What is IELTS?

You have to answer while you listen because the recordings will be played once only. You will listen to 4 sections. There are 10 Questions in each section (40 questions in total).

• Section 1 – a conversation between two people set in an everyday social context.
• Section 2 – a monologue set in an everyday social context.
• Section 3 – a conversation between up to four people set in an educational context.
• Section 4 – a monologue on an academic subject, e.g. a university lecture.

Question Types:

• Type 1 – Multiple choice
• Type 2 – Matching
• Type 3 – Plan, map, diagram labelling
• Type 4 – Gap filling

Note: Poor spelling is penalised!

At the end of the test you will be given 10 minutes to transfer your answers to an answer sheet.

There are 3 passages in Academic IELTS and 5 passages in General IELTS, and there are 40 questions in total.

Question Types:

• Type 1 – Multiple choice
• Type 2 – True / False / Not Given or Yes / No / Not Given
• Type 3 – Matching e.g., Matching information, Matching headings, Matching features, Matching sentence endings
• Type 4 – Gap filling e.g., sentence, summary, note, table, Diagram label, flow-chart completion and Short-answer questions

Note: Poor spelling is penalised!

Test takers are required to transfer their answers to an answer sheet during the time allowed for the test. No extra time is allowed for transfer!

There are two tasks:

Task 1 Academic IELTS – you will be presented with a graph, table, chart or diagram and asked to describe, summarise or explain the information in your own words. Responses must be in a formal style.

Task 1 Genral IELTS – you will be presented with a situation and asked to write a letter requesting information, or explaining the situation. The letter may be personal, semi-formal or formal in style.

Task 2 – you will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. Responses must be in a formal style.

Task 1 responses are assessed on: Task achievement, Coherence and cohesion, Lexical resource, Grammatical range and accuracy.

Task 2 responses are assessed on: Task response, Coherence and cohesion, Lexical resource, Grammatical range and accuracy.

There are three parts:

Part 1 – the examiner will ask you general questions about yourself and a range of familiar topics, such as home, family, work, studies and interests.
Part 2 – you will be given a card which asks you to talk about a particular topic. You will have one minute to prepare before speaking for up to two minutes. The examiner will then ask one or two questions on the same topic.
Part 3 – you will be asked further questions about the topic in Part 2. These will give you the opportunity to discuss more abstract ideas and issues.