AI-generated practice paper in the style of IELTS General Training — original material, not a reproduction of any real exam paper, following the official four-module structure (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking). Listening audio is read aloud by your browser's voice, Writing tasks can be scored by AI, and for Speaking you can record yourself and compare with a model answer.
Listening
Part 1
Listen and answer questions 1–10.
Transcript (available after checking)
Ben: Mount Pleasant Veterinary Clinic. Ben speaking.
Grace: Hi there. I've just got a puppy and I'd like to register him with your clinic.
Ben: Congratulations. What's his name?
Grace: Biscuit. He's a cocker spaniel.
Ben: Cute. How old is he?
Grace: Seven months. I got him from a rescue centre last week, so I don't know all of his history.
Ben: That's fine. Has he had his vaccinations?
Grace: The centre gave him the first set, but I'm not sure about the booster.
Ben: We'll check the records. Now, your name and address?
Grace: Grace Tuilagi. T-U-I-L-A-G-I. I live at 63 Kauri Crescent, in Hamilton.
Ben: Is that Kauri with a K?
Grace: Yes. Like the tree.
Ben: Got it. Is he microchipped?
Grace: Yes, and the chip number's on the paperwork. I'll bring it with me.
Ben: Good. What's the reason for the visit today?
Grace: He's been limping on his back leg since Sunday. It doesn't seem to bother him when he runs, but he holds it up when he's resting.
Ben: Could you bring him in today? We've got a gap at 3:40 with Dr Hemi.
Grace: That would be perfect. Will the appointment be long?
Ben: About twenty minutes. The consultation is 65 dollars, and any X-rays would be extra.
Grace: I understand. Should I keep him from eating first?
Ben: Not for this, but if he needs a sedative for the X-ray, we'd ask you to withhold food for twelve hours before. Don't worry, we'll talk about it.
Grace: Okay. And where do I park?
Ben: There's parking behind the clinic. Enter through the side gate on Ranfurly Street.
Grace: Perfect. See you at 3:40.
Complete the registration form below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
1. Pet's name: ______
2. Breed: ______
3. Age: ______ months
4. Owner's surname: ______
5. Address: 63 ______ Crescent, Hamilton
6. Problem: limping on a ______ leg
7. Appointment time: ______ pm
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
8. The consultation fee is
9. Biscuit should not eat beforehand
10. The owner should enter the car park through
Part 2
Listen and answer questions 11–20.
Transcript (available after checking)
G'day everyone, welcome to the Rainforest Butterfly House, I'm Jack, and I'll explain a few things before you go inside, since it's quite different from a normal zoo visit. The house is kept at a warm 28 degrees with high humidity, to match the butterflies' natural rainforest habitat, so do expect it to feel a bit sticky in there. We're open every day from nine until four thirty, and entry is 14 dollars for adults, 8 for children. We'll start at the Airlock Entrance, a double-door system that stops butterflies escaping when visitors go in and out. Just inside is the Feeding Station, where trays of overripe fruit attract butterflies close enough for a good photo, usually restocked around midday. Further in is the Chrysalis Room, a glass case where new butterflies emerge from their chrysalis, sometimes several times a day, always worth pausing to watch if you're lucky enough to catch one. Deeper into the house is the Waterfall Garden, a shaded, cooler spot with a small waterfall, popular with the larger species that prefer less direct light. Near the exit is the Photography Zone, with information cards to help you identify what you've just photographed. Please don't touch any butterflies, even if one lands on you, since their wings are extremely delicate and easily damaged. There's a Gift Shop by the exit selling butterfly-themed toys and books, and a Café next door with air conditioning if you need to cool down afterwards. Prams aren't allowed inside because the paths are narrow, but they can be left free of charge in the racks by the entrance.
Complete the notes below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
11. Temperature kept inside the house: ______ degrees
12. Adult entry price: ______ dollars
13. Closing time: ______
What does the speaker say about each of the following areas? Choose the correct letter, A-F, for questions 4 to 7.
14. The Airlock Entrance
15. The Feeding Station
16. The Chrysalis Room
17. The Waterfall Garden
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
18. The Feeding Station is restocked
19. Visitors are asked not to
20. The Photography Zone has
Part 3
Listen and answer questions 21–30.
