Free practice test

Tests

Driving testsCitizenship testsSchool and university admissionsNursing, medicine and healthEnglish and French testsTeachingMoney, law and insuranceTrades and work licencesPilots, drones, boats and radio

Countries

United StatesCanadaUnited KingdomAustraliaNew Zealand

United Kingdom · English test

How many questions are on IELTS, and what’s the pass mark?

Listening has 40 questions and Reading has 40. Writing has two tasks and Speaking is an interview in three parts. There’s no pass mark. You get a band from 1 to 9, and whoever asks for your IELTS score decides the band you need. That goes for General Training too.

Free practice test

Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

The four sections

SectionWhat you doTime
Listening40 questions on 4 recordings, each heard onceAbout 30 minutes
Reading40 questions. Academic: three long texts. General Training: everyday and workplace texts60 minutes, including transfer time
Writing2 tasks: at least 150 words for Task 1, at least 250 for Task 260 minutes
SpeakingFace-to-face interview with an examiner, in 3 parts11 to 14 minutes

The total test time is 2 hours 45 minutes. Listening and Speaking are the same in Academic and General Training. Reading and Writing are different.

Why there’s no pass mark

IELTS reports a band for each section and an overall band, from 1 (non-user) to 9 (expert), in whole and half bands. It doesn’t say pass or fail.

The band you need depends on what you’re applying for. Universities set their own entry scores, often with a minimum in each section. Immigration authorities set theirs by visa type. Always check the exact requirement, overall and per section, before you book.

UK visa examples, as of October 2026

VisaLevelIELTS for UKVI score
Skilled Worker, Health and Care WorkerB25.5 in each section
Student, degree level or aboveEquivalent to B25.5 in each section (IELTS or IELTS for UKVI)
Student, below degree levelB14.0 in each section
British citizenship, indefinite leave to remainB1 (speaking and listening)IELTS Life Skills B1: Pass

For most UK visas you need IELTS for UKVI, not standard IELTS. UKVI asks for a minimum in every section, not just overall.

  • Some people already on a route before 8 January 2026 who are only extending can still use B1. Check GOV.UK for your visa.
  • Universities can ask for more than the visa minimum, and many do.

How many right answers make a band?

BandListeningAcademic ReadingGeneral Training Reading
5161523
6232330
7303035
83535Not published

Each right answer in Listening and Reading is worth 1 mark out of 40. IELTS publishes average marks for some bands. The exact number changes a little from one test version to another.

Explore

Everything else, in one place

OverviewIELTSScoringHow IELTS band scores workBook IELTSHow to book your IELTS test in the UKCostHow much does IELTS cost in the UK?What to bringWhat to bring to your IELTS testOnline testCan you take IELTS online?ResultsIELTS results: when they come out and how to check themWriting testIELTS Writing: Task 1 and Task 2Speaking testIELTS Speaking: the three parts and the cue cardListening testIELTS Listening: four parts, 40 questionsReading testIELTS Reading: Academic and General TrainingAcademic or General Training?IELTS Academic vs General TrainingIELTS for CanadaIELTS for Canada: CLB levels and Express EntryTest dates and centresIELTS test dates and test centresLife Skills (A1, A2, B1)IELTS Life Skills: A1, A2 and B1One Skill RetakeIELTS One Skill Retake: resit just one sectionOfficial samplesOfficial IELTS sample test questionsPractice testIELTS practice testWhere to learnWhere to prepare for IELTSStudy plannerIELTS study planner
Sources: IELTS and 4 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.