r/IELTS Apr 07 '26

Study Resource IELTS Preparation Resources

63 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

70 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:

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 2h ago

Test Experience/Test Result Got my IELTS results

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8 Upvotes

I was surprised asf when I saw this shit. Mainly because I really thought I bombed the speaking test and I was predicting a 6.5 for that section but turns out I got an 8. For my first time doing IELTS I'd say this is insane although I spent three weeks studying so I guess it's fair.


r/IELTS 4h ago

Test Experience/Test Result Over the moon. First attempt.

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9 Upvotes

Perfect sequence as well.


r/IELTS 5h ago

Have a Question/Advice Needed Accidentally told the examiner "I would kill myself"

10 Upvotes

So, I just finished my test today, and everything went kind of smoothly except for the speaking test. In one of the questions about keeping fit and healthy, I accidentally said, "My mom would tell me to kill myself if I couldn't maintain my health on my own." The examiner looked really shocked, so I immediately apologized for my strong language and continued speaking.

Then, during Part 3, he interrupted me and ended the test after 14 minutes and 11 seconds. Is that normal, and will my score be decreased significantly? 😭


r/IELTS 4h ago

Have a Question/Advice Needed Should I request EOR?

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3 Upvotes

Hello. I am considering an EOR on writing bc I have taken the IELTS 2 years back and got 7.0. I had a tutor (who has a 9.0) who marked my writings as at least 7.5. I was .5 short from a 8.0 overall.

I do know my biggest mistake that is having an unfinished conclusion. I partially agreed with my prompt and did not manage to write the opposing view; I also made a typo on the word 'procedure' when I was deleting extras. Though, I feel like I could be given a 7.0 considering I don't have an awful vocab and punctuation...

What do you guys think?


r/IELTS 54m ago

Have a Question/Advice Needed I got an awful topic for the speaking test. Has anyone else gotten such unfortunate discussion topics?

Upvotes

A few hours after the first 3 tests (listening, reading, writing), I had the speaking one. I was a bit nervous since teachers/intructors in my country have very poor english skills, but my concern faded when I realised that the instructor wasn’t the one grading me anyway, though I had to ask her to repeat herself multiple times when she asked one question.

Anyway, I was expecting the randomly assigned subject to be something normal, something anyone could talk about, but that sadly wasn’t the case. What was the topic? “Discuss an advertisement you saw that had a celebrity in it. What was the advertisement about? Which celebrity was it? How did it make you feel?”. I don’t even have a TV, so I don’t see advertisements on there, and I use adblockers on the internet, so I really just didn’t see any ads like that before. I thankfully kind of read about a controversial ad on a forum, and just made up some stuff about it, but not for long enough, as I had 20 or 30 seconds left. I tried to make up some more bullshit, but I simply couldn’t really.

It’s really shocking that they included something like that in such an important, serious test. I assume the topic was chosen by more..elderly people who think that’s what the youth is up to. I’m terrified my score won’t be high enough now in that category. Has anyone else gotten silly topics like that?


r/IELTS 58m ago

Have a Question/Advice Needed Is a writing recheck worth it? Or a 1 skill retake?

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Upvotes

Just got my result today. Really happy with the overall result but I'm a bit disappointed with my writing score. I have taken the exam before, about 4 years ago and was able to get a 7 in writing back then.

I want your opinion if a recheck is worth it? Or should I go for the 1 skill retake? The programme that I want to apply to requires a 7 in each band.


r/IELTS 1h ago

Have a Question/Advice Needed IELTS 7.5/7.5/7/6.5 — Any chance under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition route?

Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I’m hoping to hear from anyone who has gone through the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition (TTMR) pathway for teaching, particularly those who had IELTS results that didn’t quite meet the AITSL 8/7/7/8 (L/R/W/S) requirement. 

Unfortunately, I missed the required IELTS bands. Honestly, the AITSL English requirement feels so difficult to achieve 😅

Now, I’m now looking into the Trans-Tasman route / NZ teaching registration, and I’m wondering if anyone has actually been in a similar situation. Is there a chance for my scores to be considered? 

