Free IELTS Academic Practice Test 2027: Full Mock With Answers and Band Score
This is a free IELTS Academic practice test with answers you can take at home, under real exam conditions: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, with band-score tables at the end. Set aside 2 hours 45 minutes and do not pause the timer.
Every question here is original MissMono material — not real IELTS test items. Format, timings and tables follow the official IELTS format, verified in November 2026: see the official IELTS site and the British Council's test-format guide.
One honest difference from the real test. The Reading passages here are shortened practice versions of around 200 words each; real Academic passages run to about 700–900 words.
Photo by Mike on Pexels
How to take this mock — timings
Listening 30 min → Reading 60 min → Writing 60 min → 30-minute break → Speaking 11–14 min. Total: 2 hours 45 minutes. Task 1: at least 150 words (20 min). Task 2: at least 250 words (40 min). About 20 minutes per Reading passage.
Scoring: Listening and Reading: 1 mark per correct answer, no penalty — never leave a blank. Writing and Speaking need a teacher to mark.
Listening — Questions 1–10
Read the transcript once, then cover it and answer from memory.
Transcript: A student phones a language school
Receptionist: Good morning, City Language School. Student: Hello. I'd like to join your IELTS preparation course, please. Receptionist: Of course. The next course starts Monday 12 January, runs eight weeks, with classes Tuesday and Thursday evenings, six to eight. Student: How much does it cost? Receptionist: The full course is £240, including materials and two practice tests. Student: And where are the classes held? Receptionist: In Room 4 on the second floor of our main building on Station Road. Central station is about five minutes' walk away. Student: Can I pay by card? Receptionist: Yes, online or at reception. A £50 deposit reserves your place; the rest is due before the first class. Student: Is there a discount for students? Receptionist: Yes, full-time students get ten per cent off with a valid student card.
Questions 1–5 (A–D).
1. The course starts on A. Mon 12 January B. Tue 13 January C. Thu 15 January D. Mon 19 January
2. Classes are held on A. Mon and Wed evenings B. Tue and Thu evenings C. Saturday mornings D. weekday afternoons
3. The full course costs A. £50 B. £190 C. £240 D. £290
4. The classes are held in A. Room 4, 2nd floor, Station Road B. Room 2, ground floor, Station Road C. Room 4, 1st floor, Central Station D. Room 6, 2nd floor, Station Road
5. Full-time students get a discount of A. 5% B. 10% C. 15% D. 20%
Questions 6–10: Complete the sentences (NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER).
6. The course runs for ______ weeks. 7. Each class lasts ______ hours. 8. Central station is about ______ away. 9. A deposit of ______ is needed to reserve a place. 10. Students must show a valid ______ to get the discount.
Reading — Questions 1–40
Passage 1: Green roofs
Questions 1–13.
In the last twenty years, green roofs — roofs covered with soil and plants — have spread across cities from London to Singapore. Supporters give three reasons. The first is environmental: plants absorb rainwater, so less runs into drains during heavy storms, and the soil layer insulates, cutting heating and cooling costs. The second is ecological: a green roof can support insects and birds where there is almost no other habitat. The third is social — workers and residents use the space to relax, and some grow herbs and vegetables there.
Critics warn the idea has limits. A green roof costs more to build and needs regular maintenance: without watering and weeding, the plants die. Weight is another problem — older buildings may not be strong enough to carry wet soil. So most experts say green roofs work best on new buildings, designed for the extra load. The most successful projects are modest: a small planted area with solar panels and rainwater tanks, so the roof earns its cost back through lower bills.
Questions 1–4 (A–D).
1. Green roofs help in heavy rain because plants A. store water B. absorb rainwater C. clear drains D. pump water
2. Green roofs support wildlife by A. replacing parks B. providing scarce habitat C. attracting rare birds D. protecting insects
3. A problem with older buildings is that they A. cannot fit panels B. are too tall C. may not carry wet soil D. cost too much
4. The writer's overall view is that green roofs work best when A. covering the whole roof B. combined with panels and tanks C. built only on offices D. grown for food
Questions 5–9: True / False / Not Given
5. Green roofs have been common for over fifty years. 6. The soil layer can reduce heating and cooling costs. 7. Most green roofs are on hospitals. 8. Without maintenance, the plants can die. 9. Green roofs always pay for themselves in one year.
Questions 10–13: Sentence completion (NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS).
10. Green roofs are covered with soil and ______. 11. The second reason supporters give is ______. 12. Older buildings may not be strong enough to carry ______ soil. 13. The most successful projects combine a planted area with solar panels and ______ tanks.
