The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a language proficiency test available for people who want to study or work where English is used as a language of communication.
| MODULE | ORDER | TIME | # QUESTIONS | DETAILS |
| Listening (1st day) | 1 | 30 – 40 min | 40 | Listen to 4 recordings (2 conversations/2 monologues) and answer questions |
| Reading (1st day) | 2 | 60 min | 40 | Read three 700-word passages and answer questions |
| Writing (1st day) | 3 | 60 min | 2 tasks | Describe a graph, table, chart or diagram in 150 words; Write an essay (250-300 words) in response to a point of view, argument or problem. |
| Speaking (2nd day) | 5 | 11 – 14 min | 3 parts | General questions on familiar topics; talk about a particular topic for 1-2min; Further questions which are connected to the topic of Part 2. |
| TOTAL | —— | 3 HOURS | —– |
LISTENING MODULE
The Listening modules are the same for both the Academic and the General Training versions of IELTS. It is divided in four parts with ten questions each in order of increasing difficulty. During the test, you will be given time to read the questions before you hear the audio. As you listen, you should write your answers on your question paper. Do not wait until the end. The answers in the audio follow the order of the questions. If you hesitate, you may miss the next question. The audio keeps going.
At the end of each section, you will have 30 seconds to check your answers. At the end of this Module, you will have 10 extra minutes to transfer your answers from your question paper to the official answer sheet. You must transfer your answers. If you don’t, your answers will not be counted and you will not receive a listening score.
| Listening Module | ||
| Sections | Topics | Speakers |
| 1 | General, everyday topics | Conversation between 2 people |
| 2 | General, everyday topics | One person |
| 3 | School or training-related topics | Conversation between 2 or more people |
| 4 | School or training-related topics | One person |
| Listening Section Question-types | |
| Multiple choice; Short answer; Sentence completion; Chart completion; Flowchart completion; GraphsTables | Making notes; Summarizing; Labeling diagrams, plans, and maps; Classification; Matching; Selecting from a list |
READING MODULE
The Reading module consists of 40 questions, in order of increasing difficulty.
The passages and the questions will be given to you on a Question Booklet. You will write your answers on the answer sheet. You will have only 60 minutes to read the passages, answer the questions, and mark your answers.
The Reading modules on the Academic and the General Training versions of the IELTS are different.
| Reading Module – Academic Reading | |||
| Tasks | Passage Types | Topics | Sources |
| Read 3 passages and answer 40 questions | Narrative; Descriptive; and/or argumentative | General interest | Books, magazines, newspapers. |
| Reading Module – General Reading | |||
| Tasks | Passage Types | Topics | Sources |
| Section 1 | Read 2-3 short texts & answer 13-14 questions | Basic social English | Advertisements,notices, schedules, brochures, manuals |
| Section 2 | Read 2 texts & answer 13-14 questions | Work-related topics | Job descriptions, employee manuals, training materials |
| Section 3 | Read 1 text & answer 13-14 questions | General interest | Books, magazines, newspapers |
| Reading Module Question-types | |
| Multiple choiceTrue/False/Not givenYes/No/Not given Match / Classify information | Match HeadingsSentence/Summary/Note/Chart Completion/Match Sentence /Ending Diagram Label Completion/ Short Answer |
WRITING MODULE
There are two writing tasks in both the Academic and General Training Writing modules. Task 2 is worth twice as much as Task 1.
Task 1 – you will be presented with a graph, table, chart or diagram and asked to describe summarize or explain the information in your own words. You should spend 20 minutes on this task. You must write at least 150 words.
Task 2 – you will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. You must write at least 250 words.
| IELTS – Writing Module | ||||
| Task | Time | Minimum # of words | ||
| 1 | 20 min | 150 | ||
| 2 | 40 min | 250 | ||
| Academic Writing Module | |
| Task 1 | Write a short text summarizing information presented in one or more charts, graphs, or tables; OR Write a short description of a diagram that shows changes over time or steps within a process. |
| Task 2 | Write an essay supporting an opinion with arguments and examples. |
| General Writing Module | |
| Task 1 | Write a letter:• requesting or giving information• making an invitation or an apology• explaining a problem |
| Task 2 | Write an essay supporting an opinion with reasons and examples. |
| Assessment Criteria | |
| Task Achievement | How completely you respond to all parts of the task. |
| Coherence & Cohesion | How well you organize your writing and connect your ideas. |
| Lexical Resource | The variety of vocabulary words you use and how accurately you use them. |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | The variety and accuracy of the grammatical forms and structures you use. |
You will be penalized if your texts are too short.
SPEAKING MODULE
There are three parts to the Speaking module, which lasts between 11 and 14 minutes. You will be alone in a room with the interviewer, who will ask you questions and ask you to talk on certain topics. The interview will be recorded. The Speaking modules are the same for both the Academic and the General Training. Topics include discussions about you, your family, and topics of everyday interest.
| IELTS – Speaking Module | ||||
| Sections | Time | Tasks | ||
| 1 | 4-5 minutes | Answer questions about youand your activities | ||
| 2 | 3-4 minutes: 1 minute, preparation 1-2 minutes speaking1 minute follow-up questions | Talk about a topic presented on a card | ||
| 3 | 4-5 minutes | Discuss issues related to the topic in Part 2 | ||
| Speaking Module – Question Types | ||||
| Part 1 | Wh- questionsYes/No questions | |||
| Part 2 | Describe and explainWh- questionsYes/No questions | |||
| Part 3 | Wh- questionsYes/No questions | |||
