5 Best Online IELTS Mock Tests in 2023
IELTS is a challenging exam. Even the best test takers can get caught off guard when faced with an unexpected test. Therefore, it’s essential to prepare thoroughly and practice often.
Test preparation is a key element in getting ready for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). It doesn’t matter if you’ve been speaking English all your life or just learning it; without practice, you won’t be ready for this challenge.
While several websites offer “free” IELTS mock tests, they aren’t always reliable or helpful. Free mock tests might give you inaccurate scores and either mislead you into believing that you’re ready or demotivate you by scoring you lower than you are. Therefore, it’s crucial to use only trusted resources when looking for IELTS mock tests.
What is an IELTS Mock Test?
Mock tests are exactly what they sound like: an exam that mimics the real IELTS test. They allow you to see what the test will be like, how long it will take, and what topics it covers.
But more importantly, they’re a great way to get a sense of your readiness for the exam. Mock tests help you improve how you approach the test and manage your time. They are a great source of feedback, letting you know what you do well and areas that need improvement. This knowledge, in turn, helps you to focus your efforts on what matters most.
Therefore, most IELTS experts agree that mock tests are essential to IELTS test preparation.
What should I consider when choosing an online IELTS mock test?
There are a few things you should certainly pay attention to when choosing an online IELTS mock test:
1. Make sure the test is from a reputable source
There are a lot of unreliable IELTS mock tests on the internet, so you want to ensure the website is trusted. Look at their online reviews, and the “about us” section, and check out their social media pages to learn more about them.
2. Make sure the test is up-to-date
The IELTS test format changes occasionally, so you want to ensure you’re taking a test that uses the most recent version. Make sure they periodically add new tests and remove the old ones. Beware of the websites that just add “2023” to the end of old tests to make them look new.
3. Make sure the test is full-length
A good IELTS mock test covers all four test sections (reading, writing, listening, and speaking). Some tests are only an hour long, while full-length online IELTS mock tests can be up to 3.5 hours long.
4. Make sure the test is standard
Don’t choose a mock test that’s too easy or too hard. You want to ensure it’s challenging enough to get a realistic idea of how you’ll do on the actual IELTS test.
5. Make sure the test comes with a detailed test report
Don’t go for mock tests that only give your scores or a brief copy-paste feedback. A detailed test report provides a breakdown of your performance in the different sections of the exam. You can use the mock test results to set goals for your studies for the next exam.
6. Make sure the tests are assessed by certified IELTS examiners
A certified examiner has the experience and expertise to properly evaluate your performance and mark your test. Additionally, they can provide valuable feedback on areas where you need improvement.
Top 5 Best Online IELTS Mock Tests for 2023
We’ve reviewed five of the most reliable and helpful websites that offer online IELTS mock tests and meet the six criteria we listed above.
We’ve also broken each site down so you can make an informed decision about which one works best for you.
1- Preptical
Preptical is one of the most known brands for online IELTS mock tests. Preptical started in 2018 and helps thousands of candidates each year to get their target IELTS band score. Their reviews on TrustPilot and the amazing rating of 4.9 of 5 stars (which is the highest among all online IELTS mock test providers introduced here) indeed confirm this claim.
Preptical’s mock tests are offered in 1, 3, and 5 test packages which promise to improve your band score by up to 1.5 bands. Preptical offers an unconditional money-back guarantee so you can feel confident in the quality of the service you receive.
Preptical mock tests are similar to the IELTS test in terms of format, timing, difficulty, and marking. This helps anxious test-takers calm their nerves since they know what to expect on the actual test.
Preptical mock tests are also famous for their detailed test reports. You can get a full refund if you can find more detailed reports anywhere on the internet!
Key features
- Tests are full-length (include all 4 IELTS skills)
- Both Academic and General Training supported
- Tests are marked by certified IELTS examiners
- Exceptionally detailed test reports
- Include 160+ IELTS courses to help you improve your band score
Pros
- Unconditional money-back guarantee
- 48-hour evaluation (can be reduced to 24 hours with priority)
- Affordable (as low as €19.99 per test)
- 24/7 support
- If you get disconnected during the test, your progress is saved
Cons
- Not available on mobile devices
2- IELTS Progress Check
IELTS Progress Check offers full-length computer-based IELTS mock tests that are assessed and scored by official IELTS markers.
Their IELTS mock tests can be taken as timed or untimed. But if you take the untimed version, it will not be a good indicator of your performance under exam conditions, and the result can be inaccurate. However, the timed version is precisely similar to the actual IELTS test.
Access to the mock tests by IELTS Progress Check is time-limited. You can only review your test and the report for 120 days. After that, your access is restricted. So if you want to take your test way in the future, you should be careful not to lose your access.
