Explore what is IELTS, its structure, versions, and target audience for better exam preparation and insights.
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a standardized test that evaluates the English language proficiency of non-native speakers. It is widely recognized and accepted by universities, employers, immigration authorities, and professional organizations.
The test measures four language skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. It has two main variations: Academic and General Training. The Academic version is intended for individuals applying to study at universities or institutions abroad, while the General Training version is for those seeking work experience or migration purposes.
Table of Contents
Test Format
At The Academy of IELTS, we offer tailored preparation for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training modules to meet your specific goals:
- IELTS Academic: Designed for those pursuing higher education or professional registration abroad. It assesses your ability to handle complex academic language and tasks.
- IELTS General Training: Ideal for individuals migrating to English-speaking countries or seeking non-academic training and work opportunities. It focuses on everyday language proficiency in practical settings.
Our expert trainers and personalized preparation plans ensure you’re equipped to excel in the module that aligns with your ambitions. Choose your path and begin your success journey with us today!
Understanding IELTS Requirements
Each organization has its own specific entry requirements. Depending on your goals, you may need to take either the IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training module. In some cases, organizations may accept either module based on their criteria.
If you’re unsure which module to choose, we strongly recommend contacting the organization, institution, or authority you are applying to. Verifying their specific requirements will ensure you select the correct module and avoid unnecessary complications.
At The Academy of IELTS, our team is here to guide you through the process and help you make informed decisions for your future. Reach out to us for expert advice!
IELTS Test Structure
The IELTS exam evaluates your proficiency in all four language skills: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Unless you qualify for an exemption due to a disability (refer to our section on special requirements), you will be tested on all four components.
- Listening and Speaking: These tests are the same for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training candidates.
- Reading and Writing: The content varies depending on the module you choose. Academic focuses on complex texts and tasks, while General Training emphasizes practical, everyday contexts.
Test Day Details:
- The Listening, Reading, and Writing tests are completed on the same day, with no breaks between these sections. The order of these tests may vary.
- The Speaking test is scheduled separately and may take place up to seven days before or after the other three components.
Prepare effectively with The Academy of IELTS, where our expert trainers will guide you through each section of the test to ensure success.
IELTS Listening Test Overview
The Listening section of the IELTS exam evaluates your ability to comprehend spoken English in a variety of contexts and accents. This section is designed to assess a wide range of listening skills critical for academic, professional, and everyday scenarios.
Timing
- Total Duration: Approximately 30 minutes
- Additional Time: 10 minutes for transferring answers to the answer sheet
Questions
- Number of Questions: 40
- Question Types:
A diverse range of question formats may be included, such as:- Multiple choice
- Matching
- Plan, map, or diagram labeling
- Form, note, table, flowchart, or summary completion
- Sentence completion
- Short-answer questions
Test Parts
The Listening test is divided into four sections, each heard once only:
- Section 1: A conversation between two people in an everyday social context (e.g., discussing accommodation options).
- Section 2: A monologue set in an everyday social context (e.g., a speech about local amenities or conference arrangements).
- Section 3: A conversation involving up to four people in an educational or training context (e.g., a university tutor and students discussing an assignment or project).
- Section 4: A monologue on an academic subject (e.g., a university lecture).
A variety of voices and accents from native English speakers are used throughout the test to reflect real-world diversity.
Skills Assessed
The Listening test evaluates a broad spectrum of listening skills, including:
- Comprehending main ideas and specific factual information
- Recognizing opinions, attitudes, and purposes of speakers
- Following the progression and structure of an argument
Marking and Scoring
- Each correct answer is awarded 1 mark.
- Raw scores (out of 40) are converted to the IELTS 9-band scale.
- Scores are reported in both whole bands and half bands.
Prepare effectively with The Academy of IELTS for a confident and successful performance in the Listening test.
IELTS Reading Test Overview
The Reading section of the IELTS exam measures your ability to comprehend written English across various contexts. Designed to assess a wide range of reading skills, this section prepares candidates for academic, professional, and everyday situations.
Timing
- Total Duration: 60 minutes
- Note: No extra time is provided for transferring answers to the answer sheet.
Questions
- Number of Questions: 40
- Question Types: A variety of formats are used, including:
- Multiple choice
- Identifying information (True/False/Not Given)
- Identifying a writer’s views/claims (Yes/No/Not Given)
- Matching information
- Matching headings
- Matching features
- Matching sentence endings
- Sentence completion
- Summary, note, table, or flowchart completion
- Diagram label completion
- Short-answer questions
Test Parts
The Reading test consists of three sections, with texts ranging between 2,150 and 2,750 words in total length.
Academic Reading
- Structure: Each section includes one long text.
- Source: Texts are authentic and sourced from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers.
- Purpose: Written for a non-specialist audience, they cover academic topics of general interest.
- Style: Ranges from descriptive and factual to discursive and analytical.
- Features: Texts may include non-verbal materials such as diagrams, graphs, or illustrations. If technical terms are used, a glossary is provided.
