Free IELTS Academic Writing Practice Test
Both Academic Writing tasks under the real 60-minute time limit, with a live word count. When you finish you can get a free AI band for each task, corrections from your own writing, and model answers to compare.
- Task 1 + Task 2
- 60 minutes
- Live word count
- Free AI band (18+)
- Model answers
Before you start
Two tasks · 60 minutes · spend about 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 minutes on Task 2 · free.
- Task 1: describe the chart in at least 150 words.
- Task 2: write an essay of at least 250 words.
- The clock counts down from 60 minutes and your answers are sent automatically when the time is up, as in the real test.
- Your writing is saved in this browser as you type, so a refresh won’t lose it.
How IELTS Academic Writing works
You have 60 minutes for two tasks. In Task 1 you describe a chart, graph, table, map or process in at least 150 words (about 20 minutes). In Task 2 you write an essay of at least 250 words in response to a point of view, argument or problem (about 40 minutes). Task 2 counts twice as much as Task 1.
Each task is marked on four criteria: Task achievement (Task 1) or Task response (Task 2), Coherence and cohesion, Lexical resource, and Grammatical range and accuracy. More in how to describe charts clearly and the five Task 2 essay types.
How the AI band works
If you are 18 or over, you can tick the AI band box when you finish. Our AI marker (Google Gemini) reads both answers and rates each criterion; two independent markings are compared, and if they disagree by more than a band you see a range instead of a single band. You also get corrections from your own writing and what to work on next. Your writing is not used to train AI. The AI band is an indicative practice guide, not an official IELTS score.
The tasks in this practice test
Task 1 (20 minutes, at least 150 words)
The chart below shows the main ways people travelled to work in one UK city in 2004, 2014 and 2024. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Task 2 (40 minutes, at least 250 words)
In many workplaces, employees now work from home for part of the week instead of travelling to an office every day. Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?
Frequently asked questions
Is this IELTS Writing practice test free?
Yes, completely, including the AI band. When you finish, you tell us your first name and email address and your result appears straight away, with a copy sent to your inbox.
Why do I need to be 18 for the AI band?
Our AI provider's terms only allow its service to be used by adults. Younger learners still get the word-count check and the model answers.
Is the AI band the same as an examiner's band?
No. It is an indicative guide produced by AI from the official criteria. Use it to see your strengths and weaknesses; only an official IELTS test gives you an official score.
Can I write on my phone?
You can, but the real test is typed on a computer (or handwritten on paper), so practising on a keyboard is closer to test day.
Get your writing marked by a teacher
Our live online IELTS classes include personalised feedback on your Writing and Speaking.
IELTS is a registered trademark of its owners. These free practice tests were written by Kensington English teachers; they are not official IELTS tests and are not endorsed by the test's owners.