IELTS Test Format and Rules

Understanding the structure and rules of the IELTS test is crucial for effective preparation. Here's a breakdown of each section and important test day information.

Total test time is approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes for Listening, Reading, and Writing sections. The Speaking test takes 11-14 minutes.

Test Section Formats

  • Format: 4 sections, 40 questions total.
  • Sections 1 & 2: Based on everyday social situations (e.g., conversations, monologues about arrangements).
  • Sections 3 & 4: Based on educational or training contexts (e.g., conversation between students/tutor, academic lecture).
  • Audio: You hear the recording only ONCE. A range of accents (British, Australian, New Zealand, American, etc.) are used.
  • Question Types: Multiple choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labelling, form/note/table/flow-chart/summary completion, sentence completion.
  • Paper-based Test: You get 10 extra minutes at the end to transfer answers to the answer sheet.
  • Computer-delivered Test: You type answers directly; small time given to check answers at the end of each section.
Go to Listening Section Guide

  • Format: 3 sections, 40 questions total.
  • Timing: Exactly 60 minutes. No extra time is given to transfer answers.
  • IELTS Academic Reading:
    • Texts are long and taken from books, journals, magazines, newspapers.
    • Topics are suitable for entry to undergraduate or postgraduate courses or professional registration.
    • Texts range from descriptive and factual to discursive and analytical. May include diagrams, graphs or illustrations.
  • IELTS General Training Reading:
    • Texts are taken from notices, advertisements, company handbooks, official documents, books, magazines, newspapers.
    • Section 1 contains texts relevant to everyday life.
    • Section 2 focuses on work contexts.
    • Section 3 contains one longer, more complex text on a topic of general interest.
  • Question Types: Multiple choice, identifying information (True/False/Not Given), identifying writer's views/claims (Yes/No/Not Given), matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, sentence completion, summary/note/table/flow-chart completion, diagram label completion, short-answer questions.
Go to Reading Section Guide

  • Format: 2 tasks.
  • Timing: Exactly 60 minutes total. It's recommended to spend about 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 minutes on Task 2 (Task 2 contributes more to the score).
  • IELTS Academic Writing:
    • Task 1: Describe visual information (graph, table, chart, diagram) in your own words (min. 150 words).
    • Task 2: Write an essay in response to a point of view, argument, or problem (min. 250 words). Style should be formal.
  • IELTS General Training Writing:
    • Task 1: Write a letter requesting information or explaining a situation (e.g., personal, semi-formal, or formal style) (min. 150 words).
    • Task 2: Write an essay in response to a point of view, argument, or problem (min. 250 words). Style can be more personal than Academic Task 2.
  • Assessment: Based on Task Achievement/Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource (vocabulary), and Grammatical Range and Accuracy.
Go to Writing Section Guide

  • Format: Face-to-face interview with a certified examiner (same for Academic and General Training). It is recorded.
  • Part 1: Introduction and Interview (4-5 mins): Examiner asks general questions about yourself, home, family, work, studies, interests.
  • Part 2: Long Turn (3-4 mins): Examiner gives you a task card asking you to talk about a particular topic. You have 1 minute to prepare and then speak for 1-2 minutes. Examiner asks one or two follow-up questions.
  • Part 3: Discussion (4-5 mins): Examiner asks further questions related to the topic in Part 2, allowing for more abstract discussion.
  • Assessment: Based on Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource (vocabulary), Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation.
Go to Speaking Section Guide
Back to IELTS Basics