- Audience: Suitable for test takers entering undergraduate or postgraduate courses or seeking professional registration.
General Training Reading
- Section 1: Includes two or three short factual texts, with one possibly composite (e.g., 6-8 related texts, such as hotel advertisements). Topics are relevant to everyday life in English-speaking countries.
- Section 2: Contains two short factual texts focused on work-related issues (e.g., applying for jobs, workplace policies, staff training).
- Section 3: Features one longer, more complex text on a topic of general interest.
- Source: Texts are authentic and derived from notices, advertisements, company handbooks, official documents, books, magazines, and newspapers.
Skills Assessed
The Reading test evaluates a range of skills essential for comprehension and analysis, including:
- Reading for gist
- Identifying main ideas and supporting details
- Understanding specific information
- Inferring meaning and recognizing implications
- Analyzing the writer’s opinions, attitudes, and purpose
- Following the logical progression of arguments
Marking and Scoring
- Marking: Each correct answer is awarded 1 mark.
- Scoring: Raw scores (out of 40) are converted to the IELTS 9-band scale.
- Scores are reported in whole bands and half bands.
At The Academy of IELTS, our expert trainers provide comprehensive guidance and tailored strategies to ensure you excel in the Reading test, regardless of the module you choose.
IELTS Writing Test Overview
The Writing section of the IELTS exam assesses your ability to communicate effectively in written English. It consists of two tasks, each designed to evaluate distinct writing skills.
Timing
- Duration: 60 minutes
Tasks
- Task 1: Minimum 150 words
- Task 2: Minimum 250 words
Test Parts
Academic Writing
- Task 1:
You are presented with a graph, table, chart, or diagram and asked to describe, summarize, or explain the information in your own words. Tasks may involve:- Describing and comparing data
- Explaining the stages of a process
- Describing how something works
- Detailing an object, event, or series of events
- Task 2:
You are required to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument, or problem. Topics are of general interest and relevant to candidates entering undergraduate or postgraduate studies or seeking professional registration.- Writing style: Academic, semi-formal, or neutral
General Training Writing
- Task 1:
You are presented with a situation and tasked with writing a letter to request information or explain the situation. The style may be personal, semi-formal, or neutral. - Task 2:
You are required to write an essay responding to a point of view, argument, or problem. Topics are of general interest, and the style can be slightly more personal compared to the Academic Writing module.
Skills Assessed
The Writing test evaluates your ability to produce responses that are appropriate in terms of:
- Content: Addressing the task requirements fully
- Organization: Structuring ideas logically and cohesively
- Language: Demonstrating accuracy and range in vocabulary and grammar
Academic Writing
- Task 1:
You are assessed on your ability to:- Organize, present, and compare data
- Describe the stages of a process or procedure
- Explain how something works
- Describe objects, events, or sequences of events
- Task 2:
You are evaluated on your ability to:- Present and justify a solution to a problem
- Formulate and support an opinion
- Compare and contrast evidence, opinions, and implications
- Evaluate and challenge ideas, arguments, and evidence
General Training Writing
- Task 1:
Assessment focuses on your ability to:- Engage in personal correspondence
- Provide general factual information
- Express needs, wants, likes, dislikes, and opinions
- Task 2:
You are evaluated on your ability to:- Outline problems and propose solutions
- Present and justify opinions
- Evaluate and challenge ideas, arguments, and evidence
Marking and Scoring
Your performance in each task is assessed by certified IELTS examiners according to the following criteria:
- Task Achievement/Response
- Coherence and Cohesion
- Lexical Resource
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
- Task Weighting: Task 2 contributes twice as much to your overall Writing score as Task 1.
- Scores are reported in whole bands and half bands.
For more details, visit the official IELTS assessment criteria: ielts.org/criteria.
Prepare with The Academy of IELTS, where expert guidance ensures you excel in every aspect of the Writing test, from content creation to language precision.
IELTS Speaking Test Overview
The Speaking section of the IELTS test evaluates your ability to communicate effectively in spoken English. It is conducted as a face-to-face interview with a certified IELTS examiner and is divided into three parts, each designed to assess different aspects of your speaking skills.
Timing
- Duration: 11–14 minutes
Test Parts
Part 1: Introduction and Interview
- Duration: 4–5 minutes
- What Happens:
- The examiner introduces themselves and asks you to confirm your identity.
- You are asked general questions on familiar topics, such as:
- Your home or hometown
- Your family
- Your work or studies
- Your hobbies and interests
Part 2: Individual Long Turn
- Duration: 3–4 minutes
- What Happens:
- You are given a task card with a topic to discuss. The card includes points to guide your response.
- Preparation: You have 1 minute to prepare, during which you can make notes using a pencil and paper provided by the examiner.
- Speaking: You talk for 1–2 minutes on the topic.
- Follow-up: The examiner may ask one or two brief questions related to the topic.
Part 3: Two-Way Discussion
- Duration: 4–5 minutes
- What Happens:
- The examiner asks further questions related to the topic discussed in Part 2.
- This part allows for a more in-depth discussion of abstract ideas, issues, and opinions.
