IELTS Practice (Grammar & Vocabulary) Practice Test
Frequently asked questions
How many IELTS Practice (Grammar & Vocabulary) practice questions are here?+
A full bank of original IELTS Practice (Grammar & Vocabulary) practice questions across the official content areas, weighted like the real exam, with explanations. Free, no signup.
What is the IELTS Practice (Grammar & Vocabulary) exam like?+
A multiple-choice exam. Practice by topic here, then take the full timed mock exam to gauge readiness.
Are these the real exam questions?+
No. Every question is 100% original, written from public primary sources with explanations. We never copy real exam questions or paid prep material.
Can I study in Chinese or Spanish?+
PrepPass practice is in English, 中文 and Español. The official exam is in English — switch the question language to English any time to rehearse the exact terminology you'll see on test day.
Sample practice questions
A few real questions from this free bank, with full explanations. Use the practice tool above for the whole set.
- 1. Grammar & Tenses
I ___ my keys; I cannot find them anywhere. Which choice is correct?
- a.lost
- b.was losing
- c.had lost
- d.have lost
Answer: d
Explanation: The present perfect 'have lost' links a past action to its present result (the keys are still missing now). The simple past 'lost' would not stress that present consequence.
- 2. Grammar & Tenses
While I ___ dinner, the telephone rang. Which choice is correct?
- a.was cooking
- b.have cooked
- c.cook
- d.cooked
Answer: a
Explanation: The past continuous 'was cooking' describes an ongoing background action that was interrupted by a shorter past action ('rang'), which takes the simple past.
- 3. Grammar & Tenses
If I ___ you, I would apologize immediately. Which choice is correct?
- a.were
- b.am
- c.had been
- d.was
Answer: a
Explanation: In the second conditional giving advice, standard usage uses the subjunctive 'were' for all persons: 'If I were you'. This pairs with 'would apologize'.
- 4. Vocabulary & Collocations
Tourism plays a vital ___ in the country's economy. Which word completes the collocation?
- a.act
- b.role
- c.place
- d.position
Answer: b
Explanation: The fixed collocation is 'play a role'. Something that 'plays a vital role' is very important; 'play a place' or 'play a position' are not idiomatic here.
- 5. Vocabulary & Collocations
The new findings ___ doubt on the original theory. Which verb completes the collocation?
- a.set
- b.put
- c.cast
- d.give
Answer: c
Explanation: The established collocation is 'cast doubt on'. English speakers say new evidence 'casts doubt on' an idea, not 'puts' or 'gives' doubt on it.
- 6. Articles & Prepositions
He has been interested ___ astronomy since childhood. Which preposition is correct?
- a.at
- b.for
- c.on
- d.in
Answer: d
Explanation: The correct collocation is 'interested in'. English speakers are 'interested in' a subject, not 'interested on' or 'interested at' it.
- 7. Articles & Prepositions
I took ___ umbrella because it looked like rain. Which article is correct?
- a.a
- b.the
- c.no article
- d.an
Answer: d
Explanation: 'Umbrella' begins with a vowel sound, so it takes 'an'. The choice of 'a' or 'an' depends on the sound that follows, not the spelling alone.
- 8. Sentence Transformation
Rewrite in the passive: 'Someone stole my bicycle.' → My bicycle ___. Which choice is correct?
- a.was stealing
- b.has stolen
- c.was stolen
- d.is stole
Answer: c
Explanation: The passive of the past simple 'stole' is 'was/were + past participle'. The past participle of 'steal' is 'stolen', giving 'My bicycle was stolen'.
- 9. Sentence Transformation
Keep the meaning: 'He is too young to drive.' → He is not ___ to drive. Which choice is correct?
- a.too old
- b.old enough
- c.as old
- d.enough old
Answer: b
Explanation: 'Too young to drive' means he is not old enough. The adverb 'enough' follows the adjective, giving 'old enough', not 'enough old'.
- 10. Common Errors
I have been living in this city ___ five years. Which choice is correct?
- a.since
- b.from
- c.for
- d.during
Answer: c
Explanation: Use 'for' with a length of time ('five years'). 'Since' would be used with a starting point, such as 'since 2019'.