← Back to All Tests
AcademicIntermediate
★ 4.6 · 5,430 attempts
IELTS Academic Mock Test 4
Psychology, neuroscience, and renewable energy topics. Excellent for Band 6–7 candidates.
⏱️ Total: 2h 45min
❓ 120 Questions
📋 4 Modules
Test Modules
🎧
Listening
⏱ 40 min•40 questions
4 sections with audio recordings
📖
Reading
⏱ 60 min•40 questions
3 passages with varied question types
✍️
Writing
⏱ 60 min•2 tasks
Task 1 (150 words) + Task 2 (250 words)
🎤
Speaking
⏱ 15 min•3 questions
3 parts — introduction, cue card, discussion
Before You Begin
💻
Technical Requirements
- ✓ Stable internet connection
- ✓ Chrome or Firefox browser
- ✓ Microphone (for Speaking module)
- ✓ Headphones recommended
📝
Test Rules
- ✓ You cannot pause a module once started
- ✓ Answers are saved automatically
- ✓ Timers start immediately
- ✓ Do not refresh the page during exam
📊
Scoring
- ✓ Listening: Marked automatically
- ✓ Reading: Marked automatically
- ✓ Writing: Sample answers provided
- ✓ Speaking: Self-evaluation guide provided
IELTS Academic Mock Test 4
Official Practice Test · Type: Academic · Difficulty: Intermediate
Listening Module
Section 1: Section 1: Psychology Study
A student enquiring about participating in a university study.
1. The study focuses on ________ and decision-making. ____________________
2. How long is each session? ____________________
3. Participants are paid £________ per session. ____________________
4. Sessions are in the ________ Building. ____________________
5. How many sessions are needed? ____________________
Section 2: Section 2: Mental Health Talk
A speaker presenting on cognitive behavioural therapy.
6. CBT was developed in the ________. ____________________
7. CBT is most widely used for? ____________________
8. A typical CBT course involves ________ sessions. ____________________
9. CBT requires patients to take medication. ____________________
10. The helpline is free from ________ to 10 PM. ____________________
Reading Module
Passage 1: The Neuroscience of Habit Formation
Every habitual action — brushing your teeth, driving a familiar route — runs an automated programme stored in the basal ganglia. Habit formation follows a three-stage loop: cue, routine, and reward. A cue triggers a routine culminating in a reward, reinforcing the behaviour. Over time the brain learns to anticipate the reward the moment it detects the cue.
Research by Ann Graybiel at MIT showed that as habits form, brain activity shifts. Initially the prefrontal cortex — responsible for decision-making — is highly active. As habits become ingrained, activity migrates to the basal ganglia, requiring far less conscious effort. This neural efficiency is why habits feel automatic.
Changing established habits is challenging because the neural pathways remain even when the behaviour stops. Rather than eliminating a habit, neuroscientists recommend substituting the routine while keeping the cue and reward — a technique called habit reversal training, used for nail-biting, hair-pulling, and substance dependence.
Questions:
1. Habitual actions are stored in the ________. ____________________
2. What is the correct order of the habit loop? ____________________
3. As habits form, the prefrontal cortex becomes more active. ____________________
4. Habit reversal training substitutes the ________ while keeping the cue and reward. ____________________
5. Neural pathways disappear when a habit is abandoned. ____________________
Passage 2: Renewable Energy: Challenges and Opportunities
Solar and wind power costs have fallen dramatically — the cost of solar electricity dropped approximately 90 percent between 2009 and 2019. Yet integrating intermittent renewables into electricity grids remains a challenge: the sun does not always shine and the wind does not always blow, while conventional power stations can be adjusted to match demand.
Battery technology has advanced considerably. Lithium-ion batteries have been scaled to grid-level installations, but current technology suits only short-term storage of a few hours. Longer-term seasonal storage requires alternatives such as pumped hydro, compressed air, or green hydrogen.
Despite challenges, renewable deployment has accelerated. In 2022, renewables provided approximately 30 percent of global electricity. International Energy Agency projections suggest this could exceed 60 percent by 2030 given current investment trends.
Questions:
6. Solar electricity costs fell approximately ________% between 2009 and 2019. ____________________
7. Wind turbines can be adjusted to match demand. ____________________
8. What limits current battery technology? ____________________
9. In 2022, renewables produced approximately ________% of global electricity. ____________________
10. Green hydrogen is a solution for longer-duration energy storage. ____________________
Writing Module
Task 1 – Bar Chart
Prompt: The bar chart shows average hours of sleep per night by age group in 2023. Summarise the main features and make comparisons.
Image Description: Ages 18-25: 7.1h; 26-35: 6.8h; 36-50: 6.5h; 51-65: 6.3h; 65+: 6.9h. Recommended: 7-9 hours.
Minimum Words: 150
Task 2 – Essay
Prompt: Many people now work from home or live alone. Some argue this increases loneliness and social isolation. Others disagree. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Minimum Words: 250
Speaking Module
Part 1 – Introduction
- Are you a morning or evening person?
- Do you find it easy to change daily habits?
- How do you manage stress?
- Have you tried meditation or mindfulness?
Part 2 – Long Turn
Cue Card: Describe a habit you have that you consider beneficial.
- What the habit is
- When you started it
- How you maintain it
- Why it is good for you
Part 3 – Discussion
- Why is it hard for people to change bad habits?
- Should governments influence citizens' habits through policy?
- How has technology changed sleeping and eating patterns?
- What role do schools play in helping young people form healthy habits?