IELTS Test Information

The four parts of the IELTS test


Listening: 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes' transfer time)

Reading: 60 minutes

Writing: 60 minutes

Speaking: 11–14 minutes


The test total time is:  2 hours and 45 minutes.


Listening, Reading and Writing are completed in one sitting. The Speaking test may be taken on the same day or up to seven days before or after the other tests.


All test takers take the same Listening and Speaking tests, while the Reading and Writing tests differ depending on whether the test taker is taking the Academic or General Training versions of the test.

ListeningWritingSpeakingReading

The module comprises four sections, with ten questions in each section.

It takes 40 minutes: 30 - for testing, plus 10 for transferring the answers to an answer sheet.


Section 1

Conversation between two speakers (for example, a conversation about travel arrangements)


Section 2

One person speaking (for example, a speech about local facilities)


Section 3

A conversation between two main speakers (for example, a discussion between two university students, perhaps guided by a tutor)


Section 4

One person speaking about an academic subject.