The test has four parts covering all four language skills:
- Listening (30 minutes)
- Reading (60 minutes)
- Writing (60 minutes)
- Speaking (11 – 14 minutes)
The total test time is 2 hours and 45 minutes.
The first three parts are completed in one day, while the speaking part may be take in the period of seven days before or after the other parts.
All candidates are given a report on their English language ability which gives them a band score according to a scale of 0 to 9 – from Non User to Expert User. The report contains five scores, one for each of the modules and an overall score. The report is normally valid for two years.
The chart below illustrates how the IELTS band scores compare with the Common European Framework (CEF) levels and other University of Cambridge ESOL exams:
IELTS
band score |
Corresponding
CEF level |
Corresponding
Cambridge exam |
| 7.5+ |
C2 |
CPE |
| 6.5 / 7.0 |
C1 |
CAE |
| 5.0 / 5.5 / 6.0 |
B2 |
FCE |
| 3.5 / 4.0 / 4.5 |
B1 |
PET |
| 3.0 |
A2 |
KET |
* Please note that the IELTS scores referred to in the table are the overall scores and not the individual module scores
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