
The IELTS Academic test evaluates your English language skills for academic purposes, such as university admission or professional registration. You can choose to take the test on paper, on a computer, or online, depending on the availability at your location.
If you’re already familiar with the IELTS General test, let’s explore how the IELTS Academic test differs and what it entails.
Overview of the IELTS Academic Exam
Similar to the General Training exam, the IELTS Academic test lasts for 2 hours and 45 minutes. It is specifically designed for individuals who:
- Plan to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate studies globally.
- Seek employment with professional organizations in English-speaking countries.
The exam evaluates four essential language skills: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. While the Listening and Speaking modules are identical across both test formats, the Academic version features unique Writing and Reading tasks with advanced vocabulary and content.
Listening Section
The IELTS Listening Academic test includes four recordings with ten questions each, lasting a total of 30 minutes, plus an extra 10 minutes for transferring answers if you’re taking the paper-based test.
Details of Listening Sections:
Section | Description |
---|---|
1 | A conversation between two people in a general social context (e.g., booking accommodation). |
2 | A monologue in a social context (e.g., a speech about travel plans). |
3 | A conversation among up to four people in an educational context (e.g., discussions with professors). |
4 | A monologue on an academic topic (e.g., a university lecture). |
Note that the recordings are played only once, and they feature a variety of English accents, including British, Australian, and North American.
Reading Section
The IELTS Reading Academic section comprises three long texts, usually adapted from books, journals, and newspapers. You have 60 minutes to answer 40 questions, with no additional time for transferring answers.
The texts can be narrative, descriptive, or argumentative, often accompanied by diagrams or illustrations. A glossary is provided for technical terms, and each correct answer is worth one mark.
Writing Section
The IELTS Writing module includes two tasks:
- Task 1: Describe visual data such as graphs or charts in at least 150 words within 20 minutes.
- Task 2: Write a minimum 250-word essay in 40 minutes, expressing your opinion or discussing a problem.
Use complete sentences, and remember that notes on the question paper will not be reviewed by the examiner.
Speaking Section
The IELTS Speaking module is a face-to-face interview divided into three parts:
- IELTS Speaking Part 1: General questions about yourself and your interests.
- IELTS Speaking Part 2: Speak for up to 2 minutes on a given topic after a 1-minute preparation.
- IELTS Speaking Part 3: A discussion with the examiner related to the topic in Part 2.
This section takes 12–14 minutes and tests your ability to communicate effectively.
IELTS Academic Scoring System
Each section is scored on a 0–9 band scale, and the scores are averaged to determine your IELTS band score calculation. Your score may be rounded to the nearest half or full band.
Listening Band Score Table:
- Number of Questions: 40
- Marks: 1 Mark Each
- Your final score in this section, which is out of 40, will either be converted to a full listening band score (6, 7, 8) or a half-band (5.5, 7.5, 8.5).
Check out the table below to find out the respective band score for the score you receive in the Listening Academic module.
Correct Answers | Band Score |
---|---|
40-39 | 9 |
38-37 | 8.5 |
36-35 | 8 |
34-32 | 7.5 |
31-30 | 7 |
29-26 | 6.5 |
25-23 | 6 |
22-18 | 5.5 |
17-16 | 5 |
15-13 | 4.5 |
12-11 | 4 |
Reading Band Score Academic
- Number of Questions: 40
- Marks: 1 Mark Each
- The questions test a variety of reading skills, including reading for gist, reading for main ideas, reading for detail, skimming, understanding logical arguments, and recognizing writers’ opinions, attitudes, and purposes.
- Your raw score out of 40 is converted to the nine-band scale.
Correct Answers | Band Score |
---|---|
40-39 | 9 |
38-37 | 8.5 |
36-35 | 8 |
34-33 | 7.5 |
32-30 | 7 |
29-27 | 6.5 |
26-23 | 6 |
22-19 | 5.5 |
18-15 | 5 |
14-13 | 4.5 |
12-10 | 4 |
9-8 | 3.5 |
7-6 | 3 |
5-4 | 2.5 |
Preparing with IELTS reading practice tests can significantly boost your reading band score.
Writing Band Score Academic
The Writing section is composed of two tasks, and both are assessed based on four key criteria:
- Task Achievement (or Task Response)
- Coherence and Cohesion
- Lexical Resource
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Task 2 carries twice as much weight as Task 1 when calculating the final Writing band score. The scores for each task are combined to determine your overall Writing band score, which contributes to the final IELTS band score.
Speaking Band Score Academic
The Speaking test is evaluated using the following four criteria:
- Fluency and Coherence
- Lexical Resource
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
- Pronunciation
Each criterion is scored on a scale of 0 to 9. The final Speaking score is the average of these criteria, and the overall band score ranges from 0 to 9, rounded to the nearest whole or half band.
Overall Band Score
The overall IELTS band score is calculated by averaging the scores from all four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. This average is then rounded to the nearest whole or half band.
Example:
If you score:
- Listening: 6.5
- Reading: 6.0
- Writing: 6.5
- Speaking: 7.0
Your overall band score will be:
(6.5 + 6.0 + 6.5 + 7.0) / 4 = 6.5
The final IELTS Academic band score is reported on a scale from 1 to 9, such as 6.0 or 6.5.
Preparation Tips for IELTS Academic
Getting a high score on the IELTS Academic test requires a structured approach to mastering its four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Here are some valuable tips to help you prepare effectively and confidently.
1. Listening Section
- Practice with Tests: Regularly take IELTS Listening practice tests to get familiar with the format and question types.
- Train Your Ear: Listen to different English accents using podcasts, news, documentaries, and lectures.
- Focus on Key Points: Learn to take effective notes while listening, so you can capture important details.
- Master Signposting: Pay attention to words like “firstly,” “on the other hand,” or “in conclusion” that signal key points.
- Active Listening: Summarize audio content in your own words to improve comprehension.
2. Reading Section
- Broaden Your Reading: Read academic materials like journals, articles, and textbooks to boost your vocabulary and comprehension.
- Skim and Scan: Practice skimming for main ideas and scanning for details to answer questions quickly.
- Work with Time Limits: Time yourself when practicing to ensure you finish the tasks on time.
- Highlight Vocabulary: Keep a list of challenging words and their meanings.
- Understand Text Structures: Recognize patterns in academic writing to locate answers efficiently.
3. Writing Section
- Know the Formats: Familiarize yourself with Task 1 (describing graphs/diagrams) and Task 2 (essay writing).
- Practice Daily: Write regularly to improve clarity, coherence, and grammar.
- Link Your Ideas: Use transition words for a better flow.
- Get Feedback: Share your writing with teachers or peers for improvement.
- Diversify Sentence Structures: Use varied sentence types and vocabulary to enhance your writing style.
4. Speaking Section
- Speak, Speak, Speak: Join English-speaking clubs or engage with native speakers to boost confidence.
- Simulate the Test: Conduct mock interviews to practice under test conditions.
- Record and Reflect: Assess pronunciation, pace, and coherence by recording your responses.
- Be Natural: Don’t memorize answers—focus on thinking and responding authentically.
Why Take the IELTS Academic Test?
Here are some compelling reasons why IELTS Academic is the right choice:
1. University Admission
Globally recognized by top universities, IELTS opens doors to study abroad.
2. Professional Registration
Essential for professional certifications in fields like medicine, engineering, and law.
3. Immigration
Many countries require IELTS scores for visa and residency applications.
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