Duration: 30 minutes, plus 10 minutes extra to transfer your answer to your answer sheet, in case of paper-based test.

The listening test is same for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training Modules.

You will listen to four recordings of native English speakers, in varying accents and then write your answers to a series of questions.

Recording 1 – a conversation between two people set in an everyday social context.

Recording 2 - a monologue set in an everyday social context, e.g. a speech about local facilities.

Recording 3 – a conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context, e.g. a university tutor and a student discussing an assignment.

Recording 4 - a monologue on an academic subject, e.g. a university lecture.

Duration: 60 minutes

Three reading passages with tasks:

Section 1 - two short or three short factual texts

Section 2 - two short work-related, factual texts

Section 3 - one longer text on a topic of general interest

Texts are authentic (For example, taken from company handbooks, official documents, books and newspapers)

The Reading section consists of 40 questions, designed to test a wide range of reading skills. These include reading for main ideas, reading for detail, skimming, understanding logical argument and recognizing writers' opinions, attitudes and purpose.

Duration: 60 minutes

Letter writing task (minimum 150 words)

Short essay writing task (minimum 250 words).

Topics are of general interest. There are two tasks:

Task 1 - you will be presented with a situation and asked to write a letter requesting information, or explaining the situation. The letter may be personal, semi-formal or formal in style.

Task 2 - you will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. The essay can be fairly personal in style.

The speaking test is same for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training Modules.

Duration: 10 -15 minutes

- Face-to-face interview.

- Short questions and speaking at length about a familiar topic.

Please note: Depending on the test centre location, you may be required to book the Speaking section of your test on a different day.

The Speaking test consists of three parts:

Task 1: You will be asked to answer general questions about yourself and a range of familiar topics, such as your home, family, work, studies and interests. This part lasts between 4 and 5 minutes.

Task 2: You will be given a card and you will be asked to talk about a particular topic. You will have one minute to prepare before speaking for up to two minutes. The examiner then asks you one or two questions on the same topic to finish this part of the test.

Task 3: You will be asked further questions connected to the topic in Part 2. These questions give you an opportunity to discuss more abstract issues and ideas. This part lasts between four and five minutes.

*The Speaking component is delivered in such a way that does not allow you to rehearse set responses beforehand.