IELTS Examination
The IELTS exam has four parts that test your language abilities. Each part is timed individually. In total all four parts take 2-hours and 45-minutes to complete.

Listening
4 sections, 40 items
Time: 30 minutes

Candidates listen to a number of recorded texts, which increase in difficulty as the test progresses. These include a mixture of conversations and dialogues and feature a variety of English accents and dialects. The recording is heard only once, but candidates are given time to read the questions and record their answers.

Academic Reading
3 sections, 40 items
Time: 60 minutes

There are three reading passages with tasks. Texts are taken from books, magazines, journals and newspapers, all written for a non-specialist audience. At least one of the texts contains a detailed argument.

Academic Writing
2 tasks (150 & 250 words)
Time: 60 minutes

For the first task, candidates write a report of around 150 words based on material found in a table or diagram, demonstrating their ability to describe and explain data. For the second task candidates write a short essay of around 250 words in response to an opinion or a problem. They are expected to demonstrate an ability to discuss issues, construct an argument and use the appropriate tone and register.

Speaking
3 sections
Time: 11-14 minutes

The speaking section is divided into 3 parts:

Part 1: Introduction & Interview
The examiner introduces him/herself and confirms your identity. The examiner interviews you using verbal questions based on familiar topic frames.

Time: 4-5 minutes

Part 2: Individual Long Run
The examiner asks you to speak for 1-2 minutes about a topic based on written input in the form of a general instruction and content-focused prompts. The examiner asks one or two questions at the end of the long turn.

Time: 3-4 minutes (includes 1 minute preparation time)

Part 3: Two-way Discussion
Examiner invites candidate to participate in discussion of more abstract nature, based on verbal questions thematically linked to Part 2 prompt.

Time: 4-5 minutes