Passage 2: Why we remember faces
Questions 14–26.
A. Most people recognise a familiar face in a fraction of a second, even after many years — yet forget names within minutes of an introduction. This gap between face memory and name memory is one of psychology's most reliable findings.
B. The explanation begins in the brain. A small region near its base, the fusiform face area, responds far more strongly to faces than to any other object. Damage here can leave a person unable to recognise even close family, while other memory stays normal.
C. Faces are also remembered as whole patterns, not lists of features. People recognise a face faster than they can name its parts, and turning a photo upside down makes recognition much harder — which does not happen with most other objects.
D. Names, by contrast, are arbitrary labels. Nothing about the sound "Smith" connects it to a person's appearance, so the brain has no pattern to hold on to. People remember an occupation far more easily than a name, because an occupation — baker, teacher, driver — comes with a ready-made image.
E. The practical lesson is simple: link a new name to something visual — picture the person doing their job, or connect the name to a rhyme or an image. Repetition helps too, but only if you use the name in conversation within the first minute; silent repetition is far less effective.
Questions 14–18: Matching headings — choose the correct heading (i–vii) for paragraphs A–E.
List of headings i. A brain region for faces ii. Why names are hard to keep iii. Faces as whole patterns iv. How to remember a new name v. The gap between faces and names vi. Why childhood faces fade fastest vii. Faces and memory in old age
14. Paragraph A 15. Paragraph B 16. Paragraph C 17. Paragraph D 18. Paragraph E
Questions 19–21 (A–D).
19. Face memory and name memory differ because A. faces are easier to describe B. people meet more faces C. faces are recognised fast, names forgotten fast D. names change often
20. Damage to the fusiform face area can leave a person A. unable to remember anything B. unable to recognise faces C. unable to speak D. unable to see colours
21. People remember occupations more easily than names because an occupation A. is on a name badge B. comes with a ready-made image C. is shorter than most names D. is repeated more often
Questions 22–26: Sentence completion (NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS).
22. The fusiform face area is a small region near the ______ of the brain. 23. People recognise a face faster when it is shown ______. 24. There is nothing about the sound "Smith" that connects it to a person's ______. 25. Silent repetition is far ______ effective than using the name in conversation. 26. Turning a photograph upside down makes recognition much ______.
Passage 3: The deep-sea mining debate
Questions 27–40.
The ocean floor holds potato-sized lumps of metal called polymetallic nodules, rich in cobalt, nickel and copper — metals needed for electric-car batteries and wind turbines. Mining companies want to collect them with machines that crawl across the seabed, vacuuming up the nodules. Supporters say the metals are essential for green energy, and that seabed mining damages a smaller area than new mines on land.
Opponents argue the damage is poorly understood and probably irreversible. The deep sea is the largest habitat on Earth, yet scientists have explored only a tiny fraction of it — new species are found on almost every research dive. The machines would also stir up sediment that could smother animals far beyond the site, and the noise could disturb whales.
Governments are divided. Some Pacific island nations, which would earn royalties from mining in their waters, support it. Others, including several European countries, want a pause until scientists understand the risks. The International Seabed Authority, which regulates mining in international waters, has been working on a rulebook for years — but has not finished it, and a few companies want to start before the rules are ready.
Questions 27–31: True / False / Not Given
27. Polymetallic nodules contain cobalt, nickel and copper. 28. Supporters say seabed mining damages a larger area than land mining. 29. Scientists have explored most of the deep sea. 30. Mining machines would stir up sediment harming animals beyond the site. 31. The International Seabed Authority has finished its mining rulebook.
Questions 32–35 (A–D).
32. Mining companies want the nodules for metals needed for A. jewellery and coins B. car batteries and wind turbines C. building ships D. making plastics
33. Opponents argue the damage from seabed mining is A. small and easy to repair B. poorly understood, probably irreversible C. limited to the mining site D. less than fishing damage
34. New species on almost every dive suggests the deep sea is A. fully explored B. poorly explored C. empty of life D. too deep for mining
35. Some Pacific island nations support mining because they would earn A. new ships B. research funding C. royalties D. fishing rights
Questions 36–40: Sentence completion (NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS).
36. The nodules are potato-sized lumps of ______. 37. The deep sea is the ______ habitat on Earth. 38. The noise from mining could disturb ______. 39. The International Seabed Authority regulates mining in ______ waters. 40. A few companies are pressing to start before the ______ are ready.
