Listening

The Listening Module takes around 30 minutes. There are 40 questions. There are four sections. The Listening Module is recorded on CD and is played ONCE only.

During the test, time is given for candidates to read the questions and write down and then check their answers. Answers are written on the Question Paper as candidates listen. When the recording ends ten minutes are allowed for candidates to transfer their answers to an Answer Sheet.

The first two sections are concerned with social needs. There is a conversation between two speakers and then a monologue. The final two sections are concerned with situations related more closely to educational or training contexts. There is a conversation between up to four people and then a further monologue.

A range of accents and dialects are used in the recordings which reflects the international usage of IELTS.

Reading

The Reading Module takes 60 minutes. There are 40 questions, based on three reading passages with a total of 2,000 to 2,750 words. Both the Academic Reading and General Training Reading modules have the same format.

All answers must be entered on an Answer Sheet during the 60- minute test. No extra time is allowed for transferring answers.

Academic Reading

Texts are taken from magazines, journals, books, and newspapers. Texts have been written for a non-specialist audience.

At least one text contains a detailed logical argument.

One text may contain non-verbal materials such as diagrams, graphs or illustrations. If texts contain technical terms then a simple glossary is provided.

General Training Reading

The first section, ‘social survival’, contains texts relevant to basic
linguistic survival in English with tasks mainly about retrieving and providing general factual information.

‘Training survival’, the second section, focuses on the training context, for example on the training programme itself or on welfare needs. This section involves a text or texts of more complex language with some precise or elaborated expression.

The third section, ‘general reading’, involves reading more extended prose with a more complex structure but with the emphasis on descriptive and instructive rather than argumentative texts, in a general context relevant to the wide range of candidates involved.

Writing

The Writing Module takes 60 minutes. There are two tasks to complete. It is suggested that about 20 minutes is spent on Task 1 which requires candidates to write at least 150 words. Task 2 requires at least 250 words and should take about 40 minutes.

Answers must be given on the Answer Sheet and must be written in full. Notes are not acceptable as answers. Candidates should note that scripts under the required minimum word limit will be penalised.

Academic Writing

In Task 1 candidates are asked to describe some information (graph/table/chart/diagram), and to present the description in their own words. They may be asked to describe and explain data, describe the stages of a process, how something works or describe an object or event.

In Task 2 candidates are presented with a point of view or argument or problem.

Part of the task realisation is to respond appropriately in terms of register, rhetorical organisation, style and content. Appropriate responses are short essays.

General Training Writing

In Task 1 candidates are asked to respond to a given problem with a letter requesting information or explaining a situation. In Task 2 candidates are presented with a point of view or argument or problem.

Part of the task realisation is to respond appropriately in terms of register, rhetorical organisation, style and content. Appropriate responses are personal, semi-formal or formal correspondence (Task 1) and short essays (Task 2).

Speaking

The Speaking Module takes between 11 and 14 minutes and consists of an oral interview between the candidate and an examiner. All interviews are recorded.

In Part 1 candidates answer general questions about themselves, their homes/families, their jobs/studies, their interests, and a range of familiar topic areas. This part lasts between four and five minutes.

In Part 2 the candidate is given a verbal prompt on a card and is asked to talk on a particular topic. The candidate has one minute to prepare before speaking at length, for between one and two minutes. The examiner then asks one or two rounding-off questions.

In Part 3 the examiner and candidate engage in a discussion of more abstract issues and concepts which are thematically linked to the topic prompt in Part 2. The discussion lasts between four and five minutes.