If you’re new to IELTS, this article will be invaluable for you. Today, I’ll cover everything you need to know about IELTS. Students aiming to study abroad must take an English proficiency test, such as IELTS, Duolingo, PTE, or TOEFL. Among these, IELTS is the most widely accepted English test globally. IELTS stands for the International English Language Testing System – an English Language proficiency test. IELTS is developed and administered by the British Council in partnership with IDP Education and Cambridge Assessment English. There are two types of exams: Academic IELTS and General Training. Students who want to study need to take the Academic IELTS, while those seeking a job or for professional reasons need to take the General Training IELTS. Both tests consist of four separate modules: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking.
Listening
In my opinion, the Listening module is the easiest part of the IELTS exam. This module tests your listening skills through an audio recording. You will have 30 minutes to listen to the audio and answer the questions. After the audio finishes, you will have an additional 10 minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet. If you take the computer-based exam, you won’t get the extra 10 minutes because you will be typing your answers directly. However, you will be given 2 minutes to review your answers. In total, you have approximately 40 minutes for this module. The Listening module is divided into four parts, each containing 10 questions, making a total of 40 questions. For an in-depth understanding of the IELTS Listening module, read the IELTS Listening blog.
| Raw Score (Out of 40) | Band Score |
| 39-40 | 9 |
| 37-38 | 8.5 |
| 35-36 | 8 |
| 32-34 | 7.5 |
| 30-31 | 7 |
| 26-29 | 6.5 |
| 23-25 | 6 |
| 18-22 | 5.5 |
| 16-17 | 5 |
The IELTS listening section is divided into four parts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4. Each part contains 10 questions. Among these four parts, Part 1 is the easiest, and it is quite possible to score 10 out of 10 in this section.
Recording 1 A conversation between two people set in an everyday social context.
Recording 2 A monologue set in an everyday social context, e.g. a speech about local facilities.
Recording 3 A conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context, e.g. a university tutor and a student discussing an assignment.
Recording 4 A monologue on an academic subject, e.g. a university lecture.
Here, you will find more information about IELTS Listening.
Reading
The Reading section is designed to test your reading comprehension skills. If you regularly read newspapers, articles, and blogs, you are already a step ahead. It becomes easier when you consume English content daily. Ensure that your reading sources are authentic. This section consists of four parts. In the IELTS exam, you will encounter three passages with a total of 40 questions. The IELTS reading section features 14 different types of questions, with each passage typically containing about 3 or 4 different types to answer. You will have one hour to read the three passages and answer all 40 questions. To excel, it is essential to practice each type of question thoroughly. For an in-depth understanding of the IELTS reading section, read this article on IELTS Reading.
| Raw Score (Out of 40) | Band Score |
| 39-40 | 9 |
| 37-38 | 8.5 |
| 35-36 | 8 |
| 33-34 | 7.5 |
| 30-32 | 7 |
| 27-29 | 6.5 |
| 23-26 | 6 |
| 19-22 | 5.5 |
| 15-18 | 5 |
Writing
The IELTS Academic Writing test consists of two parts: Task 1 and Task 2. The topics in these tasks are related to areas of general interest and are suitable for test takers entering undergraduate and postgraduate studies or seeking professional registration. Responses to both tasks must be written in a formal style. You will have 60 minutes to complete both tasks. IELTS recommends spending no more than 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 minutes on Task 2, but you can manage your time as you see fit.
Task 1
In Task 1, you will see a graph, table, chart, or diagram and will be asked to describe, summarize, or explain the information in your own words. You might need to describe data, explain the stages of a process, describe how something works, or describe an object, plan, or design.
For the General Training IELTS, Task 1 is different. You will need to write a letter. Remember, Task 1 for General Training is not the same as Task 1 for the Academic IELTS.
Task 2
In Task 2, you will write an essay in response to a point of view, argument, or problem. You should support your point of view with relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience. The essay must be at least 250 words long. Task 2 accounts for 66% of your total writing score, while Task 1 makes up the remaining 33%. Academic Writing Task 2 is a formal essay. The common types of essays include opinion, discussion, and advantage/disadvantage, although the exact question type may vary.
Speaking
The test takes between 11 to 14 minutes and is conducted by a trained examiner. The speaking section has 3 parts. In Part 1, the introduction phase, the examiner asks general questions about you, such as your hobbies, interests, job, home, and family. Part 1 lasts between 4 to 5 minutes.
In Part 2, you will be given a cue card with prompts and asked to talk about a specific topic. You have one minute to prepare and can make notes if you wish. Then, you will speak for one to two minutes. Afterward, the examiner will ask one or two questions on the same topic.
In IELTS Speaking Part 3, the examiner will ask you more detailed and abstract questions related to the topic you discussed in Part 2. This part is designed to explore your ability to express and justify opinions, analyze, discuss, and speculate about issues. It usually lasts between 4 to 5 minutes. The questions are more challenging and require you to speak in more depth. This part tests your ability to communicate ideas clearly and coherently.