Photo by Andy Barbour on Pexels
Writing — Tasks 1 and 2
Task 1 (at least 150 words, about 20 minutes)
The table shows the percentage of households with internet access in four countries in 2010 and 2025. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
South Korea 82% → 98%; United Kingdom 73% → 97%; Brazil 34% → 81%; Pakistan 11% → 46%.
Band 9 model outline (not a full essay — full Task 2 models are in our education essays):
- Overview: access rose everywhere; South Korea and the UK near-universal; Brazil rose fastest; Pakistan lowest.
- Main features: South Korea 82% → 98%, UK 73% → 97%; Brazil 34% → 81% (largest rise, +47); Pakistan 11% → 46% (fourfold, still below half). The gap between highest and lowest fell from 71 points to 52.
Task 2 (at least 250 words, about 40 minutes)
Some people think governments should ban cars from city centres. Others believe this would damage businesses and inconvenience residents. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Band 9 model outline:
- Introduction: paraphrase the debate; state your position — a ban works only if public transport is improved first.
- View 1 (ban): cleaner air, less congestion, safer streets.
- View 2 (against): shops lose drivers; deliveries need vehicles; less-mobile residents suffer.
- Your opinion + conclusion: support restricted zones plus buses, trams and cycle lanes, with exemptions for deliveries and disabled drivers — restriction, not a blanket ban, is the answer.
Speaking — Parts 1, 2 and 3
Part 1 (4–5 minutes)
Answer in 2–3 sentences each.
- Where do you live, and what do you like about it?
- Do you prefer studying alone or with other people? Why?
Part 2 (3–4 minutes, including 1 minute of preparation)
Describe a person who taught you something important. You should say who the person is, what they taught you, how they taught you, and why it was important to you.
Take 1 minute to prepare, then speak for 1–2 minutes and record yourself. Pick one clear story and follow it through.
Part 3 (4–5 minutes)
- Do you think the best teachers are born or made?
- How has technology changed the way people learn?
Answer key
Listening: 1. A. 2. B. 3. C. 4. A. 5. B. 6. eight. 7. two. 8. five minutes'. 9. £50. 10. student card.
Passage 1: 1. B. 2. B. 3. C. 4. B. 5. False. 6. True. 7. Not Given. 8. True. 9. Not Given. 10. plants. 11. ecological. 12. wet. 13. rainwater.
Passage 2: 14. v. 15. i. 16. iii. 17. ii. 18. iv. 19. C. 20. B. 21. B. 22. base. 23. whole. 24. appearance. 25. less. 26. harder.
Passage 3: 27. True. 28. False. 29. False. 30. True. 31. False. 32. B. 33. B. 34. B. 35. C. 36. metal. 37. largest. 38. whales. 39. international. 40. rules.
Your band score
Band 9.0: 39–40 correct (Reading and Listening). 8.0: 35–36. 7.0: 30–32. 6.0: 23–26. 5.0: 16–19.
Published conversions; boundaries vary slightly by version. For Band 7, aim for 32–33 in practice. See our practice tests hub and Reading test.
Frequently asked questions
Are these real IELTS questions?
No. Every question in this mock is original MissMono practice material, written in the style of the real test. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the British Council, IDP IELTS or Cambridge. Use it to practise timing and technique, not to predict the exact questions you will meet on test day.
Why are the Reading passages shorter than the real test?
Each passage here is around 200 words, so you can finish the whole mock in one sitting. Real IELTS Academic Reading passages are about 700–900 words each. Once you are comfortable with the question types here, practise with full-length passages too — our Reading test and practice tests hub will help.
How do I work out my band score?
Count your correct answers in Reading and Listening, then use the band table above. For Band 7, aim for 30–32 correct in Reading — 32–33 in practice gives you a safety margin, because the exact boundaries vary slightly between test versions. Writing and Speaking have no fixed answer key; compare your work with the Band 9 model essays and the public band descriptors.
Is this mock test free?
Yes — the full mock, the answer key and the band-score table are all free on this page, with nothing to sign up for.
How should I use this mock?
Take it under timed conditions, in one sitting, exactly as you would the real test. Then mark it with the answer key, note your weakest skill, and practise that skill with our Reading test and Listening test before your next timed attempt.
What to do next
- Score Reading and Listening above, and note your weakest skill.
- Practise it with our Reading test and Listening test.
- Read the Band 9 model essays before your next timed Writing attempt.
IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP IELTS and Cambridge University Press & Assessment; this page is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.