Section 1
Everyday
A conversation in a social/everyday context (e.g. booking, enquiry). 10 questions.
IELTS format guide
IELTS Test Format: Sections, Timing and Scoring Explained
IELTS has four sections — Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking — taken in that order. Listening, Reading and Writing are completed back-to-back with no breaks; Speaking may be on the same day or up to a week before/after. Academic and General Training share the same Listening and Speaking tests, but differ in Reading and Writing content.
Listening
Listening — 30 Minutes, 40 Questions
Four recorded sections of increasing difficulty, played once only. Same test for Academic and General Training.
Section 2
Monologue
A monologue in an everyday context (e.g. a talk about local facilities). 10 questions.
Section 3
Academic discussion
A conversation between up to four people in an educational context (e.g. tutor and students). 10 questions.
Section 4
Academic lecture
A monologue on an academic subject (e.g. a university lecture). 10 questions.
Reading
Reading — 60 Minutes, 40 Questions
Academic and General Training Reading differ in source texts and difficulty progression.
Academic
3 long passages (~2,150–2,750 words total) from books, journals and magazines — written for a non-specialist audience but academic in tone. Increasing difficulty.
General Training
Section 1: everyday notices/ads. Section 2: workplace texts. Section 3: one longer, more complex passage similar to Academic level.
Writing
Writing — 60 Minutes, 2 Tasks
Task 2 carries more weight than Task 1 in the overall Writing band.
Task 1 — 20 min, 150 words min
Academic: describe a chart, graph, table, map or process diagram.
General Training: write a letter (formal, semi-formal or informal).
Task 2 — 40 min, 250 words min
An essay responding to a point of view, argument or problem. Same task type for both Academic and General Training.
Speaking
Speaking — 11–14 Minutes, 3 Parts
A face-to-face (or video) interview with a certified examiner. Same format for Academic and General Training.
Part 1 — 4–5 min
Introduction and familiar-topic questions about home, work, study and interests.
Part 2 — 3–4 min
The cue card task: 1 minute to prepare, then speak for up to 2 minutes on a given topic, followed by 1–2 follow-up questions.
Part 3 — 4–5 min
A two-way discussion of more abstract issues linked to the Part 2 topic.
How the Overall Band Is Calculated
Your four section scores are averaged and rounded to the nearest 0.5 band.
Listening7.0
Reading6.5
Writing6.0
Speaking6.5
Overall (average)Band
6.5