IELTS is the International English Language Testing System. It measures ability to communicate in English across
all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking – for people who intend to study or work where
English is the language of communication.
Since 1989, IELTS has been proven and trusted worldwide to provide a secure, global, authentic and customer-focused test
which measures true to life ability to communicate in English. Over 3800 educational institutions, government agencies
and professional organisations across 120 countries around the world recognise IELTS scores as a trusted and valid indicator
of ability to communicate in English.
With over 500,000 tests taken every year, IELTS is one of the fastest growing English language tests in the world, and
sets the standard in integrity, research and innovation.
IELTS PREPERATION
READING
The IELTS reading test takes one hour. In this time you are required to read three texts of between 500 and 900 words each.
The texts and questions increase in difficulty. There will be around 40 questions to answer and record on the answer sheet
within the 60 minutes.Most students come out of the reading test feeling that there wasn’t enough time to complete the
exam paper. For this reason it is very important that you take a number of timed practice reading tests before the actual
exam day to develop the skills of skimming and scanning and other timesaving strategies.
Click a blue heading to try the practice test questions:
WRITING
The writing component of the IELTS test
The IELTS writing test takes one hour. In this time you are required to complete two tasks:
TASK ONE
is a report based on some graphic information provided on the question paper. The graphic information will come in one of
five forms. You are required to describe the information or the process in a report of 150 words. This task should be completed
in 20 minutes. It is important that you are familiar with the language appropriate to report writing generally and to each
of the five types of report.
Click a blue heading to try the practice test questions:
- Bar Graphs
- Pie charts
- Table
- Process Diagram
TASK TWO is an essay based on a topic given on the question paper. You should write at least
250 words in 40 minutes.
It is important that you keep within the advised time limits as Task Two carries more weight in
your final band score than Task One. Remember that illegible handwriting will reduce your final score.
Try Task Two of the writing test
LISTENING
The listening component of the IELTS test
The IELTS listening test takes approximately 30 minutes.
The listening material is recorded on a cassette tape which you will hear only once. There are four sections in the listening
test presented in order of increasing difficulty. The first two sections are on topics of general interest such as a report
of a lost bag or an introduction to a public facility. Section one will be in the form of a dialogue, section two will be
a monologue.
Sections three and four will have an education or training focus. There will be a lecture and a
discussion between two and four people.
As you listen you should write your answers on the question booklet. At the end of the recorded
material you will be given ten minutes to copy your answers onto the answer sheet.
Most candidates come out of the listening test not feeling very confident of their answers after
listening to the recording only once. For this reason it is very important that you take a number of timed practice listening
tests before the actual exam day to become familiar with the style of questions asked, the speed of the speech and to develop
the skill of recording your answers as you listen.
Test yourself by trying the following questions:
SPEAKING
The speaking component of the IELTS test
The IELTS speaking test takes between 11
and 14 minutes and is in the form of an oral interview between the candidate and an examiner.
During the interview you will need to answer questions asked by the interviewer, speak at length
on a topic selected by the interviewer and give and justify your opinions on a range of issues related to that topic.
The interview has three main parts:
- some general questions about yourself, your life and your interests
- a short talk on a particular topic
- a discussion of issues linked to the talk in part 2.
It is important that you relax and speak as confidently as you can. Candidates who are not able to participate fully in
the conversation may not achieve their potential band score. This may be because they haven't been able to demonstrate the
level of language they are capable of producing.