Transcript (available after checking)
Henry: Dr. Lee, we've built a prototype of our timetable app, and we need your advice on how to test it.
Isla: We've just got a rough idea. We thought of asking fifty students to try it and fill in a questionnaire.
Dr. Lee: Fifty is far too many for this type of testing. Research shows that five to eight users will find most of the problems.
Isla: Really? That seems very few.
Dr. Lee: It's about spotting patterns. If four out of five people struggle with the same button, you have your answer.
Henry: So we could ask five friends?
Dr. Lee: Friends are polite, so you won't hear the truth. Recruit students from a different course.
Isla: How do we run each session?
Dr. Lee: Give each person three tasks, for example adding a class, changing its time and deleting it. Then watch silently without helping.
Henry: That'll be hard. I always want to explain how it works.
Dr. Lee: Resist. If you have to explain it, that is your first design problem.
Isla: Should we record the sessions?
Dr. Lee: Record the screen with the participant's permission. They must sign a consent form, and I can give you a template.
Henry: What about measuring? How do we know if the app is good?
Dr. Lee: Time each task, count the mistakes, and finish by asking the person to rate the app from one to ten.
Isla: What if the average is only six?
Dr. Lee: Then you learn something. It's better to find weaknesses now than after the launch.
Henry: When do we present the results?
Dr. Lee: In three weeks. You'll have ten minutes and must include at least two changes you made in response to the tests.
Isla: So we should test before the end of next week, to leave time for changes.
Dr. Lee: Exactly. And bring your consent forms to the presentation. I need to see them.
21. What do Henry and Isla need advice about?
22. What does Dr. Lee say about testing with fifty students?
23. Why doesn't Dr. Lee recommend friends as testers?
24. What should the students do while participants use the app?
25. What should be recorded?
26. What must participants sign?
27. What does the final presentation have to include?
What will the students record or measure in each test? Choose your answers from the list, A-E: A Task timings; B Number of errors; C A score out of ten; D The users' age; E Comments by the tester.
28. During each task
29. Also during each task
30. At the end of the session
Part 4
Listen and answer questions 31–40.
Transcript (available after checking)
This lecture looks at the relationship between sleep and memory, specifically the process researchers call memory consolidation. When we first learn something new, whether a fact, a skill, or an experience, that information is initially held in a relatively fragile, easily disrupted state within the brain, genuinely vulnerable to being forgotten or meaningfully distorted before it becomes more permanently, securely stored. Sleep, researchers have found, plays a genuinely active and essential role in stabilising these new, fragile memories, rather than functioning merely as passive downtime during which the brain simply does nothing of any real consequence. During deep, slow-wave sleep specifically, the brain appears to systematically replay patterns of neural activity that closely resemble those originally recorded during earlier learning, effectively rehearsing and reinforcing newly formed connections between individual brain cells while the person themselves remains completely unaware this internal process is happening at all. This replay process appears to be particularly important for consolidating factual and event-based memories, the kind directly involved in remembering specific dates, particular names, or personal experiences from one's own life. REM sleep, the stage during which most vivid dreaming characteristically occurs, seems instead to play a somewhat different but equally important role, one more closely connected to consolidating procedural memories, the kind directly involved in physical or cognitive skills such as playing a musical instrument or solving a genuinely complex problem. Studies comparing groups of people who slept normally after a learning task with groups who were deliberately kept awake consistently show that the sleep-deprived group performs measurably worse on tests given the following day, even when both groups received completely identical initial training and practice beforehand. Napping, even a genuinely short one, has also been shown to provide some meaningful consolidation benefit, though naturally to a lesser overall degree than a full, complete night's sleep. These consistent findings have real, practical implications well beyond the research laboratory itself, particularly for students, who are frequently advised that a full, adequate night's sleep after focused studying may prove considerably more valuable for long-term retention than several additional hours spent cramming instead.
