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IELTS Exam Format
11:08 PM
IELTS
Take the time to understand the IELTS test format. There
are two versions of the test: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. Both
are graded in exactly the same way.
You will take the Speaking test either on the same day, or 7 days before or after that, depending on local arrangements.
A range of native-speaker accents (North American, Australian, New Zealand and British) is used in the Listening test, and all standard varieties of English are accepted in responses in all parts of the test.
Don't lose your confidence on the test day. Everything will be the same as you expected earlier.
The Test Format
There are four sub-tests, or modules, to the IELTS test: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. Students must sit all four sub-tests. While all students take the same Listening and Speaking tests, they sit different Reading and Writing tests, depending on whether they have selected the Academic IELTS test or the General Training IELTS test.
On the day of the test, the four subsections will be taken in the following order
Total
Test Time
2 hours 45 minutes
The Speaking test may even
take place a day or two later at some centres.2 hours 45 minutes
IELTS listening test lasts for about 30 minutes. It consists of four sections, played on cassette tape, in order of increasing difficulty. Each section might be a dialogue or a monologue. The test is played once only, and the questions for each section must be answered while listening, although time is given for students to check their answers.
IELTS Reading test lasts for 60 minutes. Students are given an Academic Reading test, or a General Training Reading test. Both tests consist of three sections, and in both tests the sections are in order of increasing difficulty.
IELTS Writing test also lasts for 60 minutes. Again, students take either an Academic test, or a General Training test. Students must perform two writing tasks, which require different styles of writing. There is no choice of question topics.
IELTS Speaking test consists of a one-to-one interview with a specially trained examiner. The examiner will lead the candidate through the three parts of the test:
An introduction and interview, an individual long turn where the candidate speaks for one or two minutes on a particular topic, and a two-way discussion thematically linked to the individual long turn. This interview will last for approximately 11-14 minutes.
IELTS Scores
10:58 PM
IELTS
IELTS
scores
You can’t fail IELTS - the test
assesses all levels of English
The
IELTS 9-band scale
You will be given a score from 1 to
9 for each part of the test – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
The average produces your overall band score. You can score whole (e.g., 5.0,
6.0, 7.0) or half (e.g., 5.5., 6.5, 7.5) bands in each part of the test.
Band score
|
Skill level
|
Description
|
||
Band 9
|
Expert user
|
You have a full operational
command of the language. Your use of English is appropriate, accurate and
fluent, and you show complete understanding.
|
||
Band 8
|
Very good user
|
You have a fully operational
command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and
inappropriate usage. You may misunderstand some things in unfamiliar
situations. You handle complex detailed argumentation well.
|
||
Band 7
|
Good user
|
You have an operational command of
the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriate usage and
misunderstandings in some situations. Generally you handle complex language
well and understand detailed reasoning.
|
||
Band 6
|
Competent user
|
Generally you have an effective
command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriate usage and
misunderstandings. You can use and understand fairly complex language,
particularly in familiar situations.
|
||
Band 5
|
Modest user
|
You have a partial command of the
language, and cope with overall meaning in most situations, although you are
likely to make many mistakes. You should be able to handle basic
communication in your own field.
|
||
Band 4
|
Limited user
|
Your basic competence is limited
to familiar situations. You frequently show problems in understanding and
expression. You are not able to use complex language.
|
||
Band 3
|
Extremely limited user
|
You convey and understand only
general meaning in very familiar situations. There are frequent breakdowns in
communication.
|
||
Band 2
|
Intermittent user
|
You have great difficulty
understanding spoken and written English.
|
||
Band 1
|
Non-user
|
You have no ability to use the
language except a few isolated words.
|
||
Band 0
|
Did not attempt the test
|
You did not answer the questions.
|
||
IELTS Score Calculator
LISTENING
TEST ACADEMIC READING TEST GENERAL READING TEST
Number of correct answers
|
Approximate IELTS score
|
Number of correct answers
|
Approximate IELTS score
|
Number of correct answers
|
Approximate IELTS score
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
2.5
|
3
|
2.5
|
4
|
2.5
|
4-6
|
3
|
4-6
|
3
|
5
|
3
|
7-9
|
3.5
|
7-9
|
3.5
|
9
|
3.5
|
10-13
|
4
|
10-12
|
4
|
12
|
4
|
14-16
|
4.5
|
13-15
|
4.5
|
15
|
4.5
|
17-20
|
5
|
16-19
|
5
|
18
|
5
|
21-24
|
5.5
|
20-22
|
5.5
|
21
|
5.5
|
25-28
|
6
|
23-25
|
6
|
26
|
6
|
29-32
|
6.5
|
26-28
|
6.5
|
31
|
6.5
|
33-35
|
7
|
29-32
|
7
|
35
|
7
|
36-37
|
7.5
|
33-35
|
7.5
|
37
|
7.5
|
38
|
8
|
36-37
|
8
|
38
|
8
|
39
|
8.5
|
38
|
8.5
|
39
|
8.5
|
40
|
9
|
40
|
9
|
40
|
9
|
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