IELTS General Training - sample test questions

Open up your world.


Preparing for your IELTS General Training test

We want you to do well in your test. To help you get ready, here are some sample tests for the General Training test.

Listening and Speaking tests are the same for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, but the Reading and Writing tests are different.

With these official practice materials you can:

  • get used to the test format
  • experience the types of tasks involved
  • test yourself under timed conditions
  • review your answers and compare them with model answers.

IELTS General Training - paper sample tests

The General Training Writing test consists of two writing tasks of 150 words and 250 words.

In Task 1, test takers are asked to respond to a situation by writing a letter, for example, requesting information or explaining a situation.

In Task 2, test takers write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem.

General Training Writing sample tasks

Task 1

Task 2



General Training Writing sample script

Find out more about the General Training Writing test

In the Speaking test, you have a discussion with a certified examiner. It is interactive and as close to a real-life situation as a test can get.

There are three parts to the test and each part fulfils a specific function in terms of interaction pattern, task input and test taker output.

In Part 1, you answer questions about yourself and your family. In Part 2, you speak about a topic. In Part 3, you have a longer discussion on the topic.

The Speaking test is the same for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. Each of the three parts is designed to test a different aspect of your communication ability.

Speaking Sample tasks

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Find out more about the Speaking test

IELTS General Training - paper sample tests

The General Training Writing test consists of two writing tasks of 150 words and 250 words.

In Task 1, test takers are asked to respond to a situation by writing a letter, for example, requesting information or explaining a situation.

In Task 2, test takers write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem.

General Training Writing sample tasks

Task 1

Task 2



General Training Writing sample script

Find out more about the General Training Writing test

In the Speaking test, you have a discussion with a certified examiner. It is interactive and as close to a real-life situation as a test can get.

There are three parts to the test and each part fulfils a specific function in terms of interaction pattern, task input and test taker output.

In Part 1, you answer questions about yourself and your family. In Part 2, you speak about a topic. In Part 3, you have a longer discussion on the topic.

The Speaking test is the same for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. Each of the three parts is designed to test a different aspect of your communication ability.

Speaking Sample tasks

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Find out more about the Speaking test

IELTS General Training - computer sample tests

The Listening question types for IELTS on computer are the same as in the IELTS on paper test.

A variety of tasks is used including: multiple choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labelling, form completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, summary completion, sentence completion, short-answer questions.

Multiple choice (one answer)

You will hear an extract from a Part 3 recording in which a student called Judy is discussing her research with her tutor and fellow students.

For each question, click on the correct answer.

Multiple choice (more than one answer)

You will hear an extract from a Part 1 recording in which two people are discussing a guide to a library.

Click on the correct answers.

Matching

You will hear an extract from a Part 2 recording in which a woman is talking to new staff at a children's summer camp.

For each question, click on the correct answer and move it into the gap.

Plan/Map/Diagram Labelling (Type A)

You will hear an extract from Part 2 of the test in which a tour guide describes different places in a US town.

For each question, click on the correct space in the table.

Form completion

You will hear an extract from a Part 1 recording in which a customer is talking to an agent at a company which ships large boxes overseas.

For each question, write your answer in the gap.

Note completion

You will hear an extract from a Part 1 recording in which two people are discussing second-hand furniture.

For each question, write your answer in the gap.

Table completion

You will hear an extract from a Part 4 recording in which a university lecturer is giving a talk about research into ‘learner persistence’.

For each question, write your answer in the gap.

Flow-chart completion (selecting from a list of words or phrases)

You will read an extract from a Part 3 recording in which two biology students are comparing their research on evidence of life on Earth and other planets.

For each question, click on the correct answer and move it into the gap.

Sentence completion

You will hear an extract from a Part 3 recording in which two friends are discussing studying with the Open University.

For each question, write your answer in the gap.

Short-answer questions

You will hear an extract from Part 2 of the test in which a representative from a clothing company is giving a talk to high school students.

For each question, write your answer in the gap.

Find out more about the Listening test

The General Training Reading question types in IELTS on computer are the same as in the IELTS on paper test. A variety of tasks is used including: multiple choice, identifying information (True/False/Not Given), identifying a writer’s views/claims (Yes/No/Not Given), matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, summary completion, note completion, sentence completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion, short-answer questions.

Multiple choice

True/False/Not Given

Matching information

Matching headings

You will read a Part 3 text about how robots are used in the newspaper production process.

