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English Language runs on four crucial skills: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. These four building blocks can help you master any language. Naturally, most language tests rely on these metrics to determine your proficiency, including the most famous English language test, IELTS. 

IELTS is a two-hour, 45-minute test with four sections to evaluate critical English language skills. Each module is scored on a scale of 0-9, which is averaged to make your overall score. 

The test has two versions, each serving a different purpose: 

• IELTS Academic: for those pursuing higher education abroad.
• IELTS General Training: for those migrating or seeking work in English-speaking countries.

Both tests are available in computer-based and paper-based formats. 

While the IELTS syllabus remains largely consistent across both versions, some unique features differentiate them. 

Here’s IELTS in a gist: 

Element	Description
Purpose	Academic, professional, or general immigration/work/training
Sections	Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking
Scoring	Band scores from 1 to 9
Duration	Listening: 30 min Reading: 60 min Writing: 60 min Speaking: 11-14 min
Format	Paper-based or Computer-based (Listening, Reading, Writing)<br>Face-to-face Speaking
Fees	INR 17,000 (For Academic and General Training Test)
Hosting Body	British Council

Types of IELTS 

Before we dive into the specifics of the IELTS syllabus, you must understand the difference between the IELTS Academic and General Training tests. 

The most obvious difference between the two is, of course, the test’s purpose. But the distinctions don’t end there. The IELTS Syllabus varies slightly in both versions of the test. 

Both versions of IELTS evaluate your Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening skills. The speaking and Listening tests remain exactly the same for both versions. However, the Writing and Reading tests will vary.

Below is an easy way to understand the Academic and General types of IELTS exam.

Aspect	IELTS Academic	IELTS General Training
Purpose	Academic and professional purposes	General immigration, work experience, and training purposes
Reading	-3 long texts from academic sources -Texts are more complex and formal	-3 sections with a variety of texts -Texts are related to everyday life and general interest
Writing	-Task 1: Describe visual information (e.g., graphs, charts) -Task 2: Essay on an academic topic	-Task 1: Write a letter (formal, semi-formal, or informal)-Task 2: Essay on a general topic
Listening	-Includes conversations and monologues in academic contexts	It is the same as the Academic test
Speaking	– Face-to-face interview -Includes a short speech, questions on familiar topics, and a discussion	It is the same as the Academic test

Now, let’s explore each module of IELTS in detail.

IELTS Exam Syllabus for Reading 

IELTS Reading is a 60-minute test with three passages and 40 questions. It gets slightly harder as it goes. The syllabus varies slightly between the two test versions, but the rest of the pattern remains identical. 

Each passage featured in the IELTS Reading test consists of several question types, including: 

• Matching features
• Table completion
• Flow-chart completion 
• Identifying information (true, false, not given)
• Matching headings
• Matching sentence endings
• Multiple choice (more than one answer)
• Multiple choice (one answer)
• Note completion
• Sentence completion
• Summary completion (selecting from a list of words or phrases)
• Summary completion (selecting words from the text)

The main difference between the Academic and General tests is the source of the text. 

The IELTS Academic Reading test passages are sourced from newspaper articles, magazines, journals, and academic textbooks. The Academic test has more advanced reading materials than the IELTS General Training test. 

In the IELTS General Training Reading section, you will encounter three sections of varying lengths. The passages are sourced from newspaper ads, company handbooks, and instruction manuals. The first section typically includes two or three short texts or several shorter texts. The second section contains two moderate-length texts, while the third section features a longer text. 

IELTS Reading is scored straightforwardly, meaning every correct answer received one mark. Click here to read more about the IELTS Reading band score. 

IELTS Exam Syllabus for Writing 

The IELTS Writing section evaluates your ability to form arguments, voice opinions, and express your thoughts in written format. This section features two tasks. 

While Task 2 remains the same for both IELTS General Training and Academic versions, Task 1 differs slightly. Here’s how: 

Task 1:

• Academic:
  • You will be asked to describe visual information as a graph, chart, table, or diagram. You must write a description in the form of a summary and explain the main features, trends, or differences without expressing your personal opinion.
• General Training:
  • You are asked to write a letter in response to a given situation. Depending on the context, the letter could be formal, semi-formal, or informal. You may need to request information, explain a situation, complain, or express gratitude.

Things to keep in mind: 

Minimum Word Count	150 words
Ideal Time Spend	20 Minutes

Task 2:

Applies to both Academic and General Training

You are required to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument, or problem. The essay topics are general and do not require specialised knowledge. 

You should present your argument, provide evidence, discuss issues, propose solutions, or express your opinion clearly and coherently.

Things to keep in mind: 

Minimum Word Count	250 words (can exceed up to 270-280)
Ideal Time Spend	40 Minutes

IELTS Writing is scored based on 4 parameters, which are commonly referred to as the band descriptors: 

• Task Achievement/Response
• Coherence and Cohesion
• Lexical Resource
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Click here to read more about the IELTS Writing Band score.

IELTS Exam Syllabus for Listening

As the name implies, the IELTS listening section tests how well you’re able to keep up with a conversation. You will be subjected to simple audio recordings, based on which you must answer 40 questions. IELTS Listening remains the same in both versions of the test. 

