IELTS Test Format
A complete guide to the IELTS test — format, timing, question types, and scoring for all four skills.
Listening
Test Sections
A conversation between two people in an everyday social context (e.g. booking a hotel room)
A monologue in an everyday social context (e.g. a speech about local facilities)
A conversation between up to four people in an educational or training context
A monologue on an academic subject (e.g. a university lecture)
Question Types
Key Tips
- 1Read the questions before the audio plays
- 2Answers appear in order — don't fall behind
- 3Watch for distractors — the speaker may change their mind
- 4Check spelling carefully — wrong spelling = wrong answer
Reading
Test Sections
3 long passages from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers (750–900 words each). Texts are complex and may include diagrams, graphs, or illustrations.
Section 1: short factual texts (notices, ads, timetables). Section 2: work-related texts. Section 3: one longer, more complex text.
Question Types
Key Tips
- 1Skim the passage first to understand the main idea
- 2For TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN: NOT GIVEN means the information is not in the text — do not use your own knowledge
- 3Matching headings: read the first and last sentence of each paragraph
- 4Don't spend more than 20 minutes on any one passage
Writing
Test Sections
Describe, summarise, or explain a graph, chart, table, or diagram in at least 150 words. You are NOT expected to give your own opinion.
Write a letter in at least 150 words. The letter may be formal, semi-formal, or informal depending on the situation.
Write an essay in response to a point of view, argument, or problem in at least 250 words. Task 2 carries more weight than Task 1.
Question Types
Key Tips
- 1Spend 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 minutes on Task 2
- 2Task 2 is worth twice as much as Task 1
- 3Always plan your essay before writing — 2–3 minutes of planning saves time
- 4Check your word count — under the minimum loses marks
Speaking
Test Sections
The examiner asks general questions about yourself and familiar topics such as home, family, work, studies, and interests.
You are given a cue card with a topic and bullet points. You have 1 minute to prepare, then speak for 1–2 minutes. The examiner may ask 1–2 follow-up questions.
The examiner asks more abstract questions related to the Part 2 topic. This part tests your ability to discuss ideas and opinions at length.
Question Types
Key Tips
- 1Speak at length — give extended answers, not just one sentence
- 2Use a range of vocabulary and avoid repeating the same words
- 3It's OK to self-correct — the examiner expects natural speech
- 4In Part 2, use your preparation minute to make brief notes
How IELTS is Scored
The average of the four skill scores, rounded to the nearest 0.5
Raw score (number correct out of 40) converted to a band score
Assessed on Task Achievement/Response, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range & Accuracy
Assessed on Fluency & Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range & Accuracy, Pronunciation
Academic vs General Training
- • For university admission (undergraduate & postgraduate)
- • For professional registration (nurses, doctors, engineers)
- • Reading: 3 long academic passages
- • Writing Task 1: describe a graph, chart, or diagram
- • Listening & Speaking: same as General Training
- • For migration (UK, Australia, Canada, NZ, USA)
- • For work visas and secondary education
- • Reading: short notices, ads, and one longer text
- • Writing Task 1: write a formal or informal letter
- • Listening & Speaking: same as Academic
Where to Take IELTS
IELTS is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English. It is available in over 140 countries at more than 1,600 test centres.