Complete the notes below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
31. Newly learned information is initially held in a fragile, easily ______ state.
32. During deep, slow-wave sleep, the brain systematically ______ patterns of neural activity.
33. This replay reinforces newly formed connections between brain ______.
34. Slow-wave sleep is particularly important for factual and ______-based memories.
35. REM sleep is more closely connected to consolidating ______ memories.
36. Procedural memories involve skills such as playing a musical ______.
37. Sleep-deprived groups perform measurably ______ on tests the following day.
38. Even a short one has been shown to provide some consolidation ______.
39. A nap provides less benefit than a full night's ______.
40. Students are advised that sleep may be more valuable than extra hours of ______.
Reading
Section 1: Notices
You should spend about 20 minutes on Section 1.
NOTICE A — Starlight Cinema: Membership Scheme Changes
From next season, the Starlight Cinema membership scheme will offer three tiers instead of the current single tier: Bronze (unlimited standard screenings, £15 per month), Silver (adds one free premium screening per month, £22 per month), and Gold (adds unlimited premium screenings and two free drinks per visit, £32 per month). Existing members will automatically be moved to the Bronze tier unless they choose to upgrade before the change takes effect. All members, regardless of tier, continue to receive a 10% discount on snacks and drinks at the counter. Membership can be paused for up to three months per year, for example during extended travel, without losing accumulated loyalty points. Cancellations require 14 days' written notice by email to memberships@starlightcinema.co.uk.
NOTICE B — Fairview Residents Association: Noise Complaint Guidelines
Residents wishing to raise a noise complaint about a neighbour are now asked to use the new online form on the association's website rather than contacting committee members directly by phone, ensuring a consistent written record of all complaints. Complaints should include the date, approximate time, and duration of the disturbance, along with the flat number if known. The association will not act on anonymous complaints, though the complainant's identity will not be shared with the neighbour concerned. A first complaint typically results in a friendly reminder letter about the quiet hours policy, which runs from 11pm to 7am daily. Repeated complaints against the same household may be escalated to a formal hearing before the residents' committee.
Questions 1–4. Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
1. How much does the Silver membership tier cost per month?
2. How should residents now raise a noise complaint?
3. What may happen after repeated complaints against the same household?
4. What does the Gold tier add compared with Silver?
Questions 5–6. Do the following statements agree with the information in Notice A? Write TRUE if the statement agrees, FALSE if it contradicts, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.
5. Existing members will automatically move to the Bronze tier unless they choose to upgrade.
6. Only Gold members receive a discount on snacks and drinks.
Question 7. Complete the sentence below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from Notice A for each answer.
7. Membership can be paused for up to __________ per year without losing loyalty points.
Questions 8–9. Answer the question below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from Notice A.
8. How much written notice is required to cancel membership?
9. What percentage discount on snacks and drinks do all members receive?
Questions 10–11. Do the following statements agree with the information in Notice B? Write TRUE if the statement agrees, FALSE if it contradicts, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.
10. The association will act on anonymous complaints.
11. The complainant's identity is shared with the neighbour concerned.
Questions 12–13. Complete the sentence below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from Notice B for each answer.
12. The quiet hours policy runs from __________ daily.
13. Complaints should include the date, time, duration, and __________ if known.
Question 14. Answer the question below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from Notice B.
14. What typically happens after a first complaint against a household?
Section 2: Workplace
You should spend about 20 minutes on Section 2.
TEXT A — Human Resources: New Starter Onboarding Process
All new employees will now complete a two-week structured onboarding programme, replacing the previous single induction day. Week one covers company systems, compliance training, and introductions to key teams, while week two focuses on role-specific training delivered by the new starter's own department. Each new starter will be assigned a 'buddy' from a different team to help them settle in and answer informal questions that they might not wish to raise with their manager. Feedback forms will be sent at the end of week one and week four to help HR identify and address any gaps in the process. Managers must complete a short checklist confirming that all onboarding steps have been completed for their new team member.
TEXT B — Facilities: Company Car Policy Update
Employees eligible for a company car under their contract will now be required to choose from a list of approved electric or hybrid models only, as part of the company's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint. Petrol and diesel vehicles currently in use will be phased out gradually as existing leases expire, rather than replaced immediately. A home charging point will be installed free of charge for employees who choose a fully electric vehicle, with installation costs covered entirely by the company. Employees who drive fewer than 5,000 business miles per year may instead opt for a monthly cash allowance in place of a company car. Full details of approved models are available from the Fleet Management team.
