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Admission Mantra

IELTS and PTE practice

Free practice material written by our trainers: how each test is scored, Writing Task 2 questions, Speaking cue cards, a sample essay, topic vocabulary, common mistakes and a four-week plan.

How each test is scored

IELTS Academic

  • Takes 2 hours 45 minutes: Listening (about 30 minutes), Reading (60), Writing (60) and Speaking (11–14).
  • Each skill gets a band from 0 to 9. The overall band is the average of the four, rounded to the nearest half or whole band.
  • Listening and Reading have 40 questions each. Writing and Speaking are marked on four criteria of equal weight, and Writing Task 2 counts for more than Task 1.

Free official practice: IELTS sample test questions (opens in a new tab). More on our IELTS page.

PTE Academic

  • Takes about 2 hours on computer: Speaking and Writing (76–84 minutes), Reading (23–30) and Listening (31–39).
  • Scored from 10 to 90 on the Global Scale of English, with an overall score and scores for speaking, writing, reading and listening.
  • Results usually arrive in about 2 days, and sometimes take up to 5 business days.

Free official practice: Smart Prep in a free myPTE account (opens in a new tab). More on our PTE page.

10 Writing Task 2 questions

Written by Admission Mantra in the style of the test. Spend 40 minutes and write at least 250 words.

  1. Some people believe universities should mainly teach the skills employers need. Others think higher education has wider aims. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
  2. In many large cities, people spend two or more hours a day travelling to and from work. What problems does this cause, and what could be done to reduce them?
  3. More and more young people choose to study at a university in another country. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
  4. Some people say governments should spend money on public transport rather than on building new roads. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
  5. Online shopping is replacing many local shops. Is this a positive or a negative development?
  6. Children today spend much less time playing outdoors than children did in the past. Why is this happening, and what effects does it have?
  7. Some people think tourism does more harm than good to the places that tourists visit. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
  8. Many companies now let staff work from home for part of the week. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this for employees and employers?
  9. Some people believe older people should be encouraged to keep working after the usual retirement age. Others think they should make way for younger workers. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
  10. Some say social media brings people closer together, while others feel it makes people more isolated. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

8 Speaking Part 2 cue cards

Take one minute to make notes, then speak for up to two minutes. Record yourself and listen back.

Describe a skill you learned outside school or college.

You should say:

  • what the skill is
  • when and how you learned it
  • who helped you

and explain why this skill is useful to you.

Describe a place in your town or city that you enjoy visiting.

You should say:

  • where it is
  • how often you go there
  • what you do there

and explain why you like this place.

Describe a time you helped someone.

You should say:

  • who you helped
  • what the problem was
  • what you did

and explain how you felt afterwards.

Describe a book or film that taught you something.

You should say:

  • what it was
  • when you read or watched it
  • what it was about

and explain what you learned from it.

Describe a journey you remember well.

You should say:

  • where you went
  • who you travelled with
  • how you travelled

and explain why you remember this journey.

Describe a person who has influenced your choice of studies or career.

You should say:

  • who the person is
  • how you know them
  • what they do

and explain how they influenced you.

Describe a festival or celebration that is important in your family.

You should say:

  • what it is
  • when it takes place
  • how your family celebrates it

and explain why it matters to you.

Describe a piece of technology you use every day.

You should say:

  • what it is
  • when you started using it
  • what you use it for

and explain how your life would be different without it.

Sample Task 2 answer

Question 3: do the advantages of studying abroad outweigh the disadvantages?

Sample answer by Admission Mantra; not an official band score

Every year, a growing number of young people leave their home countries to study at foreign universities. While this choice has some real drawbacks, I believe the benefits are greater for most students.

The main disadvantage is cost. Tuition fees and living expenses abroad are often several times higher than at home, and many families take on large loans to pay for them. In addition, students may struggle with loneliness, an unfamiliar climate and a new style of teaching, which can affect both their health and their grades in the first year. Students who work part-time to cover costs may also find it hard to keep up with their studies. Some critics also argue that when talented graduates stay overseas, their home country loses skills it has helped to develop.

However, these problems can usually be managed, and the advantages last a lifetime. First, studying abroad gives students access to courses, laboratories and teachers that may not be available in their own country. A data science student, for example, may work on research projects with industry partners from the first semester. Second, living independently in another culture builds confidence and problem-solving skills that employers value highly. Managing a budget, cooking and dealing with officials in a foreign language are lessons no classroom can teach. Finally, graduates who return home bring new ideas and international contacts, which can benefit businesses and universities in their own country.

In conclusion, although studying abroad is expensive and can be emotionally difficult, I believe its advantages outweigh its disadvantages, provided that students plan their finances carefully and choose a course that suits their career goals. Governments could also encourage graduates to return by recognising foreign qualifications quickly and creating attractive jobs.

About 285 words. Notice the clear position in the introduction, one main idea per body paragraph, an example, and a conclusion that repeats the opinion.

Topic vocabulary

Eight useful words or phrases for six common topics. Use them only where they fit naturally.