The Speaking part of IELTS Progress Check mock tests includes pre-recorded questions. However, unlike the actual IELTS test, you cannot ask the examiner to repeat the question. That’s a big problem that can negatively impact your Speaking score.
Key features
- Tests are full-length (include all 4 IELTS skills)
- Both Academic and General Training supported
- Marked by certified IELTS examiners
Pros
- High-quality mock tests
- Tests simulate the actual IELTS test
Cons
- No money-back guarantee
- Somewhat expensive ($49.95/test)
- No online support
- Evaluations take long (5 working days)
- You have to take the test from the beginning if you get disconnected
3- Magoosh
Magoosh is another well-known brand in the world of IELTS preparation. Unlike Preptical and IELTS Progress Check, they’re not focused only on IELTS and also offer their services for TOEFL, GRE, etc.
The good thing about Magoosh is that they guarantee you’ll achieve your target band score or they will give you a refund. The problem is that to be eligible for this guarantee, you should’ve completed 2 mock tests, watched all of the video lessons, completed all questions, followed a schedule, etc. The list goes on!
In their 1-month package that costs a whopping $109, they have included 10 full-length mock tests; however, these tests are generated from a pool of questions and don’t come with an evaluation. In this package, only 1 Writing assessment and 1 Speaking assessment are included, which makes it quite expensive compared to other providers.
Similar to IELTS Progress Check, access to their test-prep packages is time limited. You can either have 1-month access for $109 or 6-month access for $129.
Key features
- Tests are full-length (include all 4 IELTS skills)
- Both Academic and General Training supported
- Study schedule included
- Offers access to online courses
Pros
- Offers a money-back guarantee
- Reports are ready in 2 business days
Cons
- Mock tests are not offered separately
- Very expensive ($109/test)
- Unused tests expire after 6 months
- Tests don’t simulate the actual IELTS test
4- Best My Test
Best My Test is another well-known IELTS mock test provider. Like Magoosh, they don’t offer mock tests as an individual service. Therefore, you need to purchase a test-preparation package. These packages give you access to several questions, mock tests, and Ask instructor service for a limited time.
Access to packages varies from 7 days up to 1 year. The problem with the packages with time-limited access is that after they expire, you’ll lose access to everything, even your previous test reports.
The 7-day access comes with only 1 essay grammar correction and no Writing or Speaking reviews. This package costs $39. The cheapest package that allows you to have both Writing and Speaking tests reviewed by examiners is the “1-month access” package, which costs $69. This package will enable you to have only 2 writing essays and 3 speaking tests marked.
Features
- Comes for both Academic and General Training
- Tests are marked by certified IELTS examiners
- Comes with online IELTS video lessons
Pros
- Access to question bank in monthly and yearly packages
- Offers money-back guarantee for monthly and annual packages
- Online support
Cons
- Unused test credits and previous test reports are lost after the package expires
- No money-back guarantee for the 7-day package
- A limited number of assessments in cheaper packages
- Tests don’t simulate the actual IELTS test
- Mock tests are not offered separately
5- E2 Test Prep
E2 Test Prep is somewhat similar to Magoosh and Best My Test in the way they offer their mock tests. Mock tests are included in almost all of their IELTS test-prep packages. The first package that allows you to take a complete IELTS mock test is the Express+ package, which costs $79.
More expensive packages only include 1 complete mock test, but they allow you to get an assessment with expert feedback for your Writing and Speaking. But these packages are relatively expensive, starting at $159 for 6-month access.
Also included in these packages are several practice questions, live classes that are held publicly, and 1 to 3 online sessions with an IELTS expert.
The good thing about packages offered by E2 Test Prep compared to those offered by Magoosh and Best My Test is that you can at least pause your account. This allows you to access your account for a longer time. However, you can’t access any content while your account is paused.
E2 Test Prep also offers a 30-day free trial. However, the trial doesn’t actually provide anything of value. Only a few public online sessions and access to a limited number of practice questions are included in this plan.
Features
- Tests are full-length (include all 4 IELTS skills)
- Comes for both Academic and General Training
- Offers access to online courses
Pros
- Tests simulate the actual IELTS test
Cons
- Relatively expensive ($79/test)
- Time-limited access to the tests
- No money-back guarantee
Conclusion
Online IELTS mock tests are a great way to ensure you’re ready for your test date. They mimic the actual test, letting you know what to expect and helping you to get into exam mode.
If you’re looking for a high-quality mock test, make sure it is offered by one of the trusted providers that we listed above. From there, it’s only a matter of choosing the one that best fits your preparation needs.
Leave A Comment