Students, professionals and immigrants already living in Canada and interested in permanent residency need to prove their English language proficiency to stay in the country.
When it comes to language proficiency, the IELTS Sample test – General Training is your best choice.

In this article, we will explain the structure of the IELTS General Training test and explore sample tests that help you improve your English abilities.

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Contents

1. 1. What is the IELTS Sample Test – General Training?
   2. Understand the General Training Test Format
   3. Listening Sample Task
   4. Listening Sample Task – Multiple Choice (Recording and Tapescript)
   5. Listening Sample Task – Multiple Choice (Answers)

The IELTS Sample Test – General Training is created to mirror the real IELTS General Training test, which assesses English language proficiency in social and professional situations.

This test is especially designed for those who want to migrate, work, or live in English-speaking countries, like Canada.

Additionally, as the IELTS General Training test is often a requirement for immigration processes, such as Express Entry, familiarizing yourself with sample questions is a smart and strategic way to prepare.

Whether you take the test on paper or on computer, the British Council provides full access to official sample materials that reflect the test’s four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.

Before getting into the IELTS Sample test – General Training, it’s crucial to understand how the test is structured.
The test runs for 2 hours and 45 minutes, and evaluates your ability to communicate effectively in English across four main components:

In the Listening section, you’ll hear monologues and conversations with different English accents.

In the Reading section, you’ll encounter practical texts, including ads, job listings, and workplace documents.

In the Writing section, you’ll be asked to complete practical tasks, such as writing a letter and expressing your opinion in an essay.

In the Speaking section, you’ll simulate a real-life conversation with an examiner, giving you the opportunity to demonstrate fluency, pronunciation, and coherence.

The IELTS Listening test is made up of four parts, each with 10 questions. You’ll listen to different conversations and monologues with a variety of English accents. The example below is part of an
IELTS Sample test – General Training, showing a multiple-choice question from Part 1 of the Listening section.

Part 1

Link to Recording

Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.

9. Type of insurance chosenA. Economy
   B. Standard
   C. Premium
10. Customer wants goods delivered toA. Port
    B. Home
    C. Depot

Tapescript

(A customer has been arranging with a shipping agent to send a large box overseas. This is the last part of the conversation.)

A: OK right. Now obviously insurance is an important thing to consider and our companies are able to offer very good rates in a number of different all-inclusive packages.

B: Sorry, could you explain a bit more?

A: Yes, sorry, um. There’s really three rates according to quality of insurance cover – there’s the highest comprehensive cover which is Premium rate, then there’s Standard rate and then there’s Economy rate. That one will only cover the cost of the contents second hand.

B: Oh I’ve been stung before with Economy insurance so I’ll go for the highest.

A: Mh’hm and can I just check would you want home delivery or to a local depot or would you want to pick it up at the nearest port?

B: The port’d be fine – I’ve got transport that end.

A: Fine and will you be paying by credit card?

B: Can I pay by cheque?

9 – C

10 – A

Source: Question taken from the official IELTS General Training sample test section.
Available at: https://ielts.org/take-a-test/preparation-resources/sample-test-questions/general-training-test

Reading Sample Task

The IELTS General Training Reading test includes three sections of increasing difficulty. You’ll read everyday texts like advertisements, workplace documents, and general interest articles. The example below is part of an IELTS sample test – General Training, taken from a Section 3 text, which is typically the most complex.

Political units in the history of West Africa

Note: This is an extract from a General Training Reading text on the subject of political units in the history of West Africa.

Reading Text:

Ife, perched at the edge of Nigeria’s forest, is thought to have come to prominence through its control of local products – including ivory, gold and pepper – in external trade. By AD 1300, its walled capital was at the peak of its wealth, with many shrines featuring elaborate pavements made of pieces of pottery, and a rich tradition of creating brass and terracotta sculptures, including ones of people richly adorned in ceremonial regalia. Many of these have survived. Subsistence for the large elite and artisan population appears to have been based upon small livestock and the cultivation of vegetables. Around AD 1500, the city of Ife declined, and the region’s center of power shifted to Benin without any appreciable break in cultural tradition.

Questions 1–5

Complete the summary. Write ONE WORD ONLY from the text for each answer.

The state of Ife adjoined the (1) __________ in Nigeria, and traded a variety of goods, including metals such as (2) __________.
Floors in religious buildings were made from bits of (3) __________.
There are many surviving examples of (4) __________ made of brass or terracotta.
The population lived on animal products, and crops such as (5) __________.

