Get ready for your IELTS General Training Writing test with free practice tests from the British Council.
Preparing for your IELTS General Training Reading test
We want you to feel well prepared before you sit your test. These official sample materials are designed for the IELTS General Training Reading test, which has a different format from the Academic version.
General Training Reading uses texts from everyday sources — notices, advertisements, workplace documents, and longer descriptive or instructive passages. With these official practice materials you can:
- get used to the General Training Reading test format and its three sections
- practise reading the kinds of texts you'd encounter in everyday and workplace settings
- complete reading tasks under timed, test-like conditions
- check your answers against model responses to understand what the examiner is looking for.
IELTS General Training - computer sample tests
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 (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.
For each question, click on the correct answers.
Downloads
- Listening Sample task Multiple Choice (more than one answer) Answer Key (PDF, 0.02mb) Download file
- Listening Sample task Multiple Choice (more than one answer) Recording Transcript (PDF, 0.07mb) Download file
True/False/Not Given
Click on the correct answers.
Downloads
- General Training Sample task - True/False/Not Given - Answer key (PDF, 0.05mb) Download file
Matching information
Click on the correct answers.
- General Training Sample task - Matching information - Answer key (PDF, 0.15mb) Download file
Downloads
- General Training Sample task - Matching features - Answer key (PDF, 0.05mb) Download file
- General Training Sample task - Note completion - Answer key (PDF, 0.06mb) Download file
Downloads
- Sentence completion - Answer key (PDF, 0.23mb) Download file
Ready for a full test? Try the IELTS on computer practice experience
The practice experience will show you how everything will look on your computer ahead of the test day. The sample below uses IELTS Academic questions so while you won’t get to practise General Training questions, you will get to familiarise yourself with the test platform.
As these are practice tests, they are not timed. There are some variations from the live tests, including the timer, highlighting, and notes functions performing differently.
Even more IELTS General Training - paper sample tests
A variety of tasks is used including: multiple-choice questions, identifying information, identifying writer’s views/claims, matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, sentence completion, summary completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion, short-answer questions.
Downloads
- General Training Reading sample tasks (PDF, 0.85mb) Download file
- General Training Reading answer sheet (PDF, 0.70mb) Download file
Access more practice tests for free with IELTS Ready
When you book your IELTS test with the British Council, you’ll be able to access more than 40 practice tests covering every skill.
You may also be interested in
Prepare for your IELTS Academic Listening test with free practice tests from the British Council.
Prepare for your IELTS Academic Speaking test with free practice tests from the British Council.
Useful tips for you to plan and take the IELTS Academic reading test.