Test takers write their answers on the question paper as they listen and at the end of the test are given 10 minutes to transfer their answers to an answer sheet. Care should be taken when writing answers on the answer sheet as poor spelling and grammar are penalised.

Marks: Each question is worth 1 mark.

Reading-

Test format – Reading (60 minutes)

The Reading section consists of 40 questions, designed to test a wide range of reading skills. These include reading for gist, reading for main ideas, reading for detail, skimming, understanding logical argument and recognising writers’ opinions, attitudes and purpose.

IELTS Academic test – this includes three long texts which range from the descriptive and factual to the discursive and analytical. These are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers.  They have been selected for a non-specialist audience but are appropriate for people entering university courses or seeking professional registration.

IELTS General Training test – this includes extracts from books, magazines, newspapers, notices, advertisements, company handbooks and guidelines. These are materials you are likely to encounter on a daily basis in an English-speaking environment.

Paper format: Three reading passages with a variety of questions using a number of task types.

Timing: 60 minutes

No. of questions: 40

Task types: A variety of question types are used, chosen from the following; multiple choice, identifying information, identifying the writer’s views/claims, matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, sentence completion, summary completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion and short-answer questions.

Answering: Test takers are required to transfer their answers to an answer sheet during the time allowed for the test. No extra time is allowed for transfer. Care should be taken when writing answers on the answer sheet as poor spelling and grammar are penalised.

Marks: Each question is worth 1 mark.

Writing

Test format – Academic Writing (60 minutes)

Topics are of general interest to, and suitable for, test takers entering undergraduate and postgraduate studies or seeking professional registration. There are two tasks:

• Task 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.
• Task 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. 

IELTS Academic Writing description

Paper format: There are two Writing tasks and BOTH must be completed.

Timing: 60 minutes

No. of questions: 2

Task types: In Task 1, test takers are asked to describe some visual information (graph/table/chart/diagram) in their own words. They need to write 150 words in about 20 minutes. In Task 2, they respond to a point of view or argument or problem. They need to write 250 words in about 40 minutes.

Answering: Answers must be given on the answer sheet and must be written in full. Notes or bullet points are not acceptable as answers. Test takers may write on the question paper but this cannot be taken from the examination room and will not be seen by the examiner.

Task 1 responses are assessed on:

• Task achievement
• Coherence and cohesion
• Lexical resource
• Grammatical range and accuracy.

Task 2 responses are assessed on:

• Task response
• Coherence and cohesion
• Lexical resource
• Grammatical range and accuracy.

Test format – General Training Writing (60 minutes)

Topics are of general interest. There are two tasks:

• Task 1 – you will be presented with a situation and asked to write a letter requesting information, or explaining the situation. The letter may be personal, semi-formal or formal in style.
• Task 2 – you will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. The essay can be fairly personal in style. 

IELTS General Training Writing description

Paper format: There are two Writing tasks and BOTH must be completed.

Timing: 60 minutes

No. of questions: 2

Task types: In Task 1, test takers are asked to respond to a situation, for example, by writing a letter requesting information or explaining a situation. In Task 2, test takers write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem.

Answering: Answers must be given on the answer sheet and must be written in full. Notes or bullet points are not acceptable as answers. Test takers may write on the question paper but this cannot be taken from the examination room and will not be seen by the examiner.

Task 1 responses are assessed on:

• Task achievement
• Coherence and cohesion
• Lexical resource
• Grammatical range and accuracy.

Task 2 responses are assessed on:

• Task response
• Coherence and cohesion
• Lexical resource
• Grammatical range and accuracy.

Test format – Speaking (11–14 minutes)

The speaking section assesses your use of spoken English. Every test is recorded.

• Part 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.
• Part 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.
• Part 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.

IELTS Speaking description

Paper format: The Speaking test consists of an oral interview between the test takers’ and an examiner. All Speaking tests are recorded.

Timing: 11–14 minutes

Task types: There are three parts to the test and each part fulfils a specific function in terms of interaction pattern, task input and test takers output.