For each question, click on the correct answer and move it into the gap.

Matching features

Summary completion

Note completion

Sentence completion

Flow-chart completion (selecting words from the text)

You will read a Part 3 text about how robots are used in the newspaper production process.

For each question, write your answer in the gap.

Find out more about the General Training Reading test

The General Training Writing question types in IELTS on computer are the same as in IELTS on paper.

In Part 1, you are asked to respond to a situation by writing a letter, for example, requesting information or explaining a situation.

In Part 2, you are asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem.

Find out more about the General Training Writing test

IELTS General Training - computer sample tests

The Listening question types for IELTS on computer are the same as in the IELTS on paper test.

A variety of tasks is used including: multiple choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labelling, form completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, summary completion, sentence completion, short-answer questions.

Multiple choice (one answer)

You will hear an extract from a Part 3 recording in which a student called Judy is discussing her research with her tutor and fellow students.

For each question, click on the correct answer.

Multiple choice (more than one answer)

You will hear an extract from a Part 1 recording in which two people are discussing a guide to a library.

Click on the correct answers.

Matching

You will hear an extract from a Part 2 recording in which a woman is talking to new staff at a children's summer camp.

For each question, click on the correct answer and move it into the gap.

Plan/Map/Diagram Labelling (Type A)

You will hear an extract from Part 2 of the test in which a tour guide describes different places in a US town.

For each question, click on the correct space in the table.

Form completion

You will hear an extract from a Part 1 recording in which a customer is talking to an agent at a company which ships large boxes overseas.

For each question, write your answer in the gap.

Note completion

You will hear an extract from a Part 1 recording in which two people are discussing second-hand furniture.

For each question, write your answer in the gap.

Table completion

You will hear an extract from a Part 4 recording in which a university lecturer is giving a talk about research into ‘learner persistence’.

For each question, write your answer in the gap.

Flow-chart completion (selecting from a list of words or phrases)

You will read an extract from a Part 3 recording in which two biology students are comparing their research on evidence of life on Earth and other planets.

For each question, click on the correct answer and move it into the gap.

Sentence completion

You will hear an extract from a Part 3 recording in which two friends are discussing studying with the Open University.

For each question, write your answer in the gap.

Short-answer questions

You will hear an extract from Part 2 of the test in which a representative from a clothing company is giving a talk to high school students.

For each question, write your answer in the gap.

Find out more about the Listening test

The General Training Reading question types in IELTS on computer are the same as in the IELTS on paper test. A variety of tasks is used including: multiple choice, identifying information (True/False/Not Given), identifying a writer’s views/claims (Yes/No/Not Given), matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, summary completion, note completion, sentence completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion, short-answer questions.

Multiple choice

True/False/Not Given

Matching information

Matching headings

You will read a Part 3 text about how robots are used in the newspaper production process.

For each question, click on the correct answer and move it into the gap.

Matching features

Summary completion

Note completion

Sentence completion

Flow-chart completion (selecting words from the text)

You will read a Part 3 text about how robots are used in the newspaper production process.

For each question, write your answer in the gap.

Find out more about the General Training Reading test

The General Training Writing question types in IELTS on computer are the same as in IELTS on paper.

In Part 1, you are asked to respond to a situation by writing a letter, for example, requesting information or explaining a situation.

In Part 2, you are asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem.

Find out more about the General Training Writing test

Are you ready?

Want to see if you are ready to take the test? IELTS Progress Check is the official preparation tool for IELTS tests. Scored by real IELTS Examiners, our online practice tests give you the opportunity to check your progress and boost your confidence ahead of the real thing.

Where can you go?

See where an IELTS result could take you.

Book your Test

Ready? Book your IELTS test now.

Test Day

Our tips for a great experience.

appapprovedarrow-breadcrumbsarrow-down-redarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-right-whitearrow-rightarrow-uparticlebritish-council-logo-blackbritish-council-logo-whitecambridge-logo-whitecheck-markchevron-leftclosecomputer-blackcomputercoursecrossdatedownload-whitedownloadebookemailexternal-whiteexternalfb-logo-whiteglobe-blackglobe-roundglobeidp-logo-blackidp-logo-whiteielts-logo-whiteig-logo-whitelinkedin-logo-whitenewsosrpaper-blackpaperpersonphonesearch-iconsmiletest-blacktest-centretestthumbs-uptimeuk-flag-roundus-flag-roundvideowebinaryt-logo-white