# IELTS Test Format Page: https://cambridge.at/en/ielts-test/ielts-test-format ## IELTS Format **Academic & General Training** **IELTS** (_International English Language Testing System_) is, alongside Cambridge English Qualifications, the most important English language test in the world. IELTS is trusted by thousands of employers, professional associations, governments, and educational institutions across the globe. It is aligned to the _Common European Framework of Reference for Languages_ (CEFR) – the international benchmark for assessing language skills. In IELTS, there are four papers: **Listening, Reading, Writing** and **Speaking**. The overall test duration is approximately **2 hours 45 minutes**. You will take the Listening, Reading and Writing immediately after each other and with no break in between. The Speaking will either take place before or after the written components. All components will be on the computer. ![Cambridge Exam Centre](https://cambridge.at/assets/portraits/Cambridge_Exam_Centre.jpg) ## Test Structure IELTS has been designed by Cambridge University Press & Assessment to accommodate people of any nationality, with any language background. The tests are constantly being further developed by a global research team. IELTS offers two test options: **IELTS Academic** test and **IELTS General Training** test. The Speaking and Listening tests are the same in both the Academic and the General Training tests, but the **Reading and Writing tests are different**. With the IELTS Academic test, you can demonstrate the proficiency you need for a university programme in English and it features vocabulary that is familiar within an academic setting. If you’re not going to university, the IELTS General might be a better choice! However, the General Training test is not “easier”, it just has a different focus. **Always** [**check**](https://ielts.idp.com/about/who-accepts-ielts/organisations-that-accept-ielts) **with your migration agent, university or workplace to find out which IELTS test you need and which score is required!** ## IELTS Academic Choose the **IELTS Academic** test if you wish to study at undergraduate or postgraduate levels, or if you are seeking professional registration, e.g. doctors and nurses. ### Academic - Listening **What’s in the IELTS Listening paper?** The paper has four parts, with ten questions in each part. The questions are in the same order as the information in the recording, so the answer to the first question will be before the answer to the second question, and so on. **Parts 1 and 2** Deals with **everyday, social situations**. There is a conversation between two speakers in Part 1 (for example, a conversation about travel arrangements). Only one person speaks in Part 2 (for example, a speech about local facilities). **Parts 3 and 4** Deals with **educational and training situations**. In Part 3 there is a conversation between two main speakers (for example, two university students in discussion, perhaps guided by a tutor). In Part 4 only one person speaks on an academic subject. You will hear the recordings once only. Different accents, including British, Australian, New Zealand and North American, are used. **Summary** - **Time allowed:** Approximately 30 minutes - **Number of parts:** 4 - **Number of questions:** 40 - **Marking:** Each correct answer receives 1 mark. Your final score is given as a band score in whole or half bands, e.g. 5.5 or 7.0. ### Academic - Reading **What’s in the IELTS Academic Reading paper?** Texts come from books, journals, magazines, newspapers and online resources, written for a non-specialist audience. All the topics are of general interest to students at undergraduate or postgraduate level. The texts may be written in different styles, for example, narrative, descriptive or discursive/argumentative. At least one text contains detailed logical argument. Texts may also contain diagrams, graphs or illustrations. If texts use technical vocabulary, then a simple dictionary definition is provided. **Summary** - **Time allowed:** 60 minutes - **Number of sections:** 3; the total text length is 2150–2750 words - **Number of questions:** 40 - **Marking:** Each correct answer receives 1 mark. Your final score is given as a band score from 1–9 in whole or half bands, e.g. 4 or 6.5. ### Academic - Writing **What’s in the IELTS Academic Writing paper?