English Test Practice

IELTS Academic: test format, question types and band scores

IELTS Academic has four parts: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. It takes about 2 hours 45 minutes, and every part gets a band from 0 to 9. This guide explains each part, the question types you will meet and how the overall band is worked out. It covers IELTS Academic; General Training differs in Reading and Writing.

Listening: four parts, about 30 minutes

Four recordings with ten questions each, 40 questions in total. The first two are set in everyday social situations and the last two in education or training. You hear each recording once only.

Question types include multiple choice, matching, plan, map and diagram labelling, form, note, table, flow-chart and summary completion, sentence completion and short answers.

Academic Reading: three passages, 60 minutes

Three long texts taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers, with 40 questions in total.

Question types include multiple choice, True / False / Not Given, Yes / No / Not Given, matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, completion tasks, diagram labelling and short answers.

Academic Writing: two tasks, 60 minutes

Task 1: describe a graph, table, chart, diagram, map or process in at least 150 words. Task 2: write an essay of at least 250 words in response to a point of view, argument or problem. Task 2 counts for twice as much as Task 1.

Both tasks are marked on four criteria: Task Achievement (Task Response for Task 2), Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy.

Speaking: three parts, 11–14 minutes

Part 1 is a short interview about familiar topics. In Part 2 you get a task card, one minute to prepare and up to 2 minutes to talk. Part 3 is a discussion of more abstract ideas linked to Part 2.

Speaking is marked on Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation.

How band scores are calculated

Listening and Reading: your number of correct answers out of 40 is converted to a band. Writing and Speaking: examiners give a band for each criterion.

The overall band is the average of the four parts, rounded to the nearest half band: an average ending in .25 rounds up to the next half band, and one ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the IELTS Academic test?

About 2 hours 45 minutes: Listening about 30 minutes, Reading 60 minutes, Writing 60 minutes and Speaking 11–14 minutes. Speaking may be on the same day or within a few days of the other parts.

What is the difference between Academic and General Training?

Listening and Speaking are the same. Reading and Writing differ: Academic uses texts and tasks suited to university study, General Training uses everyday and workplace material.

Can I listen to the recording twice?

No. In IELTS you hear each Listening recording once, so read the questions before each part starts.

Is there a pass mark in IELTS?

No. You get a band from 0 to 9 for each part and overall. Universities and employers set the bands they need.

How do I practise the IELTS Academic format?

Start with a short test to see your level, then practise one skill at a time and take full mock tests under timed conditions.

Related pages

Sources

English Test Practice is an independent practice site and is not affiliated with IELTS, the British Council, IDP or Cambridge. Results from our tools are estimates, not official scores.