IELTS preparation websites and online resources
IELTS preparation websites worth using
The official IELTS websites first, then independent preparation sites — what each offers by its own description, and how to use them together.
By Stride team · Published 15 October 2026
There are hundreds of IELTS websites, and they don't all agree. A good rule is to start with the official sites, which publish the test's rules and official practice material, and then add one or two independent sites for extra lessons and practice.
This page lists the three official IELTS partner sites first, then independent websites that learners widely use. For each one we checked the official address and how the site describes itself, and we looked at a sample of its public pages. We didn't buy courses or compare prices.
How we chose these
This is an editorial selection, not a ranking. It lists the three official IELTS partner sites first because they publish the exam's rules and official practice material, then independent websites that IELTS learners widely use and that we observed directly. For each site we checked the official URL and its own description on 15 October 2026, and we reviewed a sample of its public pages with Stride's research crawler (topics covered, kinds of material). We didn't create accounts, buy courses or check prices, so pricing isn't compared. Order after the official sites is alphabetical.
Stride is our own product; it isn't included in this list.
Figures checked on 15 October 2026.
The websites
| Resource | Best for | Free or paid | Skills |
|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS (official site) | Checking official rules and finding official preparation material | freemium | — |
| Take IELTS — British Council | Checking official rules and finding official preparation material | freemium | — |
| IELTS by IDP | Checking official rules and finding official preparation material | freemium | — |
| IELTS Advantage | Self-study alongside official material | — | — |
| IELTS Liz | Self-study alongside official material | — | — |
| IELTS Mentor | Self-study alongside official material | — | — |
| IELTS Online Tests | Self-study alongside official material | — | — |
| IELTS for Free | Self-study alongside official material | — | — |
| IELTS-Blog | Self-study alongside official material | — | — |
| IELTSFever | Self-study alongside official material | — | — |
IELTS (official site)
In its own words: “Looking to work, study, or live overseas?” The official IELTS website, run by the organisations that jointly own the test.
Strengths
- Official source for the test's rules and format
- Official information to check anything you read elsewhere against
Best for: Checking official rules and finding official preparation material
Take IELTS — British Council
In its own words: “The British Council's IELTS website. IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP IELTS and Cambridge University Press & Assessment (ielts.org).” One of the organisations that jointly own IELTS, according to ielts.org.
Strengths
- Official source for the test's rules and format
- Official information to check anything you read elsewhere against
Best for: Checking official rules and finding official preparation material
IELTS by IDP
In its own words: “IELTS is the world’s leading English-language test for work, study and migration. Learn about IELTS, find prep materials and get your results in one place.” One of the organisations that jointly own IELTS, according to ielts.org.
Strengths
- Official source for the test's rules and format
- Official information to check anything you read elsewhere against
Best for: Checking official rules and finding official preparation material
IELTS Advantage
In its own words: “IELTS Preparation for the IELTS Exam. Writing, Listening, Speaking, Vocabulary and Reading IELTS courses. Get the score you deserve.”
Strengths
- Covers all four skills, by its own description
Limitations
- Also sells courses, which we didn't review
- Independent — not affiliated with the IELTS partners
Best for: Self-study alongside official material
IELTS Liz
In its own words: “IELTS Preparation with Liz: Free IELTS Tips and Lessons, 2026”
Strengths
- Offers free material, by its own description
Limitations
- Independent — not affiliated with the IELTS partners
Best for: Self-study alongside official material
IELTS Mentor
In its own words: “IELTS Sample answers and IELTS Preparation. IELTS Mentor offers you the best IELTS study and preparation resources for your success in IELTS exam.”
Strengths
- Sample answers, by its own description
Limitations
- Independent — not affiliated with the IELTS partners
Best for: Self-study alongside official material
IELTS Online Tests
In its own words: “Free online IELTS practice tests for 2026. Prepare for real IELTS practice tests by taking mock IELTS tests based on actual IELTS tests.”
Strengths
- Offers free material, by its own description
- Practice tests, by its own description
Limitations
- Independent — not affiliated with the IELTS partners
Best for: Self-study alongside official material
IELTS for Free
In its own words: “A complete free IELTS preparation course covering reading, writing, listening and speaking, with practice tests for Academic and General Training.”
Strengths
- Offers free material, by its own description
- Practice tests, by its own description
- Covers all four skills, by its own description
Limitations
- Also sells courses, which we didn't review
- Independent — not affiliated with the IELTS partners
Best for: Self-study alongside official material
IELTS-Blog
In its own words: “IELTS-blog has everything you need to prepare for IELTS exam by yourself: crucial advice for the IELTS test, strategies, tips and secrets + free IELTS practice”
Strengths
- Offers free material, by its own description
Limitations
- Independent — not affiliated with the IELTS partners
Best for: Self-study alongside official material
IELTSFever
In its own words: “Free IELTS Course Online and Learn IELTS Free , IELTS onlinestudy”
Strengths
- Offers free material, by its own description
Limitations
- Also sells courses, which we didn't review
- Independent — not affiliated with the IELTS partners
Best for: Self-study alongside official material
How to choose
- Use the official sites for rules. Timings, word counts, question types and scoring change rarely, but when they do the official sites are the reference. Our exam format guide summarises them with links to the official pages.
- Pick independent sites for practice and explanation. They differ in focus: some are built around practice tests, others around lessons and sample answers. Choose by the skill you need most.
- For Writing, look for model answers that explain why they work, not just finished essays — and practise writing your own under time. Stride's model answers include notes on each marking criterion.
- For Speaking, you need to practise out loud with the real timings. A website can give you questions; it can't hear you, so record yourself or use a tool that gives feedback.
Official vs independent material
Independent sites write their own questions, so the style and difficulty can differ from the real test. That's fine for learning technique, but use official material to check you're preparing for the right format and level — and remember that Academic and General Training differ in Reading and Writing (see the differences).
Take a full practice test on StrideTimed Reading, Writing and Speaking, with an estimated band and feedback. Your first full test is free.- Which website is official?
- ielts.org is the official IELTS website. The British Council and IDP IELTS run their own IELTS sites and, with Cambridge University Press & Assessment, jointly own IELTS.
- Are these websites free?
- Each independent site describes itself as offering free material; several also sell courses, which we didn't review.
- Why isn't Stride listed?
- Stride is our own product, so it isn't included in lists of third-party resources.
Related guides
Sources
- About IELTS (ielts.org) — checked 2026-10-15
Practise with real IELTS-style tests
Timed Reading, Writing and Speaking tests with an estimated band and feedback. Your first full test is free.
See the practice tests