IELTS Exam – IDP Education Ltd. conducts the IELTS exam, which is an English-language proficiency test. The candidate has the option to take the exam in a paper-based or computer-based format.
The two most popular types of IELTS tests are the IELTS Academic Test and the IELTS General Training test.
Students planning to pursue higher education or work in an English-speaking country can take the IELTS Academic test.
The IELTS Academic test assesses the English-language proficiency of the candidate at an academic level and determines whether the student is ready for the UG or PG program, or intends to work in a professional setting, such as doctor, nurse, teacher or lawyer.
The Academic test determines the English-language proficiency of the candidate across the four skillsets – listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
Note that the Listening and Speaking parts of the test are the same for both Academic and General Training, while the Reading and Writing parts are different.
Note that you can take the IELTS General Training test if you intend to:
- Migrate to English-speaking countries, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand or the UK
- Study or train below degree level (read about IELTS Academic here)
- Work in an English-speaking country, or get another job in your own country
- Or explore other opportunities.
Table of Contents
PTE Exam Highlights
| Particulars | Description |
| Full Form | International English Language Testing System |
| Conducting body | IDP IELTS |
| Exam description | IELTS Academic is an English-language proficiency test that is accepted for admission to UG or PG programs and for work visas in English-speaking countries, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or the UK. |
| IELTS Exam Fee | INR 17,000 |
| Mode of exam | IELTS on paper test or IELTS on computer test |
| Scoring | Scores are released in the form of band scores ranging from 0-9 The IELTS scorecard will have the following scores: Overall band score Band scores for each part – reading, writing, listening, speaking. |
| Why take the test? | Accepted by leading universities and academic institutions worldwide Uses both human and artificial intelligence to ensure fairness Frequent test dates, last-minute availability Friendly test center experience. Take your test in a small, friendly test center environment – with no more than 15 seats per test room. |
| When to take the exam? | IELTS Test Dates |
Which IELTS test do you need to take?
Depending on the purpose of the proficiency test, the candidate has the following options.
| Purpose | IELTS test you need to take |
| IELTS for study | You can take the IELTS Academic test or the IELTS General Training test depending on the level of study in an English-speaking country. |
| IELTS for migration | If you are looking to migrate to UK, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, you must choose IELTS. |
| IELTS for work | You have two options for IELTS, with the IELTS General Training and the IELTS Academic tests. You can check with the organisation directly which test is needed. |
Also Read:
- PTE Academic – Dates, Eligibility, Application, Exam Pattern, Scores
- TOEFL Exam – Full Form, Syllabus, Exam Fee, Exam Date & Center
- The GRE Test – Full Form, Syllabus, Exam Fee, Exam Date & Center
IELTS Test Pattern
The IELTS exam will be conducted in two modes – IELTS on paper test or IELTS on computer test.
In the computer-based test, The Reading, Writing, and Listening tests are on a computer, but the Speaking test is a face-to-face discussion.
Note that the IELTS exam will have four parts – Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.
Now we know that there are two types of IELTS – Academic and General Training.
The Speaking and Listening tests are the same in both types, but the Reading and Writing tests are different.
