The IELTS Academic test is designed to assess applicants' English-language skills, especially those skills that are relevant when studying at undergraduate or postgraduate levels. The test features vocabulary that is common within an academic setting and if you represent a professional association you may also want to set entry requirements based on the IELTS Academic test.
The IELTS Academic test is made up of four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. You can read more about these sections below. If you are not already receiving IELTS results, we can help you. See how to get started with IELTS.
What’s in the IELTS Listening test?
The Listening test has four parts, with 10 questions in each part. The questions are in the same order as the information in the recording.
Parts 1 and 2 deal with everyday, social situations. There is a conversation between two speakers in Part 1, for example, a conversation about travel arrangements. There is only one main speaker in Part 2, for example, a speech about local facilities.
Parts 3 and 4 deal with educational and training situations. In Part 3 there is a conversation between two main speakers, for example, two university students in discussion, perhaps guided by a tutor. In Part 4 only one person speaks on an academic subject.
Test takers hear the recordings once only. Different accents, including British, Australian, New Zealand and North American, are used.
Summary
- Time allowed: Approximately 30 minutes
- Number of parts: 4
- Number of questions: 40
- Marking: Each correct answer receives 1 mark. The final score is given as a band score in whole or half bands, for example, 5.5 or 7.0.
Types of question
Question Type 1 – Multiple choice
What's involved?
This type of question may consist of a question with three possible answers or the first half of a sentence with three possible sentence endings. Test takers choose one correct answer.
Sometimes a longer list of possible answers is provided and test takers need to choose more than one answer.
What skills are tested?
This question type tests a range of listening skills, including detailed understanding of specific points and general understanding of the main points of the recording.
Question Type 2 – Matching
What's involved?
Test takers match a list of items from the recording to a list of options and select the correct letter.
What skills are tested?
This question type assesses the ability to:
- listen for detailed information, for example, understanding information about hotel or guest house accommodation in an everyday conversation
- follow a conversation between two people
- recognise how facts in the recording are connected to each other.
Question Type 3 – Plan/map/diagram labelling
What's involved?
Test takers complete labels on a visual, which may be:
- a diagram, for example, a piece of equipment
- a set of pictures
- a plan, for example, of a building
- a map, for example, of part of a town.
Answers are selected from a list.
What skills are tested?
This question type assesses the ability to understand a description of a place and relate that description to a visual. It may also assess the ability to understand explanations of where things are and to follow directions.
Question Type 4 – Form/note/table/flow chart completion
What's involved?
Test takers fill in gaps in an outline of part or all of the recording. The outline focuses on the main ideas or facts in the recording and may be:
- a form, often used for facts such as names
- a set of notes, used to summarise information and show how different points relate to one another
- a table, used to summarise information that can be divided into clear categories, for example, place, time or price
- a flow chart, used to summarise the stages in a process, with the direction of the process shown by arrows.
Test takers may select answers from a list or use words from the recording to complete the gaps.
What skills are tested?
This question type focuses on identifying and recording the main points from the recording.
Question Type 5 – Sentence completion
What's involved?
Test takers complete sentences that summarise important information from all or part of the recording, using information they hear.
What skills are tested?
This question type assesses the ability to identify important information in a recording. It may also assess understanding of relationships between ideas, facts or events, such as cause and effect.
Question Type 6 – Short-answer questions
What's involved?
Test takers answer short questions using information from the recording. Some questions may require two or three different answers.
What skills are tested?
This question type assesses the ability to listen for factual information, such as places, prices or times.
What’s in the IELTS Academic Reading test?
Texts come from books, journals, magazines, newspapers and online resources and are written for a non-specialist audience. All the topics are of general interest to students at undergraduate or postgraduate level.
The texts may be written in different styles, for example, narrative, descriptive or discursive/argumentative. At least one text contains detailed logical argument.
Texts may also contain diagrams, graphs or illustrations. If technical vocabulary is used, a simple dictionary definition is provided.
Summary
- Time allowed: 60 minutes
- Number of sections: 3; the total text length is 2150–2750 words
- Number of questions: 40
- Marking: Each correct answer receives 1 mark. The final score is given as a band score from 1–9 in whole or half bands, for example, 4 or 6.5.
Types of question
Question Type 1 – Multiple choice
What's involved?
