The IELTS test format, section by section
Four skills, one score. Here's exactly what each part looks like — how long it lasts, how many questions, and what you'll be asked to do — so nothing on test day is a surprise.
- Listening
≈ 30 min - Reading
60 min - Writing
60 min - Speaking
11–14 min · same day or within 7 days
The format at a glance
You sit Listening, Reading and Writing back-to-back on the same day with no breaks, in that order. The Speaking test is a separate face-to-face (or video-call) interview, held the same day or up to seven days before or after.
| Section | Time | Questions / Tasks | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | ≈ 30 min (+10 min transfer, paper) | 40 questions | Answer questions on 4 recordings |
| Reading | 60 min | 40 questions | Read 3 passages and answer |
| Writing | 60 min | 2 tasks | A report/letter + an essay |
| Speaking | 11–14 min | 3 parts | Talk with an examiner |
Total time for Listening + Reading + Writing is about 2 hours 45 minutes. Listening and Speaking are identical for Academic and General Training — only Reading and Writing change. See the differences →
🎧 Listening
You listen to four recordings of native English speakers and answer 40 questions. The recordings are played once only and get gradually harder.
The 4 recordings
- 1 — A conversation in an everyday social setting
- 2 — A monologue on an everyday topic (e.g. local facilities)
- 3 — A conversation of up to four people in an education/training context
- 4 — A monologue on an academic subject (e.g. a lecture)
Common question types
- Multiple choice
- Matching
- Plan, map or diagram labelling
- Form, note, table, flow-chart or summary completion
- Sentence completion
On paper you get 10 extra minutes to copy answers to the answer sheet; on computer there's no transfer time, just a short review. Watch your spelling — wrong spelling loses the mark.
📖 Reading
Three long passages, 40 questions, 60 minutes — and that includes transferring your answers, so there's no extra time. The texts differ by test type:
📘 Academic Reading
Three longer texts from books, journals, magazines and newspapers — descriptive through to analytical, for a non-specialist but university-ready audience.
📗 General Training Reading
Everyday texts: notices, adverts, company handbooks and guidelines, plus longer magazine/newspaper pieces you'd meet in daily life and at work.
Question types include: matching headings, true / false / not given, sentence and summary completion, short answers, and multiple choice.
Roughly 20 minutes per passage. Skim first for the gist, then scan for the exact words the question is testing — don't read every line.
✍️ Writing
Two tasks in 60 minutes. Task 2 is worth twice the marks, so spend ~20 minutes on Task 1 and ~40 on Task 2.
| Task 1 | Task 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Academic | Describe a graph, table, chart, diagram or process (≥150 words) | Write an essay responding to an argument, problem or point of view (≥250 words) |
| General | Write a letter — personal, semi-formal or formal (≥150 words) |
Both tasks are marked on four equally-weighted criteria: Task Achievement/Response, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range & Accuracy. See full Writing guides →
Write at least the minimum word count — going under is penalised. Leave 5 minutes to check grammar and spelling.
🗣️ Speaking
An 11–14 minute recorded conversation with a certified examiner, in three parts. It's the same for Academic and General Training.
Part 1 — Introduction & interview (4–5 min)
Familiar topics: home, family, work, studies, hobbies. Designed to help you relax.
Part 2 — The long turn (3–4 min)
You get a cue card, 1 minute to prepare, then speak for 1–2 minutes, followed by a question or two.
Part 3 — Discussion (4–5 min)
Deeper, more abstract questions linked to the Part 2 topic — your chance to explain and justify opinions.
Marked on four criteria: Fluency & Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range & Accuracy, and Pronunciation. See speaking topics & answers →
Where to go next
Frequently asked questions
How long is the IELTS test?
What order are the sections taken in?
Is Listening the same for Academic and General Training?
How many questions are there?
Know the format? Now aim for a score.
See exactly how the band scale works and what your target should be.
Format, timings and task details are based on official British Council IELTS information. Computer-delivered timing can differ slightly from paper. Always confirm details with your test centre.