The IELTS Test Format evaluates English proficiency in four skills: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. It is available in two versions: Academic (for higher education or professional registration) and General Training (for migration or work experience). The total test duration is about 2 hours 45 minutes.
Test Sections
- Listening (30 minutes + 10 minutes for paper-based test):
Four sections with 40 questions based on conversations and monologues. - Reading (60 minutes):
- Academic: Three long, complex texts.
- General Training: Texts from everyday materials and general interest topics.
Includes 40 questions in various formats.
- Writing (60 minutes):
- Task 1: Data description (Academic) or letter writing (General Training).
- Task 2: Essay writing for both versions.
- Speaking (11–14 minutes):
A face-to-face interview with three parts: introduction, topic talk, and discussion.
The Listening, Reading, and Writing sections are completed in one sitting, while the Speaking test may be scheduled on the same day or up to a week before or after.