What is IELTS?
IELTS stands for the International English Language Testing System – an English Language proficiency test. Globally, there are more than 4 million test takers a year, making IELTS the world’s most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration. IELTS is developed and run by the British Council in partnership with IDP Education and Cambridge Assessment English.
How does IELTS Works?
IELTS is aimed at people who want to study in an English-speaking environment, work in or emigrate to an English-speaking country, or get a job in your own country where English proficiency is required. For this reason, there are two IELTS tests to choose from:
| IELTS Academic | IELTS General Training |
|---|---|
| This test can help you secure university acceptance, student visas, and prove your English ability to professional organisations. | This test measures your English proficiency in the workplace and is often useful to prove your level when applying for a new position in an English-speaking company or organisation. |
What is IELTS Academic Test?
IELTS Academic test: If you’re planning to pursue higher education abroad or seeking professional registration, IELTS Academic is for you. This test evaluates your readiness to study or train in an English-speaking environment.
IELTS is recognized by more than 12,000 organisations — including educational institutions, employers, professional associations, and governments — across 140 countries. It serves as proof of your English proficiency when applying to study or work abroad.
IELTS Academic Test Format Explained
The test consists of 4 sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Listening, Reading, and Writing happen on the same day with no breaks, while the Speaking test may be scheduled on the same day or up to a week before/after the main test.
| Section | Duration | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 30 minutes | Four recorded monologues and conversations. |
| Reading | 60 minutes |
Three long passages with tasks.
Texts may include diagrams, graphs, or illustrations, sourced from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers. |
| Writing | 60 minutes |
Task 1: Summarise, describe, or explain a table, graph, chart, or diagram.
Task 2: Write a short essay of at least 250 words. |
| Speaking | 11-14 minutes |
Face-to-face interview.
Includes short questions, extended speaking on a familiar topic, and a structured discussion. |
💡 Tip: For the Speaking test, you can book a slot online at your preferred date and time. If you don't select a slot, one will be automatically assigned to you.
What is IELTS General Training Test?
The IELTS General Training test measures your proficiency in English in everyday, practical contexts. It’s suited for candidates planning to study in high school, pursue vocational training, or migrate to countries like Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK.
IELTS General Training Test Format
The test consists of 4 sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Listening, Reading, and Writing tests are taken on the same day without breaks. The Speaking test may occur on the same day or up to a week before/after the main test date. You can book a Speaking slot online — otherwise, one is automatically assigned to you.
| Section | Duration | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 30 minutes | Listen to four recordings of native English speakers and answer related questions. |
| Reading | 60 minutes | 40 questions designed to test reading skills: gist, main ideas, details, logical arguments, skimming, and understanding writer’s opinions. |
| Writing | 60 minutes | Complete two tasks on topics of general interest, depending on the module you’re taking. |
| Speaking | 11-14 minutes | A recorded, face-to-face interview in three parts to assess your spoken English skills. |
💡 Tip: Book your Speaking test slot online at your preferred time. If you miss this, an automatic time will be assigned to you.
IELTS Test Format
You can choose to take your IELTS Academic or General Training test on paper or computer at an official test centre. You may also be able to take IELTS Online, depending on where you live. IELTS assesses the four key skills outlined below:
| Section | Assessment Focus |
|---|---|
| Listening | Assesses how well you understand ideas, recognise opinions, and follow the development of an argument. |
| Reading | Measures your ability to read for general sense, main ideas, details, and understand the author's inferences and opinions. |
| Writing | Evaluates how well and accurately you organise ideas, write responses, and use a wide range of vocabulary and grammar. |
| Speaking | Assesses how well you communicate opinions and information on everyday topics, and how you express and justify opinions. |
Key Facts about IELTS Academic and General Training
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Test Length | 2 hours and 45 minutes |
| Test Format | 4 sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking |
| Test Schedule | Listening, Reading, and Writing on the same day with no breaks |
| Speaking Section | May be scheduled on the same day or up to 7 days before or after the other sections |
📘 IELTS Test Format Explained
Understand the test structure and prepare with confidence!
📝 IELTS Test Overview
Choose between IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training. The test includes Listening, Reading, Writing (same day), and Speaking (same day or within 7 days).
