Topic: IELTS
1. General information
❦ The test evaluates the ability of four language
skills: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
❦ The IELTS test uses a 9-band score system on a
scale from 1 (non-user of English) to 9.
❦ There are 2 types of IELTS:
* Academic module
For people to study at an undergraduate or
postgraduate levels
Or if people who are seeking professional
registration, doctors, nurses.
* General Training module
For people to migrate to an English-speaking
country (Australia, UK, US, Canada...)
People who are training or studying at below
degree level.
A. Format
1) Listening
The IELTS Listening test is designed to assess a wide
range of listening skills, including how well you:
❦ understand main ideas and specific factual
information
❦ recognize the opinions, attitudes and purpose
of a speaker
❦ follow the development of an argument.
# Format:
Recording 1: a conversation between two
people set in an everyday social context.
Recording 2: a monologue set in an
everyday social context, e.g. a speech
about local facilities.
Recording 3: a conversation between up to
four people set in an educational or
training context, e.g. a university tutor and
a student discussing an assignment.
Recording 4: a monologue on an academic
subject, e.g. a university lecture.
# Duration:
The IELTS Listening test takes approximately 30
minutes, and you are allowed an extra 10 minutes to
transfer your answers from your question booklet to
your answer sheet.
# Number of questions: 40 questions.
# Types of questions:
Various question types are used, chosen from the
following: multiple choice, matching,
plan/map/diagram labeling, form/note/table/flow-
chart/summary completion, and sentence completion.
2) Reading
The IELTS Reading test is designed to assess a wide
range of reading skills, including how well you:
read for the general sense of a passage
read for the main ideas
read for detail
understand inferences and implied
meaning
recognize a writer’s opinions, attitudes and
purpose
follow the development of an argument.
You will need to read quickly and efficiently and
manage your time. You will be asked to read three
different passages and respond to related questions in
your IELTS Reading test. The content of the Reading
test is different for IELTS Academic and IELTS
# Format:
Three long texts which range from the descriptive and
factual to the discursive and analytical. These are taken
from books, journals, magazines and newspapers. They
have been selected for a non-specialist audience but are
appropriate for people entering university courses or
seeking professional registration.
# Duration:
The IELTS Reading test takes approximately 60
minutes, including the time it takes to transfer your
answers from your question booklet to your answer
sheet.
# Number of questions: 40 questions.
# Type of questions:
Fill gaps in a passage of written text or a table, match
headings to written text to diagrams or charts, complete
sentences, give short answers to open questions, and
answer multiple choice questions.
3) Writing
The IELTS Writing test is designed to assess a wide
range of writing skills, including how well you:
write a response appropriately
organize ideas
use a range of vocabulary and grammar
accurately.
Note: Task 2 is worth twice as much as Task 1
in the IELTS Writing test.
# Format:
The IELTS Academic Writing Test has two tasks. Task
1 requires candidates to be presented with a graph or
chart in their own words. Task 2 requires writing an
essay in response to a specific viewpoint, argument, or
issue, and it is important to show a deep understanding
of the topic.
# Duration:
The IELTS Writing test takes 60 minutes. Spend 20
minutes on Task 1, and 40 minutes on Task 2. You will
need to manage your own time, so make sure you move
on to Task 2 after 20 minutes.
# Number of questions: 2 questions
# Type of tasks:
Two tasks: Task 1 and Task 2. You will be asked to
write at least 150 words for Task 1 and at least 250
words for Task 2.
4) Speaking
The IELTS Speaking test involves speaking with a
certified examiner in an interactive and realistic setting.
Various accents may be used and the test will be
recorded. It assesses a variety of skills and is the same
for both the Academic and General Training tests.
The examiner will want to see how well you can:
communicate opinions and information on
everyday topics and common experiences;
to do this you will need to answer a range
of questions
speak at length on a given topic using
appropriate language
organize your ideas coherently
express and justify your opinions
analyze, discuss and speculate about
issues.
Note: Your performance will
be evaluated based on fluency and coherence,
lexical resource, grammatical range and
accuracy, and pronunciation. It is important to
speak naturally and confidently during the test
.
# Format:
Part 1: The examiner will start by introducing
themselves and asking you to introduce yourself and
confirm your identity. They will then ask you general
questions about topics such as your home, family,
work, studies, and interests to help you feel more relax
and speak naturally.
Part 2: During Part 2 of the exam, you will receive a
task card with a specific topic and points to cover. You
will have one minute to prepare before speaking for 1-2
minutes. The examiner will not interrupt you, so it is
crucial to keep talking. You will then ask a few
questions after your talk.
Part 3: The examiner will ask you further questions
which are connected to the topic of Part 2. These
questions are designed to allow you to discuss more
abstract issues and ideas.
# Duration: 11-14 minutes.
