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)
Isla: Hello, Thornbury Lettings, Isla speaking.
David: Hi, I'm a tenant at 9 Chestnut Avenue, and I need to report a leak in the roof.
Isla: Oh no, sorry to hear that. Can I take your name first?
David: David Petrauskas. P-E-T-R-A-U-S-K-A-S.
Isla: Thanks, Mr Petrauskas. Whereabouts is the leak?
David: In the back bedroom, right above the wardrobe. It started during the storm on Tuesday.
Isla: How bad is it — dripping, or more of a steady flow?
David: It was dripping at first, but now it's a fairly steady trickle, especially when it rains.
Isla: That does sound urgent. Have you managed to catch the water at all?
David: Yes, I've got a bucket under it, but the ceiling's starting to bulge a bit, which worries me.
Isla: Understandably. I'll get an emergency roofer out — we use a company called Apex Roofing. They should be able to come tomorrow, Thursday, between 9 and 11.
David: That works, I'm home in the mornings anyway.
Isla: Good. In the meantime, please don't try to fix it yourself, for insurance reasons, and move anything valuable away from that area.
David: I've already moved the wardrobe's contents, just in case.
Isla: Sensible. I'll also need photos, if you can email a few to us today.
David: No problem, I'll send them to the usual address.
Isla: Perfect, that's lettings at thornbury dot co dot uk. Once the roofer's assessed it, we'll arrange any repair, and if the bedroom's unusable we can discuss a rent reduction for that period.
David: That's reassuring, thank you.
Isla: Of course — and here's a reference number for the report: R S dash 4 4 1 2, that's RS-4412. Keep that in case you need to call back.
Complete the notes below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
1. Surname of tenant: ______
2. Location of leak: ______ bedroom
3. Leak started during the storm on: ______
4. Roofing company: ______ Roofing
5. Visit day: ______
6. Visit time window: between ______ and 11
7. Reference number: ______
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
8. What has David already done?
9. What does Isla ask David to send?
10. What might happen if the bedroom becomes unusable?
Part 2
Listen and answer questions 11–20.
Transcript (available after checking)
Kia ora everyone, welcome to Kowhai Wildlife Sanctuary, I'm Frank, and I'll be showing you around this morning. We're a non-profit, so entry isn't free, but every dollar of the 18 dollar adult ticket goes straight back into caring for the animals here. We're open every day except Christmas Day, from nine until four thirty, with the last tour starting at three. We'll begin at the Kiwi House, a darkened building since kiwi are nocturnal — your eyes will need a minute to adjust, so please wait by the door until they do. From there we head to the Aviary, home to injured native birds being rehabilitated, some of which will eventually be released back into the wild once they've recovered. Next is the Tuatara Enclosure, home to three of these ancient reptiles, which can live for over a hundred years — ours are all under thirty, so still relatively young. Past that is the Wetland Walk, a boardwalk over a restored marsh area, good for spotting native ducks and the occasional eel. Toward the end of the visit is the Nursery, where injured or orphaned animals are cared for before being moved to a bigger enclosure — it's closed to visitors most of the time, but you can watch through a viewing window. There's a small Café near the entrance doing coffee and light snacks, and a Gift Shop where all profits go directly to the sanctuary's rescue work. If you'd like to volunteer, there's a sign-up sheet at the front desk — we're always short of people for weekend shifts.
Complete the notes below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
11. Adult ticket price: ______ dollars
12. Last tour of the day starts at: ______
13. Tuatara can live for over ______ years
What does the guide say about each of the following areas? Choose the correct letter, A-F, for questions 4 to 7.
14. The Kiwi House
15. The Aviary
16. The Tuatara Enclosure
17. The Wetland Walk
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
18. The Nursery is
19. Profits from the Gift Shop go to
20. Volunteers are especially needed for
Part 3
Listen and answer questions 21–30.
Transcript (available after checking)
Dr. Adams: Anna, Ben, let's discuss notes from yesterday's rehearsal of the play.
Anna: I thought the pacing in act two was too slow.
