IELTS structure

IELTS structure

The total IELTS test lasts for 2 hours and 45 minutes. The Listening part consists of 40 questions that you have to complete in 30 minutes. The Academic Reading part consists of 40 questions and you have 60 minutes. The Academic Writing part requires that you complete two writing tasks within 60 minutes. The Speaking part takes between 11 and 14 minutes to complete and has three parts. During the speaking part you will have a face-to-face conversation with an examiner.

What is the IELTS test?

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

is a British examination which assesses the English language proficiency of people who want to study or work where English is used as the language of communication.

Structure and Scoring

IELTS has two versions: Academic and General Training. Everybody takes the same Listening and speaking components, but the Reading and Writing components differ. Listening, Reading and Writing tests are taken on the same day. The Speaking test will either be after a break on the same day as the other three tests, or up to seven days earlier or later. This will depend on your test center.

1. Listening

Format: 40 questions

Topic: Listening to four recorded texts and writing answers

Time: 30 minutes

Score: 1–9

2. Reading

Format: 40 questions

Topic: Content differ between the Academic and General Training exams

Time: 60 minutes

Score: 1–9

3. Writing

Format: 2 Tasks (150-250 words)

Topic: Document description or situation explanation, Argumentative essay

Time: 60 minutes

Score: 1–9

4. Speaking

Format: 3 Tasks

Topic: General questions, Talk about a specific topic, Discussion about abstract ideas and issue

Time: 60 minutes

Score: 1–9

Overall score: 1-9

The scale corresponds to specified competences in English: 1 = non user 5 = modest user 7 = good user 9 = expert user

Registration

Register for the test several months before the test date. The fastest way to register is online on www.ielts.org.

Testing and Score Reporting

IELTS is provided at 900 locations around the world.  Test fees vary by country. The test score is available 13 days after the test date. Only one official copy of your score report is issued. Up to five copies of your score may be reported to institutions of your choice for free. The score is valid for two years.