IELTS Test Pattern: Section-Wise IELTS Exam Format Explained

Section-Wise Breakdown of IELTS Test

Listening

The IELTS Listening section is identical for both Academic and General Training tests.

• The IELTS Listening section includes four distinct recordings, each accompanied by a set of questions to test your understanding.

  Recording Structure

  Recording	Description
  Recording 1	A dialogue between two individuals taking place in a typical, everyday social setting.
  Recording 2	A solo speech in a casual context, such as a talk about community facilities.
  Recording 3	A group conversation involving up to four people in an educational or training environment.
  Recording 4	A lecture or presentation focused on an academic topic.

• You will hear the recordings only once. Different accents, including British, Australian, New Zealand, and North American, are used.
• Each correct answer receives 1 mark. Your final score is presented as a band score in whole or half bands, e.g., 5.5 or 7.0.
• Be careful when writing your answers on the answer sheet, as incorrect spelling and grammar can lead to losing marks.
• This section evaluates a range of listening skills, such as understanding main ideas, specific factual details, and recognizing opinions or attitudes.

Types of Questions in IELTS Listening

The IELTS Listening test includes various question formats to assess your skills effectively. These include:

• Multiple Choice Questions
• Table/Note Completion
• Sentence Completion
• Summary Completion
• Labeling a Diagram/Map/Plan
• Matching Questions
• Short Answer Questions

Tips for Preparation

To succeed in the Listening section, practice regularly with IELTS Listening practice tests. Familiarize yourself with the question types mentioned above and hone your ability to identify key information and details quickly.

Reading

The IELTS Reading section is designed to assess a wide range of reading skills. This includes the ability to read for gist, understand main ideas, analyze details, skim effectively, comprehend logical arguments, and recognize the writer’s opinions, attitudes, and purpose.

Each correct answer in this section awards one mark. The final score is expressed as a band score ranging from 1 to 9, with increments of whole or half bands, such as 4.0 or 6.5.

Academic Reading

Structure and Content : The IELTS Academic Reading section consists of three long texts. These passages vary in style, ranging from descriptive and factual to discursive and analytical. They are designed to evaluate the reading comprehension skills of candidates who aim to pursue higher education or professional registration.

Source of Texts : The texts in this section are sourced from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers. They are intended for a general audience but are tailored to a non-specialist reader. This ensures that the texts are accessible yet challenging enough to test the candidate’s reading skills.

General Reading

Structure and Content : The IELTS General Reading section features passages that are more relatable to everyday scenarios. These passages aim to test the practical reading skills needed for social and workplace settings.

Source of Texts : The content in the General Reading section is drawn from a variety of real-life materials such as:

• Books and magazines
• Newspapers
• Notices and advertisements
• Company handbooks
• Guidelines

These materials are typical of what a person might encounter daily in an English-speaking environment.

Sections in General Reading

The General Reading section is divided into three parts, each focusing on different types of texts:

• Section 1: Contains two or three short factual texts related to everyday topics, such as notices or advertisements.
• Section 2: Includes two short, work-related texts, such as job descriptions or company policies.
• Section 3: Features one longer, more complex text on a topic of general interest, which may include an opinion-based article or report.

Both the Academic and General Reading sections are designed to test your ability to understand a variety of texts. It is important to practice reading different materials and familiarize yourself with the types of questions that may be asked. Preparation is key to achieving a strong band score in the IELTS Reading section.

Types of Questions in IELTS Reading

• Multiple Choice Questions
• True/False/Not Given Questions
• Yes/No/Not given Questions
• Matching Headings
• Matching Information
• Matching Features
• Matching Sentence Endings
• Sentence Completion
• Short-answer Questions
• Diagram Completion
• Summary Completion

Explore all these question types in the IELTS Reading practice test, and remember to practice regularly to boost your overall IELTS Reading band score.

Writing

The IELTS Writing section consists of two tasks. Task 1 differs for the Academic and General IELTS, while IELTS Writing Task 2 is the same for both. Both tasks require formal writing.

Academic Writing

• Task 1: You’ll be given a graph, table, chart, or diagram. Your job is to describe, summarize, or explain the information in your own words.
• Task 2: You’ll need to write an essay responding to a point of view, argument, or problem.

General Writing

• Task 1: You’ll write a response to a situation, such as requesting information or explaining a scenario through a letter.
• Task 2: You’ll write an essay responding to a point of view, argument, or problem. These essays are often more personal than those in the Academic Writing Task 2.

To improve your IELTS Writing score, make sure to practice regularly with IELTS Writing practice tests.

Speaking

The IELTS Speaking test is divided into three parts, each designed to assess your communication skills in different ways.

• Part 1: The examiner will ask you general questions about yourself and everyday topics, such as your home, family, work, studies, and interests. This part lasts about 4-5 minutes.
• Part 2: You’ll receive a card with a specific topic to talk about. You’ll have one minute to prepare and then speak for up to 2 minutes. Afterward, the examiner may ask 1-2 follow-up questions related to the same topic.
• Part 3: In this part, you’ll discuss more abstract or complex ideas related to the topic in Part 2. It’s an opportunity to showcase your ability to express opinions and discuss issues in depth. This part also lasts about 4-5 minutes.

During the IELTS Speaking test, your performance is evaluated based on four criteria: grammar, fluency, coherence, lexical resource, and pronunciation. Most of the IELTS Speaking Topics are general, so regular practice of IELTS Speaking tests is essential to improve.

Tips for Success

Understanding the test format is key to effective preparation. The Academic test focuses more on evaluating readiness for higher education, while the General Training test assesses workplace and everyday communication skills. Regardless of the format, consistent practice can significantly boost your confidence and performance.

To prepare, familiarize yourself with the test structure, answer sample questions, and take full-length IELTS Speaking practice tests.

Understanding the test structure is crucial for success. Regular practice with sample questions and full-length tests can build confidence and enhance performance. Whether preparing for academic or general purposes, the key to excelling in IELTS is thorough preparation and practice.