Ben: I disagreed at first, but watching the recording back, Anna's right, it does drag.
Dr. Adams: Agreed, cut the pause before the letter scene, it's not needed.
Anna: Should we also trim some of the dialogue in that scene?
Dr. Adams: No, keep the lines, the pause was the issue, not the words.
Ben: What about the lighting cue in scene four? It came in a few seconds late.
Dr. Adams: Talk to the technical team, not the cast, that's their responsibility to fix.
Anna: My character's costume kept catching on the table during the exit.
Dr. Adams: Move the table twenty centimetres to the left, that should solve it.
Ben: Should we rehearse the fight scene again? It felt unsafe.
Dr. Adams: Yes, book extra time with the movement coach before Thursday.
Anna: I was thinking of adding more improvised lines in the comic scene.
Dr. Adams: Stick to the script for now, improvisation can wait until it's more polished.
Ben: The music cue before the interval felt too loud.
Dr. Adams: I'll ask the sound operator to lower it by a few decibels.
Anna: Do we need a full run-through tomorrow, or just problem scenes?
Dr. Adams: Just the problem scenes, a full run-through would waste time this week.
Ben: Should we also review the interval timing, it felt a bit rushed?
Dr. Adams: Add two extra minutes, the technical crew need time to reset the stage properly.
Anna: What about the programme notes, are they ready for printing?
Dr. Adams: Not yet, send me the final text tonight so I can proofread it before it goes to print.
Ben: Should the understudies attend Thursday's rehearsal too?
Dr. Adams: Yes, they need to see the changes as well.
Ben: When is the dress rehearsal?
Dr. Adams: Next Monday, so use this week to fix these details, and I'll watch again on Friday.
21. What do Anna and Ben agree about act two?
22. What will be cut from the letter scene?
23. Who should Ben talk to about the late lighting cue?
24. How will the costume problem be solved?
25. What does Dr. Adams say about the fight scene?
26. What does Dr. Adams say about Anna's idea of more improvised lines?
27. What will happen to the music before the interval?
What does Dr. Adams decide about each of these? Choose your answers from the list, A-E: A Rehearse only the problem scenes; B Book extra time with the movement coach; C Watch again on Friday; D Lower the volume; E Hold it next Monday.
28. Tomorrow's rehearsal
29. The fight scene
30. The dress rehearsal
Part 4
Listen and answer questions 31–40.
Transcript (available after checking)
Today we look at how the bicycle evolved from an awkward wooden contraption into the efficient machine millions rely on today. The earliest ancestor, called the velocipede or more informally the hobby horse, appeared in Germany around 1817, built almost entirely from wood, with no pedals at all; riders simply pushed the ground with their feet while sitting on the frame, which made it more of a walking aid than a true bicycle. Pedals weren't added until the 1860s, when French inventors attached them directly to the front wheel, creating a machine nicknamed the boneshaker because of its solid tyres and rough, jarring ride on the cobbled streets of the time. The 1870s brought the famous penny-farthing, with its enormous front wheel and tiny rear wheel, a design chosen because a single rotation of the pedals covered a greater distance when the front wheel was larger, since there was no gearing system yet to multiply pedal power. Riding one required real skill and no small amount of courage, since a sudden stop could send the rider flying head-first over the huge front wheel. The genuinely modern bicycle shape, with two similarly sized wheels, a chain drive to the rear wheel, and a diamond-shaped frame, arrived in the 1880s and was appropriately nicknamed the safety bicycle, since it dramatically reduced the frequency of dangerous falls compared with the penny-farthing. Pneumatic, air-filled rubber tyres followed shortly after in 1888, replacing solid rubber and instantly making rides far smoother and more comfortable. By the 1890s, bicycles had become genuinely affordable for ordinary working people for the first time, and they played a notable, often overlooked role in social change, giving many women new independence and mobility at a time when other forms of transport remained largely restricted to men. Campaigners at the time even credited the bicycle with encouraging more practical clothing for women, since long, heavy skirts proved genuinely dangerous and impractical once caught in a spinning chain or wheel.