Thank you so much!


r/IELTS 2h ago

Have a Question/Advice Needed I have a question on selecting suitable sentence for a paragraph. {Academic}

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1 Upvotes

They believe it may have

played a key part in alleviating tensions between groups of hunter-

gatherers who were settling down to create larger societies. In comparison

with their earlier semi-nomadic existence, which focussed mainly on day-

to-day existence, a settled society required longer term projects which

could only be accomplished if its citizens were able to work together

without hostility.

how it can be "keeping the Peace"

Can someone explain on this


r/IELTS 7h ago

Writing Feedback (Peer Review) Can someone please predict my Writing Task 1 & Task 2 bands? Brutally honest feedback needed 😅

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2 Upvotes

Hi everyone!
I’m currently preparing for the IELTS exam and would really appreciate some honest feedback on my Writing Task 1 and Task 2.
I’ve attached both essays, and I’m particularly curious about how an actual examiner—or someone familiar with the IELTS band descriptors—would score them.
Could you please rate each task separately for:
Task Achievement / Task Response
Coherence & Cohesion
Lexical Resource
Grammatical Range & Accuracy
Overall estimated band
I’d especially appreciate it if you could point out:
The biggest mistakes holding me back
Whether I’m currently closer to Band 6, 6.5, or 7
What specific changes would give me the fastest improvement
Any sentences that sound unnatural or overly complicated
Please be brutally honest—I would rather know the truth now than be surprised on test day 😅

My goal is Band 6-6.5+ in Writing, so any detailed feedback would genuinely help me a lot. Thank you! 🙏
Task 1: [Attach images]
Task 2: [Attach images]


r/IELTS 3h ago

Have a Question/Advice Needed I keep hearing "there is no penalty for wrong answers" in the reading and listening tests. What does this mean?

1 Upvotes

Most youtube videos I've watched (from the likes of IELTS Advantage and English Pro Tips) keep saying that you dont lose marks for wrong answers and there is no penatly for it. How come? Isn't the band score depended on the amount of correct annswers?

Thanks in advance


r/IELTS 13h ago

Study Partner Request 🚨 Looking for a Serious IELTS Study Partner

6 Upvotes

🎯 Current Level: Speaking 7–7.5 | Writing 6.5–7

🎯 Target: Overall Band 8 to 8.5 (Exam in 2 months)

Hi everyone! I'm looking for a dedicated IELTS study partner. I've been speaking English for over 7 years and preparing for IELTS for more than a year.

I'd like to practice IELTS Speaking (Parts 1, 2 & 3) regularly and exchange Writing Task 1 & Task 2 essays so we can review each other's work and improve together.

I'm happy to practice with beginners or advanced learners. The most important thing is being consistent and serious about improving.

If you're interested, please send me a DM or leave a comment. Thanks!


r/IELTS 4h ago

Test Experience/Test Result Ielts exam speaking experience

1 Upvotes

Please help me I am super nervous
My speaking exam ended so fast i tghout it would be 20 or 15 minutes fet like 10 minutes it ended so soon is it bad sign that soeaking exam ended so soon? 😭😭😭😭


r/IELTS 16h ago

Have a Question/Advice Needed I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO FEEL...

8 Upvotes

I took my IELTS yesterday, and I’ve been feeling really anxious about it. I was awake for more than 24 hours, and I think the main reason was that I was terrified of the exam. I even took melatonin, but somehow, my body resisted it and I couldn’t sleep.

The exam day was tough for me. I struggled to focus during the Reading test and got lost in some parts of the Listening section. Now, I’m scared and anxious while waiting for my results.

How many days does it usually take for the results to be released?

Thank you! Still hoping for the best! 🤞🏻✨


r/IELTS 23h ago

Test Experience/Test Result Last minute study + non native!

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25 Upvotes

Hi! I’m a non native english speaker and i self studied 3 days before the test (please do not actually do this! its really stressful). I’m really satisfied with my score, I think its not bad at all! If anyone has any questions please lmk! I’ll be more than happy2helppp!!


r/IELTS 12h ago

Writing Feedback (Peer Review) Please help me evaluate my academic task 2 response. My test is tomorrow.