Skills Assessed
The Speaking test evaluates a wide range of oral communication skills, including:
- Answering Questions: Effectively sharing opinions and information on everyday topics and personal experiences.
- Speaking at Length: Using appropriate language and organizing ideas coherently when speaking on a given topic.
- Expressing and Justifying Opinions: Discussing, analyzing, and speculating about issues and ideas in a clear and structured manner.
Marking and Scoring
Your performance is assessed throughout the test by certified IELTS examiners according to the IELTS Speaking Test Assessment Criteria, which include:
- Fluency and Coherence
- How well you can speak without hesitation and organize your ideas logically.
- Lexical Resource
- Your range and accuracy of vocabulary.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
- Your use of varied grammatical structures and overall accuracy.
- Pronunciation
- The clarity and naturalness of your speech.
Scores are reported in whole bands and half bands. For more details, refer to the public version of the assessment criteria available at ielts.org/criteria.
Prepare with The Academy of IELTS, where our experienced trainers provide personalized coaching and effective strategies to help you excel in the Speaking test.
IELTS Exam Bodies
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is jointly owned and managed by three reputable organizations. These bodies ensure the global standardization, fairness, and reliability of the IELTS test.
1. British Council
- A globally recognized organization specializing in English language training and cultural exchange.
- Responsible for conducting IELTS exams worldwide in collaboration with local centers.
- Offers preparation materials, courses, and resources for test-takers.
- Known for their expertise in promoting educational opportunities globally.
2. IDP: IELTS Australia
- IDP Education is an international education organization that partners with IELTS.
- Operates over 1,400 test centers in more than 50 countries.
- Specializes in connecting students with educational opportunities abroad, especially in Australia, the UK, Canada, and the USA.
- Provides detailed guidance on IELTS preparation and university admissions.
3. Cambridge University Press & Assessment
- A department of the prestigious University of Cambridge.
- Develops the IELTS test and manages its academic and operational standards.
- Ensures the test’s validity, reliability, and alignment with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
- Produces official IELTS preparation materials and books.
These three organizations work together to maintain the high standards of the IELTS test, ensuring its recognition and acceptance by over 11,000 institutions in 140+ countries.
For expert IELTS preparation, contact The Academy of IELTS, your trusted partner in achieving success.
Detailed Overview of IELTS, IELTS UKVI, and IELTS on Computer
What is IELTS?
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the world’s leading English language proficiency test for higher education, global migration, and work opportunities. Recognized by over 11,000 organizations in more than 140 countries, IELTS assesses the ability to communicate in English across four key skills: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.
IELTS Modules
There are two types of IELTS tests:
- IELTS Academic:
- Designed for individuals applying for higher education or professional registration in English-speaking countries.
- Focuses on academic language proficiency.
- IELTS General Training:
- Suitable for individuals migrating to English-speaking countries, applying for secondary education, or seeking work experience.
- Emphasizes practical, everyday English language skills.
What is IELTS UKVI?
IELTS UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) is a Secure English Language Test (SELT) approved by the UK Home Office. It is specifically designed for individuals applying for a UK visa and follows the same content and format as the regular IELTS test.
Key Features of IELTS UKVI:
- Accepted for study, work, or migration to the UK.
- Conducted under strict security and administrative requirements to meet UK Home Office standards.
- The test report form is slightly different to show that the test was taken under UKVI requirements.
Types of IELTS UKVI Tests:
- IELTS Academic for UKVI
- IELTS General Training for UKVI
- IELTS Life Skills A1 and B1 (Designed for specific visa categories requiring basic communication skills in Speaking and Listening).
IELTS on Computer
IELTS on Computer offers a modern, fast, and flexible way to take the IELTS test, available for both Academic and General Training modules.
Key Features:
- Test Format:
- The Listening, Reading, and Writing sections are completed on a computer.
- The Speaking test is conducted face-to-face with an IELTS examiner.
- Faster Results:
- Results are available in 3–5 days, making it ideal for those needing quick outcomes.
- Flexible Test Dates:
- Multiple test sessions daily, giving candidates more choice and convenience.
- Same Test Content:
- The content, scoring, question types, and security standards are identical to the paper-based test.
- Enhanced Experience:
- On-screen tools, such as the ability to highlight text or take notes, enhance the test-taking experience.
- Word counters and timers help manage tasks efficiently.
Why Choose The Academy of IELTS for IELTS and IELTS UKVI?
At The Academy of IELTS, we provide comprehensive training for all types of IELTS tests: Academic, General Training, UKVI, and Computer-based IELTS.
Our Advantages:
- Certified Trainers: British Council and IDP-certified instructors.
- State-of-the-Art Facilities: Language labs and computer training for IELTS on Computer.
- Customized Preparation: Tailored strategies for all test types.
- Mock Exams: Simulated practice under real test conditions.
- Expert Guidance: Personalized support for visa-specific requirements, including UKVI.
Contact us today to achieve your IELTS goals with confidence! The Academy of IELTS—Your pathway to success.