** There are two Writing tasks and BOTH must be completed. In **Task 1**, you have to describe some visual information in your own words (a graph, table, chart or diagram). You need to write at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. In **Task 2**, you are given a point of view, argument or problem which you need to discuss. You need to write at least 250 words in about 40 minutes. You must write your answers using full sentences. You must not write your answers as notes or bullet points. You must write your answers on the answer sheet. You are allowed to write notes on the question paper, but these will not be seen by the examiner. **Marking** Certificated IELTS examiners assess your performance on each Writing task. There are four assessment criteria (things which the examiner thinks about when deciding what score to give you): - Task achievement/response - Coherence and cohesion - Lexical resource - Grammatical range and accuracy. _Task achievement_ (in Task 1) and _Task response_ (in Task 2) assess how accurately, appropriately and relevantly your response covers the task requirements, using the minimum of 150 words for Task 1 and 250 words for Task 2. In Task 1, all the information you require is given in the diagram. In Task 2, Task response includes how well you develop your argument in response to the task, giving evidence and examples which may be from your own experience. _Coherence and cohesion_ assesses how clear and fluent your writing is, and how you organise ideas and information. It includes giving your ideas in a logical order and using a range of cohesive devices (for example, linking words, pronouns and conjunctions) appropriately. _Lexical resource_ assesses the range of vocabulary you use, and how accurately and appropriately you use it. _Grammatical range and accuracy_ assesses the range of grammar you use and how accurately and appropriately you use it. **Summary** - **Time allowed:** 60 minutes - **Number of tasks:** 2 - **Marking:** Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score. ### Academic - Speaking **What’s in the IELTS Speaking paper?** The Speaking test is an interview with a qualified Speaking Examiner, taking place on the computer (online via Zoom). The Speaking test is recorded. There are **three parts** to the test, and each part follows a specific pattern of tasks in order to test your speaking ability in different ways. **Marking** Certificated IELTS examiners assess your speaking performance throughout the test. There are four assessment criteria (things which the examiner thinks about when deciding what score to give you): - Fluency and coherence - Lexical resource - Grammatical range and accuracy - Pronunciation. _Fluency and coherence_ assesses how well you can speak at a normal speed without too much hesitation. It also includes putting your sentences and ideas in a logical order and using cohesive devices (including linking words, pronouns and conjunctions, etc.) appropriately so that what you say is not difficult to follow. _Lexical resource_ assesses the range of vocabulary you use and how accurately and appropriately you use vocabulary to express meaning. It also includes the ability to express yourself using alternative vocabulary when you don’t know a particular word. _Grammatical range and accuracy_ assesses the range of grammar you use and how accurately and appropriately you use it. _Pronunciation_ assesses your ability to speak in a way which can be understood without too much effort. **Summary** - **Time allowed:** 11–14 minutes - **Number of parts:** 3 ## IELTS Academic - Sample Tests Get familiar with the IELTS on computer test and try free sample tests for the IELTS Academic here: ### Listening Try these free Listening sample questions and get a feel for what it's like to take IELTS Listening on a computer. The IELTS on computer Listening practice test is made up of 6 question types and 24 questions. - approximately 30 minutes **Check your answers (see PDF) as you do the test. Once the test has finished you will not be able to check them anymore!** - [Listening - Sample Test](https://demo-ielts.inspera.com/player/?assessmentRunId=131012334&context=exam#/section/128121996/question/128121965/scorableItem/1) - [Listening - Answer Sheet](https://assets.ctfassets.net/unrdeg6se4ke/3FAYhbYOQElb7L6r4Rv8DR/8331f2b5f2d50b7489b4c14affb75544/IELTS_familiarisation_test_Listening_answers.pdf) ### Reading Try some IELTS Reading sample questions on computer to see if it is for you. It's also a perfect addition to your IELTS study plan. The Reading sample questions for IELTS on computer are made up of 11 question types and 41 questions. - 60 minutes **Check your answers (see PDF) as you do the test. Once the test has finished you will not be able to check them anymore!