IELTS Writing Overview (ACADEMIC)
The IELTS Academic Writing Test lasts 60 minutes and is composed of two tasks. Both are designed
to assess a range of writing skills, including task response, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource
(vocabulary), and grammatical range and accuracy.
Task 1: Describing Visual Information
Time Suggestion: 20 minutes
Word Requirement: At least 150 words
🔹 What You’ll See:
You’ll be given a graph, table, chart, map, process diagram, or a combination of these. You are
expected to summarize and compare the main features of the visual(s).
🔹 What You Should Do:
Give a clear overview of the main trends or differences.
Include data comparisons where relevant.
Avoid opinions or explanations—just describe what the visuals show.
Use appropriate vocabulary for describing data (e.g., increased, declined, remained stable).
🔹 Example Task:
The graph below shows the number of deaths caused by smoking-related diseases in four countries from
2000 to 2020.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where
relevant.
Task 2: Essay Writing (Argumentative/Discursive Essay)
Time Suggestion: 40 minutes
Word Requirement: At least 250 words
🔹 What You’ll See:
You will be presented with a question or statement about a contemporary issue. You’ll be asked to
present an argument, discuss a problem, or express your opinion.
🔹 Common Task Types:
Opinion essays (Do you agree or disagree?)
Discussion essays (Discuss both views and give your opinion)
Problem-solution essays
Two-part questions (Answer both questions in one essay)
🔹 What You Should Do:
Present a clear position throughout the response.
Use paragraphing and a logical structure (introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion).
Support your ideas with examples and reasoned arguments.
Avoid informal language.
🔹 Example Task:
Some people believe that coffee consumption has become a major public health concern, while others
think it has health benefits.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Scoring Criteria (for both tasks)
1. Task Achievement (Task 1) / Task Response (Task 2) – Did you address all parts of the task
clearly and completely?
2. Coherence and Cohesion – Are your ideas well-organized and connected?
3. Lexical Resource – Is your vocabulary varied, accurate, and appropriate?
4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy – Are your grammar and sentence structures varied and
correct?
Important Tips
Time management is crucial—don’t spend too long on Task 1.
Always proofread your writing.
Practice paraphrasing and using a wide range of academic vocabulary.
Remember: Task 2 is worth twice as much as Task 1 in your final writing score.
IELTS Speaking Test Overview (ACADEMIC)
The IELTS Speaking Test is an interview (face-to-face or online) between the test taker and a certified
examiner. It is the same for both the Academic and General Training versions of IELTS. The test
lasts 11–14 minutes and is divided into three parts, each designed to assess a range of speaking skills,
including fluency, coherence, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
Part 1: Introduction and Interview (4–5 minutes)
The examiner introduces themselves and asks the candidate to introduce themselves and confirm
their identity.
This part includes general questions about the test taker’s life, such as home, family, studies,
work, interests, or daily routines.
Purpose: To help the candidate feel relaxed and assess their ability to speak about familiar
topics.
Example questions:
What do you do—are you a student or do you work?
What kind of music do you enjoy?
Can you describe your hometown?
Part 2: Long Turn (3–4 minutes)
The candidate is given a task card with a topic and asked to speak about it for 1–2 minutes.
One minute is given to prepare and make notes.
The examiner may ask one or two follow-up questions after the talk.
Example task:
Describe a book you recently read.
You should say:
What it was about
Why you chose it
What you liked or disliked about it
And explain why you would or would not recommend it.
Part 3: Discussion (4–5 minutes)
This part involves a two-way discussion with the examiner.
Questions are based on the theme introduced in Part 2, but at a more abstract and analytical
level.
It evaluates the candidate's ability to express opinions, justify ideas, and discuss issues in depth.
Example questions (based on the book topic):
How do reading habits differ between children and adults?
Do you think people read less nowadays because of technology?
What are the benefits of reading fiction versus non-fiction?
Scoring Criteria
The speaking test is assessed in four areas, each worth 25% of the score:
1. Fluency and Coherence – speaking smoothly with clear ideas and connections.
2. Lexical Resource – using a wide and appropriate range of vocabulary.
3. Grammatical Range and Accuracy – using various sentence structures correctly.
4. Pronunciation – speaking clearly with understandable pronunciation.
IELTS Reading Overview (ACADEMIC)
Test Format
Duration: 60 minutes
Number of Questions: 40
Number of Passages: 3 (increasing in difficulty)
Types of Texts: Extracts from books, journals, newspapers, magazines, and online articles—
academic and factual in nature.
