, and you should speak clearly.

The better your work on these aspects the higher score you will get for your speaking test.

If you want to find out more about the format of the test, strategies you can use to increase your score and get feedback on your speaking, register for IELTS Grade course. Moreover, you will have the chance to practise all four skills, watch video tutorials, get your writing evaluated and checked by the automated checking system that uses artificial intelligence to give you the IELTS band score instantly.

We have also written about helpful idioms you can use at the IELTS Speaking test.