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The IELTS is a standard exam for international students to analyse their level of proficiency in the English language. The assessment is widely recognised and accepted as proof of English fluency in over 11,000 educational institutions in several countries. The IELTS exam comprises four sections that assess the candidate's language skills.
IELTS is available in two versions - IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. Both versions evaluate your English skills in listening, reading, writing, and speaking. However, IELTS Academic includes topics for those entering university, and General Training is less specific.
Table of Contents
- IELTS Academic vs General: A comparison
- IELTS: Key highlights
- A walkthrough of the IELTS Academic test
- IELTS Academic syllabus
- Where to take the IELTS test?
- IELTS exam registration
- IELTS results
- IELTS scores explained
- IELTS preparation
IELTS Academic vs General: A comparison
IELTS Academic
You should take the IELTS Academic test if you want to study abroad. Individuals working in sectors such as engineering or accounting would also benefit from the IELTS Academic test.
IELTS General Training
The IELTS General Training is chosen mainly for migration purposes. Individuals who wish to establish a career in an English-speaking nation can also take the IELTS General Training.
Here’s everything you should know about the IELTS Academic test.
Also read: IELTS Preparation Books
IELTS: Key highlights
| IELTS full form | International English Language Testing System |
| Conducted by | British Council, IDP Education, and Cambridge Assessment English |
| Types of IELTS exam | IELTS Academic IELTS General Training |
| No. of sections | 4 (Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking) |
| Total duration | 2 hours 45 minutes |
| Total band score | 9 |
| Is the syllabus the same for IELTS Academic and General Training? | Yes |
Data updated as of October 2023
Also read: IELTS Exam Syllabus 2023
Register now to achieve a score of 6 or higher with our free IELTS Masterclass!
A walkthrough of the IELTS Academic test
- The IELTS Academic test contains four sections: Listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
- The listening, reading, and writing sections will be conducted on the same day without any breaks. It will take a total of 2 hours and 30 minutes.
- The speaking section will be on a different day, before or after the other sections. It takes roughly 15 minutes.
| Section | Description | Questions | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | There will be four recorded monologues and conversations which will test your understanding of what’s being said. | 40 | 30 minutes |
| Reading | This section consists of three long paragraphs which will test your reading and understanding. Texts will range from descriptive pieces of work to general discussions and non-verbal materials such as graphs, diagrams, and drawings. | 40 | 60 minutes |
| Writing | This section has two writing tasks. In the first task, the candidate has to analyse, describe, or explain a table, figure, graph, or diagram. The second task is a write-up on any general topic. | 2 | 60 minutes |
| Speaking | The speaking section contains short questions and a discussion about a random topic. | 3 parts | 11 to 14 minutes |
IELTS Academic syllabus
Listening
The IELTS Academic listening section will evaluate your ability to understand the primary ideas, factual information, thoughts, and attitudes shared by the speakers in the recordings. Each recording will be delivered in various voices and accents, and you will only hear it once. Both the IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training modules include the same listening section.
Listening section for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training
| Listening section | Question format |
|---|---|
| Part 1 | You should listen to a conversation between two people in an everyday social situation. Hence, it is recommended that you prepare by watching BBC or CNN talks. |
| Part 2 | Only one person speaks in part 2. The second recording is a social context monologue. |
| Part 3 | The third part is a conversation between two people, typically in educational or training situations. |
| Part 4 | In part 4, only one person speaks on an academic subject. |
At the end of the listening section, you will have 10 minutes to write your answers on an answer sheet. Be careful when writing your answers because you will lose marks for incorrect spelling and grammar.
To prepare for the listening section, start watching videos with English subtitles. Listen closely to each audio and note down the key components. Do not confuse yourself with any unnecessary information.
Reading
You can expect the following format of questions in the IELTS Academic reading section:
- Multiple choice questions
- Identifying information and claims
- Matching sentence endings
- Matching headings - you are required to assign subheadings from the given options to each part of the passage
- Sentence completion
- Data interpretation
- Short answer questions
While the question format remains the same, the IELTS exam syllabus for the Academic and General Training versions differ in this section. Here are the differences in the reading section for IELTS Academic and General Training.
