Free IELTS resources
Model answers, grammar lessons, vocabulary and guides to every part of the IELTS exam — free, no account needed.
Speaking
- IELTS Speaking sample answers for Parts 1, 2 and 3Original questions and sample answers for all three parts, written by Stride as study models, with notes on what makes each one work.
- IELTS Speaking tips for Parts 1, 2 and 3How each part of the Speaking test works, what the examiner listens for, and how to give fuller, more natural answers.
Writing
- IELTS Writing tips for Task 1 and Task 2How to split your time, plan each answer and match the four Writing criteria, with separate advice for Academic Task 1, General Training letters and Task 2.
- IELTS Writing Task 2 topics with practice questions and ideasPractise IELTS Writing Task 2 by theme. This guide groups original Stride-written practice questions under broad topic areas, gives ideas for each side and shows how to turn ideas into a developed, well-organised essay plan.
Libraries
- IELTS Writing sample answers: Task 1 and Task 2 model answersModel answers for every Writing task, with notes on why each one works.
- IELTS vocabulary by topicTopic vocabulary for Writing Task 2 and Speaking Part 3.
- IELTS grammar lessons for Writing and SpeakingShort grammar lessons with rules, model sentences, common mistakes and a self-check.
Preparation and study plans
- IELTS tips that actually help on test dayThere is no trick that guarantees a higher band, but knowing the test format and how each section is marked lets you use your time and effort well. These tips are built on the official format and criteria.
- IELTS study plan: 30-day and 8-week timetablesTwo ready-to-use IELTS timetables, a 30-day sprint and an 8-week plan, built around the real test format. Includes advice on adapting them for a Band 8 target or for studying on your own.
- How to prepare for IELTS: a step-by-step guideA practical IELTS preparation plan for candidates studying on their own: understand the test, measure where you are, plan around the gap to your target band, practise each skill, learn from your mistakes and finish with timed full tests.
- How to improve your IELTS scoreRaising your IELTS band is rarely about studying more. It is about finding the one skill or criterion that is holding your average down and working on it on purpose. Here is a five-step method built on the official scoring rules and band descriptors.
- Common IELTS mistakes and how to avoid themMany lost marks in IELTS come from not doing exactly what the task asks. Here are the most common mistakes in each section and how to fix them.
Reading
- IELTS Reading True / False / Not Given: how to get them rightTRUE means the passage agrees with the statement, FALSE means the passage contradicts it, and NOT GIVEN means the passage does not say. This guide explains how to tell them apart, with a step-by-step method and a worked example written by Stride.
- IELTS Reading tips: time, technique and question typesA step-by-step plan for IELTS Reading: split your 60 minutes sensibly, know when to skim and when to scan, handle each question family with its own method, and record answers without losing marks.
- IELTS Reading question types explainedIELTS Reading uses a set list of question types, from True/False/Not Given to diagram labelling. This guide takes each one in turn, explains what it is really testing and shows a practical way to tackle it, with original examples written by Stride as study models.
Listening
The IELTS exam
- IELTS exam format: every section explainedA clear walk-through of the IELTS exam format: how long each section takes, how many questions or tasks it has, what each part contains, and where Academic and General Training differ.
- IELTS Academic vs General Training: what's differentListening and Speaking are identical in both versions of IELTS. Reading and Writing are not, and the Reading raw-score conversion differs too. Here is what changes and how to prepare for the version you need.
Band scores
- IELTS band scores explainedA clear guide to the IELTS band scale. It covers what each band label means, how your four section bands become one overall score, which raw scores IELTS publishes for Listening and Reading, and how Writing and Speaking are assessed.
- How to get band 8 (and above) in IELTSBand 8 is the top tier for most candidates, and it rewards consistent accuracy rather than tricks. This guide sets the official Band 7 and Band 8 Writing descriptors side by side, gives the published raw scores for Listening and Reading, and explains how overall rounding works.
- How to get band 7 in IELTSBand 7 is labelled 'Good' by IELTS. This guide covers what it means officially, the raw scores linked to it in Listening and Reading, how the Writing descriptors separate Band 7 from Band 6, and how to practise each skill.