When I take IELTS Academic, how long is each module and how many questions does it have?
IELTS Academic typically has four modules: Listening with 40 questions, Reading with 40 questions across 3 passages, Writing with 2 tasks, and Speaking with 3 parts. Listening runs about 30 minutes plus 10 for transfer, Reading and Writing 60 minutes each, and Speaking 11 to 14 minutes.
IELTS Academic is the version used for undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral admissions at universities in several study destinations. The module layout below is typical, so confirm it on the official IELTS page before your test.
Module-wise Format
| Module | Duration | Questions or tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | 30 minutes plus 10 minutes for answer transfer | 40 questions in 4 sections |
| Reading | 60 minutes | 40 questions in 3 passages |
| Writing | 60 minutes | 2 tasks (Task 1 and Task 2) |
| Speaking | 11 to 14 minutes | 3 parts in an interview format |
How Scoring Works
- Listening and Reading are scored out of 40 raw marks, then converted to a band score.
- Writing Task 2 carries more weight, 2/3 of the Writing score, than Task 1 at 1/3.
- Speaking is assessed on fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation.
- The overall band is the average of all four modules, rounded to the nearest 0.5.
- Academic Reading uses complex texts from journals, books and newspapers, and Academic Writing Task 1 asks you to describe a graph, chart, table, map or process diagram.
My Advice
Practice with full-length mock tests and note your timing, because managing the clock matters as much as knowing the content. Score requirements differ by university and course, so check each university page for the band it asks for.
IELTS, PTE or Duolingo: which should you take?
Find out which test your universities accept, and which is easiest for you.
More IELTS questions
- Will I be able to pass the English proficiency exam given my concerns about language skills?
- What are the chances of getting a conditional offer letter requiring IELTS even if I have a good 12th standard score?
- Can I study in the UK without IELTS, and which universities accept other English tests?
- Would you suggest me to give IELTS first before starting the application process in Germany/Italy for a Master's?
- Do I need to score well in GRE, GMAT, or IELTS to get good scholarships in top business schools for a MBA?
- Is it possible to get an IELTS exemption if my transcript states that my medium of instruction was English?
- Can I still take IELTS as a paper-based test?
- How are my Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking sections marked in IELTS?