[2025] 160+ IELTS Exam Preparation Resources

We recently published a list of resources to prepare for the TOEFL exam, including online courses, practice websites, mobile apps, youtube videos, vocabulary flashcards, podcasts, and guide books for prospective students or immigrants to some English-speaking countries.

Another standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native English speakers is IELTS (International English Language Testing System). Submitting IELTS results is essential as a proof of your English abilities when you plan to apply for migration, study, or work in Australia, the UK, Canada, or New Zealand.

IELTS is even more popular than TOEFL with more than 4 million tests taken in 2023 and higher interest worldwide in Google Trends, as seen in the screenshot below.

Google Trends graph showing IELTS is 2-4 times more popular than TOEFL over the last 5 years — IELTS vs TOEFL on Google Trends

Class Central lists over 2,500 online courses to learn a new language at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. We also regularly publish collections including the list of Free University Courses to Learn a New Language.

For English, we have published Learn English as a Second Language (ESL) with Hundreds of Courses and Sites. Or you may be interested in the GMAT Exam (for graduate management students) or GRE exam (for graduate students planning to study in English-speaking countries). And here is a list of paid and free resources specifically for IELTS. You can find online courses, practice websites, mobile apps, YouTube playlists, and guides and books.

Index

Click on a category to jump to the corresponding section and resources.

About the IELTS Exam

IELTS has been managed by the British Council, IDP Education and Cambridge Assessment English since 1989. It is accepted by over 12,500 organizations worldwide, including universities, colleges, government departments, immigration authorities, multinational companies, and many more.

Paper-based IELTS vs. Computer-based IELTS

You can take the IELTS on paper or on the computer. They are the same in test format, question types, time duration, content, and registration fees. The only difference is writing answers on paper with an HB-pencil or typing on the screen. The Speaking part is completed face-to-face with an IELTS examiner in both approaches. There is no need to use your own computer as the test center will supply it for the computer-delivered IELTS test.

The advantage of taking IELTS on the computer is that you can receive your results 3 to 5 days after the test while getting results from the paper-based test takes 13 days.

IELTS Online

You can take an online IELTS Academic test from your own computer in more than 80 countries. Test format is the same as the paper or computer-based tests in a testing center. You will receive your results in 3-6 days. The Speaking test is with a human examiner, via video call. The General training IELTS exam is currently not available in the online version, so you would still need to go to a test center. Before you book, contact the organisation you’re applying to and confirm that they accept the online version of the test. For example, IELTS Online is not accepted by immigration authorities.

IELTS Test Types and Formats

The IELTS test includes four parts: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. And there are two different IELTS modules: Academic and General Training. The Academic module and General Training module share the same Speaking and Listening tests but are different in the Reading and Writing tests. Here, you can find the detailed differences in format of two types of tests. If you are interested in studying or living in the UK, you may only need the UKVI or Life Skills versions, which relate specifically to the UK. For the Life Skills test, you only need to demonstrate your speaking and listening skills.

	Content	No. of Questions	Time duration
Listening	2 conversations 2 monologues	40	30 min
Academic Reading	3 long texts	40	60 min
General Training Reading	Section 1: 2-3 short texts Section 2: 2 texts Section 3: 1 long text	40	60 min
Academic Writing	Task 1: Describe visual information Task 2: Respond to a point of view or argument or problem	2	60 min
General Training Writing	Task 1: Respond to a situation Task 2: Respond to a point of view or argument or problem	2	60 min
Speaking	Part 1: General questions Part 2: Particular topic Part 3: Further questions about the topic in Part 2	3	11 – 14 min

Results

You do not pass or fail IELTS. After your test, you receive a proficiency rating between Band 1 (non-user) and Band 9 (expert user), stepped in half-bands. Organizations and institutions set the minimum band needed by applicants. Some online courses also recommend a minimum IELTS score, such as A Beginner’s Guide to Writing in English for University Study which recommends an IELTS score of 4.5 or higher.

If your results in one section of the IELTS were disappointing, you have the option to retake one of the four skills tests: Listening, Reading, Writing, or Speaking. You have 60 days from the full IELTS test to meet your English language requirements without needing to retake the complete test with IELTS One Skill Retake.

IELTS Test Fees

Book IELTS test

IELTS registration fee is different depending on where you book the test, and sometimes may be different for the paper-based and computer-based test. At the time of writing, booking an IELTS test costs 280-345 USD in the US, 445-545 (most commonly 460) AUD in Australia, and ₹ 17250 in India.

Transfer IELTS test date

You can only transfer the test date once. It’s free of charge if you transfer the test date five weeks before the scheduled test date. But, if you transfer less than five weeks before the scheduled test date, you will be charged a 25% administration fee. You have no chance to transfer less than three days before the scheduled test date.

Cancel IELTS test

Canceling the test five weeks before the scheduled test date means you can be eligible for a refund of 75% of the test fee. But less than five weeks means zero refund.

Exceptional Circumstances

Some exceptional circumstances may allow you to transfer or cancel. These include serious medical conditions (with a medical certificate), recent family bereavement, and special hardship. You need to submit your application for consideration promptly, including supporting documents.

IELTS Exam Preparation Resources

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