Complete the notes below. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
31. The earliest ancestor, the hobby horse, appeared in Germany around ______.
32. The hobby horse had no ______ at all.
33. Pedals were attached to the front wheel in the ______.
34. The pedal-driven design was nicknamed the ______ because of its rough ride.
35. The penny-farthing had an enormous ______ wheel.
36. The modern bicycle shape with a diamond frame arrived in the ______.
37. The modern design was nicknamed the ______ bicycle.
38. Air-filled rubber tyres were introduced in ______.
39. These tyres are described as ______ tyres.
40. By the 1890s, bicycles gave many ______ new independence and mobility.
Reading
Section 1: Notices
You should spend about 20 minutes on Section 1.
NOTICE A — Grand Cinema: Midweek Discount
Starting this month, all tickets purchased for Tuesday and Wednesday screenings will be discounted to £6, down from the usual £10.50, for all film categories except new releases in their opening week. Discounted tickets can be purchased online or at the box office, but cannot be combined with any other offer, including our loyalty card points scheme. Popcorn and drink combo deals remain available at their standard price on discount days. Children under twelve must be accompanied by an adult for all screenings after 6pm, regardless of the film's age rating. Group bookings of ten or more tickets should be arranged at least 48 hours in advance by phone, as online booking is limited to a maximum of eight tickets per transaction.
NOTICE B — Car Boot Sale This Saturday
Our monthly car boot sale returns to the school field this Saturday, weather permitting, from 8am until 1pm. Sellers should arrive by 7am to set up their pitch; pitches cost £8 for a car and £12 for a van, payable in cash on the day only. Buyers can enter from 8:30am for a small entry fee of 50p, which goes towards school funds. Free parking is available in the adjacent car park, though spaces are limited and fill up quickly on busy weekends. In case of heavy rain, the event will be cancelled and rescheduled for the following Saturday; check our social media page from 7am on the day for confirmation.
Questions 1–4. Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
1. How much is a discounted midweek ticket?
2. How much does a car pitch cost at the car boot sale?
3. What time should sellers arrive to set up?
4. After what time must children under twelve be accompanied by an adult?
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. The discount applies to new releases in their opening week.
6. Discounted tickets can be combined with loyalty card points.
Question 7. Complete the sentence below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from Notice A for each answer.
7. Group bookings of ten or more should be arranged at least __________ in advance.
Question 8. Answer the question below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from Notice A.
8. What is the maximum number of tickets per online booking?
Questions 9–11. 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.
9. Sellers can pay for their pitch by card.
10. Buyers can enter from 8:30am.
11. Free parking spaces are unlimited, even on busy weekends.
Question 12. Complete the sentence below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from Notice B for each answer.
12. The buyer entry fee of 50p goes towards __________.
Questions 13–14. Answer the question below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from Notice B.
13. What happens to the sale if there is heavy rain?
14. How much does a van pitch cost at the car boot sale?
Section 2: Workplace
You should spend about 20 minutes on Section 2.
TEXT A — New Expense Claim Procedure
From the start of next quarter, all expense claims must be submitted using the new digital form on the finance portal, replacing the previous spreadsheet template. Claims must include a clear description of the business purpose for each expense, not simply the amount and date. Claims under £25 no longer require manager pre-approval and can be submitted directly for processing, though they remain subject to random audit checks. Claims over £25 still require manager approval before submission. Reimbursement will now be paid within ten working days of approval, an improvement on the previous fifteen-day standard. Staff experiencing difficulty with the new digital form should contact the finance helpdesk rather than reverting to the old spreadsheet, which will no longer be accepted after this month.
TEXT B — Office Relocation Memo: Temporary Arrangements
While our new premises are being prepared, staff will work from a temporary office on Bridge Street for approximately six weeks starting next Monday. The temporary office has limited meeting room space, so client meetings should be scheduled at the client's premises or a nearby hired meeting room where possible. Desk space is also more limited than usual; staff are asked to keep personal items to a minimum and clear desks at the end of each day to allow other team members to use shared spaces. Post and deliveries should be redirected to the temporary address, which will be confirmed by email before the move. IT support will be available on-site for the first week only, after which staff should use the usual remote helpdesk.