Questions 15–18. Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
15. What did the previous onboarding process consist of?
16. What type of company cars must eligible employees now choose from?
17. Why is the company introducing this new car policy?
18. What does week one of onboarding cover?
Questions 19–20. Do the following statements agree with the information in Text A? Write TRUE if the statement agrees, FALSE if it contradicts, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.
19. Week two of onboarding focuses on role-specific training.
20. A new starter's buddy comes from the same team as the new starter.
Question 21. Complete the sentence below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from Text A for each answer.
21. Feedback forms will be sent at the end of week one and __________.
Question 22. Answer the question below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from Text A.
22. What must managers complete to confirm onboarding steps are done?
Questions 23–24. Do the following statements agree with the information in Text B? Write TRUE if the statement agrees, FALSE if it contradicts, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.
23. Petrol and diesel vehicles will be replaced immediately.
24. Home charging point installation is free for employees choosing a fully electric vehicle.
Questions 25–26. Complete the sentence below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from Text B for each answer.
25. Employees who drive fewer than 5,000 business miles per year may opt for a __________ instead.
26. Petrol and diesel vehicles will be phased out gradually as existing __________ expire.
Question 27. Answer the question below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from Text B.
27. Which team provides full details of approved car models?
Section 3: Why We Yawn: A Scientific Mystery
You should spend about 20 minutes on Section 3.
Few human behaviours are as universally recognised and as poorly understood as yawning. Nearly every vertebrate species yawns, from fish to birds to mammals, and the behaviour appears so early in human development that foetuses have been observed yawning in the womb, yet scientists remain divided on its precise biological purpose, a rare case of a common behaviour outlasting confident scientific explanation.
The once-dominant theory, that yawning increases oxygen intake when blood oxygen levels drop, has been substantially undermined by experiments in which participants breathing pure oxygen yawned at the same rate as those breathing normal air, suggesting oxygen levels are not the primary trigger. A more recent and increasingly favoured explanation is the thermoregulatory theory, which proposes that yawning helps cool the brain, since the deep inhalation and stretching of the jaw increases blood flow and promotes heat exchange. Supporting this theory, one study found that people yawned significantly less frequently when a cold pack was held against their forehead, and more frequently in warm ambient conditions, though within a specific temperature range, since yawning also drops off in extreme heat when cooling becomes ineffective.
Perhaps the most socially intriguing aspect of yawning is its contagiousness. Watching another person yawn, or even reading about yawning, as this passage may currently be demonstrating, reliably triggers yawning in a majority of people, an effect observed even in some other social animals such as chimpanzees and dogs, particularly when they observe a familiar human or animal yawning rather than a stranger. This contagious quality has led some researchers to propose that yawning serves a social bonding or empathy-signalling function, a theory partly supported by findings that people with higher measured empathy scores are somewhat more susceptible to contagious yawning, while individuals with certain conditions affecting social cognition, including some autism spectrum presentations, show reduced susceptibility to contagious yawning compared with the general population.
Critics of the empathy hypothesis point out that contagious yawning likely serves multiple overlapping functions rather than a single purpose, and that its presence in some non-social contexts, such as yawning triggered purely by tiredness with no social trigger present, complicates any single unifying theory. What can be said with confidence is that yawning, whatever combination of thermoregulatory and social functions it ultimately serves, remains one of the more stubbornly mysterious behaviours in human and animal biology, resistant to the kind of tidy explanation that decades of research have provided for most other reflexes.
Questions 28–30. Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
28. What did experiments with pure oxygen suggest about yawning?
29. What does the passage say about some autism spectrum presentations?
30. What complicates a single unifying theory of contagious yawning, according to critics?
Questions 31–34. Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write TRUE if the statement agrees, FALSE if it contradicts, or NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.
31. Foetuses have been observed yawning in the womb.
32. Yawning becomes more frequent in extreme heat.
33. Chimpanzees yawn more when observing a familiar individual than a stranger.
34. Scientists have reached full agreement on why yawning occurs.
Question 35. Complete the sentence below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
35. People yawned less frequently when a __________ was held against their forehead.
Questions 36–38. Answer the question below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.
