Where can I find past IELTS questions and practice tests?
Facts last checked against official sources on October 7, 2026.
Short answer
IELTS’s official sites offer sample questions and practice tests rather than past exams. Work with the free sample questions on ielts.org, the free practice materials from IELTS partners British Council and IDP, and Cambridge’s “Cambridge IELTS” practice test books.
Free official resources
- ielts.org: sample questions and answers for every section of Academic and General Training, plus videos on how Writing is scored.
- British Council and IDP: the organisations that run IELTS together; they offer free practice materials on their own sites.
Books
Cambridge is also an IELTS partner and publishes paid “Cambridge IELTS” books with full practice tests and answer keys. Material from other publishers may not match the format exactly.
How to study with practice tests
- Do Listening and Reading under real timing and turn your marks into a band with the band calculator.
- Academic and General Training use different Reading tables; practise with tests for your own module.
- For Writing and Speaking, assess yourself against the official band descriptors or get feedback.
Sources
Dates and rules can change. Check the organiser’s official page before you apply; that page is binding.
Start preparing for IELTS today
Take the free level test to see where you stand; Prepina builds a 10–20 minute daily plan around your exam date.