How to Crack the IELTS Online Test: Preparation Tips

What is Meant by IELTS?

The International English Language Testing System is the full form of IELTS. The British Council (the UK’s International Organization for education & culture, IDP Education (an Australian Education Services Company), and Cambridge English (part of the University of Cambridge) are the three bodies that design, run, and update the test. All three are trusted organizations.

Therefore, more than 135,00 universities, employers, and government offices accept the IELTS score when deciding on your application. One test and you can use the score while applying for a different application. No need to take a different English exam every time.

But what is the IELTS exam for?

How good is your English? Taking the IELTS exam will prove that you can speak, read, listen, and write English in real life. Saying I am proficient in English isn’t enough for an immigration office.

​What Is The Main Purpose of The IELTS Exam?

If you are someone who is planning to move abroad where English is the primary source of communication, then universities, schools, and training programs often ask for your IELTS score. Not only for entry-level degrees such as a bachelor’s degree, but an IELTS score is also made mandatory for postgraduate (master’s) and doctoral (PhD) programs.

The university's apex body just wants to know if you will be able to understand lectures, read the course materials provided, and do assignments in English.

Furthermore, if you are going to work in foreign countries, you should be able to communicate in English while working. So, you are asked for your IELTS score. You have to draft an email, talk to clients & colleagues, and understand instructions during working hours, all in English.

The Immigration & Visa offices in a few countries can also ask you for an IELTS score. Why? What if you are becoming a legal citizen there, going to live there for a long time, and working there?

IELTS Test Types: Academic vs General

IELTS Academic

If you are willing to study abroad, like you want to complete your graduation, master's, or even PhD, universities ask for an IELTS score. This is the type of IELTS test that you will take. The test score will be presented as proof that you can understand your lectures. At the same time, you need to read your study materials and do assignments; for that, you need to be proficient in English.

This is the type of IELTS exam that licensed professionals also take. Licensed professionals such as doctors, nurses, or pharmacists should choose the IELTS Academic exam.

​IELTS General

This is the type of IELTS Exam that is for people who want to move to English speaking nations like the UK, US, Australia, or New Zealand. In addition, if you are someone particularly applying for degrees other than a university degree, this is the type of IELTS exam that you should take. If you are going to apply for a diploma, high school degree, or certificate courses, this is the type of IELTS exam you should sign up for.

​IELTS for UKVI

IELTS for UKVI is the same IELTS exam, taken under UK government-approved conditions, and you only need it if your UK visa specifically asks for a SELT.

Understanding The Format of the IELTS Online Test

You will get the same questions; the time duration will also be no different. Talking about results, you will be scored on the same 0 to 9 band scale. The only difference is that you can sit at your home and give the test. You just need a room far away from noise, a computer/laptop that is fully functional, a webcam, a microphone, and a stable internet connection.

You will get a total of 2 hours and 45 minutes to complete the test. Let’s break it down section-by-section:

Listening

How well can you grasp English when it is spoken? The listening test is for that. 30 minutes is assigned to you to listen to the recording and answer the questions. The test has four sections. You will listen to the first audio of two people having an everyday conversation. In part two, you will listen to a person speaking about an everyday topic.

Part 3 consists of an audio of students or a student and a teacher talking about an educational topic. In the final part, you will listen to an audio of a person giving an academic lecture. Based on the recordings, you will be asked to answer 40 questions. The questions can be in different formats, such as: MCQ’s, matching, map or diagram labeling, and form, note, or sentence completion.

But there are important rules that you should know: audio will be played once. In the computer-based test, you don't get an additional 10 minutes at the end to copy answers from a question paper to an answer sheet. You should enter your answers directly and use any remaining time to review them.

Reading

It is a test of how well you understand what’s written in English and answer accordingly. You get 1 hr to read passages and answer the questions. A total of three passages will be given to you. You get passages of three types. One is descriptive, another is analytical, and the final one is argumentative. There are a total of 40 questions in this part, which you need to attempt. For the IELTS Academic Exam, the passages are picked up from books, journals, magazines, and other sources. 

The topics should be related to academic or specialized topics such as science and technology. On the other hand, the passages for the IELTS General Training exam are related to situations that occur every day, job-related information, notices about public announcements, advertisements, and topics of general interest such as hobbies or travel. 

Writing

How well can you express your ideas in English? IELTS writing test is for that. You have to complete two tasks under this section. Task 1 depends on the type of IELTS test you are appearing for. For IELTS Academic, you need to explain what is shown in a graph, chart, table, or diagram. You must write at least 150 words.

You need to write a letter for a particular purpose, such as requesting information, making a complaint, or explaining a situation for IELTS General Training. Task 2 involves writing an essay of at least 250 words on the given topic.

Speaking

How well can you speak in English? The IELTS speaking test is conducted for this purpose. The test lasts around 11 to 14 minutes. It has three parts. In Part 1, the examiner asks questions about daily life or familiar topics, such as: What do you do in your free time? Part 2 includes speaking on a given topic, and Part 3 is the continuation of Part 2. The examiner asks more in-depth questions related to the topic from Part 2.