This type of question may consist of a question with four possible answers or the first half of a sentence with four possible sentence endings. Test takers choose one correct answer.
Sometimes a longer list of possible answers is provided and test takers need to choose more than one answer.
The questions are in the same order as the information in the text.
What skills are tested?
This question type assesses a range of reading skills, including detailed understanding of specific points and general understanding of the main points of the text.
Question Type 2 – Identifying information (True/False/Not given)
What's involved?
Test takers are given a number of statements and decide whether they agree with the information in the text by selecting ‘True’, ‘False’ or ‘Not given’.
‘False’ means that the statement contradicts the information in the text. ‘Not given’ means that the statement neither agrees with nor contradicts the information in the text.
What skills are tested?
This question type assesses the ability to recognise specific information given in the text.
Question Type 3 – Identifying writer’s views/claims (Yes/No/Not given)
What's involved?
Test takers are given a number of statements and decide whether they agree with the views or claims of the writer by selecting ‘Yes’, ‘No’ or ‘Not given’.
‘No’ means that the statement contradicts the writer’s view or claim. ‘Not given’ means that the statement neither agrees with nor contradicts the writer’s view or claim.
What skills are tested?
This question type assesses the ability to recognise opinions or ideas.
Question Type 4 – Matching information
What's involved?
Test takers find specific information in the paragraphs or sections of a text and match it to the appropriate paragraph or section.
Not every paragraph or section may be used, and some may be used more than once.
What skills are tested?
This question type assesses the ability to scan a text to find specific information. It focuses on specific information rather than the main idea and may require test takers to identify details, examples, reasons, descriptions, comparisons, summaries or explanations.
Question Type 5 – Matching headings
What's involved?
Test takers match a list of headings to the appropriate paragraphs or sections of a text. A heading summarises the main idea of a paragraph or section.
There are more headings than paragraphs or sections, so some headings will not be used. Some paragraphs or sections may not be included in the task.
What skills are tested?
This question type assesses the ability to identify the general topic of a paragraph or section and recognise the difference between a main idea and a supporting idea.
Question Type 6 – Matching features
What's involved?
Test takers match a set of statements or pieces of information to a list of options representing features from the text.
For example, they may need to match descriptions of inventions to the people who invented them. Some options may not be used, while others may be used more than once.
What skills are tested?
This question type assesses the ability to recognise relationships and connections between facts in a text, as well as opinions and theories. It also requires test takers to skim and scan the text to locate relevant information.
Question Type 7 – Matching sentence endings
What's involved?
Test takers are given the first half of a sentence based on information in the text and select the best way to complete it from a list of possible endings.
There are more sentence endings than beginnings, and the sentence beginnings appear in the same order as the information in the text.
What skills are tested?
This question type assesses the ability to understand the main ideas in a text.
Question Type 8 – Sentence completion
What's involved?
Test takers complete gaps in sentences using words from the text. The questions are in the same order as the information in the text.
What skills are tested?
This question type assesses the ability to find detailed or specific information in a text.
Question Type 9 – Summary/note/table/flow chart completion
What's involved?
Test takers complete a summary of part of the text. This may take the form of:
- continuous text
- notes
- a table with information missing
- a series of boxes or steps linked by arrows to show the order of events.
The answers usually come from one part of the text rather than the whole text and may not appear in the same order as the information in the text.
There are two variations of this task type. Test takers may select words from the text or choose from a supplied list of words to complete the gaps.
What skills are tested?
This question type assesses the ability to understand details and/or the main ideas of part of a text.
Question Type 10 – Diagram label completion
What's involved?
Test takers complete labels on a diagram based on a description in the text. The diagram may represent a machine, part of a building or other information that can be shown visually.
The answers usually come from one part of the text and may not appear in the same order as the information in the text.
What skills are tested?
This question type assesses the ability to understand a detailed description in a text and relate it to information shown in a diagram.
Question Type 11 – Short-answer questions
What's involved?
Test takers answer questions about factual details in the text using words or numbers taken from the text. The answers appear in the same order as the information in the text.
What skills are tested?
This question type assesses the ability to find and understand specific information in a text.
What’s in the IELTS Academic Writing test?
There are two Writing tasks and both must be completed.
