IELTS

A.Test Format

• Each recognising organisation sets its own entry requirements. In some cases both modules may be accepted. If you are in doubt as to which module to take, you should contact the organisation you are applying to in order to check their requirements.
• Both modules cover all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking.
• Everyone takes the same Listening and Speaking tests.
• There are different Reading and Writing tests for the Academic and General Training modules.

B. Test Components

[toggle_basic title=”*********************************  Listening  *********************************”]

Timing:
Approximately 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes’ transfer time)

Questions:
There are 40 questions
A variety of question types is used, chosen from the following: multiple choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labelling, form completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, summary completion, sentence completion, short-answer questions

Test Parts:
There are 4 sections:

Section 1
is a conversation between two people set in an everyday social context (e.g. a conversation in an accommodation agency)
Section 2
is a monologue set in an everyday social context (e.g. a speech about local facilities or a talk about the arrangements for meals during a conference)
Section 3
is a conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context (e.g. a university tutor and a student discussing an assignment, or a group of students planning a research project) Section 4 is a monologue on an academic subject (e.g. a university lecture)
Each section is heard once only A variety of voices and native-speaker accents is used

Marking:
Each correct answer receives 1 mark
Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS 9-band scale
Scores are reported in whole and half bands

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[toggle_basic title=”*********************************  Reading  **********************************“]

Timing:
۶۰ minutes (no extra transfer time)

Questions:
There are 40 questions
A variety of question types is used, chosen from the following: multiple choice, identifying information (True/False/Not Given), identifying writer’s views/claims (Yes/No/Not Given), matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, sentence completion, summary completion, note completion, table completion, flow- chart completion, diagram label completion, short-answer questions

Test Parts:
There are 3 sections
The total text length is 2,150-2,750 words

Academic Reading
Each section contains one long text. Texts are authentic and are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers. They have been written for a non-specialist audience and are on academic topics of general interest. Texts are appropriate to, and accessible to, candidates entering undergraduate or postgraduate courses or seeking professional registration. Texts range from the descriptive and factual to the discursive and analytical. Texts may contain non-verbal materials such as diagrams, graphs or illustrations. If texts contain technical terms, then a simple glossary is provided.

General Training Reading
Section 1
contains two or three short factual texts, one of which may be composite (consisting of 6-8 short texts related by topic, e.g. hotel advertisements). Topics are relevant to everyday life in an English-speaking country
Section 2
contains two short factual texts focusing on work-related issues (e.g. applying for jobs, company policies, pay and conditions, workplace
facilities, staff development and training)
Section 3
contains one longer, more complex text on a topic of general interest Texts are authentic and are taken from notices, advertisements, company
handbooks, official documents, books, magazines and newspapers

Marking:
Each correct answer receives 1 mark
Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS 9-band scale
Scores are reported in whole and half bands

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[toggle_basic title=”**********************************  Writing  *********************************“]

Timing:
۶۰ minutes

Tasks:
There are 2 tasks
Candidates are required to write at least 150 words for Task 1 and at least 250 words for Task 2

Test Parts:
There are 2 parts

Academic Writing
In Task 1, candidates are presented with a graph, table, chart or diagram and are asked to describe, summarise or explain the information in their own words. They may be asked to describe and explain data, describe the stages of a process, how something works or describe an object or event.
In Task 2, candidates are asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. The issues raised are of general interest to, suitable for and easily understood by candidates entering undergraduate or postgraduate studies or seeking professional registration Responses to Task 1 and Task 2 should be written in a formal style.

General Training Writing
In Task 1, candidates are presented with a situation and are asked to write a letter requesting information or explaining the situation.
The letter may be personal, semi-formal or formal in style.
In Task 2, candidates are asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem.
The essay can be slightly more personal in style than the Academic Writing Task 2 essay
Topics are of general interest.

Marking:
Candidates are assessed on their performance on each task by certificated IELTS examiners according to the four criteria of the IELTS Writing Test Band Descriptors (task achievement/response, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy).
Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score
Scores are reported in whole and half bands.

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[toggle_basic title=”*********************************  Speaking  *********************************“]

Timing:
۱۱-۱۴ minutes

Tasks:
The Speaking test is a 3-part face-to-face oral interview with an examiner.
The Speaking test is recorded in the original exam.

Test Parts:
There are 3 parts

Part 1 Introduction and interview (4-5 minutes)
The examiner introduces him/herself and asks the candidate to introduce him/herself and confirm his/her identity. The examiner asks the candidate general questions on familiar topics, e.g. home, family, work, studies and interests.

Part 2 Individual long turn (3-4 minutes)
The examiner gives the candidate a task card which asks the candidate to talk about a particular topic and which includes points which the candidate can cover in their talk. The candidate is given 1 minute to prepare their talk, and is given a pencil and paper to make notes. The candidate talks for 1-2 minutes on the topic. The examiner then asks the candidate one or two questions on the same topic.

Part 3 Two-way discussion (4-5 minutes)
The examiner asks further questions which are connected to the topic of Part 2. These questions give the candidate an opportunity to discuss more abstract issues and ideas.

Marking:
Candidates are assessed on their performance throughout the test by certificated IELTS examiners according to the four criteria of the IELTS Speaking Test Band Descriptors (fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, pronunciation).
Scores are reported in whole and half bands.

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*adapted from “IELTS Information for candidates” Article on ielts.org