About IELTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

On this page you can find all the necessary information about IELTS before you start preparing for it.

There are four subtests, or modules, to the IELTS test: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. Students must sit all four subtests. While all students take the same Listening and Speaking tests, they sit different Reading and Writing tests, depending on whether they have selected the Academic IELTS test or the General Training IELTS test.

The sections of the test

The Listening test lasts for about 30 minutes. It consists of four sections, played on cassette tape, in order of increasing difficulty. Each section might be a dialogue or a monologue. The test is played once only, and the questions for each section must be answered while listening, although time is given for students to check their answers.

The Reading test lasts for 60 minutes. Students are given either an Academic Reading test, or a General Training Reading test. Both tests consist of three sections, and in both tests different question types are used to assess students’ comprehension. In both tests the sections are in order of increasing difficulty.

The Writing test also lasts for 60 minutes. Again, students take either an Academic test, or a General Training test. Students must perform two writing tasks, which require different styles of writing. There is no choice of question topics.

The Speaking test consists of a one-to-one interview with a specially trained examiner. The examiner will lead the candidate through the three parts of the test: an introduction and interview, an individual long turn where the candidate speaks for one to two minutes on a particular topic, and a two-way discussion thematically linked to the individual long turn. This interview will last for approximately 11-14 minutes.

How the test is marked

Each module is marked on a scale from 1 up to 9. These bands are given according to highly detailed marking guidelines. These marking guidelines are not made public, but correspond roughly to the following descriptions:
1. Non User
2. Intermittent User
3. Extremely Limited User
4. Limited User
5. Modest User
6. Competent User
7. Good User
8. Very Good User
9. Expert User
The test results form will show the mark for each module as well as an average (overall) band score.

Band score tables for Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing

(please download the fail below)

IELTS all sections Band Score Table