There are 4 parts to IELTS Listening, each of them serving a unique purpose. Here’s a breakdown of all 4 sections: 

Section 1: Conversation in an Everyday Context

In this section, you’ll hear a conversation between two people in a common scenario. It could be as simple as a recording of someone booking a hotel room or chatting with their neighbour. 

Section 2: Monologue in an Everyday Context

You’ll listen to a single speaker providing information in a daily context, like giving directions or explaining a service. You’ll have to pay attention to the information being told in the audio, and answer the questions. 

Section 3: Conversation in an Educational or Training Context

This section involves a conversation between multiple speakers in an educational or training setting, such as a discussion between a university tutor and a student about an assignment or between a trainer and trainees about a project. 

Section 4: Academic Lecture or Talk

In the final section, you’ll hear a monologue on an academic topic, such as a university lecture or a presentation. The speaker will provide detailed information on the subject, and you’ll need to answer questions about the lecture.

Similar to IELTS Reading, the Listening section also features various question types. This includes: 

• Multiple Choice Questions
• True/False/Not Given
• Matching headings
• Matching information
• Sentence completion

Another similarity between the IELTS Reading and Listening tests is the scoring pattern. The IELTS Listening test also awards one mark per right answer. Learn more about the IELTS Listening Band score here. 

IELTS Exam Syllabus for Speaking 

IELTS Speaking is a 1:1 interview with the examiner. This section features 3 parts, each prompting you to speak on familiar topics.

Here’s a breakdown:

Part 1 (Introduction):

As an introductory round, this part starts with general questions about you. The examiner will ask you questions regarding your background, studies, interests, and other familiar areas. It serves as a warm-up to help you relax and get comfortable with the speaking test format. 

Since the questions are about your own life, it’s easy to showcase your ability to speak naturally and confidently about personal experiences.

More about Part 1.

Part 2 (Long Turn/Cue Card):

In this section, you’ll receive a task card with a specific topic and a few prompts to guide your talk. You’ll have one minute to prepare your response. After the preparation time, you will need to speak about the topic for one to two minutes without interruption. 

This part assesses your ability to organise your thoughts, develop ideas, and speak fluently on a given topic.

More about IELTS Cue Card topics.

Part 3 (Discussion):

In the final part, the examiner will engage you in a deeper discussion related to the topic/cue card you spoke about in Part 2. The questions will be more complex and abstract, requiring you to express your opinions, justify your arguments, and discuss issues in greater detail. 

This part evaluates your ability to participate in an extended conversation, demonstrate critical thinking, and articulate your thoughts clearly and coherently.

An important aspect of the IELTS Speaking test is that it is conducted separately from the other three modules. This means that your Speaking test can be scheduled either on the same day as the Listening, Reading, and Writing modules or up to 7 days before or after them.

IELTS Speaking scores you based on these band descriptors: 

• Fluency and Coherence
• Lexical Resource
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy
• Pronunciation

Find out more about IELTS Speaking Band Score. 

Final Thoughts + Bonus Tips

The IELTS Syllabus is carefully designed to test 4 prominent English skills. If you plan right and practice effectively, you will be able to showcase the best of your abilities to any university/organisation you apply to. 

One of the effective ways to crack the syllabus is to start your journey early on and spend enough time on all 4 modules. 

Here are our top 3 module-focused tips to help you boost your skills! 

IELTS Listening:

• Practice Regularly: Listen to various English audio materials, such as podcasts, news reports, and lectures. This will help you get used to different accents and speeds of speech.
• Familiarise Yourself with Question Types: Understand the different types of questions (e.g., multiple-choice, matching, and filling in blanks) and practise them to become comfortable with the format.
• Take Notes: Practise taking quick notes while listening. This can help you capture key information and details needed to answer questions

IELTS Reading:

• Skim and Scan: Develop skills to quickly skim through texts to get the general idea and scan for specific information. This will help you locate answers efficiently.
• Practise Different Text Types: Familiarise yourself with various types of texts, such as descriptive, narrative, and argumentative, as well as different question types.
• Read Instructions Carefully: Pay attention to the instructions for each set of questions. For example, if asked for “no more than three words,” make sure you adhere to this limit.

IELTS Writing:

• Plan Your Responses: Spend a few minutes planning your response before you start writing. Outline your main points and structure your essay or letter clearly.
• Practice Grammar and Vocabulary: Work on improving your grammatical accuracy and vocabulary range to write more effectively and clearly.
• Review and Edit: Allocate time to review and edit your work. Check for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and coherence in your arguments.

IELTS Speaking:

• Develop Your Answers: For Part 2, practice giving detailed and well-organised responses to cue card topics. Use the one-minute preparation time effectively to structure your answer.
• Focus on Pronunciation: Work on clear pronunciation and intonation. Make sure your speech is easy to understand, and practice speaking slowly and clearly.
• Engage in Detailed Discussions: For Part 3, practice discussing complex topics and expressing your opinions in depth. Focus on providing detailed responses and supporting your arguments.

And with that, we wish you good luck!