IELTS software for schools and colleges
IELTS software for schools and colleges: computer-delivered mock tests sat one module per lesson period, with instant Listening and Reading marking.
Schools and colleges use CD IELTS Prep to run IELTS preparation as a timetabled class. Students practise and sit mocks in the computer-delivered format, one module per lesson period, Listening and Reading are marked automatically, Writing gets an AI band estimate per criterion, and each student leaves with a score report to discuss in the next lesson — with nothing to install on school computers.
The problem: IELTS on top of a full timetable
In a school or college, IELTS preparation competes with every other subject for time. The full test takes 2 hours and 45 minutes, which rarely fits a single lesson, and the teacher running the class is usually teaching other courses too.
Classes are also mixed. Students heading to university need IELTS Academic, while students on a migration route usually need General Training — Canada's Express Entry, for example, accepts only General Training. One photocopied paper for the whole room serves one of those groups badly.
When marking is done by hand, feedback arrives a week after the mock, when the class has already moved on to the next topic.
What the software does for a school or college
Everything in this table exists on the platform today. Nothing here is a roadmap promise.
| What you need | What CD IELTS Prep does today |
|---|---|
| Mocks that fit lesson periods | Each module of a mock can be started on its own under real section timing, so Listening, Reading and Writing can each run in their own period. Reading and Writing need a full 60 minutes each; Listening takes about 30. |
| Academic and General Training in the same class | Full mocks and practice for both IELTS Academic and General Training, so each student practises the version they will actually sit. |
| Feedback the same day | Listening and Reading are marked the moment a student submits, with an answer review. Writing is marked by AI against the four official criteria, with an estimated band for each. |
| Results to discuss in the next lesson | Every attempt produces a score report and a question-by-question answer review that students can open or print, and teachers see each student's latest bands, attempt history and who needs attention in the institute workspace. |
| No IT project | Everything runs in a modern browser on school PCs or students' own devices. There is no software to install and no server to maintain. |
How a full mock splits across lesson periods
The official section timings below are the same for IELTS Academic and General Training; the Reading texts and Writing Task 1 differ between the two. Use them to plan which periods each module of a mock needs.
| Section | Official format | On CD IELTS Prep |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | About 30 minutes, 4 parts, 40 questions | Timed on screen, audio plays once, marked instantly |
| Reading | 60 minutes, 3 sections, 40 questions | Timed on screen, passage beside the questions, marked instantly |
| Writing | 60 minutes, 2 tasks (150 and 250 words minimum) | Typed with a live word count; band estimate per criterion |
| Speaking | 11–14 minutes, 3 parts, with an examiner | Practised in the browser with AI feedback on each answer, shown as a band range |
The whole IELTS test takes 2 hours and 45 minutes. In the real test, Listening, Reading and Writing are taken in one session with no breaks between them, and Speaking is a separate interview with an examiner. On CD IELTS Prep, Listening, Reading and Writing can each be taken in their own lesson period. Source: IELTS — Academic test format in detail.
How it works for your students
Accounts before term starts
Each student creates a free account, and during onboarding we attach it to your school's institute account, unlocking the full library.
Practice in class and at home
Students use Listening and Reading practice days and Writing tasks in lessons, and carry on at home on the same account.
Mocks one module at a time
A mock can be sat module by module under real timing. Reading and Writing each need a full 60-minute period; Listening takes about 30 minutes.
Results before the next lesson
Listening and Reading bands and the answer review are ready the moment students submit, so the next lesson can start from the mistakes.
A plan for each student
Each student's dashboard shows their band by skill and a study plan built from their weak question types.
What it does not do
- Institute setup is done with our team, not through a self-serve sign-up, so access starts after we have talked.
- Teachers can adjust Writing and Speaking bands, but not Listening or Reading, which come from the answer key. Every band, teacher-set or not, is a practice estimate and not an official IELTS result.
- Your staff cannot upload their own tests or questions into the test library; they can share notes, links and files, and assign tests from the CD IELTS Prep library.
- Speaking feedback for students is AI feedback on each recorded answer, shown as a band range rather than a final score. A teacher can set the Speaking band after reading the transcript; recordings are not stored. The real Speaking test is a live interview with an examiner.
- There is no integration with school management systems or learning platforms; students sign in to CD IELTS Prep directly.
Frequently asked questions
Does a full IELTS mock fit in one lesson?
Usually not: the full test takes 2 hours and 45 minutes. On CD IELTS Prep each module can be started on its own under real timing, so Listening, Reading and Writing can each run in their own period. Reading and Writing need a full 60 minutes each; Listening takes about 30 minutes.
Should our students take IELTS Academic or General Training?
Students applying to universities generally need Academic. Students on a migration route usually need General Training — Canada's Express Entry accepts only General Training. Students should confirm with the university or authority they are applying to. The platform covers both.
Can students use the platform at home as well as in school?
Yes. It runs in any modern browser, and a student's progress is the same whether they practise in the lab or at home.
Do teachers need training to use it?
No special training. The student side behaves like the computer-delivered test, and the institute workspace shows each student's latest bands, who needs attention, and lets you share materials and assign tests to a cohort. Onboarding is done with our team directly, not self-serve, and extra staff logins are added by our team on request.
How much does it cost for a school or college?
Contact us for institute pricing. Each student seat costs the same as an individual Pro plan, with free bonus seats on larger groups, so we confirm the exact seats and length with you rather than publishing a price list.
Is CD IELTS Prep the official IELTS test?
No. CD IELTS Prep is an independent practice platform. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to the British Council, IDP Education or Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Bands on the platform are practice estimates, not official IELTS results.
Plan IELTS practice for next term
Tell us how many students you have, how the classes are split between Academic and General Training, and when term starts. Contact us for institute pricing.