IELTS Practice Exam

IELTS Exam

IELTS Exam Structure

IELTS exam has been designed in the following pattern

• Listening: 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes' transfer time)
• Reading: 60 minutes
• Writing: 60 minutes
• Speaking: 11–14 minutes
  

Total time is: 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Listening, Reading and Writing are completed in one sitting. But the Speaking test can be taken either on the same day or up to seven days before or after the other tests.

Note: All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking tests, but the Reading and Writing tests differ depending on whether the test taker is taking the Academic or General Training versions of the test.

Let us discuss each of the sections in detail

LISTENING TEST

The listening test consists of four sections, with 10 questions in each section. Total time given 40 minutes where 30 mins is given for testing, and 10 mins for transferring the answers to an answer sheet.

• Sections 1 – It is about everyday, social situations. Section 1 has a conversation between two speakers like a discussion.
  
• Sections 2 – It is about everyday, social situations. Section 2 has one person speaking like, a speech.
• Sections 3 – It is about educational and training situations. Section 3 is a conversation between two main speakers like a discussion between two university students, entored by a tutor
• Sections 4 – It is about educational and training situations. Primarily Section 4 has one person speaking about an academic subject.

Every section starts with a short introduction describing about the situation and the speakers. Such that the candidates are given some time to look through the questions. Note - The first three sections have a break in the middle allowing test takers to look at the remaining questions. Each section is heard only once.

In the end candidates are given 10 minutes to transfer their answers to an answer sheet such that marks are deducted for incorrect spelling and grammar.

READING TEST

Reading test has three sections and texts totalling 2,150-2,750 words. In the reading section there are a variety of question such as MCQ, short-answer questions, identifying information, identifying writer’s views, diagrams labelling, summary completion using words taken from the text and matching information/headings/features in the text/sentence endings. Candidates must be careful while writing answers as marks ar deducted for incorrect spelling and grammar.

Texts in IELTS Academic

There are 3 reading texts, which might come from books, journals, magazines, newspapers and online resources written for non-specialist audiences. Such that all the topics are of general interest to students at undergraduate or postgraduate level.

Texts in IELTS General Training

• Section 1 has 2-3 short texts or several shorter texts, that deal with everyday topics. Like, timetables or notices – things a person would need to understand when living in an English-speaking country.
  
• Section 2 has two texts, that deal with work. For instance, job descriptions, contracts, training materials.
• Section 3 consist of one long text about a topic of general interest. In general, the text is descriptive, longer and more complex than the texts in Sections 1 and 2. Note, the text will be taken from a newspaper, magazine, book or online resource.

WRITING TEST

Writing test primarily has two tasks that must both be completed.

• Task 1: Candidates write at least 150 words in about 20 minutes.
  
• Task 2: Candidates write at least 250 words in about 40 minutes.

Note: The candidates taking the test will be penalised if their answer is too short or does not relate to the topic. The answers should be written in full sentences and are not allowed to use notes or bullet points.

For IELTS Academic

• Task 1: Candidates are required to describe a graph, table, chart or diagram in their own words.
• Task 2: Candidates discuss a point of view, argument or problem. Based on the task, candidates would be required to present a solution to a problem, present and justify an opinion, compare and contrast evidence, opinions and implications, and evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence or an argument.

For IELTS General Training

• Task 1: Candidates write a letter in response to a given everyday situation. For instance, writing to a new employer about problems managing time, writing to a local newspaper about a plan to develop a local airport.
  
• Task 2: Candidates write an essay about a topic of general interests. For instance, whether smoking should be banned in public places, how environmental problems can be resolved.

SPEAKING TEST

Speaking test is a face-to-face interview between the examinee and an examiner.

Speaking test primarily contains three sections namely -

• Section 1: Introduction and interview (usually 4–5 minutes). Candidates might be asked about their home, family, work, studies, hobbies, interests, and the reasons for taking IELTS exam. Examiner may also discuss other general topics such as clothing, changing time, computers and the internet.
• Section 2: This section contains long turn (usually 3–4 minutes). Candidates are given a task card about a particular topic where they will be given 1 minute to prepare to talk about the topic. The task card would provide the points to be covered and one aspect of the topic which must be explained during the talk session. Candidates are then expected to talk about the topic for 2 minutes, post which the examiner might ask few questions.
• Section 3: Focuses on discussion (usually 4–5 minutes). In this section there will be a discussion between the examiner and the candidate, mostly on questions relating to the theme which they have already spoken about in the previous section.

IELTS Scoring

Candidates are scored for each test module – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Individual scores are then averaged and rounded to produce an Overall Band Score. There is a band scale defined with no Pass or Fail status. IELTS is scored on a nine-band scale, such that each band corresponds to specific level of competence in English. Overall Band Scores are reported to the nearest half band.

For Example - If the average across the four skills ends in (.25), it is rounded up to the next half band, but in case it ends in (.75), then it is rounded up to the next whole band.

IELTS Bands

IELTS Results

The test report form is posted to test takers after 13 days which displays -

• Overall Band Score (from 1-9)
  
• Band score (from 1-9) for each section of the test (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking)
• IELTS Academic or General Training was completed
• Candidates photo, nationality, first language and date of birth.

Candidates receive one copy of their Test Report Form, apart from test takers applying to the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) or UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) who receive two copies.

NOTE - Test Report Forms are valid for two years.

IELTS Test Dates and Centrers

Candidates can take IELTS in more than 140 countries and in over 1,200 locations.

IELTS provide 48 test dates per year. Each test centre offers tests up to 4 times a month depending on local demand. IELTS Academic version is available on all 48 dates per year and the General Training version is available on 24 dates.

At present there is no limit for applicants to retake the test.

Conversion Table

Band Score	9.0	8.5	8.0	7.5	7.0	6.5	6.0	5.5	5.0	4.5	4.0	3.5	3.0	2.5
Listening raw score (Academic and General Training)	39–40	37–38	35–36	32–34	30–31	26–29	23–25	18–22	16–17	13–15	10–12	8–9	6–7	4–5
Reading raw score (Academic)	39–40	37–38	35–36	33–34	30–32	27–29	23–26	19–22	15–18	13–14	10–12	8–9	6–7	4–5
Reading raw score (General Training)	40	39	37–38	36	34–35	32–33	30–31	27–29	23–26	19–22	15–18	12–14	9–11	6–8

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