** - [Reading - Sample Test](https://demo-ielts.inspera.com/player/?assessmentRunId=131013388&context=exam#/section/128121930/question/128121896/scorableItem/1) - [Reading - Answer Sheet](https://assets.ctfassets.net/unrdeg6se4ke/2ggjbjdFDSU7xXTp7Eqxjp/ef3ce074fbb5d9e47db8ee4b3ad45cb0/IELTS_familiarisation_test_Reading_answers.pdf) ### Writing Try our sample questions for IELTS Writing test on computer to see if it is for you. And if you have booked an IELTS on computer test, add it to your study plan. The sample questions for IELTS Writing test consists of 2 tasks. - Task 1: You will be asked to write at least 150 words and spend about 20 minutes on this task. - Task 2: You will be asked to write at least 250 words and spend about 40 minutes on this task. - 60 minutes **Check your answers (see PDF) as you do the test. Once the test has finished you will not be able to check them anymore!** - [Writing - Sample Task 1](https://ielts.inspera.com/player/?assessmentRunId=205993150&context=exam#/section/197676238/question/145423613/scorableItem/1) - [Writing - Sample Task 2](https://ielts.inspera.com/player/?assessmentRunId=189733431&context=exam#/section/145422651/question/145422397/scorableItem/1) - [Writing - Sample Responses](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/ielts-web-static/production/computer-delivered-sample-tests-academic-writing/ielts-academic-writing-example-responses-to-parts-1-and-2-with-band-scores-and-examiner-comments.pdf) ### Speaking **The Speaking test** is an interview with a qualified Speaking Examiner, taking place on the computer (via a video call software). The Speaking test is recorded. There are three parts to the test, and each part follows a specific pattern of tasks in order to test your speaking ability in different ways. - 11-14 minutes **Download a comprehensive guide to the IELTS Speaking and have a look at the sample videos of part 3.** - [IELTS Speaking Sample Tasks](https://cambridge.at/assets/downloads/ielts-speaking-sample-tasks-2023.pdf) Sample Test - Speaking **Part 3** ## IELTS General Training Choose **IELTS General Training** if you wish to migrate to an English-speaking country, (e.g. Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK) or if you wish to train or study at below degree level. ### General Training - Listening **What’s in the IELTS Listening paper?** The paper has four parts, with 10 questions in each part. The questions are in the same order as the information in the recording, so the answer to the first question will be before the answer to the second question, and so on. **Parts 1 and 2** Deals with everyday, social situations. - There is a conversation between two speakers in Part 1 (for example, a conversation about travel arrangements). - Only one person speaks in Part 2 (for example, a speech about local facilities). **Parts 3 and 4** Deals with educational and training situations. - In Part 3 there is a conversation between two main speakers (for example, two university students in discussion, perhaps guided by a tutor). - In Part 4 only one person speaks on an academic subject. You will hear the recordings once only. Different accents, including British, Australian, New Zealand and North American, are used. **Summary** - **Time allowed:** Approximately 30 minutes - **Number of parts:** 4 - **Number of questions:** 40 - **Marking:** Each correct answer receives 1 mark. Your final score is given as a band score in whole or half bands, e.g. 5.5 or 7.0. ### General Training - Reading **What’s in the IELTS General Training Reading paper?** There are three sections of increasing difficulty. **Section 1** may contain two or three short texts or several shorter texts. The texts in Section 1 deal with everyday topics, and they are the sort of texts that a person would need to be able to understand when living in an English-speaking country. You will need to pick out important information, e.g. from notices, advertisements and timetables. **Section 2** contains two texts. The texts in Section 2 focus on work topics, for example, job descriptions, contracts, staff development and training materials. In **Section 3**, there is one long text. The text in Section 3 deals with a topic of general interest. The style of writing in Section 3 is generally descriptive (containing detailed information) and instructive (telling you how to do something). This Section 3 text is longer and more complex than the texts in Sections 1 and 2. Section 3 texts are taken from newspapers, magazines, books and online resources. **Summary** - **Time allowed:** 60 minutes - **Number of sections:** 3; the total text length is 2150–2750 words - **Number of questions:** 40 - **Marking:** Each correct answer receives 1 mark. Your final score is given as a band score from 1–9 in whole or half bands, e.g. 3 or 8.5. ### General Training - Writing **What’s in the IELTS General Training Writing paper?