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Why Take The IELTS Test

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Why take the IELTS Test?

The IELTS test gives you more choices about where you want to study.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is the world’s most popular English
language test. More than 2 million IELTS tests are taken each year.

Taking IELTS opens doors – it can help you live, study and work around the world. More than
8,000 organizations worldwide accept IELTS, including government, academic and employment
institutions. In fact, IELTS is the only English language test accepted for immigration purposes by
all countries that require one.

The IELTS test is designed to help you use English in your new life abroad. In less than three
hours, it will assess all of your English skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking.
The most effective way of testing your English conversation skills is face-to-face. IELTS is the
most widely accepted English language test with a one-on-one speaking test to assess your English
language communication skills.

IELTS test format


IELTS is a test of all four language skills – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. You will
take the Listening, Reading and Writing tests all on the same day, one after the other, with no
breaks in between. Depending on your test centre, your Speaking test may be on the same day as
the other three tests, or up to seven days before or after that. The total test time is under three
hours.

Why is the IELTS format fairer?


You deserve a fair chance to do your best. That’s why, unlike other tests, IELTS gives you a
quiet room for the Speaking test with no distractions or interruptions. IELTS also recognizes that
candidates have different approaches to answering questions. For example, with IELTS you can
answer questions in the order that suits you and you can make changes to your Reading answers
and Writing responses at any time during the Reading and Writing sections.

What can you expect in each section of IELTS?


Both versions of IELTS (Academic and General Training) cover all four language skills:
Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Each section of the test is outlined below.
For a full description please ensure you also read the Information for Candidates booklet.

Four test sections:


Listening
(Duration: 30 minutes)

You will listen to four recorded texts – monologues and conversations by a range of native
speakers – and write the answers to a series of questions. These include questions that test your
ability to understand main ideas and detailed factual information, ability to understand the
opinions and attitudes of speakers, ability to understand the purpose of what is said and ability to
follow the development of ideas. A variety of voices and native-speaker accents is used and you
will hear each section only once.
Please note: The Listening component is the same for both Academic and General Training
versions.
Section 1
A conversation between two people set in an everyday social context, e.g. a conversation in an
accommodation agency.

Section 2
A monologue set in an everyday social context, e.g. a speech about local facilities.

Section 3
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.

Section 4
A monologue on an academic subject, e.g. a university lecture.

Reading
(Duration: 60 minutes)

The Reading component comprises 40 questions. A variety of question types is used in order to
test a wide range of reading skills. These include reading for gist, reading for main ideas, reading
for detail, skimming, understanding logical argument and recognizing writers’ opinions, attitudes
and purpose.
Reading – Academic version
The Academic version includes three long texts, which range from the descriptive and factual to
the discursive and analytical. The texts are authentic and are taken from books, journals,
magazines and newspapers. These have been selected for a non-specialist audience but are
recognizably appropriate for anyone entering undergraduate or postgraduate courses or seeking
professional registration.
Reading – General Training version
The General Training version requires you to read extracts from books, magazines, newspapers,
notices, advertisements, company handbooks and guidelines. These are materials you are likely
to encounter on a daily basis in an English-speaking environment.
Writing
(Duration: 60 minutes)
Writing – Academic version
The Writing component of the Academic version includes two tasks. Topics are of general
interest to, and suitable for, anyone entering undergraduate or postgraduate studies or seeking
professional registration.

Task 1
You will be presented with a graph, table, chart or diagram and are asked to describe, summaries
or explain the information in your own words. You may be asked to describe and explain data,
describe the stages of a process, how something works or describe an object or event.

Task 2
You will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem.
Responses to both tasks must be written in a formal style.
Writing – General Training version
The Writing component of the General Training version includes two tasks, which are based on
topics of general interest.

Task 1
You will be presented with a situation and asked to write a letter requesting information or
explaining the situation. The letter may be personal, semi-formal or formal in style.

Task 2
You will be 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.

Speaking
(Duration: 11 to 14 minutes)

The Speaking component assesses your use of spoken English and takes between 11 and 14
minutes to complete. Every test is recorded.
Please note: The Speaking component is the same for both Academic and General Training
versions.

Part 1
You will be asked to answer general questions about yourself and a range of familiar topics, such
as your home, family, work, studies and interests. This part lasts between four and five minutes.

Part 2
You will be given a card that asks you to talk about a particular topic. You will have one minute
to prepare before speaking for up to two minutes. The examiner then asks you one or two
questions on the same topic to finish this part of the test.

Part 3
You will be asked further questions connected to the topic in Part 2. These questions give you an
opportunity to discuss more abstract issues and ideas. This part lasts between four and five
minutes.
The Speaking component is delivered in such a way that does not allow you to rehearse set
responses beforehand.
https://www.ielts.org/about-the-test/sample-test-questions

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