IELTS Test Format (Academic & General Training)
This page summarises the structure of the IELTS test, including timings, module differences, and how scores are reported.
IELTS at a Glance
The test covers four skills with the following typical timings:
- Listening — about 30 minutes
- Reading — 60 minutes
- Writing — 60 minutes
- Speaking — 11 to 14 minutes
Academic vs General Training
Listening and Speaking are the same for both modules. The main differences lie in Reading and Writing:
- Reading — Academic uses texts from books, journals, and research; General Training uses everyday materials such as notices, advertisements, and workplace documents.
- Writing — Academic Task 1 asks you to describe or summarise data in a chart, graph, or diagram; General Training Task 1 asks you to write a letter in response to a situation.
IELTS Academic is typically used for higher education and professional registration. IELTS General Training is typically used for migration and broad work-related contexts.
Paper vs Computer-Delivered
Both paper-based and computer-delivered IELTS assess the same skills. The main practical difference is input method: computer-delivered allows typing for Reading and Writing; paper-based uses handwriting. Speaking is normally conducted face-to-face with an examiner in both formats, though some test centres may offer video-call options. Content and scoring criteria are the same.
How the Overall Band is Formed
Each of the four skills receives a band score from 0 to 9. The overall band score is calculated from the component scores, with equal weighting unless otherwise specified. For details on band descriptors and how performance maps to scores, see the Band Scores & Descriptors page.
IELTS is a registered trademark of Cambridge English, the British Council, and IDP Education Australia. This content is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the test owners.