For the IELTS online test, the speaking test may be conducted separately from the writing, reading, and listening test.

How Can You Prepare For IELTS From Home?

You can very much prepare for the IELTS online test from home itself, without even paying for taking the course. The first thing that you should learn about yourself is to check what your level is in English. Accordingly, you should create a study plan. After this, you can practice all four IELTS modules, which are Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.

Understand the format of the exam as mentioned in the above section, and attempt an IELTS mock test. After taking the test, see which area you are lacking. After this, dedicate at least 2 to three hours every day. Dedicate different durations to different modules. 

For example, you can spend 30 minutes on reading, and another 30 minutes on learning new grammar rules, vocabulary, or reviewing the mistakes you are making.

Stretching for a straight 3 hours can be hectic. So, it is better if you divide the time for each module into different parts of the day. While practicing, follow the actual exam time limits. I would advise you to listen to English podcasts online, TED Talks, and the BBC Learning English YouTube channel. This will help you to understand different accents and speaking styles.

If you want to practice reading, the best way is to start your day with an English newspaper. In between the day, you can read magazines and articles that are available online to improve your reading. Reading what you like is advisable to be consistent. The Guardian and The Economist are two famous publications that can help you understand different styles and topics.

To get better at writing, try to write about a topic in at least 150 words each day. After that, you can switch to more advanced writing, like describing a graph, chart, or a table. 

To speak English fluently, the best way is to have a conversation in the language every day. The next thing you can do is record what you are saying. Once you listen to your recording, you will get an idea of which words you aren’t able to pronounce and whether you are taking long pauses. Try to speak in one go while answering a question; that way, you will practice better before the main exam. 

Official IELTS Resources & Practice Books

You must depend on official or reliable study materials if you are starting to prepare at home. Books offered by Cambridge IELTS, such as Volume 11 to 16 include real questions, the same as how it is asked in exam. You might be aware that reviewing your own writing and speaking is the most difficult thing. So, it is better if you use online review tools, ask your colleagues, or ask mentors at universities for the review.

You can also get help from teachers who have knowledge of the official IELTS scoring criteria.

IELTS Band Score: How It Works?

You will be scored on your English proficiency from 0 to 9. Your score will be either a whole number or a half-point. The score won’t look like 6.2 or 7.6. Your final scores will look like 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, and so on. If someone gets 6.25, it gets rounded up to the closest step, so the final score is 6.5. Similarly, 6.75 is rounded up to 7.0.

When you appear for the IELTS exam, it is divided into four parts. So, after individually scoring you for each part, an average is calculated, which is your final score.

The 9-Band Proficiency Levels

Band 9: You are an expert. You can speak English fluently and have a good command of the language while writing.

Band 8: You are good at the language but make occasional mistakes

Band 7: This means you are good at handling the language, but fumble sometimes

Band 6: You are sufficiently good at English, but you get stuck in unfamiliar or tricky situations

Band 5: You understand the language, get the general meaning across, but make too many mistakes from time to time

Band 4: You are limited to understanding just the basics of English, and that too in familiar situations

Band 3: This means you are extremely limited. You only understand what is generally spoken around you. You don’t understand the language in unfamiliar situations.

Band 2: This means you have difficulty understanding and speaking in English. You only use isolated words.

Band 1: You cannot speak or even understand the language

Band 0: You appeared, but didn’t answer any questions.

How You Get Scored In Each Section

Listening & Reading

Both sections have 40 questions. You get 1 mark for every correct answer. There is no negative marking for a wrong answer. 

Writing & Speaking

Trained human examiners evaluate these sections using four criteria. Each criterion contributes 25% to the final score for that section. The four scores are then averaged to calculate the section's band score.

Conclusion

IELTS online Test is an exam conducted to check your English. In foreign countries where English is the primary language for communication, it is a requirement. It is to check whether you will be able to write, speak, read English, and listen to what is said in English. The exam is conducted in different modules. So whether you are a non-graduate, graduate, post-graduate, or PHD holder, you have to appear for the exam.

Speaking of which, our organization Sprintzeal has a dedicated course on effective communication. While learning or polishing your English, it is also important to get better at soft skills, and communication is one of them. Therefore, consider this course:

Effective Communication Skills Certification

FAQ’s on IELTS Online Test

1. Can the IELTS online test be taken at home?

Yes, through the IELTS Online portal, you can take the exam at home. There are certain rules and restrictions that you need to follow.

2. 7.5 band score? What is the meaning of this in IELTS?

A 7.5 band score in IELTS means that you are someone who can easily understand and communicate in English. In different situations, you won’t fumble. However, mistakes are part of life. Mistakes can be made by anyone, especially on subjects they are not familiar with.

3. Can IELTS be cracked in 3 months?

Yes, why not. You can crack the IELTS exam by dedicating 3 months of time. If you have a solid hold on the language and use English every day in day-to-day life, it will be easy for you. Meanwhile, don’t forget to take at least 3 hours of your time to prepare for the exam. 

4. In 2026, will the IELTS be tough to crack?

The scoring system, types of questions, format of the exam, and rules stay the same. So, it has not gotten that difficult in 2026 to crack the exam.