IELTS Exam Pattern
Complete Guide to IELTS Test Format and Structure
Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking
Understanding the IELTS Exam
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) tests your English proficiency across four skills: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. The exam takes approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, with Speaking conducted separately.
Two versions exist: IELTS Academic for university admissions and professional registration, and IELTS General Training for immigration and work visas. The Listening and Speaking sections are identical in both versions; only Reading and Writing differ.
Listening (30 minutes)
The Listening section tests your ability to understand spoken English in various contexts. You'll hear four recordings and answer 40 questions.
What You'll Hear
- Recording 1: A conversation in a social context (e.g., booking a hotel)
- Recording 2: A monologue in a social context (e.g., local facilities)
- Recording 3: A conversation in an educational context (e.g., students discussing)
- Recording 4: An academic monologue (e.g., university lecture)
You hear each recording only once. You get 10 minutes at the end to transfer answers to the answer sheet.
Reading (60 minutes)
The Reading section has three long passages with 40 questions total. You must complete everything within 60 minutes—no extra transfer time.
Academic vs General Training
Academic: Three passages from books, journals, and newspapers. Topics are academic but accessible to non-specialists.
General Training: Texts from notices, advertisements, company handbooks, and general interest articles. Reflects everyday English usage.
Question Types
- Multiple choice
- True/False/Not Given
- Matching headings
- Sentence completion
- Summary completion
- Diagram labelling
Writing (60 minutes)
The Writing section has two tasks. Time management is crucial—most experts recommend 20 minutes for Task 1 and 40 minutes for Task 2.
Task 1 (150+ words)
Academic: Describe visual information (graph, chart, table, diagram, or map). Summarize trends, compare data, or explain a process.
General Training: Write a letter (formal, semi-formal, or informal) based on a given situation.
Task 2 (250+ words)
Both versions: Write an essay responding to an argument or problem. You may need to discuss both sides, give your opinion, or propose solutions.
Task 2 carries more weight in scoring, so allocate your time accordingly.
Speaking (11-14 minutes)
The Speaking test is a face-to-face interview with an examiner. It feels like a conversation but follows a set structure.
Part 1: Introduction (4-5 minutes)
The examiner asks about familiar topics—your home, work, studies, hobbies. These warm you up and test everyday conversational English.
Part 2: Long Turn (3-4 minutes)
You receive a task card with a topic. You get 1 minute to prepare, then speak for 1-2 minutes. The examiner may ask one or two follow-up questions.
Part 3: Discussion (4-5 minutes)
The examiner asks more abstract questions related to the Part 2 topic. This tests your ability to discuss ideas and justify opinions.
IELTS Band Scores Explained
Each section is scored from 0 to 9 in half-band increments (e.g., 6.5, 7.0, 7.5). Your overall band score is the average of all four sections, rounded to the nearest half band.
What the Bands Mean
- Band 9: Expert user - Complete operational command of English
- Band 8: Very good user - Fully operational command with occasional inaccuracies
- Band 7: Good user - Operational command with occasional inaccuracies
- Band 6: Competent user - Effective command despite some inaccuracies
- Band 5: Modest user - Partial command, coping with overall meaning
How Scores Are Calculated
Your overall band is calculated by averaging all four section scores. For example, if you score L:7.0, R:6.5, W:6.0, S:7.0, your average is 6.625, which rounds to 6.5 overall.
Understanding this calculation is important. If you need 7.0 overall but struggle with Writing, you might need to score higher in other sections to compensate.
IELTS Scoring Criteria by Section
Writing Criteria
- Task Achievement/Response: Did you fully address the question?
- Coherence & Cohesion: Is your writing well-organized?
- Lexical Resource: Vocabulary range and accuracy
- Grammatical Range: Sentence structure variety and accuracy
Speaking Criteria
- Fluency & Coherence: Can you speak smoothly and logically?
- Lexical Resource: Vocabulary range and appropriateness
- Grammatical Range: Sentence complexity and accuracy
- Pronunciation: Clarity and natural speech patterns
IELTS Test Day: What to Expect
Knowing what happens on test day reduces anxiety. Here's the typical flow:
Before the Test
- Arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled time
- Bring your passport (the same one used for registration)
- Leave phones, watches, and bags in the designated area
- You'll be photographed and fingerprinted for identity verification
During the Test
- Listening, Reading, and Writing happen back-to-back with no break
- Speaking may be the same day or scheduled separately
- You can request water if needed
- Bathroom breaks are allowed but time continues
Common Test Day Mistakes
- Not transferring answers in time (especially Listening)
- Spending too long on Task 1 and rushing Task 2 in Writing
- Not reading questions carefully in Reading
- Giving one-word answers in Speaking Part 1
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