IELTS - Academic Detailed Test Format

The IELTS test is a test of your English ability and the scores are often used for High School, College and University Entrance into schools in Europe, Australia and even the US and Canada. Overseas jobs with English requirements also use the IELTS (for example nursing jobs in Australia and Europe).

Test Sections

The test consists for four sections:

	Section	# Questions	Time
1	Listening	4 parts, 40 questions	30 min
2	Reading	3 readings, 40 questions	60 min
3	Writing	2 essays, 2 questions	60 min
4	Speaking	3 parts	11-14 min

Listening Section

	Description
1	Conversation between two people set in an everyday social context.
2	Monologue set in an everyday social context, e.g. a speech about local facilities.
3	Conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context, e.g. a university tutor and a student discussing an assignment.
4	Monologue on an academic subject, e.g. a university lecture.

Reading Section

3 Long Reading Texts and questions

Texts are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers, and have been written for a non-specialist audience. All the topics are of general interest.
They deal with issues which are interesting, recognisably appropriate and accessible to test takers entering undergraduate or postgraduate courses or seeking professional registration.
The passages may be written in a variety of styles, for example narrative, descriptive or discursive/argumentative.
At least one text contains detailed logical argument.
Texts may contain non-verbal materials such as diagrams, graphs or illustrations.

Writing Section

Part	Description
1	You will be presented with a graph, table, chart or diagram and asked to describe, summarise or explain the information in your own words. You may be asked to describe and explain data, describe the stages of a process, how something works or describe an object or event.
2	You will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. Responses to both tasks must be in a formal style.

Speaking Section

Part	Description
1	The examiner will ask you general questions about yourself and a range of familiar topics, such as home, family, work, studies and interests. This part lasts between four and five minutes.
2	You will be given a card which asks you to talk about a particular topic. You will have one minute to prepare before speaking for up to two minutes. The examiner will then ask one or two questions on the same topic.
3	You will be asked further questions about the topic in Part 2. These will give you the opportunity to discuss more abstract ideas and issues. This part of the test lasts between four and five minutes.