Purpose
The IELTS Academic Reading test assesses your ability to:
Understand main ideas, specific details, and inferences
Recognize writer's opinions, attitudes, and purpose
Follow the development of an argument
Deal with complex academic vocabulary
Structure
There are 3 long texts, each followed by 12–14 questions. Texts are usually:
Descriptive
Analytical
Discursive
Argumentative
You do not need subject-specific knowledge to answer the questions.
Question Types
You will encounter a variety of question types, including:
1. Multiple Choice
2. Matching Headings
3. Matching Information (to paragraphs)
4. Matching Features (e.g., researcher to their findings)
5. Matching Sentence Endings
6. True / False / Not Given
7. Yes / No / Not Given (for opinions/claims)
8. Summary Completion
9. Note / Table / Flowchart Completion
10. Diagram Label Completion
11. Short Answer Questions
Scoring
Each correct answer = 1 mark
Total raw score out of 40 is converted to a Band Score (1–9)
No penalties for incorrect answers, so always attempt every question
Band Score Conversion (Approximate):
CORRECT BAND
ANSWERS SCORE
39-40 9
37-38 8.5
35-36 8
33-34 7.5
30-32 7
27-29 6.5
23-26 6
19-22 5.5
15-18 5
13-14 4.5
10-12 4
Key Skills Needed
Skimming: Reading quickly to get the general idea
Scanning: Looking for specific information (names, dates, numbers)
Detailed Reading: Understanding complex details and arguments
Vocabulary Recognition: Spotting synonyms and paraphrases
Time Management: Spending ~20 minutes per passage
Tips for Success
Underline keywords in the questions before reading the text.
Watch out for synonyms and paraphrases.
Don’t spend too long on one question—move on and return later if needed.
Practice reading authentic academic texts (e.g., Scientific American, The Economist).
Read the instructions carefully (e.g., “NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS”).
📘 Sample Task Titles (Examples from Practice Tests)
The Future of Space Tourism
The Psychology of Innovation
Urban Farming in Megacities
The Evolution of Language in Children
IELTS Listening Overview (ACADEMIC)
Test Format
Duration: Approximately 30 minutes
Sections: 4 sections, each with one recording
Total Questions: 40 (10 per section)
Purpose
The Listening test evaluates your ability to:
Understand main ideas and specific factual information
Recognize opinions, attitudes, and purposes of speakers
Follow the development of an argument or discussion
Structure of the Test
🔊 Section 1: Social Conversation
A conversation between two people in an everyday social context
Example: Booking a hotel or inquiring about services
🔊 Section 2: Social Monologue
A monologue set in a social context
Example: A speech about local facilities or guided tour
🔊 Section 3: Academic Discussion
A conversation between up to four people in an academic or training context
Example: A discussion between students and a tutor
🔊 Section 4: Academic Lecture
A monologue on an academic subject
Example: A university lecture on biology or history
Question Types
You may encounter any of the following:
1. Multiple Choice
2. Matching
3. Plan / Map / Diagram Labelling
4. Form / Note / Table / Flowchart / Summary Completion
5. Sentence Completion
6. Short Answer Questions
Scoring
Each correct answer = 1 mark
Total raw score out of 40 is converted to a Band Score (1–9)
No penalties for wrong answers
Band Score Conversion (Approximate):
CORRECT BAND
ANSWERS SCORE
39-40 9
37-38 8.5
35-36 8
32-34 7.5
30-31 7
26-29 6.5
23-25 6
18-22 5.5
16-17 5
13-15 4.5
10-12 4
Key Skills for Success
Prediction: Use the time before each section to anticipate answers
Attention to Detail: Focus carefully—each recording is played only once
Note-Taking: Jot down answers as you listen
Synonym Awareness: Recognize paraphrased words and phrases
Spelling and Grammar: Incorrect spelling or grammar = wrong answer
Timing Breakdown
Listening time: 30 minutes
Answer transfer time: 10 minutes
Each section includes a short pause before and after recordings for review
Tips for Preparation
Listen to a variety of English accents (British, Australian, Canadian, etc.)
Practice with authentic IELTS recordings
Review common distractors (e.g., changing an answer mid-sentence)
Practice completing answers while listening
Follow the word limit instructions exactly
Sample Situations for Recordings
Booking a trip or a tour
Academic lectures (e.g., climate change, cultural studies)
Student and tutor discussing assignments
Library or university services orientation
