IELTS Test Format

IELTS is a test of all four language skills Listening, Reading, Writing & Speaking. You will take te
Listening, Reading and Writing tests all on te same da! one after te oter, wit no "reaks in "etween.
#epending on !our test $entre, !our Speaking test ma! "e on te same da! as te oter tree tests, or up to
se%en da!s "efore or after tat. Te total test time is under tree ours.
W! is te IELTS format fairer for !ou&
You deserve a fair chance to do your best. Thats why, unlike other tests, IELTS gives you a quiet roo for the
S!eaking test with no distractions or interru!tions.
IELTS also recognises that candidates have different a!!roaches to answering questions. "or e#a!le, with IELTS
you can answer questions in the order that suits you and you can ake changes to your $eading answers and
%riting res!onses at any tie during the $eading and %riting sections.
Wat $an !ou e'pe$t in ea$ se$tion of IELTS&
&oth versions of IELTS '(cadeic and )eneral Training* cover all four language
skills+ Listening,$eading, %riting and S!eaking. Each section of the test is outlined below.
"or a full descri!tion !lease ensure you also read the Inforation for ,andidates booklet.


Listening


() minutes


You will listen to four recorded te#ts, onologues and conversations by a range of native s!eakers, and write their
answers to a series of questions. These include questions which test the ability to understand ain ideas and
detailed factual inforation, ability to understand the o!inions and attitudes of s!eakers, ability to understand the
!ur!ose of what is said and ability to follow the develo!ent of ideas. ( variety of voices and native-s!eaker
accents is used and you will hear each section only once.
.The Listening co!onent is the sae for both (cadeic and )eneral Training versions.
Se$tion *
( conversation between two !eo!le set in an everyday social conte#t, e.g. a conversation in an accoodation
agency.
Se$tion +
( onologue set in an everyday social conte#t, e.g. a s!eech about local facilities.
Se$tion (
( conversation between u! to four !eo!le set in an educational or training conte#t, e.g. a university tutor and a
student discussing an assignent.
Se$tion ,
( onologue on an acadeic sub/ect, e.g. a university lecture.

Listening sa!le test questions


Reading



-) minutes


The $eading co!onent consists of 01 questions. ( variety of question ty!es is used in order to test a wide range
of reading skills. These include reading for gist, reading for ain ideas, reading for detail, skiing, understanding
logical arguent, recognising writers o!inions, attitudes and !ur!ose.
Reading . /$ademi$ %ersion
The (cadeic version includes three long te#ts which range fro the descri!tive and factual to the discursive and
analytical. The te#ts are authentic and are taken fro books, /ournals, aga2ines and news!a!ers. These have
been selected for a non-s!ecialist audience but are recognisably a!!ro!riate for anyone entering undergraduate or
!ostgraduate courses or seeking !rofessional registration.
Reading . 0eneral Training %ersion
The )eneral Training version requires you to read e#tracts fro books, aga2ines, news!a!ers, notices,
advertiseents, co!any handbooks and guidelines. These are aterials you are likely to encounter on a daily
basis in an English s!eaking environent.

$eading sa!le test questions


Writing


-) minutes


/$ademi$ %ersion
The %riting co!onent of the (cadeic version includes two tasks. To!ics are of general interest to, and suitable
for anyone entering undergraduate or !ostgraduate studies or seeking !rofessional registration.
Task *
You will be !resented with a gra!h, table, chart or diagra and are asked to describe, suarise or e#!lain the
inforation in your own words. You ay be asked to describe and e#!lain data, describe the stages of a !rocess,
how soething works or describe an ob/ect or event.
Task +
You will be asked to write an essay in res!onse to a !oint of view, arguent or !roble. $es!onses to both tasks
ust be written in a foral style.
0eneral Training %ersion
The %riting co!onent of the )eneral Training version includes two tasks which are based on to!ics of general
interest.
Task *
You will be !resented with a situation and asked to write a letter requesting inforation or e#!laining the situation.
The letter ay be !ersonal, sei-foral or foral in style.
Task +
You will be asked to write an essay in res!onse to a !oint of view, arguent or !roble. The essay can be slightly
ore !ersonal in style than the (cadeic %riting Task 3 essay.

%riting sa!le test questions


Speaking


** to *, minutes



The S!eaking co!onent assesses your use of s!oken English, and takes between 44 and 40 inutes to
co!lete. Every test is recorded. .The S!eaking co!onent is the sae for both (cadeic and )eneral Training
versions.
1art *
You will be asked to answer general questions about yourself and a range of failiar to!ics, such as your hoe,
faily, work, studies and interests. This !art lasts between 0 and 5 inutes.
1art +
You will be given a card which asks you to talk about a !articular to!ic. You will have one inute to !re!are before
s!eaking for u! to two inutes. The e#ainer then asks you one or two questions on the sae to!ic to finish this
!art of the test.
1art (
You will be asked further questions connected to the to!ic in 6art 3. These questions give you an o!!ortunity to
discuss ore abstract issues and ideas. This !art lasts between four and five inutes.
The S!eaking co!onent is delivered in such a way that does not allow you to rehearse set res!onses
beforehand.

S!eaking sa!le test questions