IELTS Exam – Section-wise questions, tasks, duration
| Section | Content | Duration |
| Listening | 40 questions | Approximately 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes’ transfer time) |
| Reading | 40 questions | 60 minutes |
| Writing | 2 tasks | 60 minutes |
| Speaking | 3 parts | 11–14 minutes |
IELTS Academic Test – Section-wise tasks and syllabus
| Section | Question paper structure |
| Writing | The section will include TWO tasks: Writing Task 1: You will be shown a visual representation of information; a graph, table, chart or diagram, and you have to summarise, describe or explain the information you see. Make sure you organise your response into three main parts, the introduction, an overview and the main features supported by figures from the diagram. Writing Task 2: You will be presented with a point of view, argument, or problem. The topics can range from the environment to immigration, culture, and even technology. You might be asked to, agree or disagree with a point of view or argument, discuss two opposing views, write about the advantages or disadvantages of a topic, or explain a given problem, or the cause of a problem and offer a solution. Your response for Academic Writing Task 2 will need to be in an essay format. Timing: 60 minutes. So, you may ideally spend 20 minutes on Task 1, and 40 minutes on Task 2. Note that you are responsible for managing your own time. |
| Reading | The Academic Reading test assesses a wide range of reading skills including your ability to follow an argument, recognise a writer’s opinion, attitude or purpose. It looks at how well you can read to understand main ideas, details, opinions and implied meanings. Your reading comprehension skills are tested, covering skimming, scanning and reading for detail. The Academic Reading test is made up of 3 long texts which are taken from current books, journals, magazines and newspapers. The texts are related to topics you might face if you were to study at an undergraduate or postgraduate level or apply for professional registration in an English-speaking environment. You will have to answer 40 questions in the Academic Reading test. These questions can range from multiple choice to identifying information or a writer’s view, matching headings, features and sentence endings, as well as sentence, summary, note, table and flow-chart completions, and short-answer questions. Timing: 60 minutes including the transfer time |
| Speaking | The IELTS Speaking is the same for both General Training test and Academic test and assesses your use of spoken English. All speaking tests are conducted face-to-face with a certified IELTS examiner and are recorded in case they need to be reviewed. The Speaking test takes between 11 and 14 minutes and consists of 3 parts. Part 1 is the first part of the test where the examiner will ask you some general questions about familiar topics like work, family, studies and hobbies. In Part 2 you will be given a card with a topic. You will be given one minute to take notes on the topic and will be given a pencil and paper to prepare your response. You will then speak on the topic for two minutes. In Part 3 of the interview, you will have a two-way discussion with the examiner where they will ask questions related to the topic discussed in Part 2. The Speaking test may be conducted on the same day as the other tests or a week before or after the other test parts. Timing: 11-14 minutes |
| Listening | The IELTS Listening is the same for both the IELTS Academic test and General Training test. The Listening test assesses your ability to understand main ideas, detailed information, opinions, purpose and attitudes of the speakers, as well as your ability to follow the development of ideas. You will listen to 4 recordings in your Listening test and need to answer 40 questions based on these recordings. The first two recordings deal with situations you might experience in an everyday context. The last two recordings, however, focus on situations that might occur in an education or training context. In recordings 1 and 3 you will hear a conversation between two or more speakers, however in recordings 2 and 4 will hear a monologue. You will need to answer questions connected to the recordings ranging from multiple choice to matching information, headings, features and sentence endings, as well as sentence, summary, note, table, diagram or flow-chart completion. Timing: The test takes approximately 30 minutes. In addition, you are allowed an extra 10 minutes to transfer your answers from the question booklet to the answer sheet. |
Learn more about IELTS Test Pattern
IELTS Result 2025
The IELTS results for the paper-based test will be released after 13 days. However, the results for the computer-based test can be obtained within 3-5 days from the test date.
Candidates can download the IELTS Test Report form (TRF) online at ieltsidp.com. The other option is to collect the TRF directly from the relevant IELTS test centres.
The validity of the IELTS TRF is up to 2 years.
IELTS Band Score
The English-language skills of the candiddate during the IELTS exam are measured against band scores. These band scores range from 0 – 9; each band score corresponds to a level of English-language competence.
For example, if you get a band score of 6, it signifies you are a competent user with more or less effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. They can also use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.
Note that the candidate will be assigned a band score for each part in addtion to an overall band score. The overall score is the average of your band scores for Speaking, Reading, Writing, and Listening. Your band scores are given as whole or half-band scores and are rounded up to the nearest half or whole band score.
For example, if you get a 6.5 in Reading, 5 in Writing, 7 in Speaking, and 6.5 in Listening, the average of these 4 scores would be 6.25. This score would be rounded up to 6.5 for your overall band score.
IELTS Band Scores – Skill Level, Description
Difference between band score and raw score
The Listening and Reading will be scored out of 40 and then converted to a band score which ranges from band 1 to band 9.
The Listening and Reading tests contain 40 questions and each correct question will be awarded 1 mark (so the maximum a test taker can score here is 40). Band scores, ranging from band 1 to band 9, are awarded based on the raw scores.
Review of IELTS band scores
If you are not happy with your band score, you can ask for a review of the band scores (called an Enquiry on Results).
However, the review request must be sumbitted at your test centre within six weeks of the test date.
You must pay an enquiry fee, which will be fully refunded if your band score changes.
Further, if your band score changes, you will be issued a new Test Report Form (TRF).
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