Answers

• Answer 1: forest
• Answer 2: gold
• Answer 3: pottery
• Answer 4: sculptures
• Answer 5: vegetables

Source: question taken from the official IELTS General Training sample test section. Available at:
https://ielts.org/take-a-test/preparation-resources/sample-test-questions/general-training-test

Writing Sample Task

The IELTS General Training Writing test has two parts. Task 1 asks you to write a letter, while Task 2 involves writing an essay. Below is a Task 1 example from an IELTS Sample test – General Training, where you need to respond to a specific situation in letter format.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
Write at least 150 words.

You live in a room in college, which you share with another student. However, there are many problems with this arrangement, and you find it very difficult to work.

Write a letter to the accommodation officer at the college. In your letter:

• describe the situation
• explain your problems and why it is difficult to work
• say what kind of accommodation you would prefer

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Source: question taken from the official IELTS General Training sample test section. Available at:
https://ielts.org/take-a-test/preparation-resources/sample-test-questions/general-training-test

Speaking Sample Task

Remember that the full Speaking test includes three parts: an introduction and interview (Part 1), an individual task where you speak for one or two minutes about a specific topic (Part 2), and a conversation (Part 3) like the one below. This example is part of an IELTS Sample test – General Training. All parts are assessed equally and together make up your final Speaking band score.

Part 3 – Two-way Discussion: Examiner Frame

Let’s consider first of all how people’s values have changed.

1. What kind of things give status to people in your country?
2. Have things changed since your parents’ time?

Finally, let’s talk about the role of advertising.

1. Do you think advertising influences what people buy?

Part 3 – Two-way Discussion:
Recording

This sample features a two-way discussion, similar to the format used in Part 3 of the IELTS Speaking section.

Part 3 – Two-way Discussion: Transcript

Examiner: We’ve been talking about things we own. I’d like to discuss with you one or two more general questions relating to this topic. First, let’s consider values and the way they can change. In Switzerland, what kind of possessions do you think give status to people?

Candidate: The first thing which comes in my mind is the car. Yes, because lots of people like to have posh cars or expensive cars to show their status, their place in the society.

Examiner: Is that a new development?

Candidate: No, I think it isn’t.

Examiner: People have thought like that for quite a long time?

Candidate: Yes. Another thing is probably the clothing. It starts already when you are young. When the children go to school, they want to have posh labels on their jumpers or good shoes.

Examiner: What do you think of this way of thinking, that I need to have a car or certain clothes to show my status?

Candidate: Probably it’s sometimes a replacement for something you don’t have, so if your wife has left you or your girlfriend, you just buy some new, I don’t know, new watches or new clothes to make you satisfied again.

Examiner: You don’t think of it as a healthy way of thinking?

Candidate: It’s probably not honest to yourself. You can understand what I mean?

Examiner: Yes. And do you think this will change? In the future, will cars and designer clothes be status symbols in the same way?

Candidate: I’m sure that clothes will be … that the thing with the clothes will be the same. I’m not so sure about the cars because cars cause lots of environmental problems and probably in some years, a few years, this will change because it’s not reasonable to drive a car anymore.

Examiner: Can you tell me a little bit more about that? …

Source: Question taken from the official IELTS General Training sample test section. Available at:

https://ielts.org/take-a-test/preparation-resources/sample-test-questions/general-training-test

Book your IELTS test with the British Council

The British Council has over 80 years of experience in English education and a reputation for quality, fairness, and global recognition. It’s also one of the main official providers of the IELTS Sample test – General Training.

With access to free preparation resources, flexible test dates, and expert guidance, it’s no surprise that millions of test-takers have trusted the British Council to help them succeed.

Booking your IELTS General Training test with the British Council gives you the support you need, before, during, and after the test. Whether you’re applying for permanent residency,
seeking new job opportunities, or building a future in Canada, the British Council is your partner every step of the way.

Related articles:

Complete Guide to IELTS General Reading Test

Step-by-step guide to preparing for your IELTS test

References:

IELTS. (n.d.). General training test format in detail. IELTS. Retrieved July 29, 2025, from https://ielts.org/organisations/ielts-for-organisations/test-types/ielts-general-training-test/general-training-test-format-in-detail