Education

curriculum
: the subjects taught on a course
rote learning
: memorising without understanding
critical thinking
: judging ideas and evidence carefully
vocational training
: teaching practical skills for a job
tuition fees
: money paid for teaching
drop out
: leave a course before finishing
lifelong learning
: continuing to learn throughout life
academic pressure
: stress caused by studies and exams

Environment

carbon emissions
: gases released by burning fuel
renewable energy
: power from sun, wind or water
deforestation
: cutting down large areas of forest
single-use plastic
: plastic thrown away after one use
sustainable
: able to continue without damaging the planet
water scarcity
: not having enough clean water
air quality
: how clean or polluted the air is
conserve
: protect and use carefully

Technology

digital divide
: the gap between people with and without internet access
screen time
: time spent looking at devices
automation
: machines doing work people once did
data privacy
: keeping personal information safe
cutting-edge
: the most advanced
become obsolete
: go out of use
user-friendly
: easy to use
online platform
: a website or app where people meet or trade

Health

sedentary lifestyle
: a life with little physical activity
balanced diet
: food with the right mix of nutrients
preventive care
: steps taken to stop illness before it starts
mental well-being
: a healthy state of mind
life expectancy
: how long people are expected to live
obesity
: being seriously overweight
healthcare system
: the services that treat and care for people
work-life balance
: a healthy split between job and personal life

Work

job security
: confidence that you will keep your job
career prospects
: chances of progress in a career
remote working
: working away from the office
skills shortage
: not enough workers with the right skills
entrepreneur
: someone who starts a business
burnout
: exhaustion from long-term stress at work
income inequality
: a large gap between high and low earners
job satisfaction
: how happy someone is with their work

Cities and society

urbanisation
: people moving from villages to cities
traffic congestion
: roads blocked by too many vehicles
infrastructure
: roads, transport, power and water systems
affordable housing
: homes that people on average incomes can pay for
public amenities
: parks, libraries and other shared places
community spirit
: people in an area caring for each other
cost of living
: how much money basic needs cost
generation gap
: differences in views between young and old

10 common mistakes and how to fix them

Patterns our trainers see often among Indian test takers.

Common IELTS and PTE mistakes and fixes
MistakeFix
Translating sentences word for word from your first language.Learn phrases as whole units ("make a decision", "take responsibility") and practise thinking in English on familiar topics.
Using memorised openings such as "In this contemporary era…" or "Every coin has two sides".Examiners notice memorised language. Start with a plain sentence that paraphrases the question in your own words.
Missing or misusing articles (a, an, the).Revise the main article rules and check every noun in your essay during the last few minutes.
Using Indian English expressions like "do the needful", "prepone" or "revert back".Use international equivalents: "please do what is needed", "bring forward", "reply".
Using -ing forms with state verbs: "I am having two brothers", "I am knowing this".Use the simple form with state verbs such as have (for possession), know, like and believe: "I have two brothers".
Answering only part of the Task 2 question.Underline every part of the question, plan for two or three minutes, and make sure each body paragraph answers one part.
Ignoring word limits in Listening and Reading answers.Follow the instruction exactly. If it says no more than two words, a three-word answer is marked wrong.
Spelling and plural errors in Listening.Spelling counts. Practise common topic words, and listen for the final "s" in plurals.
Speaking very fast to sound fluent.Speak at a steady pace with natural pauses. Record yourself and listen for clarity, word stress and the sounds you swallow.
Spending too long on one hard Reading question or passage.Set a time for each passage, move on when it runs out and come back if time remains.

Four-week self-study plan

About 90 minutes a day. Stretch it to eight weeks if you need a bigger jump in score.

Four-week IELTS and PTE self-study plan
WeekFocusDaily practiceEnd-of-week check
Week 1Know the testTake one full official practice test. Read the task types and marking criteria. Learn 10 new words a day from one theme.List your three weakest question types.
Week 2Listening and ReadingOne Listening section and one Reading passage a day, timed. Note every mistake and the reason for it.Retake one full Listening and Reading test; compare your raw scores.
Week 3WritingPlan two Task 2 questions a day and write one full essay in 40 minutes. Write a Task 1 (or PTE written task) every other day.Check one essay against the public marking criteria; rewrite the weakest paragraph.
Week 4Speaking and full testsRecord one cue card answer and five Part 1 or Part 3 answers a day. Take two full timed tests this week.Review both tests and decide whether to book now or practise more.

Prefer a trainer? Our IELTS and PTE classes are held at our centre (offline), with feedback on your writing and speaking. Ask about batches and fees.

IELTS and PTE practice questions

How long should I prepare for IELTS or PTE?

It depends on your current level and the score you need. Many students follow a plan of four to eight weeks, but take a full practice test first and judge the gap honestly. If the gap is large, give yourself more time rather than booking early.

Is IELTS or PTE easier?

Neither is easier for everyone. IELTS has a face-to-face Speaking test with an examiner, while PTE is taken fully on computer. Check which test your university and visa route accept, try the free official practice for both and choose the format that suits you.

Are the questions on this page official IELTS or PTE questions?

No. They are practice questions written by Admission Mantra in the style of the tests. For official questions, use the free IELTS sample questions on ielts.org and the free Smart Prep material in your myPTE account.

Can I get a band score for my practice essay?

Only an official test gives you a real band score. You can compare your essay with the public IELTS marking criteria, and our trainers can give feedback on your writing during classes at our centre.

Do you run IELTS and PTE classes online?

Our IELTS and PTE classes are held at our centre (offline). Enquire on our language training page for batch timings and fees.

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