Reading section for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training
| IELTS Academic | IELTS General Training |
|---|---|
| The reading section includes three sections with long texts which are descriptive, factual, and analytical. | The reading section includes three long texts relevant to an English-speaking environment. The sections are named social survival, workplace survival, and general reading. |
| The texts will be used from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers. | The texts and passages will be taken from famous books and magazines, mainly in a general context. |
Writing
The IELTS Academic writing section consists of two brief descriptive essays, and you should complete them within 60 minutes. While the format is the same for the IELTS Academic and General Training versions, the concepts of the essays will differ.
Writing section for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training
| Writing Task | IELTS Academic | IELTS General training |
|---|---|---|
| Task 1 | It is a data interpretation task, where the questions will be from a graph, data, chart, or diagram. You need to write an essay relevant to the data provided and describe the same. The description should be at least 150 words. | It is a letter-writing task, and it may be a personal, semi-formal, or formal letter. You are required to write a letter explaining an issue or requesting a piece of information. The description should be at least 150 words. |
| Task 2 | It will be an essay in which you must convey your point of view on an argument or a problem. The essay should be at least 250 words. It is important to keep the tone formal and maintain it in an academic style. Use relevant examples to support your point or opinion. | It will be an essay in which you must convey your point of view on an argument or a problem. The essay should be at least 250 words. The tone must be personal. |
Register now to achieve a score of 6 or higher with our free IELTS Masterclass!
Speaking
The IELTS Academic speaking section is considered the most crucial part of the test. This face-to-face section is divided into three parts and lasts for 11-14 minutes. The format for the speaking section remains the same for IELTS Academic and General Training.
Speaking section for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training
| IELTS speaking section | Question format |
|---|---|
| Part 1 | The examiner will ask general questions about you. The session lasts 4-5 minutes. The speaking part 1 questions will be about your personal life, academic achievements, family, and others. |
| Part 2 | The examiner will give you an IELTS cue card with a topic. You will be given one minute to prepare for the topic and should deliver a speech for two minutes. |
| Part 3 | The examiner will ask questions based on your speech on the cue card topic. You will need to answer in detail during this part. This part lasts for 4-5 minutes. |
Data updated as of October 2023
Here’s everything you need to know about the IELTS cue card for the speaking section.
Watch our IELTS Lessons Playlist on YouTube. Our expert instructor covers all modules: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Click here.
Pro preparation tips for the IELTS Academic speaking test
- Understand the structure, format, and types of questions to expect in the speaking test. It will help you feel prepared on the test day.
- Create a study plan to streamline your preparation and achieve your target score.
- Refrain from memorising any answers. It will confuse you during the interview.
- Familiarise using a range of grammatical structures and maintaining fluency instead of complex words.
- Practice speaking out loud on various topics that you expect to appear on the IELTS cue card. It helps you improve your pronunciation and fluency in spoken English. Also, use simple language and convey your ideas and opinions.
- Make sure to be prepared for the possible follow-up questions and try to prepare yourself to answer them.
- It is advisable to avoid overthinking, as it might affect your flow and disrupt your thought process during the interview.
Read more: IELTS Academic speaking test.
Here are some downloadable PDFs for sample cue card topics:
- Describe an area of science that interests you
- Describe a successful businessperson you know
- Describe a party that you enjoyed
- Describe a difficult thing that you did and succeeded
- Describe a beautiful city
Pro tips to prepare for the IELTS Academic test
With regular practice and the development of language skills, you can easily ace the test. Here are some vital tips for how to prepare for the IELTS Academic test.
Register now to achieve a score of 6 or higher with our free IELTS Masterclass!
Where to take the IELTS test?
You have to take the test at an official test centre, where you take it either online or offline.
To clarify:
- Offline is paper-based
- Online is computer-based
Offline (paper-based IELTS)
You will take the test at an official test centre with the papers for questioning and answering. You should write your responses with a pencil. The reading, listening, and writing sections will be first. The speaking test will be on another day with an IELTS examiner face-to-face.
Online (computer-based IELTS)
You will take the test at an official IELTS test centre, where you will submit your answers on a computer allocated to you. The speaking test is not on the computer; the speaking test will be on another day with an IELTS examiner face-to-face.
IELTS exam registration
Before the exam, you need to register for IELTS first.
IELTS tests are offered on 48 scheduled dates per year (up to four times a month). Candidates can take the exam on any of these 48 days and can retake the exam at any time.
There is no limit to how many times a candidate can take the IELTS examination. Each time, the candidate must pay the test fees.
