Preparing for IELTS Life Skills.
You will be assessed on your ability in four key areas:
- obtaining information
- conveying information
- speaking to communicate
- engaging in discussion
You will be allowed to take notes to prepare your answers. The examiner will not mark your notes – only your speaking and listening skills are marked during the test.
What are the two different levels of the IELTS Life Skills test?
IELTS Life Skills is available at A1 and B1 levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This is an international standard used around the world to describe learners’ language skills.
What can I expect from the test?
There are two main parts to IELTS Life Skills:
In the first part, you are expected to ask and answer questions on familiar topics.
The second part is a combined listening and speaking task.
• For both A1 and B1 levels, you will listen to a task played on a CD. Completing the task allows you to show your ability to listen for both the general meaning and detail.
• You will be asked to deliver your answers out loud, although you can make notes on paper while you listen to the CD.
• There will then be a discussion on a theme related to what you have listened to on the CD.
• Additionally, at B1 level, there is also a task where you plan an activity with the other candidate.
Why do I take the test with another candidate?
IELTS Life Skills tests how well you can communicate with other people in everyday English. The best way to test these skills is to pair test takers at a similar level of ability, so you can show how well you can speak English to communicate and engage in discussion with others.
How long is the test?
For IELTS Life Skills, you only need to attend one short session to complete the test. The times allowed for each level are:
• IELTS Life Skills – A1 Speaking and Listening – 16–18 minutes
• IELTS Life Skills – B1 Speaking and Listening – 22 minutes.
Preparation Materials:
Download the following free sample tests to help you prepare for your IELTS Life Skills test:
Level A1
| Sample papers |
Files |
| IELTS Life Skills Sample Paper A | Download now (PDF, 4.4MB) |
| IELTS Life Skills Listening Sample A | Download now (PDF, 4.4MB) |
| IELTS Life Skills Sample Paper B | Download now (PDF, 4.2MB) |
| IELTS Life Skills Listening Sample B | Play now (MP3, 661KB) |
Level A2
| Sample papers |
Files |
| IELTS Life Skills Sample Paper A | Download now (PDF, 483KB) |
| IELTS Life Skills Listening Sample A | Download now (PDF, 1.6MB) |
| IELTS Life Skills Sample Paper B | Download now (PDF, 503KB) |
| IELTS Life Skills Listening Sample B | Play now (MP3, 2.64MB) |
Level B1
| Sample papers |
Files |
| IELTS Life Skills Sample Paper A | Download now (PDF, 383KB) |
| IELTS Life Skills Listening Sample A | Play now (MP3, 1.05MB) |
| IELTS Life Skills Sample Paper B | Download now (PDF, 383MB) |
| IELTS Life Skills Listening Sample B | Play now (MP3, 0.98MB) |
Download Life Skills Guide for Test Takers
