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IELTS Syllabus
IELTS Test Topics
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IELTS
International English Language
Testing System
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What is the test structure?
IELTS tests the candidates in areas of Listening, Writing, Reading and
speaking.
IELTS
Listening:
This is a test of listening comprehension in the context of general
language proficiency. The test is in four sections. The first two sections
are concerned with social needs, while the last two are concerned with
situations more closely related to educational or training contexts. Texts
include both monologues and dialogues between two or three people, and are
heard once only. A variety of question types are used for the forty items,
including multiple choice, short-answer questions, notes/summary/flow chart
completion, sentence completion, labelling a diagram and matching.
IELTS Speaking: The Speaking module is a structured interview with
an emphasis on general speaking skills. It assesses whether candidates have
the necessary knowledge and skills to communicate effectively with native
speakers of English.
IELTS Reading: Candidates take either the Academic or the General
Training Reading module. The Academic Reading module consists of texts of
general interest dealing with issues which are appropriate for, and
accessible to, candidates entering postgraduate or undergraduate courses.
The texts of the General Training Reading module draw on social and
training contexts or deal with general interest topics.
Both Reading modules consist of three passages or sections with forty
questions. Question types include multiple choice, sentence or summary
completion, identifying data for short-answer questions, matching lists or phrases
and identifying writers’
views/attitudes.
IELTS Writing: Candidates take either the Academic or the General
Training Writing module. Appropriate responses for the Academic Writing
module are short essays or general reports, addressed to tutors or to an
educated non-specialist audience. The General Training Writing module
requires candidates to write personal semi-formal or formal correspondence,
or to write on a given topic as part of a simulated class assignment.
There are two compulsory tasks. Task 1 requires at least 150 words and Task
2, the more heavily weighted, requires at least 250 words. In Task 1,
Academic Writing module candidates are asked to look at a diagram, table or
data and to present the information in their own words. Candidates taking
the General Training Writing module are asked to respond to a given problem
with a letter in Task 1. In Task 2, all candidates are presented with a
point of view, argument or problem and asked to provide general factual
information, outline and/or present a solution, justify an opinion, and
evaluate ideas and evidence.
What kind of accents can be heard in the Listening and Speaking tests?
As IELTS is an international test, a variety of English accents are
used in both of these examinations.
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IELTS Academic Module
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Sections
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No of questions
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Section Time
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Listening
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4 Sections, 40 Items
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30 minutes (20 minutes to
listen to a tape and to answer questions on what you hear, and 10 minutes
to transfer your answers to Answer Sheet.)
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Academic Reading
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3 sections, 40 items
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60 minutes (your task is to read passages of text and answer
questions according to what you have read. There are also other types of
assignments )
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Academic Writing
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2 tasks (150 & 250 words)
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60 minutes (20 minutes to write a letter and 40 minutes to
write an essay.)
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Speaking
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11 to 14 minutes (consists of 3 parts: Personal Interview,
Little Speech and a Discussion.)
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Total :
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2 hrs and 45 minutes
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Note: All the
parts continue one after another, and only before Speaking you get a
little break.
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IELTS General Training
Module
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Sections
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No of questions
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Section Time
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Listening
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4 Sections, 40 Items
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30 minutes (20 minutes to
listen to a tape and to answer questions on what you hear, and 10 minutes
to transfer your answers to Answer Sheet.)
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General Training Reading
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3 sections, 40 items
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60 minutes (your task is to read passages of text and answer
questions according to what you have read. There are also other types of
assignments )
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General Training Writing
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2 tasks (150 & 250 words)
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60 minutes (20 minutes to write a letter and 40 minutes to
write an essay.)
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Speaking
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-
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11 to 14 minutes (consists of 3 parts: Personal Interview,
Little Speech and a Discussion.)
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Total :
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2 hrs and 45 minutes
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Note: All the
parts continue one after another, and only before Speaking you get a
little break.
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All
candidates take the same Listening and Speaking Modules. There is an option
of either Academic or General Training Reading and Writing Modules.
Academic is suitable for candidates planning to undertake higher education
study. General Training is suitable for candidates planning to undertake
non-academic training or work experience, or for immigration purposes.
§ You have to
complete the Listening, Reading & Writing Sections in one day. You may
take the Speaking Section seven days before or after the other three
sections (at the discretion of the test center).
§ The Listening,
Reading and Writing tests are administered during the morning. Speaking
interviews are scheduled during the afternoon if conducted on the same day.
§ The venue for
the speaking section may differ from that of the other three modules.
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