IELTS Academic and General Training
Comprehensive preparation for the International English Language Testing System
IELTS Introduction
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) measures the language proficiency of people who want to study or work where English is used as a language of communication. It uses a nine-band scale to clearly identify levels of proficiency, from non-user (band score 1) through to expert (band score 9).
IELTS Academic
The IELTS Academic test is for people applying for higher education or professional registration in an English-speaking environment. It reflects some of the features of academic language and assesses whether you are ready to begin studying or training.
- Higher education applications
- Professional registration
- Academic language assessment
IELTS General Training
IELTS General Training is for those migrating to Australia, Canada and the UK, or applying for secondary education, training programmes and work experience in an English-speaking environment.
- Immigration purposes
- Secondary education
- Work experience programs
Test Format
The IELTS test assesses your abilities in listening, reading, writing and speaking – in less than three hours. There are two types of IELTS: Academic and General Training. Listening and Speaking are the same for both tests, but the subject matter of the Reading and Writing sections differs depending on which test you take.
Listening
30 minutes
Reading
60 minutes
Writing
60 minutes
Speaking
11-14 minutes
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Comprehensive preparation designed to help you achieve your target band score
Comprehensive Coverage
Complete preparation for all four IELTS skills: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking.
Expert Instructors
Learn from certified IELTS trainers with years of experience and proven track records.
Flexible Schedule
Choose from morning, evening, or weekend classes that fit your schedule.
Proven Results
Our students consistently achieve band scores of 7.0+ with our proven methodologies.
IELTS Listening Task Types
Detailed breakdown of all listening task types and formats
Task Type 1 – Multiple Choice
Task Type and Format:
In multiple choice tasks, there is a question followed by three possible answers, or the beginning of a sentence followed by three possible ways to complete the sentence. Test takers are required to choose the one correct answer - A, B or C. Sometimes, test takers are given a longer list of possible answers and told that they have to choose more than one.
Task Focus:
Multiple choice questions are used to test a wide range of skills. The test taker may be required to have a detailed understanding of specific points or an overall understanding of the main points of the listening text.
Task Type 2 – Matching
Task Type and Format:
Test takers are required to match a numbered list of items from the listening text to a set of options on the question paper. The set of options may be criteria of some kind.
Task Focus:
Matching assesses the skill of listening for detail and whether a test taker can understand information given in a conversation on an everyday topic, such as the different types of hotel or guest house accommodation.
Task Type 3 – Plan, Map, Diagram Labelling
Task Type and Format:
Test takers are required to complete labels on a plan (eg of a building), map (eg of part of a town) or diagram (e.g. of a piece of equipment). The answers are usually selected from a list on the question paper.
Task Focus:
This type of task assesses the ability to understand, for example, a description of a place, and to relate this to a visual representation. This may include being able to follow language expressing spatial relationships and directions.
Task Type 4 – Form, Note, Table, Flow-chart, Summary Completion
Task Type and Format:
Test takers are required to fill in the gaps in an outline of part or of all of the listening text. The outline will focus on the main ideas/facts in the text. It may be a form, set of notes, table, or flow-chart.
Task Focus:
This focuses on the main points which a listener would naturally record in this type of situation. Test takers should read the instructions very carefully as the number of words or numbers they should use to fill the gaps will vary.
Task Type 5 – Sentence Completion
Task Type and Format:
Test takers are required to read a set of sentences summarizing key information from all the listening text or from one part of it. They then fill a gap in each sentence using information from the listening text.
Task Focus:
Sentence completion focuses on the ability to identify the key information in a listening text. Test takers have to understand functional relationships such as cause and effect.
Task Type 6 – Short-answer Questions
Task Type and Format:
Test takers are required to read a question and then write a short answer using information from the listening text. A word limit is given, for example, 'NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER'.
Task Focus:
This focuses on the ability to listen for concrete facts, such as places, prices or times, within the listening text.
IELTS Listening Details
Comprehensive information about the listening test format and marking
Paper Format
Structure:
From 4 January 2020, some changes were introduced to the instructions and layout of the paper-based Listening test. The word 'Sections' was changed to 'Parts' – The paper-based test will now be divided into Part 1, 2, 3, 4. There are four parts with ten questions each.
Content:
The first two parts deal with situations set in everyday social contexts. The final two parts deal with situations set in educational and training contexts. The recordings are heard only once and include a range of accents, including British, Australian, New Zealand, American and Canadian.
Test Details
Timing:
Approximately 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes transfer time). Test takers write their answers on the question paper as they listen and at the end of the test are given 10 minutes to transfer their answers to an answer sheet.
Questions & Marks:
40 questions total. Each question is worth 1 mark. Care should be taken when writing answers on the answer sheet as poor spelling and grammar are penalized.
Marking:
The Listening test is marked by certificated markers, who are regularly monitored to ensure their reliability. All answer sheets, after being marked, are further analyzed by Cambridge Assessment English.
Test Format Details
Comprehensive breakdown of all four IELTS test sections
Listening
You will listen to four recordings of native English speakers and then write your answers to a series of questions.
Recordings:
- Recording 1: Conversation between two people in everyday social context
- Recording 2: Monologue in everyday social context (e.g., speech about local facilities)
- Recording 3: Conversation between up to four people in educational context
- Recording 4: Monologue on academic subject (e.g., university lecture)
Task Types:
- Multiple choice
- Matching
- Plan/map/diagram labelling
- Form/note/table/flow-chart completion
- Sentence completion
Reading
Academic Reading: Three long texts ranging from descriptive and factual to discursive and analytical. General Training Reading: Extracts from books, magazines, newspapers, notices, advertisements, company handbooks and guidelines.
Sections:
- Academic: 3 long texts from books, journals, magazines, newspapers
- General Training: 3 sections with texts from everyday life contexts
- Texts increase in difficulty through the test
- Questions test reading skills and comprehension
Task Types:
- Multiple choice
- Identifying information
- Identifying writer's views/claims
- Matching information/headings/features
- Summary/note/table/flow-chart completion
- Sentence completion
- Short-answer questions
Writing
Academic Writing: Task 1 requires you to describe visual information in your own words. Task 2 requires you to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. General Training Writing: Task 1 requires you to write a letter. Task 2 requires you to write an essay.
Tasks:
- Task 1: 150 words minimum (20 minutes recommended)
- Task 2: 250 words minimum (40 minutes recommended)
- Academic: Describe visual information, write essay
- General Training: Write letter, write essay
Task Types:
Assessment Criteria:
- Task Achievement/Response
- Coherence and Cohesion
- Lexical Resource
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Speaking
Face-to-face interview with an examiner. The Speaking test is recorded and takes 11-14 minutes. It consists of three parts and is designed to assess your use of spoken English.
Parts:
- Part 1: Introduction and interview (4-5 minutes)
- Part 2: Individual long turn (3-4 minutes)
- Part 3: Two-way discussion (4-5 minutes)
Task Types:
Assessment Criteria:
- Fluency and Coherence
- Lexical Resource
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
- Pronunciation
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