IELTS syllabus

English test in two forms: Academic for study, General Training for work and migration. Four skills, band 0 to 9.

IELTS Academic

Listening

40 questions in 4 parts · About 30 minutes

Each recording is heard once. One mark per question.

  • Multiple choice
  • Matching
  • Plan, map and diagram labelling
  • Form, note, table, flow-chart and summary completion
  • Sentence completion
  • Short-answer questions

Academic Reading

40 questions on 3 long texts · 60 minutes

One mark per question. On paper, the 60 minutes include writing the answers on the answer sheet.

  • Multiple choice
  • Identifying information (True / False / Not Given)
  • Identifying the writer's views (Yes / No / Not Given)
  • Matching information, headings, features and sentence endings
  • Sentence, summary, note, table and flow-chart completion
  • Diagram label completion
  • Short-answer questions

Academic Writing

2 tasks · 60 minutes

Marked by examiners on four equally weighted criteria: Task achievement (Task 1) or Task response (Task 2), Coherence and cohesion, Lexical resource, Grammatical range and accuracy. Task 2 counts for more than Task 1.

  • Task 1: describe a graph, table, chart, diagram or process (at least 150 words)
  • Task 2: an essay in response to a point of view or problem (at least 250 words)

Speaking

3 parts · 11 to 14 minutes

Marked by the examiner on four equally weighted criteria: Fluency and coherence, Lexical resource, Grammatical range and accuracy, Pronunciation.

  • Part 1: questions about familiar topics
  • Part 2: a short talk on a topic card after a minute to prepare
  • Part 3: a discussion of ideas linked to Part 2

IELTS General Training

Listening

40 questions in 4 parts · About 30 minutes

The same test as in IELTS Academic.

  • Multiple choice
  • Matching
  • Plan, map and diagram labelling
  • Form, note, table, flow-chart and summary completion
  • Sentence completion
  • Short-answer questions

General Training Reading

40 questions in 3 sections · 60 minutes

More marks are needed for the same band than in Academic Reading: IELTS gives about 15 out of 40 for band 4, 23 for 5, 30 for 6, 35 for 7.

  • Texts from notices, advertisements, workplace documents and general-interest writing
  • The same question types as Academic Reading

General Training Writing

2 tasks · 60 minutes

The same four criteria as Academic Writing; Task 2 counts for more.

  • Task 1: a letter asking for information or explaining a situation (at least 150 words)
  • Task 2: an essay in response to a point of view or problem (at least 250 words)

Speaking

3 parts · 11 to 14 minutes

The same test as in IELTS Academic.

  • Part 1: questions about familiar topics
  • Part 2: a short talk on a topic card
  • Part 3: a discussion of ideas linked to Part 2