Want to know your IELTS Academic Reading band before exam day? Take this free IELTS Academic Reading mock test under real conditions: three passages, 40 questions and 60 minutes. When you submit, you get your score, an estimated band and an explanation for every answer, so you can see exactly where you lost marks.
Choose Timed test for exam-day practice or Practice mode to work without the clock. Your answers are saved in your browser, so you can come back later if you close the page.
What is in this IELTS reading mock test?
| Part | Topic | Questions | Question types |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passage 1 | The history of the pencil | 1 to 13 | TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN, note completion |
| Passage 2 | How sleep shapes memory | 14 to 26 | Matching headings, multiple choice, summary completion |
| Passage 3 | Rethinking choice overload | 27 to 40 | YES/NO/NOT GIVEN, multiple choice, matching people |
The passages get harder as you go, just like the real Academic Reading paper. Passage 3 is written as an argument, so you need to follow the writer’s opinion as well as the facts.
How this mock test is marked
Each correct answer earns one mark, giving a raw score out of 40. That score is converted into an estimated band using the typical Academic Reading conversion: 30 correct is about band 7, 23 is about band 6 and 15 is about band 5. Real IELTS tests adjust the table slightly for difficulty, so treat your result as a guide rather than a guarantee.
| Correct answers | Estimated band |
|---|---|
| 39 to 40 | 9 |
| 35 to 36 | 8 |
| 30 to 32 | 7 |
| 23 to 26 | 6 |
| 15 to 18 | 5 |
| 10 to 12 | 4 |
Tips before you start
- Spend about 20 minutes on each passage, and leave a little extra for Passage 3.
- Read the questions before the passage so you know what you are scanning for.
- For TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN, use only what the passage says, never your own knowledge.
- In completion questions, copy words exactly from the passage and keep to the word limit.
- Do not leave blanks. Wrong answers lose no marks in IELTS.
What to do after your result
Check every wrong answer in the review and find the line in the passage that proves the correct answer. If TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN cost you marks, read our guide to TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN vs YES/NO/NOT GIVEN. If you ran out of time, practise skimming and scanning. For more passages, try our full-length IELTS Academic Reading practice tests, and for a complete plan, see how to prepare for IELTS.
FAQs
Is this IELTS mock test free?
Yes. There is no sign-up or payment, and your progress is saved in your browser.
Is the band score accurate?
It is an estimate based on the standard Academic Reading conversion. Official tables vary slightly from test to test, so a result within half a band either way is normal.
Is this the same as the computer-delivered IELTS Reading test?
The format, question types and 60-minute timing match the Academic Reading paper, and you type your answers as you would on screen. The passages are original practice material written by English Language Studies, not official IELTS content.
Can I use this test for IELTS General Training?
The question types are the same, but General Training passages are taken from everyday and workplace texts and the band conversion is different. Use this test for Academic practice.
How can I improve my IELTS Reading score quickly?
Review every mistake until you understand why the key is correct, practise one question type at a time, and take full timed tests every week. Most candidates improve fastest on TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN and matching headings.