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IELTS is available in two modules: Academic and General Training.
For Study Purpose – Academic Module
Choose Academic, if you plan to undertake further or higher education study abroad.
Assess whether a candidate is ready to study or train in the medium of English at an undergraduate or postgraduate level. Admission to undergraduate and postgraduate courses should be based on the results of these modules.
For Work or Immigration Purpose – General Training Module
Choose General Training, if you plan to complete secondary study, receive non-academic training, work or immigrate to English speaking countries.
Emphasise basic survival skills in a broad social and educational context. General Training modules are not designed to test the full range of formal language skills required for academic purposes.
Candidates are tested in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking Modules. There is a choice between Academic and General Training in the Reading and Writing Modules.
Listening
Time: 40 minutes
•Candidates listen to a number of recorded texts, which increase in difficulty as the test progresses.
•These include a mixture of monologues and conversations 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
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.
General Training Reading
Time: 60 minutes
•The texts are based on the type of material candidates would be expected to encounter on a daily basis in an English speaking country.
•The texts are taken from sources such as newspapers, advertisements, instruction manuals and books, and test the candidate’s ability to understand and use information.
•The test includes one longer text, which is descriptive rather than argumentative.
Academic Writing
Time: 60 minutes
•For the first task, candidates write a report of at least 150 words based on information illustrated in a table or diagram, demonstrating their ability to describe and explain data.
•For the second task, candidates write a short essay of at least 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.
General Training Writing
Time: 60 minutes
•The first task requires candidates to write either a formal or informal letter of at least 150 words to ask for information or explain a situation.
•The second task is a short essay of at least 250 words, and is written in response to a given point of view or problem. Candidates are expected to be able to present their own ideas and challenge other ideas, using appropriate tone and register.
Speaking
Time: 11 – 14 minutes
•The test takes the form of a face to face interview.
•Candidates have to show their ability to respond to questions; to speak at length on a familiar topic; and interaction with the examiner.
•Candidates are assessed on their Vocabulary, Grammar, Fluency, Pronunciation.
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