36. Besides chimpanzees, what other animal shows contagious yawning according to the passage?
37. What theory proposes that yawning helps cool the brain?
38. According to the passage, what remains one of the more stubbornly mysterious behaviours in biology?
Questions 39–40. Do the following statements agree with the writer's claims? Write YES if the statement agrees with the writer's claims, NO if it contradicts, or NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks.
39. People with higher empathy scores are somewhat more susceptible to contagious yawning.
40. The writer believes the empathy hypothesis fully and single-handedly explains contagious yawning.
Speaking
Part 1: Introduction and interview
The examiner asks you questions about yourself and familiar topics (4–5 minutes).
Part 1 (Childhood / Toys) — the examiner asks about two familiar topics.
Topic 1: Childhood
Q1. What did you like doing when you were a child?
Q2. Was your childhood happy?
Topic 2: Toys
Q3. What was your favourite toy?
Q4. Do children play with the same toys now as they did in the past?
Recorded on your device only — play it back and compare with the model answer.
Show sample answer
Model answer:
1. Mostly playing outside. We lived on a quiet street, so my friends and I would ride our bikes, build dens and stay out until our parents called us in for dinner.
2. Yes, very. We weren't well off, but there was always a lot of love in the house, and I have lovely memories of long summers at my grandparents' village.
3. A wooden train set that my father made for me. It had a little bridge and a tunnel, and I spent hours rearranging the track.
4. Some are the same, like building blocks and dolls, but many children today prefer tablets and video games. That's a shame, in a way, because they miss the chance to use their imagination.
Part 2: Individual long turn
You have one minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.
Describe a person you admire.
You should say:
- who this person is
- how you know them
- what qualities they have
and explain why you admire them.
You are given a minute to get ready, then speak about it for one to two minutes.
Recorded on your device only — play it back and compare with the model answer.
Show sample answer
Model answer: The person I admire most is my aunt, who raised three children mostly on her own after her husband passed away when the youngest was only two. I've known her my whole life, since she's my mother's older sister, and we've always been close; she used to look after me during school holidays. What strikes me most about her is her calmness. Even during the most difficult years, when money was tight and she was working two jobs, I never once heard her complain in front of the children. She always found time to help with homework in the evenings, no matter how tired she was, and she has a wonderful sense of humour that got the whole family through some very hard times. All three of her children have now finished university, which she's incredibly proud of, although she never went to university herself. I admire her because she never gave up, and she managed to make our childhood feel completely normal and happy despite everything going on behind the scenes. Whenever I face a problem now, I think about how she'd handle it, and that usually helps me stay calmer and more patient myself.
Part 3: Two-way discussion
The examiner asks more abstract questions linked to the Part 2 topic.
Part 3 (the environment) — the examiner asks four related questions.
Q1. What do you think are the main causes of pollution in cities today?
Q2. Should individuals or governments bear more responsibility for protecting the environment?
Q3. How effective do you think recycling schemes are in reducing waste?
Q4. What changes might we see in how cities manage pollution in the future?
Recorded on your device only — play it back and compare with the model answer.
Show sample answer
Model answer:
1. Traffic is probably the biggest cause, along with factories and construction dust. Rapid urban growth has also meant more buildings and less green space to naturally absorb some of that pollution.
2. I think both share responsibility, but governments have far more power to make real change through regulation and infrastructure, like better public transport, while individuals can only make small daily choices that add up slowly.
3. Recycling helps, but it's often overestimated; a lot of collected material still ends up in landfill due to contamination or lack of proper facilities, so reducing consumption in the first place matters more.
4. Cities will likely introduce stricter vehicle restrictions and invest more in electric transport and green spaces, and I'd expect stronger regulations on industrial emissions as public pressure continues to grow.
Writing Task 1
You believe a pedestrian crossing is needed near a school in your area because of frequent near-accidents. Write a letter to your local council. In your letter: describe the problem, explain why it is dangerous, and suggest what the council should do. Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write your own address. Begin your letter 'Dear Sir or Madam,'
Writing Task 2
Some people believe that university education should be free for all students, while others think students should pay for their own education. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.