IELTS Test Format, Timing, And Scoring
A complete guide for IELTS Test Format, Timing, And Scoring is given below:
IELTS Test Types
IELTS has two types: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. Both tests assess your English language skills in listening, reading, writing, and speaking. All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking tests but Reading and Writing tests are different according to whether a candidate is taking the Academic or General Training module.
- Academic IELTS: For candidates wishing to study at undergraduate or postgraduate levels, and for those seeking professional registration.
- General Training IELTS: For candidates wishing to migrate to an English-speaking country (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK), and for those wishing to train or study at below degree level.
Ways to take IELTS
You can choose to take IELTS on a computer or paper for both the General Training and Academic tests.
The test format, question types, time allocated to each test part and content is the same for both IELTS on computer and IELTS on paper test. The only difference is in your test day experience.
If you choose to complete your IELTS test on a computer, you will do the Reading, Listening, and Writing parts of the test using a computer. The IELTS Speaking test remains the same, with a face-to-face interview with an examiner. The Speaking test will be completed either just before, or just after the Reading, Listening, and Writing test.
If you take IELTS on paper, you will complete the Reading, Listening and Writing parts on paper. The Speaking test is completed in a face-to-face interview with an IELTS examiner, and this can be done one week before or after your test date. In the IELTS on paper test, the Writing, Reading, and Listening tests are all completed on the same day with no breaks between each test.
We'll share some free sample questions to help you decide whether you want to take IELTS on paper or computer. But first, let's take a quick look at the difference between IELTS on paper and IELTS on computer.
Try these free sample questions and get a feel for what it's like to take IELTS on a computer and paper
https://ielts.idp.com/about/article-computer-delivered-paper-based-ielts-comparison
IELTS Test Format
IELTS consists of four sections:
- Listening
- Reading
- Writing
- Speaking
All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking tests but different Reading and Writing tests according to whether a candidate is taking the Academic IELTS or General Training IELTS.
Listening:
This test consists of four sections, each with ten questions. The first two sections are concerned with social needs. The first section is a conversation between two speakers and the second section is a monologue. The final two sections are concerned with situations related to educational or training contexts. The third section is a conversation between up to four people and the fourth section is a monologue.
Å variety of question types is used, including multiple choice, matching, pianímapi diagram labeling, form completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, summary completion, sentence completion, and short-answer questions.
Candidates hear the recording once only and answer the questions as they listen. Ten minutes are allowed at the end for candidates to transfer their answers to the answer sheet.
Academic Reading:
This test consists of three sections with 40 questions. There are three texts, which are taken from journals, books, magazines and newspapers. The texts are on topics of general interest. At least one text contains a detailed logical argument.
A variety of question types is used, including: multiple choice, identifying information (Truel 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, and short-answer questions.
General Training Reading:
This test consists of three sections with 40 questions. The texts are taken from notices, advertisements, leaflets, newspapers, instruction manuals, books and magazines. The first section contains texts relevant to basic linguistic survival in English, with tasks mainly concerned with providing factual information. The second section focuses on the work context and involves texts of more complex language. The third section involves reading more extended texts, with a more complex structure, but with the emphasis on descriptive
and instructive rather than argumentative texts.
A variety of question types is used, including: multiple choice, identifying information (Truel 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.
Academic Writing:
This test consists of two tasks. It is suggested that candidates spend about 20 minutes on Task 1, which requires them to write at least 150 words, and 40 minutes on Task 2, which requires them to write at least 250 words. Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score.
Task 1 requires candidates to look at a diagram or some data (graph, table or chart) and to present the information in their own words. They are assessed on their ability to organise, present and possibly compare data, describe the stages of a process, describe an object or event, or explain how something works.
In Task 2 candidates are presented with a point of view, argument or problem. They are assessed on their ability to present a solution to the problem, present and justify an opinion, compare and contrast evidence and opinions, and evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence or arguments.
Candidates are also assessed on their ability to write in an appropriate style.
General Training Writing:
This test consists of two tasks. It is suggested that candidates spend about 20 minutes on Task 1, which requires them to write at least 150 words, and 40 minutes on Task 2, which requires them to write at least 250 words. Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score.
In Task 1 candidates are asked to respond to a given situation with a letter requesting information or explaining the situation. They are assessed on their ability to engage in personal correspondence, elicit and provide general factual information, express needs, wants likes and dislikes, express opinions, complaints, etc.
In Task 2 candidates are presented with a point of view, argument or problem. They are assessed on their ability to provide general factual information, outline a problem and present a solution, present and justify an opinion, and evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence or arguments.
Candidates are also assessed on their ability to write in an appropriate style.
More information on assessing both the Academic and General Training Writing tests, including Writing Band Descriptors (public version), is available on the IELTS website.