** There are two Writing tasks and BOTH must be completed. In **Task 1**, you have to respond to a situation by writing a letter, for example, asking for information or explaining a situation. You need to write at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. In **Task 2**, you are given a point of view, argument or problem which you need to discuss. You need to write at least 250 words in about 40 minutes. You must write your answers using full sentences. You must not write your answers as notes or bullet points. You must write your answers on the answer sheet. You are allowed to write notes on the question paper but these will not be seen by the examiner. **Marking** Certificated IELTS examiners assess your performance on each Writing task. There are four assessment criteria (things which the examiner thinks about when deciding what score to give you): - Task achievement/response - Coherence and cohesion - Lexical resource - Grammatical range and accuracy. _Task achievement_ (in Task 1) and _Task response_ (in Task 2) assess how accurately, appropriately and relevantly your response covers the task requirements, using the minimum of 150 words for Task 1 and 250 words for Task 2. In Task 1, Task achievement refers to how well your letter achieves its purpose. In Task 2, Task response includes how well you develop your argument in response to the task, giving evidence and examples which may be from your own experience. _Coherence and cohesion_ assesses how clear and fluent your writing is, and how you organise ideas and information. It includes giving your ideas in a logical order, and using a range of cohesive devices (for example, linking words, pronouns and conjunctions, etc.) appropriately. _Lexical resource_ assesses the range of vocabulary you use, and how accurately and appropriately you use it. _Grammatical range and accuracy_ assesses the range of grammar you use and how accurately and appropriately you use it. **Summary** - **Time allowed:** 60 minutes - **Number of tasks:** 2 - **Marking:** Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score. ### General Training - Speaking **What’s in the IELTS Speaking paper?** The Speaking test is an interview with a qualified Speaking Examiner, taking place on the computer (online via Zoom). The Speaking test is recorded. There are **three parts** to the test, and each part follows a specific pattern of tasks in order to test your speaking ability in different ways. **Marking** Certificated IELTS examiners assess your speaking performance throughout the test. There are four assessment criteria (things which the examiner thinks about when deciding what score to give you): - Fluency and coherence - Lexical resource - Grammatical range and accuracy - Pronunciation. _Fluency and coherence_ assesses how well you can speak at a normal speed without too much hesitation. It also includes putting your sentences and ideas in a logical order and using cohesive devices (including linking words, pronouns and conjunctions, etc.) appropriately so that what you say is not difficult to follow. _Lexical resource_ assesses the range of vocabulary you use and how accurately and appropriately you use vocabulary to express meaning. It also includes the ability to express yourself using alternative vocabulary when you don’t know a particular word. _Grammatical range and accuracy_ assesses the range of grammar you use and how accurately and appropriately you use it. _Pronunciation_ assesses your ability to speak in a way which can be understood without too much effort. **Summary** - **Time allowed:** 11–14 minutes - **Number of parts:** 3 ## IELTS General Training - Sample Tests Get familiar with the IELTS on computer test and try free sample tests for the IELTS General Training here: ### Listening Try these free Listening sample questions and get a feel for what it's like to take IELTS Listening on a computer. The IELTS on computer Listening practice test is made up of 6 question types and 24 questions. - approximately 30 minutes **Check your answers (see PDF) as you do the test. Once the test has finished you will not be able to check them anymore!