An original Lumi practice test modelled on IELTS Academic: Listening, Reading, Writing (Task 1 + Task 2) and Speaking. This is a representative practice set covering the main question types, with a full answer key and Band 8–9 model answers. Listening items include audioscripts so you can practise now — read each once to simulate hearing it a single time. Scores are on the 0–9 band scale.
~30 minutes · 4 parts · heard once · Read each audioscript once (or have someone read it to you) to simulate the real test.
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Part 1 — Form completion
Complete the form. Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
BOOKING FORM — City Sports Centre Name: Daniel (1) __________ Membership type: (2) __________ Start date: (3) __________ of March Preferred class: (4) __________ Contact number: (5) __________
AUDIO (paraphrased): Staff: Can I take your name? Caller: Yes, it's Daniel Foster — F-O-S-T-E-R. Staff: And which membership would you like — standard or premium? Caller: The premium one, please. Staff: When would you like to start? Caller: Could I start on the fifteenth of March? Staff: Of course. Any particular class you're interested in? Caller: I'd love to join the swimming class. Staff: Great. And a contact number? Caller: It's 0-7-7-double 1, 4-0-2-8-6.
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Answer key / strategy: Spell names exactly as given; 'double 1' = 11. Watch the word/number limit.
AUDIO (paraphrased): Welcome to Fern Valley Park. A quick safety note before you set off: the main lakeside trail is currently closed for repairs, so please follow the woodland path instead. The café is open until 4 pm, and the last shuttle bus back to the car park leaves at 5.30 sharp — please don't miss it.
1. Which trail should visitors use today? A. the lakeside trail B. the woodland path C. both trails 2. What time does the café close? A. 4 pm B. 5 pm C. 5.30 pm 3. What are visitors warned not to miss? A. the café B. the last shuttle bus C. the guided tour
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Answer key / strategy: Listen for the specific detail; the lakeside trail is closed, so the woodland path is correct.
1-B, 2-A, 3-B
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Part 4 — Note completion
Complete the notes. Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each answer.
LECTURE NOTES — The history of tea • Tea was first drunk in (1) __________ thousands of years ago. • It spread along trade routes and reached (2) __________ in the 1600s. • At first it was very expensive and seen as a (3) __________ item. • Falling prices later made it a drink for (4) __________.
AUDIO (paraphrased): Tea drinking began in ancient China, where it was valued for thousands of years. It gradually spread along trade routes, arriving in Europe in the sixteen-hundreds. Initially it was extremely costly and regarded as a luxury item, affordable only by the wealthy. As prices fell over the following centuries, tea became a drink enjoyed by ordinary people across all levels of society.
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Answer key / strategy: Answers come in order; listen for paraphrase ('costly' = expensive, 'the wealthy' vs 'ordinary people').
(1) China (2) Europe (3) luxury (4) ordinary people
Passage 1 — True / False / Not Given + Multiple choice
Read the passage and answer the questions.
PASSAGE: The idea that we only use ten per cent of our brains is one of the most persistent myths about human biology. In reality, brain-imaging studies show that virtually all areas of the brain are active over the course of a day, even during sleep. Different tasks engage different regions, but there is no large, unused portion waiting to be 'switched on'. The myth may have spread because it offers a comforting promise: that we all have vast hidden potential. While it is true that people can improve skills through practice, this reflects the strengthening of connections between brain cells, not the awakening of dormant areas. Neuroscientists point out that the brain is metabolically expensive, using about a fifth of the body's energy; evolution would be unlikely to maintain such a costly organ if most of it were useless.
QUESTIONS 1–4: Do the statements agree with the passage? Write TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN. 1. Brain-imaging shows most of the brain is active during a normal day. 2. The brain is completely inactive during sleep. 3. The '10 per cent' myth is popular partly because it is reassuring. 4. Practising a skill awakens unused areas of the brain.
QUESTION 5: Choose the correct letter. According to the passage, why is it unlikely that most of the brain is useless? A. because the brain never sleeps B. because the brain uses a large share of the body's energy C. because imaging technology is very accurate D. because people have hidden potential
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Answer key / strategy: TFNG: answer only from the text. Q4 is False because the passage says practice strengthens connections rather than awakening dormant areas.
PASSAGE (three short paragraphs): A. Urban rooftops, long left empty, are increasingly being transformed into gardens. These 'green roofs' are covered with soil and plants, turning unused space into something living and productive. B. The benefits are considerable. Green roofs absorb rainwater, reducing the risk of flooding, and they insulate buildings, lowering heating and cooling costs. They also cool the surrounding air, helping to offset the heat that builds up in cities. C. There are challenges, however. Green roofs are heavier than ordinary roofs, so buildings must be strong enough to support them, and they require regular maintenance. Despite this, many city planners now see them as a key part of greener, more liveable cities.
QUESTIONS 1–3: Match each paragraph (A, B, C) to the correct heading (i–v). There are more headings than paragraphs. i. The cost of construction ii. What green roofs are iii. The advantages of green roofs iv. A brief history of gardening v. Drawbacks and the future
1. Paragraph A 2. Paragraph B 3. Paragraph C
QUESTIONS 4–5: Complete the sentences with NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage. 4. Green roofs reduce flooding by absorbing __________. 5. A disadvantage is that green roofs need regular __________.
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Answer key / strategy: Match the main idea of each paragraph; complete sentences with exact words from the text.
