Academic
Reading uses extended texts for an academic audience. Writing Task 1 describes visual information; Task 2 is an essay.
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IELTS Test Format & Scoring: Complete Guide
Compare IELTS Academic and General Training, understand all four skills and band scores, calculate your overall band and choose useful practice for your next step.
By Master English Australia · Score references checked 1 October 2026
What is the IELTS test format?
IELTS assesses Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking in about 2 hours 45 minutes. Academic and General Training share Listening and Speaking; Reading and Writing differ. Your result includes four skill bands and an overall band.
Listening
About 30 minutes
4 parts · 40 questions
Reading
60 minutes
3 sections · 40 questions
Writing
60 minutes
2 tasks
Speaking
11–14 minutes
3 parts with an examiner
Check your booking for arrival time and Speaking arrangements. Listening, Reading and Writing are normally taken together without a break.
Showing both versions. Listening and Speaking are the same in both versions.
Academic or General Training?
Confirm the accepted version with the organisation receiving your score. Academic commonly supports higher education and professional registration; General Training commonly supports migration and other work or study purposes.
General Training
Reading progresses from everyday texts to workplace material and a longer general-interest text. Writing Task 1 is a letter; Task 2 is an essay.
IELTS Listening: 4 parts, 40 questions
Listen once to four recordings and answer as you listen. Each part has ten questions. Accents can vary, so practise understanding different speakers rather than learning one accent only.
| Part | Speakers | What you hear | Practice focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Two people | A conversation in an everyday social setting, for example a phone call about accommodation or a booking | Names, numbers, dates and precise details |
| 2 | One person | A monologue in an everyday social setting, such as a talk about local facilities | Directions, descriptions and following a talk |
| 3 | Up to four people | A discussion in an education or training setting, such as students planning a project | Speakers’ views, decisions and reasons |
| 4 | One person | An academic monologue, such as a university lecture | Main ideas, signposting and supporting detail |
Part 1 is not always a telephone conversation. The key feature is two speakers discussing an everyday situation. Check IDP IELTS Australia’s Listening format and practice questions.
Listening question types
- Multiple choice
- Matching
- Plan, map and diagram labelling
- Form, note, table, flow-chart and summary completion
- Sentence completion
- Short-answer questions
Read every word limit. Check spelling, plural endings and whether the gap requires a number or a word. On computer, type into the answer fields; do not assume paper-test transfer time applies.
IELTS Reading: 60 minutes, 40 questions
Academic Reading
Three sections use extended texts from sources such as books, journals, magazines and newspapers. Follow an argument, identify detail and understand the writer’s position.
General Training Reading
Three sections move through everyday information, work-related texts and a longer general-interest passage. You need both quick information-finding and careful comprehension.
Reading question types
- Multiple choice
- True / False / Not Given (information)
- Yes / No / Not Given (views or claims)
- Matching information, headings, features or sentence endings
- Sentence completion
- Summary, note, table and flow-chart completion
- Diagram label completion
- Short-answer questions
There is no extra Reading answer-transfer time. Manage all 40 answers within the 60 minutes. For True/False/Not Given, distinguish a contradiction from information the text simply does not supply.
IELTS Writing: two tasks in 60 minutes
Complete both tasks. Aim to spend about 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 minutes on Task 2. Task 2 contributes twice as much to the Writing score.
Academic Task 1 · at least 150 words
Describe and summarise visual information. Useful practice groups include line graphs, bar charts, pie charts, tables, combined visuals, processes and maps or plans.
Select the main features, give a clear overview and support it with relevant detail. Do not invent causes that the visual does not provide.
Question types and Task 1 language bank →General Training Task 1 · at least 150 words
Write a letter covering the requested points. Choose a formal, semi-formal or informal style to suit the reader and your relationship.
Make the purpose clear and develop each bullet point. A friendly letter and a formal complaint need different language.