Questions 15–18. Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
15. What replaces the previous spreadsheet template?
16. How long will staff work from the temporary office?
17. Where should client meetings be held during the temporary period?
18. How long will on-site IT support be available in the temporary office?
Questions 19–21. 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. Claims under £25 require manager pre-approval.
20. Reimbursement will be paid within ten working days of approval.
21. The old spreadsheet template will still be accepted after this month.
Question 22. Complete the sentence below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from Text A for each answer.
22. Claims under £25 remain subject to random __________.
Question 23. Answer the question below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from Text A.
23. Who should staff contact if they have difficulty with the new digital form?
Questions 24–25. 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.
24. The temporary office has ample meeting room space.
25. IT support will be available on-site for the entire six weeks.
Question 26. Complete the sentence below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from Text B for each answer.
26. Staff should keep personal items to a minimum and clear desks at the end of __________.
Question 27. Answer the question below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from Text B.
27. Where should post and deliveries be redirected to?
Section 3: The Quiet Comeback of the Corner Cafe
You should spend about 20 minutes on Section 3.
In an era dominated by large, standardised coffee chains offering consistent quality and convenient locations across virtually every city centre, a modest but noticeable revival of small, independently owned corner cafes has emerged in numerous urban neighbourhoods over the past decade. This trend runs somewhat counter to broader retail patterns, where independent businesses generally continue struggling against larger competitors with superior economies of scale.
Industry analysts attribute this specific revival to several converging factors distinct from those affecting retail more broadly. Coffee culture itself has evolved considerably, with growing numbers of consumers developing genuine interest in coffee quality, origin, and preparation method that chain establishments, prioritising consistency and speed across thousands of locations, often struggle to authentically deliver at the same level as smaller operations able to focus intensively on a limited menu.
Social dynamics have also shifted in ways favouring smaller, distinctive establishments. As remote and hybrid working arrangements became increasingly common, particularly following the pandemic, many people began seeking alternative locations outside their homes for informal work or social meetings, valuing the more relaxed, less corporate atmosphere that independent cafes typically cultivate compared with the deliberately efficient, high-turnover design characteristic of major chains optimised for quick transactions rather than extended occupancy.
Financially, successful independent cafe owners describe a viable, if modest, business model built around cultivating genuine neighbourhood loyalty rather than attempting to compete directly with chains on convenience or price. Regular customers, some visiting daily, provide reliable baseline revenue that supplements more variable casual custom, while owners emphasise that authentic personal relationships with regulars, impossible for large chains to replicate at scale, generate the kind of sustained loyalty that keeps a small business viable through inevitably challenging periods.
Despite these encouraging developments, independent cafe owners readily acknowledge the genuine financial precarity inherent in their business model. Rising commercial rents in popular neighbourhoods, increasing ingredient costs, and the fundamental challenge of achieving meaningful economies of scale while operating from a single, small premises mean that profit margins typically remain considerably thinner than those enjoyed by larger chain competitors. Several successful independent owners interviewed candidly describe years of financial uncertainty before achieving anything resembling comfortable, sustainable profitability, cautioning aspiring cafe owners against romanticising the business without appreciating the substantial financial risk and sustained effort genuinely required for success.
Questions 28–30. Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
28. What does this cafe revival run counter to?
29. What do independent cafe owners acknowledge about their business model?
30. What has evolved considerably, according to the passage?
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. Chain coffee establishments prioritise consistency and speed.
32. Remote and hybrid working arrangements have decreased since the pandemic.
33. Profit margins for independent cafes are typically thinner than for chain competitors.
34. All independent cafes achieve comfortable profitability quickly.
Question 35. Complete the sentence below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
35. Independent cafes typically cultivate a more relaxed, less __________ atmosphere.
Questions 36–38. Answer the question below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage.