🎧 IELTS Listening Test
Assess your understanding of ideas, opinions, and arguments.
| Duration | Questions | Task Types | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 mins (+10 mins transfer) | 40 | MCQs, matching, diagrams, summary | 1 mark per answer |
📚 IELTS Reading Test
Evaluates reading skills like finding main ideas, details, and writer’s opinions.
| Duration | Questions | Task Types | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 minutes | 40 | Fill gaps, match headings, MCQs | 1 mark per answer |
✍️ IELTS Writing Test
Assesses structure, idea flow, vocabulary, and grammar.
| Duration | Questions | Task Types | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 minutes | 2 tasks | 150 & 250-word tasks | Task 2 weighs double |
🗣️ IELTS Speaking Test
Interactive, face-to-face or video call test.
| Duration | Parts | Focus | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11-14 minutes | 3 parts | Intro, Task Card, Discussion | Fluency, Vocabulary, Grammar, Pronunciation |
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Understanding IELTS Band Scores
All IELTS scores range between 0 and 9, with each test component — Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking — getting a separate band score. The final overall score is the average of these four sections, rounded to the nearest whole or half band.
How IELTS Band Score is Calculated
Both Academic and General Training tests follow the same scoring system. Below is a breakdown of each band score, its corresponding skill level, and what it represents:
| Band Score | Skill Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Expert | Full operational command of the language, accurate and fluent. |
| 8 | Very good | Fully operational with occasional unsystematic errors. |
| 7 | Good | Operational command with occasional inaccuracies and misunderstandings. |
| 6 | Competent | Effective command despite some errors. |
| 5 | Modest | Partial command of the language; can handle basic communication. |
| 4 | Limited | Basic competence; problems in understanding and expression. |
| 3 | Extremely limited | Understands only general meaning in familiar situations. |
| 2 | Intermittent | Great difficulty understanding spoken and written English. |
| 1 | Non-user | Only knows a few isolated words. |
| 0 | Did not attempt | No answers provided. |
Calculating IELTS Scores by Each Section
Each section follows a specific scoring method:
Listening and Reading
✔️ Each correct answer earns one point. ✔️ The total score is converted to a band score using a standardized chart.
Writing and Speaking
✔️ Examiners assess based on criteria such as: • Task achievement • Coherence and cohesion • Lexical resource • Grammatical range and accuracy • Pronunciation (Speaking)
Calculating Your Overall IELTS Band Score
The overall band score is the average of the four section scores, rounded to the nearest whole or half band.
| Average Score | Final Band Score |
|---|---|
| 6.25 | 6.5 |
| 6.75 | 7.0 |
| 7.1 | 7.0 |
Section-wise IELTS Band Score and Marking Criteria
🎧 IELTS Listening Band Scores
The IELTS Listening test has 40 questions. Each correct answer earns 1 mark, and the raw score is converted to the IELTS 9-band scale.
| Number of Correct Answers (Out of 40) | IELTS Listening Band Score |
|---|---|
| 40 | 9 |
| 35 | 8 |
| 30 | 7 |
| 23 | 6 |
| 16 | 5 |
📘 IELTS Reading Band Scores
The IELTS Reading test also has 40 questions. Both Academic and General Training tests share the same scale, but Academic passages are more complex.
IELTS Reading Academic Score Converter
| Correct Answers (Out of 40) | IELTS Reading Academic Band Score |
|---|---|
| 40 | 9 |
| 35 | 8 |
| 30 | 7 |
| 23 | 6 |
| 15 | 5 |
IELTS Reading General Training Score Converter
| Correct Answers (Out of 40) | IELTS Reading General Training Band Score |
|---|---|
| 35 | 7 |
| 30 | 6 |
| 23 | 5 |
| 15 | 4 |
✍️ IELTS Writing Band Scores
Examiners assess writing using these four criteria, with Task 2 carrying more weight than Task 1:
- ✔️ Task Achievement (Task 1) / Task Response (Task 2)
- ✔️ Coherence and Cohesion
- ✔️ Lexical Resource
- ✔️ Grammatical Range and Accuracy
🗣️ IELTS Speaking Band Scores
Examiners evaluate Speaking based on these four criteria, each equally weighted:
- ✔️ Fluency and Coherence
- ✔️ Lexical Resource
- ✔️ Grammatical Range and Accuracy
- ✔️ Pronunciation
🎯 IELTS Band Score Calculator
Understand how your IELTS scores are calculated and how to estimate your overall band score!
📌 How IELTS Band Scores Are Calculated
Each section of the IELTS test — Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking — receives a band score from 0 to 9. The overall band score is the **average of the four individual scores**, rounded to the nearest whole or half band.