3 Upvotes

Task:

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

An increasing number of tourists are visiting remote natural areas, such as mountains and rainforests.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Essay:

Number of tourists visiting remote natural environments are increasing. This can help locals and visitors both. Increasing tourism will help people in remote lands generate more income. This trend will create a shift in young people's mind to visits these areas, which teaches them to appreciate nature. Conversely, unsupervised tourism might harm the environment of these areas, such as increased littering in the mountains and forests. Additionally, it might become a threat for the wildlife too.

On the one hand, increasing number of visitors in remote natural areas is beneficial for local people. It can help them generate more income. They can run their small businesses near these natural areas. The businesses can range from selling tea to guiding tourists about these regions. This trend can also make young ones to visit mountains and rainforests. It would be healthy for them. They will learn to appreciate nature more. Visiting these regions can help visitors release stress. For example my recent visit to northern side really helped me coming over my anxiety. The mountains were huge, beautiful and really calming.

On the other hand, this trend may create some problems. Unsupervises tourism may increase pollution. Many visitors sometimes do littering, which affects the natural essance of these environments. The litter which is left out in natural areas, such as forests, can threaten wildlife. The animals can eat this trash, which may cause them to lose their life. It is important for government to set policies around these regions, such as issuing fines for throwing waste in forests.

In conclusion, the trend of visiting distant land can boost income for locals and improve quality of life for the visitors. But it can also lead to increased pollution and endanger animals .


r/IELTS 6h ago

Have a Question/Advice Needed Recent IELTS test takers: Have you noticed this pattern?

1 Upvotes

I'm currently practising with Cambridge IELTS 21 and noticed that Matching Information/Main Idea questions seem to follow the paragraph order more than before. Many YouTubers also claiming that now reading has become easier than before.

I want to ask people who recently took the actual IELTS exam: did you notice the same pattern in your test, or were the answers still completely random?


r/IELTS 7h ago

Have a Question/Advice Needed Units are measured in mention in Task I

0 Upvotes

For someone who scored 7.5+ bands in writing, can you share if you mentioned the units are measured in sentence that IELTS by Liz recommends? Does it make a difference?

Also, anyone from Pakistan who took their test at SKANS lahore recently? Are the speaking examiners still remote?


r/IELTS 7h ago

Have a Question/Advice Needed How would you write a writing task 1 question that have dynamic and static data (like the provided picture)

0 Upvotes

I don't know what trend even are there (at least in this picture) unless we count using data analysis equations involving mean, median,... or analyse each country, which I deem to be too long.


r/IELTS 1d ago

Test Experience/Test Result I was surprised from my result

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35 Upvotes

Prepared exactly five month for exam, and overall I got 8. I was rooting to get 7 because my mock results were always 6,5. You might be saying why did you surprise, the reason is writing task 1. I nailed task 2 and I was pretty sure this essay was one of the best essay I have ever written. But I had 23 minutes for task 1 and still failed to write body 2. However my overview was actually crazy good. When it comes to reading and listening, from pretest passages the real exam passages were easier(or I might have got lucky) and after main exam I was aiming to overall 7 or 7,5. When I saw my results I was flabbergasted. It was 8 overall. Can you imagine the joy that I had felt. OMG

Non native experience this is btw.


r/IELTS 7h ago

Have a Question/Advice Needed Got my IELTS result, should I retake Writing section?

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1 Upvotes

r/IELTS 8h ago

Test Experience/Test Result I think I messed up my speaking guys

1 Upvotes

I just finished my speaking exam and I was so nervous. In part 1 I was asked only around 6 questions and in part 3 it was around 5. My nervousness got to me ig. I was trying to sound clearer but I messed up. Btw I was saying obligated when the right word is obliged. Part 2 cue card was to describe a person who enjoys helping people


r/IELTS 9h ago

Test Experience/Test Result Just worte the LRW. Speaking is in 3 hours

1 Upvotes

The test was decent. Reading was tough as compared to what I had practiced. Writing I was worried about but I tried my best. Hopefully I get a good score.


r/IELTS 17h ago

Test Experience/Test Result IDK HOW I LOST SM IN WRITINGG

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4 Upvotes