36. What kind of customers provide reliable baseline revenue for cafe owners?
37. What rising cost is mentioned as a challenge for independent cafes?
38. What years do successful owners describe before achieving profitability?
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. Large chains can easily replicate personal relationships with regular customers.
40. Aspiring cafe owners should be cautious about romanticising the business without understanding the risks.
Speaking
Part 1: Introduction and interview
The examiner asks you questions about yourself and familiar topics (4–5 minutes).
Part 1 (Online shopping / Deliveries) — the examiner asks about two familiar topics.
Topic 1: Online shopping
Q1. Do you buy things on the internet?
Q2. What are the disadvantages of shopping online?
Topic 2: Deliveries
Q3. Have you ever had a problem with a delivery?
Q4. Would you like it if a robot or drone delivered your shopping?
Recorded on your device only — play it back and compare with the model answer.
Show sample answer
Model answer:
1. Yes, quite often. Books, electronics and presents mostly, because it's simple to compare prices and to read other customers' reviews before I decide.
2. You can't touch or try on what you're buying, so clothes especially can be disappointing. Returning items is also a nuisance if the packaging has been thrown away.
3. Yes, last winter a parcel was left outside my door in the rain and the box was completely soaked. Luckily the contents were fine, but I did complain to the company.
4. It sounds fun, and I'd probably try it once. I'd worry about the safety, though, and I'd prefer to meet a real person who can hand me the parcel.
Part 2: Individual long turn
You have one minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.
Describe a piece of music that you enjoy listening to.
You should say:
- what the piece of music is
- when you first heard it
- what kind of music it is
and explain why you enjoy listening to it.
You are given a minute to get ready and then speak on the topic for one to two minutes.
Recorded on your device only — play it back and compare with the model answer.
Show sample answer
Model answer: I'd like to talk about a song called 'River Flows in You' by the Korean pianist Yiruma. It's an instrumental piece, just solo piano, quite gentle and slow-moving, with a melody that keeps returning in slightly different forms. I first heard it about eight years ago, actually through a video someone had uploaded of themselves playing it, and I remember being surprised that something so simple could sound so emotional. It doesn't really fit neatly into one genre; people sometimes call it modern classical or new-age piano music, but I just think of it as calm background music. I usually put it on when I'm studying or trying to fall asleep, because unlike songs with lyrics, it doesn't distract me or get stuck in my head in an annoying way. The reason I enjoy it so much is that it always slows my thoughts down, especially after a stressful day at work. It also inspired me to start learning the piano myself a couple of years ago, although I'm still nowhere near as good as the original recording. Whenever I hear the opening notes, even in a shop or a film, I immediately recognise it and it puts me in a better mood.
Part 3: Two-way discussion
The examiner asks more abstract questions linked to the Part 2 topic.
Part 3 (city planning) — the examiner asks four related questions.
Q1. What makes a city pleasant to live in, in your opinion?
Q2. Do you think cities are generally well planned, or does growth happen too quickly and randomly?
Q3. Should more green spaces be prioritised in city planning?
Q4. How might cities be designed differently in the future?
Recorded on your device only — play it back and compare with the model answer.
Show sample answer
Model answer:
1. Good transport links, safety, and a reasonable amount of green space all matter, along with having everyday services like shops and clinics within easy walking distance.
2. Often growth outpaces planning, especially in rapidly expanding cities, leading to problems like traffic congestion and housing shortages that could have been avoided with more careful, earlier planning.
3. Definitely; green spaces improve air quality and mental wellbeing, and they give city residents somewhere to relax that doesn't require leaving the urban area entirely.
4. I expect more compact, walkable neighbourhoods designed around reducing car dependence, alongside a stronger focus on sustainable buildings and integrated green infrastructure throughout the city.
Writing Task 1
You missed an important appointment recently because of an unexpected situation. Write a letter to the person you had the appointment with. In your letter: apologise for missing the appointment, explain what happened, and suggest a new time to meet. Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write your own address. Begin your letter 'Dear ...,'
Writing Task 2
Social media has become an important part of many people's daily lives. Do you think the effects of social media on society are mostly positive or mostly negative? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.