Practise General Training letters →Task 2 · at least 250 words · both versions
Write a relevant, developed essay responding to the exact question. Teaching categories include opinion, discussion, advantages/disadvantages, problems/solutions and two-part questions. These labels help preparation; the actual instruction determines your answer.
A useful plan is an introduction, developed body paragraphs and a conclusion. There is no official fixed paragraph count. Explain and support your points instead of listing ideas.
The four Writing criteria
Each criterion has equal weight within each task. Task 1 uses Task Achievement; Task 2 uses Task Response.
| Criterion | What to check in your work |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response · 25% | Have I covered the task fully, selected relevant content and developed it appropriately? |
| Coherence and Cohesion · 25% | Can the reader follow the organisation and connections between my ideas? |
| Lexical Resource · 25% | Are my words precise, appropriate and used naturally? |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy · 25% | Can I use different sentence patterns accurately, with clear punctuation? |
Academic Task 1 band guide + PDFGeneral Training Task 1 band guide + PDFTask 2 band guide + PDFOfficial Writing descriptors — IDP IELTS Australia
Get help identifying what is holding your Writing score back →IELTS Speaking: 11–14 minutes with an examiner
The three parts
- Part 1 — Introduction and interview · 4–5 minutes: answer questions about familiar topics.
- Part 2 — Individual long turn · 3–4 minutes: prepare for one minute, then speak for up to two minutes using a task card, with brief follow-up questions.
- Part 3 — Two-way discussion · 4–5 minutes: discuss related ideas in more depth.
Four equally weighted criteria
- Fluency and Coherence: keep ideas moving and connected.
- Lexical Resource: choose useful, accurate vocabulary.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: use varied sentence patterns with control.
- Pronunciation: make your speech understandable.
You do not need to imitate a British or Australian accent.
Listening and Reading: marks out of 40 to bands
Each correct answer earns one mark. Listening and Reading each have 40 questions.
The table includes every whole and half band from 4 to 9 published in the linked IDP converters.
Use these ranges as a practice guide—not a guaranteed result. The boundaries can vary between test versions.
| Band | Listening /40 | Academic Reading /40 | General Training Reading /40 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 39–40 | 39–40 | 40 |
| 8.5 | 37–38 | 37–38 | 39 |
| 8 | 35–36 | 35–36 | 37–38 |
| 7.5 | 32–34 | 32–34 | 36 |
| 7 | 30–31 | 30–31 | 34–35 |
| 6.5 | 26–29 | 26–29 | 32–33 |
| 6 | 23–25 | 23–25 | 30–31 |
| 5.5 | 18–22 | 18–22 | 27–29 |
| 5 | 16–17 | 16–17 | 23–26 |
| 4.5 | 13–15 | 13–15 | 19–22 |
| 4 | 11–12 | 11–12 | 15–18 |
Listening source: IDP IELTS Australia’s full Listening score table.
Reading source: IDP’s full Academic and General Training Reading tables (IDP Thailand, English-language page).
IDP Australia’s Reading page publishes selected average reference points, rather than every half-band range. For example, it lists Academic Band 5 at 15 and General Training Band 7 at 35; published examples can differ because test boundaries vary.
The linked full converters do not list ranges below Band 4. This does not mean lower bands are unavailable. Use the scoring guidance supplied with your particular practice test.
Writing and Speaking use assessment criteria, not a count of correct answers. All four skill bands have equal weight in your overall IELTS result.
Calculate your overall IELTS band
Enter four existing skill bands—not raw marks out of 40. This calculates an overall band; it does not assess your English or predict an exam result. Entries stay in this page and are not submitted.
Formula: (Listening + Reading + Writing + Speaking) ÷ 4, rounded to the nearest 0.5. A .25 average rounds up to the next half band; .75 rounds up to the next whole band.
What should I work on next?
Choose the skill you want to improve. This is a study starting point, not a diagnosis or a promised score increase.
