Want to check your reading and listening skills before you take IELTS? Our English self-assessment tool now gives you the flexibility to choose between IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training questions.
Get familiar with the IELTS test that matches your goals.
The English self-assessment tool helps you prepare with confidence by showing what you do well and what you need to work on before your test.
Try the English self-assessment tool.
What is the English self-assessment tool?
The English self-assessment tool is like a mini IELTS practice test that you can use to check where you stand before you take the real IELTS test. Discover which skills you are strong in and which ones need more practice.
We’ve designed it to help you get familiar with some of the questions in the Reading and Listening sections of the test, so you know what to expect on test day.
Once you’ve completed the questions, we’ll share tips and learning resources to help you work towards your target IELTS band score.
How the English self-assessment tool works
We recommend allowing around 25 minutes to complete the English self-assessment tool questions, but the time needed may vary depending on your English level.
As in the real IELTS test, you will hear each Listening audio only once.
However, because this is a practice tool, you can move between the different question sets at your own pace.
Step-by-step guide
Here’s how it works:
Access the English self-assessment tool for free in our IELTS Prepare Hub.
Complete 20 Reading and Listening questions.
Log in or create an account to receive your results and preparation resources.
Review your score, feedback, answers and suggested next steps.
When and how to use it
You can use the English self-assessment tool at different times during your IELTS journey.
Before you book your test, to see how ready you are and understand what to expect.
At the start of your IELTS preparation to set a baseline.
During your preparation as a checkpoint to track your progress.
How the English self-assessment tool can help you
Understand how ready you are for the IELTS test
The English self-assessment tool helps you understand your current Reading and Listening skills so you can make informed decisions about how much preparation you need before you take your IELTS test.
Practise IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training Reading questions
The IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training tests use the same question types in the Listening and Speaking sections. However, the Writing tasks and Reading texts are different.
When it comes to Reading, the IELTS General Training Reading test focuses on texts that you would need to be able to understand when living in an English-speaking country. It includes both everyday and work topics as well as descriptive texts on topics of general interest.
Our English self-assessment tool now includes extracts from IELTS General Training texts, such as a notice for participants in a long-distance bike ride and a description of a newspaper company’s production process.
The IELTS Academic test focuses on topics that are of general interest to students at undergraduate and postgraduate level. If you choose to practise IELTS Academic questions with the English self-assessment tool, you’ll find texts on topics such as traffic behaviour and the life of the scientist Marie Curie.
Our English self-assessment tool helps you practise the test type that’s right for you so you can feel ready and supported.
The English self-assessment tool is available on both our website and the IELTS by IDP app.
Build confidence for life abroad
When you take the English self-assessment tool, you’re not just preparing for IELTS, you’re preparing for real life.
Familiarising yourself with IELTS General Training questions helps you build the English skills needed for work and everyday situations, such as finding specific information in a notice or following conversations.
Practising IELTS Academic questions prepares you for success at university by helping you develop skills such as listening for the main points during a talk or lecture and identifying a writer’s point of view in a text.
IELTS Academic vs IELTS General Training: Which test do I need to take?
Not sure which IELTS test is right for you? Here is a summary of the key differences.
Different purposes, different goals
The IELTS General Training test assesses your ability to use English in everyday and work-related situations. You might need to take it if you plan to live or work in an English-speaking country.
On the other hand, the IELTS Academic test assesses your English for academic environments, so you may need to take it for university study or professional registration.
Who IELTS General Training is designed for
The IELTS General Training test might be the best option for you if you:
are applying for a job in an English-speaking country or environment.
are planning to migrate to an English-speaking country.
are applying to study at high school or below-degree level (e.g. vocational training or diploma) in an English-speaking country.
If you’re unsure which test to take, check with the organisation you’re applying to, and they can confirm which one they accept.
Try the updated English self-assessment tool today
Whether you’re new to the IELTS General Training test or want to check your progress while preparing, the English self-assessment tool is here to help you take the next steps in your IELTS journey.