The IELTS begins with the Listening section. It lasts 30 minutes. There would be played four audios.

Two about general topics and two on academic topics. They will be either a monologue or a
conversation. One of each audio will have 10 questions. Normally, the questions are a ‘phrase
completion’. At the end of the 30 minutes, you will have 10 minutes to transfer your answers on
the ‘answer sheet’. Of course, take notes.

Before the Listening section starts, 1. Read carefully the task and 2. If you have time, try to read the
question so that you will able to recognize the answers before listening. All the answers will be
in the same order the question are asked.

The second section is Reading. There are three paragraph to read. As the level of difficulty of those
paragraphs increase one after another, spend 15min to read the first, 20min to read the second
and 25min to read the third. In total, you have 60min to read and to answer to 40 questions.
For most of them, the questions follow the order they come in the paragraph. Therefore, read
the question first, and then go to the paragraph to find it. Once found, answer it. Do the same
for the rest of the questions. Although, in some tasks is not possible to follow this strategy. For
example, you could have a task where you need to find in which sub-paragraph is written a
specific statement. Hence, in this case, you need to read the entire paragraph to be able to answer
correctly. When this happens, 1. Read all the statements, 2. Try to memorise what they ask or
say, 3. Read the entire paragraph to find them. Another tricky task is when they ask true/false/not
given. When answering those questions, do not waste to much time in reading them and do not include
your own knowledge (just stick to the paragraph). If you cannot find the answer, mark the question
and move on.

The third section is Writing. This section has two tasks. First, you need to describe and summarise a
visual information (diagram, map, graph or table) in 180 words. You have 20 minutes. Second, you
need to give a solution, evaluate a problem, compare or contrast ideas in at least 280 words. You have
40 minutes. You will write BY HAND. Therefore, you must practice a lot in writing in order to know
if you have reached the goal. STRUCTURE is the most important thing!

In the first task, you have to write an INTRODUCTION of ONE sentence of what you see.
Then comes the MAIN BODY that has to have TWO paragraphs. In the first, you describe
SIMILARITIES, and in the second, you describe DIFFERENCES. Do not pay too much
attention to the numbers in the visual information; rather focus to the TRENDS (highest
point, lower point, etc.). DO NOT use either ‘I’ or ‘WE’, just say ‘the graph demonstrates’,
‘the table proves’, etc. Write in PRESENT or PAST sentences. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO
WRITE A CONCLUSION.

In the second task, you have to write an INTRODUCTION of TWO sentences

PARAPHRASING the question. Then, each paragraph MUST have only ONE argument.
The STRUCTURE MUST BE, 1. Point of view, 2. Supporting evidence, 3. Example. Finally,
YOU NEED TO WRITE A CONCLUSION (GIVING YOUR POINT OF VIEW). The
conclusion is the MOST IMPORTAT PART.

The forth section is SPEAKING. It will last for 14 minutes. Be friendly, smile, make eye contact.
Speak loud and be clear. There are 3 tasks. First, a familiar topic (family, friends, hobbies, work,
studies, cities you have lived in, favorite food or drink, favorite music). ALWAYS give an
EXPANDED ANSWER, NOT A SHORT ONE. For example, if they ask you ‘where are you from’
1
DO NOT say just ‘Naples’, rather say ‘I am from Naples. One of the best know cities in Italy,
especially for food, popular music and for the warmth of its inhabitants’. However, DO NOT TALK
TOO MUCH EITHER. Second, you have to comment a card, a booklet or a brochure. You
CAN take notes for 1 min. Make sure you SPEAK FOR ENOUGH TIME. Third, you will be asked
questions about the card, booklet or brochure you have just commented. YOU MUST HAVE
A STRUCTURE WITH AN INTRODUCTION, A MAIN BODY AND A CONCLUSION. In
addition, the third task could also be a discussion between you and the tutor about a general topic,
such as environment, technology, education, transportation, etc. For example, ‘let’s talk about moral
value in our society or how have they changed in the past 20 years?

Listening (1st Section), Writing Task 2 (3nd Section) and Speaking (4th Section) are the same for
General and Academic IELTS.

The difference is the WRITING TASK 1, which is more complicated for ACADEMIC IELTS and
the READING (2rd) SECTION, which is also more, and increasingly, difficult.

Therefore, you have to master:

1. The listening section. Listen to as many audios as you can and find the right answers.

2. The reading section. Read as many paragraphs as you can. Make simulation. Consider TIME!

3. The Writing sections. A. Learn the VOCABULARY to be able to write on TASK 1, and practice
BY HAND to write a 180 words answer. B. Practice to write on SPECIFIC and GENERAL TOPICS
FOR TASK 2, and practice BY HAND to write a 280 words answer. Consider TIME!

4. The speaking section. Be friendly, smile, make eye contact. Speak loud and be clear. There are 3
tasks. First, a familiar topic (family, friends, hobbies, work, studies, cities you have lived in, favorite
food or drink, favorite music). YOU MUST HAVE A STRUCTURE WITH AN INTRODUCTION,
A MAIN BODY AND A CONCLUSION. ALWAYS give an EXPANDED ANSWER, NOT A
SHORT ONE. Prepare on specific questions. Find them online and learn them by HEARTH AS
WELL AS THE STRUCTURE.