1. Listening (Same for Academic and General Training)
- It includes four sections, 40 items
- One is a conversation between two individuals
- Second is a monologue/speech
- The third section is a conversation among a maximum of four people set in an academic setting
- The final one is a monologue on an academic subject
Please note that each section is heard only once.
2. Reading (Different for Academic and General Training)
- It includes three sections, 40 items
- You need to read the text passages and answer questions in multiple-choice, sentence completion, summary writing, matching information, short-answers
- Each passage consists of 13-14 questions
- The reading module has in total of 40 questions
- Reading passages and questions are different in Academic and General Training IELTS
a) Reading-IELTS Academic
- The syllabus includes three long texts
- Subject matter range from the descriptive and factual to the discursive and analytical.
- The texts are authentic and are taken from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers.
- These are selected for a non-specialist audience
- Appropriate for candidates entering university courses or seeking professional registration abroad.
b) Reading- IELTS General Training
- Requires candidates to read extracts from books, magazines, newspapers, notices, advertisements, company handbooks, and guidelines.
- These are materials one is likely to encounter on a daily basis in an English speaking environment.
3. Writing (Different for Academic and General Training)
- It includes two tasks
- Topics are of general interest and suitable for candidates planning undergraduate and postgraduate studies abroad or seeking professional registration.
- In Task I, you will be presented with a graph, table, chart or diagram and asked to describe, summarise or explain the information in your own words.
- In Task 2, you will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem.
4. Speaking (Same for Academic and General Training)
- Three-part one-on-one conversation
- The test will be recorded for evaluation purposes and will consist of three parts that simulate a face-to-face oral interview with an examiner.
- The Speaking component assesses the candidates’ use of spoken English; takes between 11 to 14 minutes to complete.
- The entire speaking test is recorded by the examiner.
- In Part I, you will be asked questions about oneself and a range of familiar topics, such as home, family, work, studies and interests.
- Part I is for about four and five minutes.
- In Part II, you will be given a card asking you to talk about a particular topic. You will be given one minute to prepare before speaking.
- In Part III, the questions you will be asked will be connected to the Part II topics.