IELTS exam centres
Globally, the IELTS is available in more than 1,200 test centres in more than 140 countries. You can easily find the test locations on the official website of IELTS, or can be obtained from the nearest IELTS venue.
Online registration
Registration for your IELTS test is quick and simple.
- Step 1 - Find your local IELTS test venue. Your nearest centre can be found on the official IELTS website.
- Step 2 - Register for your IELTS test. You can register and pay online or download an application form to print, fill and send to your local test centre. You will need to register using the details given in your passport.
- Your IELTS test is booked. Your test centre will confirm the date and time of your test once your application has been processed.
- On the test day, you will need to produce your original passport. Make sure it is valid.
Offline registration
- For offline registration, reach out to the nearest centre. You can get this information from the official IELTS website.
- Bring your passport and national ID.
- Pay the fee and complete your registration.
- Your examination centre will send you an email confirmation of the date and time of your test once the application is approved.
Online payment
The IELTS test fee can be paid online by credit card, debit card, online banking, or payment wallet. The payment can be made at the official IELTS website.
Offline payment
Offline payment can be made through a demand draft. You can get this information from the official IELTS website.
IELTS results
After the test, you will receive an email notification with a link to examine your IELTS scores, which you can access at any time.
Those who took the paper version of the IELTS test will get their results online 15 days after the test. For the computer-based test, your results will be available online within three to five days.
IELTS Test Report Form (TRF)
Fifteen days after your test date, you will obtain a printed copy of your IELTS test score, called a Test Report Form (TRF). The TRF can either be collected at the test centre or will be sent by post. IELTS test results cannot be released via email or phone.
Results enquiry
To enquire about your test results, you must file a Request for Results Information within six weeks of your test date. You can apply for it online using the web portal or in person at the testing centre where you took your test.
IELTS test results enquiries are subject to a fee, although this will be refunded if your score increases for any section.
Your results are usually available between two to 21 days, depending on several factors, including the number of parts you requested to have re-marked.
IELTS scores explained
An essential element of your IELTS preparation is to understand how you are graded.
You obtain a band score between 1-9 for every test category. This score averages your IELTS band score overall. It can be a total (e.g., 6, 7) or half score (e.g., 6.5, 7.5).
| Band score | Skill | Skill overview |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non-user | Has no ability to use the English language. May know a few isolated words. |
| 2 | Intermittent User | Has difficulty in understanding, speaking, and writing English. May know only a few phrases. |
| 3 | Extremely Limited User | Can convey and understand only the basic meaning in some situations. Will have frequent breakdowns. |
| 4 | Limited User | Is limited to basic competence. Unable to use complex language and has problems in understanding. |
| 5 | Moderate User | Has partial command of the language. Can handle basic communication. |
| 6 | Competent User | Has an effective command of the language. Can understand complex language in some situations. |
| 7 | Good User | Is good at English with inappropriate usage in some situations. Can understand complex language and handles it well. |
| 8 | Very Good User | Has full command of the language except in a few situations – occasional inaccuracies. |
| 9 | Expert User | Shows complete understanding of English with fluency and accuracy. |
IELTS preparation
Preparation is the key to getting the score you need on the IELTS test. You will be tested on your reading, writing, listening, and speaking abilities in English. Even “natural” speakers will find it challenging if you're unprepared.
How to prepare for the IELTS exam
There are many tips you can follow to prepare for the IELTS exam, but a few good ones to practice include:
- Make an early start
- Create a study routine
- Complete IELTS Academic practice tests (as well as sample questions)
- Practice note-taking
The best books for IELTS preparation
To get the best score, preparation is essential. If you're just getting started, it can feel daunting, but with lots of practice, you can make a tremendous difference.
Here are some of the best IELTS books that will provide you with comprehensive knowledge about the exam:
1. The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS
Suitable for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. Designed to help you achieve a high score in your IELTS exam, this book gives you hints and tips from people who have done the course themselves.
2. Barron’s IELTS Superpack
It is one of the best books for IELTS general preparation for academics and professionals alike. Everything you need to prepare for the IELTS exam is included in the comprehensive IELTS preparation kit so that you can excel in the test.
3. Simone Braverman’s Target Band 7
Great for individuals who desire to get a good score on their IELTS exam. Written by someone who has taken and passed the IELTS exam, this book is straightforward to grasp and full of practical advice that is easy to put into practice.
