IELTS TEST FORMAT

Edited by Ms Thuc Uyen

THE LISTENING TEST

The listening test has four sections. You have 40 questions to answer in total and there are ten questions
in each section. All questions are equally important: you get one mark for each correct answer, which
makes 40 marks in total.
The listening test lasts for 40 minutes. This includes ten minutes to copy your answers onto the answer
sheet. Each section is played once only. IELTS recordings may include a range of world English varieties,
including British, Australian, New Zealand and North American.
Section
1
2
3
4

Focus
A conversation in an everyday social situation, e.g. two colleagues in
the office or a customer and staff member in a department store
One person speaking in an everyday social situation
A conversation between two or more people in an educational or
training context, e.g. tutorial or seminar
A lecture or talk on a topic of general academic interest

Number of
Questions
10
10
10
10

What kind of tasks to expect

Expect to find a variety of task types and answer formats. Here are examples of the main task types:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Forms
Multiple choice
Short-answer questions
Flow-chart completion
Sentence completion
Table completion
Labeling a diagram, plan or map

You might also find summary, notes completion and matching tasks. These question types might appear
in any of the four sections.
And remember, not all question types appear in any individual listening test.
What should you do during the listening test?

Read and listen to the instruction

Check the maximum number of words allowed
Think about the situation or context
Guess vocabulary you might hear.
Highlight the key words
Dont try to understand every single word
Transfer your the answers carefully
If you lose your place completely, notice when the other candidates turn over the page in their

booklets, and do the same

Important points

signposting language
Synonym
clearly pronounced, stressed or repeated words or phrases
Distractors
Abbreviation used to save time.
Your starting point in a map or diagram
NO answer left blank
A wide range of world English varieties included in the recording

THE READING TEST

The reading test has 40 questions to answer in total. All questions are equally important: you get one
mark for each correct answer. The test lasts for 60 minutes. This includes time to copy your answers onto
the answer sheet. No additional time is given to transfer your answers at the end of 60 minutes.
The content of the test will depend on whether you are taking the Academic or General Training modules.
Academic module overview
This module contains three reading texts. Texts come from magazines, journals, books and
newspapers and are written for a general or non-specialist audience. Texts may include
diagrams, graphs and illustrations.
This module contains three sections of progressively more difficult content.

Section
1
2
3

Focus
may contain two or three short texts relevant to basic linguistic survival in English, such as
public notices, advertisements and timetables
contains two texts which focus on the workplace environment, such as job descriptions,
contracts and staff development and training materials
one long text designed to test your ability to cope with longer, more complex passages
found in newspapers, magazines, and fiction and non-fiction book extracts

What kind of tasks to expect

Expect to find a variety of task types and answer formats in both test modules. Here are examples of the
main task types. You may also find short-answer questions, summary completion and table completion as
well as various forms of multiple choice. Any of the following (though not all) may appear in any section:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Identify information in a passage (true/false/not given)

Identify views within a passage (yes/no/not given)
Understand how something works and complete a diagram or chart
Choose headings for paragraphs
Give short answers to questions
Choose answers to multiple choice questions
Complete sentences or a summary (with a box)
Matching

What should you do during the reading test?

Spend 20 minutes/ each text (including transfer time

The passages

Start with the first passage

Read the title and subheading (or the opening paragraph) to and consider what you
expect the passage to be about
Think about what you know on the topic
Read the passage quickly before you start the questions to get an overview of the content.

The questions

Start with the first set of questions

Read the instruction very carefully
Use the strategies you have learned to help you do each set of questions
Try to check your answers

THE WRITING TEST

The writing test lasts for 60 minutes. There are two tasks. You should spend about 20 minutes on task
one and about 40 minutes on task two. Task two is worth twice as many marks as task one.
Task 1: You have to write at least 150 words.
Task 2: You have to write at least 250 words.
The type of task will depend on whether you are taking the Academic or General Training modules.
Academic module overview
Task 1:
You will describe, in your own words, information contained in a graph, diagram, table or chart.
Information may be data in word or number form, stages in a process, how something works or you may
need to describe an object or event.
Task 2:
You will write a short essay in response to a topic which is presented as a point of view, an argument or a
problem.

Recommended writing structure

1.

2.

Introduction
Rephrase the topic and state what is required
Close the paragraph and introducing the body
Body
Body 1: Topic sentence + supporting idea + Example

 Body 2: Topic sentence + supporting idea + Example

Body 3: Topic sentence + supporting idea + Example
(Each paragraph needs a conclusions)
3. conclusion
Summarize what have been discussed
Link to the topic but in another way
Give opinions or solutions

THE SPEAKING TEST

The speaking test lasts 11 to 14 minutes. It is a face-to-face interview with an IELTS
examiner. The examiner will make an audio recording of your interview.
The test is in three parts:
Part 1: Introduction and interview (4-5 minutes)
Part 2: Short talk (3-4 minutes)
Part 3: Two ways discussion (4-5 minutes)
Part 1: Introduction and interview (4-5 minutes

Speak on familiar topics

Answer a number of straightforward questions about yourself and the topic
Listen carefully to the questions
Ask the examiner to repeat the question if you dont understand
Use the correct tense
Use different vocabulary from the examiner

Part 2: Short talk (3-4 minutes)

Prepare the topic written in a card given by the examiner in 1 minute

Talk for 1 or 2 minutes on the topic without stopping
Talk about the topic lively and interestingly
Make sure you cover all points on the topic card
Say how you feel about something

Part 3: Two ways discussion (4-5 minutes)

Answer more abstract questions linked to topic in part 2

Discuss more fully
Show the ability of expressing abstract ideas
Give longer replies than you did to part 1
State your opinions and give reasons for them