Try a representative practice test and review the mistakes, or request a free assessment for help choosing a starting point.
What score do you need?
Start with the organisation receiving your result. Check the test version, overall score, each skill minimum and any validity rules. The same overall score will not satisfy every pathway.
Australian visa English requirementsProfessional registrationUniversity entryI need help choosing my target
General educational information, not migration or legal advice. Confirm requirements with the relevant authority.
Taking IELTS in Australia
IDP states that paper-based IELTS in Australia ended after 28 June 2026. Its Australian tests are delivered on computer, with Speaking remaining an interview with an examiner. Check your local centre for current arrangements, especially outside Australia.
Prepare with a keyboard and the official interface examples, and confirm the address, arrival instructions and required identification before test day.
Book your official IELTS test with IDP
Ready to choose your test date? Book directly with IDP IELTS Australia. This is the official test booking, separate from a Master English course or free level assessment.
- Open IDP IELTS Australia using the link below.
- Choose Book your test or Book now in the top-right navigation on desktop. On a phone, look in the navigation menu if the button is not visible.
- Choose your location, confirm the test type required by your receiving organisation, and follow IDP’s current booking and identification instructions.
Frequently asked questions
How long is IELTS?
Allow about 2 hours 45 minutes of test time. Listening is about 30 minutes, Reading and Writing are 60 minutes each, and Speaking is 11–14 minutes. Check your booking for arrival time and whether Speaking is scheduled separately.
How many questions are in IELTS Listening and Reading?
There are 40 questions in Listening and 40 in Reading. Each correct answer earns one raw mark; raw marks are converted to band scores.
Are Academic and General Training the same?
Listening and Speaking are the same. Reading texts and Writing Task 1 differ. Confirm the accepted version with your university, registration body or visa authority before booking.
How many correct answers do I need for Band 7?
IELTS publishes average reference points of 30/40 for Listening, 30/40 for Academic Reading and 35/40 for General Training Reading. These are guides, not guaranteed cut-offs for every test version.
How is the overall IELTS band calculated?
Add Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, then divide by four. Round the average to the nearest half band. An average of 6.25 becomes 6.5; 6.75 becomes 7.0.
Does a high overall band mean I meet every requirement?
No. Many organisations require both an overall score and a minimum in each skill. Check the exact rule for your purpose.
Is Task 2 worth more than Task 1?
Yes. Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score. Complete both tasks and protect your time for the essay.
How many words should I write?
Write at least 150 words for Task 1 and at least 250 for Task 2. Aim for a complete, relevant answer you can check, rather than adding words just to make it longer.
What are the Academic Task 1 question types?
Useful teaching groups are line graphs, bar charts, pie charts, tables, mixed visuals, processes and maps or plans. These are practice categories, not seven separately scored tests.
Do I need an overview in Academic Task 1?
Yes: summarise the main trends, differences or stages. Choose the big picture before selecting supporting detail; do not simply list every number.
How many paragraphs should I write?
There is no fixed official paragraph count. A useful Task 1 plan is an introduction, an overview and two detail groups. An essay often uses an introduction, two or more developed body paragraphs and a conclusion. Adapt the structure to the question.
Can I listen to the recordings twice?
No. Practise following the recording once, keeping your place and moving on after a missed answer.
Do I need a British or Australian accent?
No. Work on clear, understandable pronunciation, word stress and connected speech rather than imitating a particular accent.
Is IELTS on computer scored differently?
The assessment criteria and band scale are the same. Practise typing and using the test interface so the delivery method does not distract you.
What should I study first?
Start with your target and recent evidence. Separate language problems from timing, task understanding and spelling mistakes. Use the guided next steps below; ask a teacher if you cannot identify the pattern.
Official sources and review notes
Originally published 29 June 2019; format, speaker counts, part names and raw-score references checked 1 October 2026. Explanations and practice suggestions are by Master English Australia. This is independent preparation guidance, not an official IELTS test or a guarantee of a score.