** - [Listening - Sample Test](https://demo-ielts.inspera.com/player/?assessmentRunId=131012334&context=exam#/section/128121996/question/128121965/scorableItem/1) - [Listening - Answer Sheet](https://assets.ctfassets.net/unrdeg6se4ke/3FAYhbYOQElb7L6r4Rv8DR/8331f2b5f2d50b7489b4c14affb75544/IELTS_familiarisation_test_Listening_answers.pdf) ### Reading Try some IELTS Reading sample questions on computer to see if it is for you. It's also a perfect addition to your IELTS study plan. The Reading sample questions for IELTS on computer are made up of 11 question types and 41 questions. - 60 minutes **Check your answers (see PDF) as you do the test. Once the test has finished you will not be able to check them anymore!** - [Reading - Sample Test](https://computer.ieltsessentials.com/general-training-reading/) - [Reading - Answer Sheet](https://assets.ctfassets.net/unrdeg6se4ke/1kS22rZI47fEsGVCx8FHjU/768e67109cb6a271007d89e4af042668/General-Training-Reading-Answer-Key.pdf) ### Writing Try our sample questions for IELTS Writing test on computer to see if it is for you. And if you have booked an IELTS on computer test, add it to your study plan. The sample questions for IELTS Writing test consists of 2 tasks. - Task 1: You will be asked to write at least 150 words and spend about 20 minutes on this task. - Task 2: You will be asked to write at least 250 words and spend about 40 minutes on this task. - 60 minutes **Check your answers (see PDF) as you do the test. Once the test has finished you will not be able to check them anymore!** - [Writing - Sample Task 1](https://ielts.inspera.com/player/?assessmentRunId=189733708&context=exam#/section/166780572/question/145425559/scorableItem/1) - [Writing - Sample Task 2](https://ielts.inspera.com/player/?assessmentRunId=189733579&context=exam#/section/145423437/question/145422735/scorableItem/1) - [Writing - Sample Answer](https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/ielts-web-static/production/computer-delivered-sample-tests-general-training-writing/ielts-general-training-writing-example-responses-to-parts-1-and-2-with-band-scores-and-examiner-comments.pdf) ### Speaking **The Speaking test** is an interview with a qualified Speaking Examiner, taking place on the computer (via a video call software). The Speaking test is recorded. There are three parts to the test, and each part follows a specific pattern of tasks in order to test your speaking ability in different ways. - 11-14 minutes **Download a comprehensive guide to the IELTS Speaking and have a look at the sample videos of part 3.** - [IELTS Speaking Sample Tasks 2023](https://cambridge.at/assets/downloads/ielts-speaking-sample-tasks-2023.pdf) Sample Test - Speaking **Part 3** ## Test Day Tipps What to expect before you take your IELTS test. - Double-check the time and date of your test and allow plenty of time to travel to the test centre. If you are late, you may not be allowed to take the test. - Bring the same ID that you used for your registration with you. - After you have checked-in, you will be able to lock away your personal belongings - Switch off your mobile phone and any other electronic devices. You will be asked to place these with other personal belongings outside the test room. - Make sure you are prepared and have something to eat and drink beforehand. You will not be allowed to take food into the test room. You will only be allowed to take a drink in a transparent bottle. What to expect during your IELTS test. - Once the test begins, keep track of time so you have enough time to complete each part of the test. - Be aware that some questions have suggested time limits for you to follow. - When you get your test papers, read the instructions on the cover page first before writing anything. - Work calmly, focus on the questions, don’t rush your answers and you will do your best. - If you have any questions, you can raise your hand to get the attention of an invigilator. - Once the test concludes, you can leave the test room and collect your belongings. What to expect after your IELTS test. - Your provisional test results will typically be available online within 1 to 5 days after taking IELTS - Your official Test Report Form (TRF) can be picked up from the test venue or mailed to you. ## Looking for a preparation course? Are you interested in preparing for an IELTS test? No matter whether you need to build up your language skills extensively beforehand or just need to fine-tune them. Whether learning in homogeneous small groups or in the form of private lessons. Whether online or in-school - we will find the right preparation for you! Make an appointment for a free placement test and a consultation. Our consultants will be happy to advise you! [Contact us](https://cambridge.at/en/contact)