It’s a big advantage to know and understand the IELTS Test format, before taking the test. The English test is based on 4 language skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking.

Different Task types in IELTS

• Identifying information
• Identifying writer’s opinions
• Matching information
• Matching headings
• Matching sentence endings
• Sentence completion
• Summary, note, table, flow-chart completion
• Diagram label completion
• Short-answer questions
   

IELTS test Listening part

Approx. 30 min

This section assesses how well you understand ideas, recognise opinions and follow the development of an argument.

You will listen to four recordings of native English speakers. These include:

• A conversation between 2 people and a monologue with everyday social context. 
• A monologue set in an everyday social context
• A conversation between up to four people talking in an educational context 
• A monologue on an academic subject.

You will answer 10 questions for each recording (40 questions in total). There are several types of questions, including multiple choice, matching, diagram labeling, sentence completion, yes/no or given/not given. Each correct answer receives one mark. 

IELTS test Reading part

Duration 60 min

The IELTS Academic test material is taken from books, journals, newspapers etc. You don’t need any specific knowledge on the selected topic. The test is made for people entering university courses or seeking professional registration and texts are written in a variety of styles, for example narrative, descriptive or argumentative.

The IELTS General Training test includes materials of a more daily nature such as magazines, newspapers, notices, advertisements, company handbooks and guidelines. The reading part is divided into 3 sections. 

• A Social Survival section with tasks mainly about retrieving and providing general information
• A Workplace survival section with focus on workplace context like job descriptions, contracts and staff development.
• A General reading section that involves reading a more complex structure such as newspapers and fictional & non-fictional book extracts.

You will answer 40 questions in total, again with a variety of question types similar to the Listening test.

IELTS test Writing part

Duration 60 min

This section evaluates how well and how accurately you organise your ideas and write a response, along with your ability to use wide-ranging vocabulary and grammar.

IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training include two Writing tasks. In the IELTS Academic task 1 you will be asked to describe, summarise or explain the represented graph, table, chart or diagram in your own words. For General Training you may be asked to write a letter or complaint. You may be asked to describe and explain the shown data, describe the stages of a process or describe an object. In task 2 you will be asked to write an essay in response to an argument or problem, supported by evidence and examples from the test takers’ own experience. 
Responses to task 1 must be at least 150 words and for task 2 this is 250 words. Writing more does not give you a higher score. 
Task 2 is worth twice as much in marks as task 1. 

IELTS test Speaking part

Approx. 15 min

This section assesses how well you can communicate opinions and information on everyday topics and common experiences, as well as how you express and justify your opinions.

The Speaking test consists of a conversation between you and an examiner in 3 parts. The first part includes general questions that the examiner will ask you about yourself and a range of familiar topics, such as your home, family, work, studies and interests. This part lasts between four and five minutes.

In the second part you will be asked to talk about a particular topic. You will be given one minute to prepare before speaking for up to two minutes. The examiner will then ask one or two questions related to the topic.

In the third part, you will be asked further questions about the specific topic from Part 2 and get the opportunity to express and discuss more ideas and issues on the topic for four to five minutes.

Your speaking test will be marked on your ability to talk at a normal speech rate and keep a fluent conversation. It is also marked by the variety of words used and the accurate use of grammar. Remember that you do not have to tell personal information against your will, but that you should say more than just "yes" and "no". All Speaking test audio is recorded.