4 Aspects of the IELTS Test: The IELTS test tests four communication skills: Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing. The listening and speaking tests are the same whether you are sitting for Academic or General Training tests. The Writing and Reading tasks have some differences and similarities.
4 Aspects of the IELTS Test
The Overview of the Speaking Test
The speaking test is the shortest of all the tests and it takes 11-14 minutes. You will be asked three categories of questions.
In the first category, Part 1, you will get questions about yourself. We call this part 1 Personal questions.
The second category, Part 2, is called a Long run. You will be given a single topic to describe a person, thing, situation, or event. The examiner will give you a minute to prepare your response and two minutes to speak about the topic.
The third category, Part 3, is a discussion between you and the examiner and you will be asked abstract and general questions.
The Overview of the Listening Test
The listening test requires you to listen to an audio and answer the questions (about what the speakers in the audio are saying) given to you as you listen. It takes a total of 40 minutes if you are taking the paper-based format and 32 minutes if you are taking the computer-delivered test.
The test questions are structured in different ways and divided into four parts with a total of 40 questions. Each part has 10 questions in them. The first part is a dialogue (2 speakers) and the second part a monologue. They are both about social situations. The third part dialogue (2 to 4 speakers) and the fourth part a monologue (a lecture) are about academic situations.
The Overview of the Reading Test
The reading test requires you to answer questions based on passages presented to you in three sections, with an average of about 14 questions per section to give a total of 40 questions. You are required to attempt all questions within 60 minutes. The questions are structured in different ways.
For the Academic test, you will get three long academic passages, while in the General training test, you will get two short passages about social situations in the first section, two short passages about workplace situations in the second section and the third section has one long passage.
The Overview of the Writing Test
The writing test has two tasks that should be completed within one hour.
The first part called Task One is a letter writing for General Training test takers, and a diagram reporting for the Academic Test takers. This task requires you to write at least 150 words on the question presented to you within 20 minutes.
The second part is a formal essay whether you are taking the General Training or the Academic Test. You are to write a response to the question given to you in 40 minutes and write at least 250 words.
Keep Reading What you should know about the IELTS test.