In Task 1, test takers describe visual information in their own words, such as a graph, table, chart or diagram. They write at least 150 words and should spend approximately 20 minutes on the task.
In Task 2, test takers are given a point of view, argument or problem to discuss. They write at least 250 words and should spend approximately 40 minutes on the task.
Marking
Certificated IELTS examiners assess test takers’ performance on each Writing task using four assessment criteria:
- Task achievement/response
- Coherence and cohesion
- Lexical resource
- Grammatical range and accuracy.
Task achievement in Task 1 and Task response in Task 2 assess how accurately, appropriately and relevantly a response covers the task requirements.
- In Task 1, all the information required is provided in the graph, chart, table or diagram.
- In Task 2, Task response includes how well test takers develop an argument in response to the task, supported by relevant evidence and examples.
Coherence and cohesion assesses how clear and fluent the writing is and how effectively ideas and information are organised. This includes presenting ideas in a logical order and using cohesive devices, such as linking words, pronouns and conjunctions, appropriately.
Lexical resource assesses the range of vocabulary used and how accurately and appropriately it is used.
Grammatical range and accuracy assesses the range of grammar used and how accurately and appropriately it is used.
Summary
- Time allowed: 60 minutes
- Number of tasks: 2
- Marking: Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score.
Tasks 1 and 2
Academic Writing – Task 1
What's involved?
In Academic Writing Task 1, test takers may be asked to describe:
- one or more graphs, charts or tables
- a diagram of an object, device, process or event.
Test takers identify and describe the most important information and write in an academic or semi-formal/neutral style.
A minimum of 150 words is required.
What skills are tested?
This task assesses the ability to give a well-organised overview of visual information using language that is appropriate in register and style.
Depending on the task type, test takers are assessed on their ability to:
- organise, present and possibly compare data
- describe stages of a process or procedure
- describe an object, event or sequence of events
- explain how something works.
Academic Writing – Task 2
What's involved?
In Academic Writing Task 2, test takers are given a topic to write about and are expected to discuss the most relevant issues.
Responses are written in an academic or semi-formal/neutral style. Test takers are expected to organise their ideas clearly and support them with relevant examples or evidence.
A minimum of 250 words is required.
What skills are tested?
This task assesses the ability to write a clear, relevant and well-organised argument, supported by evidence or examples, and to use language accurately.
Depending on the task type, test takers are assessed on their ability to:
- present a solution to a problem
- present and justify an opinion
- compare and contrast evidence, opinions and implications
- evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence or an argument.
What’s in the IELTS Speaking test?
The Speaking test is a face-to-face interview between the test taker and an examiner. The Speaking test is recorded.
There are three parts to the test, and each part follows a specific pattern of tasks to assess speaking ability in different ways.
In Part 1, test takers are asked about themselves and about familiar topics, such as home and family, studies or interests.
In Part 2, test takers are given a card asking them to talk about a particular topic. After one minute to prepare, they speak for up to two minutes and then answer general questions on the topic.
In Part 3, further questions are asked about the topic in more detail.
Summary
- Time allowed: 11–14 minutes
- Number of parts: 3
Parts 1–3
Speaking Part 1 – Introduction and interview
What's involved?
The examiner introduces themselves and checks the test taker’s identity. The examiner then asks general questions on familiar topics, such as home, family, work, studies or interests.
Part 1 lasts 4–5 minutes.
What skills are tested?
This part assesses the ability to give opinions and information on everyday topics and common experiences or situations by answering a range of questions.
Speaking Part 2 – Long turn
What's involved?
Part 2 is the individual long turn. The examiner gives the test taker a task card which asks them to talk about a particular topic. The card identifies the points to include and asks the test taker to explain one aspect of the topic.
Test takers have one minute to prepare before speaking for up to two minutes. The examiner may then ask one or two questions on the same topic.
Part 2 lasts 3–4 minutes, including preparation time.
What skills are tested?
This part assesses the ability to speak at length on a given topic, use appropriate language and organise ideas logically.
Speaking Part 3 – Discussion
What's involved?
In Part 3, the test taker and examiner discuss issues related to the topic in Part 2 in a more general and abstract way and, where appropriate, in greater depth.
Part 3 lasts 4–5 minutes.
What skills are tested?
This part assesses the ability to explain opinions and to analyse, discuss and speculate about issues.
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