1-ii, 2-iii, 3-v, 4-rainwater, 5-maintenance
Section 3 · Writing
~60 minutes · 2 tasks · rated by examiners
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Task 1 — Describe visual information (150+ words, ~20 min)
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
The chart below shows the percentage of people in a city who used four modes of transport to get to work in 2000 and 2020. (Data — Car: 55% → 40%; Public transport: 25% → 33%; Bicycle: 8% → 18%; Walking: 12% → 9%.)
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Answer key / strategy: Include a clear overview (no numbers), then grouped data with accurate comparisons. Vary your language ('declined markedly', 'more than doubling', 'narrowing the gap').
Model answer: The bar chart compares the proportion of commuters in a city using four modes of transport — car, public transport, bicycle and walking — in 2000 and 2020.
Overall, while the private car remained the most popular way to travel to work in both years, its dominance declined markedly, with public transport and, in particular, cycling becoming considerably more common over the two decades.
In 2000, more than half of commuters (55%) drove to work, far ahead of public transport at 25%. By 2020, car use had fallen sharply to 40%, whereas public transport had risen to 33%, narrowing the gap between the two significantly.
Cycling saw the most striking change, more than doubling from 8% to 18%. Walking, by contrast, was the least popular option throughout and declined slightly, from 12% to 9%. In short, the period was marked by a clear shift away from cars towards greener forms of transport.
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Task 2 — Essay (250+ words, ~40 min)
Write about the following topic. Give reasons for your answer and include relevant examples. Write at least 250 words.
Some people believe that children should begin formal education as early as possible, while others think they should start school at a later age. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
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Answer key / strategy: Discuss both views fairly, then give a clear personal opinion. Use developed paragraphs with examples and a strong conclusion.
Model answer: The age at which children should begin formal schooling is a subject of ongoing debate. While some argue that an early start gives children a strong academic foundation, others believe a later start better suits young children's development. In my view, although early exposure to learning has value, a slightly later, play-based start is ultimately more beneficial.
Those in favour of starting early point to the remarkable capacity of young children to absorb information. Beginning school at four or five, they argue, allows children to acquire reading, writing and numeracy skills sooner, and to develop discipline and social habits that support later success. In countries where formal instruction begins early, supporters note, children are often reading fluently at a young age.
On the other hand, many educators warn that pushing academic content too soon can be counterproductive. Very young children learn most effectively through play, exploration and social interaction rather than formal lessons. Countries such as Finland, where formal schooling begins at seven, consistently achieve strong educational results, suggesting that a later start does no harm and may even reduce early stress and burnout.
In my opinion, the evidence favours a later, gentler beginning. Early childhood is a crucial period for developing curiosity, language and emotional skills, which are best nurtured through guided play rather than desks and tests. A child who enters formal education a little later, but eager and confident, is likely to thrive more in the long run.
In conclusion, while early schooling offers some advantages, I believe a later, play-focused start better matches how young children learn and lays a healthier foundation for lifelong education.
Section 4 · Speaking
11–14 minutes · 3 parts · with a recorded examiner · Practise speaking your answers aloud. Part 2 gives 1 minute to prepare and 1–2 minutes to talk.
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Part 1 — Introduction & interview
Answer these everyday questions in 2–3 sentences each.
1. Do you prefer to spend your free time indoors or outdoors? 2. How often do you read books, and what kind do you enjoy? 3. Is your hometown a good place for young people to live?
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Answer key / strategy: Use the answer → reason → example pattern. Keep answers natural, not memorised.
Model answer: (Q1) I'd say I prefer being outdoors, mainly because I find fresh air really refreshing after sitting at a desk all day. I love going for walks in the park at the weekend, though I do enjoy a cosy evening indoors with a good film too.
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Part 2 — Long turn (cue card)
You have 1 minute to prepare and should speak for 1–2 minutes.
Describe a piece of technology you find useful. You should say: – what it is – how you use it – how often you use it – and explain why you find it so useful.
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Answer key / strategy: Cover all four bullet points and keep talking until the examiner stops you. Add details of feelings and reasons to extend your answer.
Model answer: The piece of technology I'd like to talk about is my smartphone — I know it's an obvious choice, but it genuinely is the most useful device I own. I use it for almost everything: keeping in touch with family, checking the news, navigating unfamiliar places, and even studying English with apps. I'd say I use it constantly, probably far more than I should, from the moment I wake up until I go to bed. The reason I find it so useful is that it combines so many tools in one small object — a camera, a map, a translator, a bank and a library, all in my pocket. What I value most is how it keeps me connected to people who live far away; being able to video-call my family whenever I want makes the distance feel much smaller.
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Part 3 — Discussion
Discuss these more abstract questions.
1. Do you think people rely too much on technology these days? 2. How has technology changed the way people communicate?
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Answer key / strategy: Give developed, two-sided answers. Use Part 3 phrases: 'I'd argue that…', 'On the one hand… on the other…', 'The key is…'.
Model answer: (Q1) That's an interesting question. I'd argue that many people have become overly dependent on technology, to the point where some struggle to do simple tasks — like finding their way — without it. On the one hand, this dependence reflects how genuinely useful these tools are; on the other, it can weaken skills we used to take for granted, such as memory and navigation. Personally, I think the key is balance: using technology as a helpful tool without letting it replace our own abilities entirely.