Examples of Overall Band Score Calculation
| Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Average Score | Final IELTS Band Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.0 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 7.5 | 6.75 | 7.0 |
| 8.0 | 7.5 | 7.0 | 6.5 | 7.25 | 7.5 |
| 6.5 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 6.25 | 6.5 |
⭐ If the average ends in .25, it’s rounded up to the next half band (e.g., 6.25 → 6.5). If the average ends in .75, it’s rounded up to the next whole band (e.g., 6.75 → 7.0).
📚 7-Day IELTS Study Plan
Achieve your target IELTS band score in just one week with this structured study plan!
| Day | Focus Area | Study Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🎧 Listening | Practice listening to different accents via podcasts or news. Take a full practice test and review your answers. |
| 2 | 📘 Reading | Read academic texts and practice summarizing main ideas. Attempt a timed reading test, focusing on skimming and scanning. |
| 3 | ✍️ Writing | Practice Task 1 (graphs/charts) and Task 2 (essay). Study sample essays and focus on structure and coherence. |
| 4 | 🗣️ Speaking | Practice speaking on various topics with a partner. Record yourself to evaluate fluency and pronunciation. |
| 5 | 🔍 Review & Test Practice | Take a full-length IELTS practice test under timed conditions. Identify weak areas. |
| 6 | ⚡ Weak Area Focus | Dedicate extra time to your weakest section. Practice targeted question types and improve strategy. |
| 7 | 💪 Final Review & Relax | Light review of notes and strategies. Ensure test materials are ready. Get a good night's sleep! |
📘 IELTS Preparation Guide
Your journey to mastering IELTS starts here with TutorX!
Why Prepare for IELTS?
Preparing for the IELTS exam requires a combination of strategy, consistency, and effective practice. Whether you're aiming for the Academic or General Training test, the key is to understand the test format, build strong English language skills, and practice under realistic conditions.
📍 Understanding the Four Sections
- Listening: Sharpen your skills with diverse accents and practice active listening.
- Reading: Focus on skimming for the main idea and scanning for details.
- Writing: Master task structure, use a variety of sentence structures, and expand your vocabulary.
- Speaking: Enhance fluency, pronunciation, and coherence with daily practice.
🛠️ Practice Strategy
Take full-length mock tests under timed conditions, review mistakes thoroughly, and improve. Remember, IELTS evaluates how well you communicate in real-world scenarios. Approach the test with confidence!
📅 7-Day Study Plan
| Day | Focus Area | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Listening | Practice listening to different accents and complete a full test. |
| 2 | Reading | Read academic texts and summarize main ideas. |
| 3 | Writing | Practice Task 1 and Task 2. Review sample answers. |
| 4 | Speaking | Practice speaking on common topics. Record yourself. |
| 5 | Full Test | Take a complete IELTS test under timed conditions. |
| 6 | Weak Areas | Focus on the weakest section from Day 5. |
| 7 | Final Prep | Light review and relaxation before the exam day. |
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📌 IELTS Tips & Strategies for Success
Master all four sections of IELTS — Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking — with these proven tips and strategies.
🎧 Listening Tips
- Listen Actively: Practice with various accents (British, American, Australian).
- Predict Answers: Skim the questions first to anticipate answers.
- Note Keywords: Focus on keywords and synonyms during audio.
- Don’t Pause: Train with full, uninterrupted recordings.
- Check Spelling: Misspelled answers are marked wrong — be precise.
📖 Reading Tips
- Skim First: Get the general idea before diving into details.
- Focus on Keywords: Match question keywords to the text.
- Time Management: Don’t spend too long on one passage — move on!
- Practice with Variety: Read academic articles, newspapers, and journals.
- Don’t Assume: Base answers on the text, not your knowledge.
✍️ Writing Tips
- Understand the Task: Analyze the prompt carefully before writing.
- Plan Before You Write: Outline ideas and key points first.
- Structure Clearly: Use clear paragraphs — intro, body, conclusion.
- Use Formal Language: Avoid contractions and slang.
- Proofread: Save 5 minutes to check grammar and spelling.
🗣️ Speaking Tips
- Be Confident: Speak naturally and don’t memorize answers.
- Expand Ideas: Avoid short answers — explain and elaborate.
- Mind Your Pace: Don’t rush — speak calmly and clearly.
- Practice Common Topics: E.g., hobbies, travel, education, work.
- Self-Record: Identify areas to improve pronunciation and fluency.
🚀 Ready to Achieve Your Target Band Score?
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