Speaking:
This test takes between 11 and 14 minutes and is conducted by a trained examiner. There are three parts:
Part 1: The candidate and the examiner introduce themselves. Candidates then answer general questions about themselves, their home/family, their job/studies, their interests and a wide range of similar familiar topic areas. This part lasts between four and five minutes.
Part 2: The candidate is given a task card with prompts and is asked to talk on a particular topic. The candidate has one minute to prepare and they can make some notes if they wish, before speaking for between one and two minutes. The examiner then asks one or two questions on the same topic.
Part 3: The examiner and the candidate engage in a discussion of more abstract issues which are thematically linked to the topic in Part 2. The discussion lasts between four and five minutes.
The Speaking test assesses whether candidates can communicate effectively in English. The assessment takes into account Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical
Introduction
Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation. More information on assessing the Speaking test, including Speaking Band Descriptors (public version), is available on the IELTS website.
IELTS Test Timing
IELTS Test Score
IELTS results are reported on a nine-band scale. In addition to the score for overall language ability, IELTS provides a score in the form of a profile for each of the four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking). These scores are also reported on a nine-band scale. All scores are recorded on the Test Report Form along with details of the candidate's nationality, first language and date of birth. Each Overall Band Score corresponds to a descriptive statement that gives a summary of the English language ability of a candidate classified at that level.
How Band Scores are calculated
Listening and Reading: These sections of the IELTS test are scored out of 40 and then converted to a band score which ranges from band 1 to band 9. The Listening and Reading tests contain 40 questions and each correct question will be awarded 1 mark (so the maximum a test taker can score here is 40). Band scores, ranging from band 1 to band 9, are awarded based on the raw scores using the following chart.
Writing and Speaking: It is not possible for you to give yourself a mark for the Writing and speaking tasks. The writing and speaking sections are tricky because in the reading and listening sections you are marked on the bases of correct answers out of 40. In this section, you will be marked on 4 major aspects,
A. Task achievement: this assesses how properly and accurately you have understood the topic and responded to the given task. Don't go far off the topic as such sentences will be considered "out of the world" count and will be ignored no matter how good they are.
B. Coherence and cohesion: this assesses the overall fluency and clarity of your answers. How well do you stick to the theme and how coherently you can connect the sentences to the context?
C. Lexical resourse: this checks your vocabulary range and how accurately you can use those words in the given context without looking to showy.
D. Grammatical range and accuracy: this refers to the range of your grammar and how well you can use compound and complex structures while maintaining the theme of the context.
Note that the first 2 sections namely listening and reading carry absolute marks, which means you have 40, 40 questions to attempt in both and there is a scale that converts those marks (out of 40) into bands (out of 9). These scale charts are available below. Your best bet is to score very well in these two since the writing and speaking test scores depend on how much the examiners are impressed with your attempt (honestly). For listening and reading, do as much practice as you can.
Band Score Description
The nine bands and their descriptive statements are as follows:
- Band score-9 (Expert User) - Has fully operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding.
- Band score-8 (Very Good User) - Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriate. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well.
- Band score-7 (Good User) - Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriate and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning.
- Band score-6 (Competent User) – Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriate and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.
- Band score-5 (Modest User) - Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in moșt situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field.
- Band score-4 (Limited User) - Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language.
- Band score-3 (Extremely Limited User) - Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication occur.
- Band score-2 (Intermittent User) - No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English.
- Band score-1 (Non User) - Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words.
- Band score-0 Did not attempt the test – No assessable information was provided.
Section Band score vs Overall Band score
Your performance in the real IELTS test will be reported in two ways: there will be a Band Score from 1 to 9 for each of the sections (Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listing) and an Overall Band Score from 1 to 9, which is the average of your scores in the four components. However, institutions considering your application are advised to look at both the Overall Band Score and the Bands for each component in order to determine whether you have the language skills needed for a particular course of study. For example, if your course has a lot of reading and writing, but no lectures, listening skills might be less important and a score of 5 in Listening might be acceptable if the Overall Band Score was 7. However, for a course that has lots of lectures and spoken instructions, a score of 5 in Listening might be unacceptable even though the Overall Band Score was 7. Most universities and colleges in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA accept an IELTS Overall Band Score of 6.0 - 7.0 for entry to academic programs.
Once you have marked your tests you should have some idea of whether your listening and reading skills are good enough for you to try the IELTS test. If you did well enough in one component but not in others, you will have to decide for yourself whether you are ready to take the test.
The Practice Tests have been checked to ensure that they are of approximately the same level of difficulty as the real IELTS test. However, we cannot guarantee that your score in the Practice Tests will be reflected in the real IELTS test. The Practice Tests can only give you an idea of your possible future performance and it is ultimately up to you to make decisions based on your score.
