United Kingdom · English test
Start with the free official sample questions on ielts.org. They show every question type, with answer keys. The British Council and IDP, who run the test, both add free practice, and more once you’ve booked with them. If you want real past papers, Cambridge publishes them in its numbered IELTS books. Below we compare those with Magoosh, E2, IELTS Liz and IELTS Advantage, with prices and what’s free checked in October 2026.
Start here. These come from the people who make the test, so the question types and timing are exactly what you’ll get. There are Academic and General Training sets with answer keys, plus a computer-delivered practice test if you’re sitting IELTS on computer.
Checked October 2026
A free practice run at a participating test centre, under conditions close to the real thing. An official IELTS examiner marks it and gives you feedback, and results come back in 13 days. The score isn’t official, so you can’t use it for a visa or a university.
Checked October 2026
If you book your test with the British Council, you get IELTS Ready Premium at no extra cost. It includes practice tests with scores and model answers, a short mock test, self-study courses and webinars. Access usually ends soon after your test date, and the details vary by country, so check your own country’s page.
Checked October 2026
IDP’s own app, where you can also book your test and see your results. A Macquarie University prep course is free for 14 days, then you can pay to upgrade. 4.9 stars from about 2,600 reviews on Google Play. We couldn’t find the iPhone version in the UK App Store, so it may not be available in every country.
Checked October 2026
Four real past Academic papers from Cambridge, published July 2026. You get the Listening audio, answer keys with explanations, sample Writing answers and an example Speaking test video. It’s the closest you’ll get to real papers on paper. Older editions in the series are cheaper and still useful.
Checked October 2026
A self-study course with over 120 video lessons, 850 practice questions and up to 10 mock tests. It includes unlimited AI marking for Speaking and Writing. The six-month plan costs only a little more than one month, so it’s the better deal if you’ve got time.
Checked October 2026
Video lessons, practice and live online classes. The cheaper packages are the course on its own; the higher ones add marked Speaking and Writing tasks, tutorials and a score guarantee. Try the free live class first to see if the teaching style suits you.
Checked October 2026
Run by Liz Ferguson, who has taught IELTS since 2008. The free lessons cover all four parts and are especially strong on Writing Task 2. Paid extras are Writing video lessons at £14 each and e-books at £25 to £33.
Checked October 2026
Run by Chris Pell and a small team of teachers. The main draw is that ex-examiners mark your work, not AI. You start with a $10 diagnostic test that suggests a study plan, and the full VIP course price isn’t shown on the main page.
Checked October 2026
IELTS’s official channel. When an online teacher tells you a rule about the test, this is where you can check it against the people who make it.
Checked October 2026
Explore
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.