IELTS Academic measures English Language proficiency needed for an academic, higher learning environment. The tasks and tests are accessible to all test-takers, irrespective of their subject focus.

IELTS General Training measures English language proficiency in a practical, everyday context. The tasks and tests reflect both workplace and social situations.

Listening* (30 minutes, plus 10 minutes extra to transfer your answers to your answer sheet)
• Four recorded monologues and conversations

Listening* (30 minutes, plus 10 minutes extra to transfer your answers to your answer sheet)
• Four recorded monologues and conversations

Reading (60 minutes)
• Three long reading passages with tasks
• Test ranges from descriptive and factual to the discursive and analytical
• Includes non-verbal material such as diagrams, graphs or illustrations
• Texts are authentic (e.g. taken from books, journals and newspapers)

Reading (60 minutes)
• Three reading passages with tasks
• Section 1 contains two or three short factual texts
• Section 2 contains two short, work – related factual texts
• Section 3 contains one longer text on a topic of general interest
• Texts are authentic (e.g. taken from company handbooks, official documents, books and newspapers)

Writing (60 minutes)
• Writing task of at least 150 words where the candidate must summarise, describe or explain a table, graph, chart or diagram.
• Short essay task of at least 250 words

Writing (60 minutes)
• Letter writing task of at least 150 words
• Short essay task of at least 250 words

Speaking* (11 to 14 minutes)
• Face-to-face interview
• Includes short questions, speaking at length about a familiar topic and a structured discussion

Speaking* (11 to 14 minutes)
• Face-to-face interview
• Includes short questions, speaking at length about a familiar topic and a structured discussion

Paper format

There are four sections with ten questions each. The questions are designed so that the answers appear in the order they are heard in the audio.

The first two sections deal with situations set in everyday social contexts. In Section 1, there is a conversation between two speakers (for example, a conversation about travel arrangements), and in Section 2, there is a monologue in (for example, a speech about local facilities). The final two sections deal with situations set in educational and training contexts. In Section 3, there is a conversation between two main speakers (for example, two university students in discussion, perhaps guided by a tutor), and in Section 4, there is a monologue on an academic subject.

The recordings are heard only once. They include a range of accents, including British, Australian, New Zealand, American and Canadian.

Timing

Approximately 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes transfer time).

No. of questions

40

Task types

A variety of question types are used, chosen from the following: multiple choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labelling, form/note/table/flow-chart/summary completion, sentence completion.

Answering

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.

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.

Sources

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. If texts contain technical terms a simple glossary is provided.

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.

Paper format

There are three sections. Section 1 may contain two or three short texts or several shorter texts. Section 2 comprises two texts. In Section 3, there is one long text.

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 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, short-answer questions.

Sources

The first section, ‘social survival’, contains texts relevant to basic linguistic survival in English with tasks mainly about retrieving and providing general factual information, for example, notices, advertisements and timetables.

The second section, ‘Workplace survival’, focuses on the workplace context, for example, job descriptions, contracts and staff development and training materials.

The third section, ‘general reading’, involves reading more extended prose with a more complex structure. Here, the emphasis is on descriptive and instructive rather than argumentative texts, in a general context relevant to the wide range of test takers involved, for example, newspapers, magazines and fictional and non-fictional book extracts.

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.

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.

Paper format

There are two Writing tasks to complete.

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 written in full in the answer booklet. Notes or bullet points in whole or in part are not acceptable as answers. Test takers may write on the question paper but this cannot be taken from the test room and will not be seen by the examiner.

Paper format

The Speaking test consists of an oral interview between the test taker 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 taker’s output.

Task type and format

In this part, the examiner introduces him/ herself and checks the test taker’s identity. They then ask the test taker general questions on some familiar topics such as home, family, work, studies and interests. To ensure consistency, questions are taken from a script.

Part 1 lasts for 4–5 minutes.

Task focus

This part of the test focuses on the ability to communicate opinions and information on everyday topics and common experiences or situations by answering a range of questions.

No. of questions

Variable

Task type and format

Part 2 is the individual long turn. The examiner gives the test taker a task card which asks the test taker to talk about a particular topic, includes points to cover in his / her talk and instructs the test taker to explain one aspect of the topic. A test taker is given one minute to prepare his / her talk, and is given a pencil and paper to make notes. The examiner asks the test taker to talk for 1 to 2 minutes, stops the test taker after 2 minutes, and asks one or two questions on the same topic.

Using the points on the task card effectively, and making notes during the preparation time, will help the test taker think of appropriate things to say, structure his / her talk, and keep talking for 2 minutes.

Part 2 lasts 3–4 minutes, including the preparation time.

Task focus

This part of the test focuses on the ability to speak at length on a given topic (without further prompts from the examiner), using appropriate language and organising ideas coherently. It is likely that the test taker will need to draw on his / her own experience to complete the long turn.

No. of questions

Variable

Task type and format

In Part 3, the examiner and the test taker discuss issues related to the topic in Part 2 in a more general and abstract way and, where appropriate, in greater depth.

Part 3 lasts 4–5 minutes.

Task focus

This part of the test focuses on the ability to express and justify opinions and to analyse, discuss and speculate about issues.

No. of questions

Variable