The real test
What to expect at IELTS Life Skills A1
A short face-to-face test with an examiner and one other candidate. Speaking and listening only, about 16 to 18 minutes, and the result is simply pass or fail.
What A1 means, in plain words
A1 is the first level of the European scale (CEFR). It means you can handle simple, everyday situations: say who you are, ask and answer basic questions, understand slow, clear speech about familiar things. Nobody expects long sentences, perfect grammar or a wide vocabulary.
The examiners are not testing grammar for its own sake. They listen for four things: can you ask for information, can you give information about yourself, can people understand you, and can you keep a simple conversation going with another person.
Before you start
- You take the test in a pair. The other candidate is a real person you have not met; you talk to each other in two of the four parts.
- There is no reading or writing. You may make notes on paper in the preparation time and during the listening.
- The examiner reads from a script and stays neutral. They will not correct you or say how you are doing.
- If you do not understand something, say so: “Sorry, can you repeat that, please?” The examiner will repeat or say it more simply.
Part 1a · Questions from the examiner
- The examiner asks each of you short personal questions in turn: your name and how to spell it, where you come from, where you live, work or study, and what you do in your free time.
- Answer in full, simple sentences. One or two extra details are better than one word.
Part 1b · Ask each other questions
- The examiner gives each of you a different everyday topic, for example neighbours, a favourite time of year, things you read, or how you learn English.
- You get one and a half minutes to think and write down questions. The examiner looks away while you prepare.
- Candidate A asks Candidate B for up to two minutes, then you swap. Ask simple, complete questions and listen to the answers.
Part 2a · Listening
- You receive a task sheet with one question and three pictures with short captions, for example three places or three events.
- You hear two short recordings, each a different speaker. After the first listening the examiner asks each of you what your recording was about; you answer with one of the three options.
- Before the second listening the examiner reads out two detail questions for each of you, for example a time, a price, a person or a reason. After the recordings play again, you answer them.
- The recordings are played exactly twice; you cannot ask for a replay. Only the gist question and the three options are written on the sheet; the detail questions are spoken by the examiner. Write down numbers, times and names while you listen.
Part 2b · Talk together
- The examiner gives one topic connected to the listening, for example weekend places or parties and festivals, and asks you to talk to each other about it.
- Talk to your partner, not to the examiner. Ask what they think, agree or disagree, and give simple reasons.
- If the conversation stops, the examiner asks a short question to help it continue. Then: “Thank you. That is the end of the test.”
What the examiner listens for
Four abilities: obtaining information (asking clear questions), conveying information (giving relevant answers with a little detail), speaking to communicate (being understood at A1 level), and engaging in discussion (taking turns and responding to your partner). Small grammar mistakes do not matter if your meaning is clear.
More detail
Language you will actually need
- Present simple for routines and facts: “I work in a shop.” “She lives in Leeds.” Questions with do/does: “Do you like…?” “Where does he work?”
- Present continuous for now: “I’m learning English.” Past simple for basic experiences: “I went to London last year.” “It was nice.”
- Can / can’t, like + -ing, would like: “I can drive.” “I like cooking.” “I’d like a coffee.”
- Question words: what, where, when, who, why, how, how much, how often, what time.
- Numbers, prices (£7.50), times (half past seven), days, months, dates. These come up in the listening.
- There is / there are, prepositions of place and time (in, on, at, next to, near), and the vocabulary of home, family, work, shopping, transport, food, weather, free time.
Tips that make the biggest difference
- Answer with one full sentence plus one detail: “I live in Brno. It’s a big city.” Not just “Brno.”
- In Part 1b, prepare four or five questions in the 90 seconds and write them down. Start with easy ones: “Do you like…?” “Where…?” “How often…?”
- Listen to your partner and react: “Really?” “Me too.” “I don’t.” Then ask something back. That is what “engaging in discussion” means.
- In the listening, write the numbers, times and names you hear. The detail questions are about exactly those.
- If you did not understand, ask: “Sorry, can you say that again?” It costs nothing and it is normal.
- Speak slowly and clearly. Short, clear sentences beat long, broken ones every time.
Practical things on the day
- Bring your passport or the ID you registered with. Arrive early; there is a check-in and a short wait.
- You are tested together with another candidate and the examiner records the test for quality checks.
- Results are usually available within about a week and show only Pass or Fail. There is no score to compare.
- Check the current rules and your test centre’s instructions on the official IELTS site, because details can change.
How practice here differs from the real thing
- Your partner is a simulated candidate with her own voice, so you can practise any time.
- You hold a button while you speak. In the real test you just talk.
- The listening task shows the three options as text; the real sheet uses pictures with captions.
- The text of what the examiner says is hidden by default (CC). The real test has no subtitles.
- Your result here is a practice estimate, never an official mark.
Official sources
Not affiliated with IELTS, the British Council, IDP or Cambridge. Practice material only.