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IELTS Syllabus
IELTS syllabus has two variants. The same has been mentioned below. But before we see the syllabus for IELTS, we should understand what it is and why is it used.
Why is IELTS important?
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the world’s most popular English proficiency test. This is used to test candidates’ English for higher education and global immigration.
More than 10,000 institutes and organizations worldwide trust IELTS. So you can be confident that it will be recognized by professional bodies, educational institutes, employers, and governments around the world. IELTS continues to set the standard for English testing for the past 30 years. Governments in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom use IELTS to process immigration applications.
IELTS has been developed by some of the world’s leading language assessment experts. This exam tests the full range of English skills needed for success in study placement abroad or a job.
IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English. Get all the details of IELTS on their official website.
IELTS Test Types
There are two IELTS tests available: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. You can choose which test you want to attempt. The selection must be done based on what you want to do.
IELTS Academic – This test measures whether your level of English proficiency is fit for an educational atmosphere. It reflects viewpoints of academic language and assesses whether you are ready to start training or studying.
IELTS General Training – This test measures whether your level of English proficiency is fit for a practical everyday context. The test reflects both workplace and social situations.
If you are writing the IELTS test to support a UK visa application to live, work or study in the UK, you may need to take the IELTS for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) Academic or General Training or the IELTS for Life Skills test.
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IELTS Exam Pattern
The exam pattern for the IELTS exam has been given below in detail. The exam will be conducted in four parts: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.
| Section | Questions | Duration | Description |
| Listening | 4 questions | 30 minutes | It comprises four pre-recorded monologues and a conversation |
| Reading | 40 questions | 60 minutes | Three long reading passages with tasks. Texts range from descriptive to discursive, and analytical including non-verbal material like diagrams, graphs, and illustrations texts are authentic (taken from books, journals, and newspapers) |
| Writing | 2 questions | 60 minutes | A writing task of at least 150 words where the applicant must summarize, describe or explain a table, graph, chart, or diagram, and another short essay task of at least 250 words |
| Speaking | 3 questions | 11 to 14 minutes | The face-to-face interview includes short questions, speaking at length about a familiar topic, and a structured discussion |
IELTS Exam Syllabus
Now that we have understood the IELTS pattern and its importance, let us look at the IELTS Syllabus now. The syllabus has been given section-wise below. To understand the components better, read the detailed explanation below.
Listening
The syllabus for the listening component is the same for academic and general training.
- It comprises four sections that have 40 items
- 1st section is a conversation between two people
- 2nd section is a monologue/ speech
- 3rd section is a conversation among a maximum of four people set in an educational setting
- The last one is a speech on an educational subject
Candidates Note: Each section is heard only once
Reading
The syllabus for the reading component is different for academic and general training.
- It comprises three sections
- You will have to read the text passages and answer questions in multiple-choice, sentence completion, summary writing, matching information, short-answers
- Each passage consists of 13 to 14 questions
- The reading module has 40 questions in total
- Reading paragraphs and questions are different in Academic and General Training IELTS
1. IELTS Academics
- The syllabus includes three long texts
- Subjects range from the descriptive and factual to the discursive and analytical
- The texts are authoritative and are taken from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers
- These are chosen for a non-specialist audience
- Appropriate for applicants entering college courses or seeking professional registration abroad
2. IELTS General Training
- Requires candidates to read extracts from books, magazines, newspapers, notices, advertisements, company handbooks, and guidelines
- These are materials one is likely to encounter daily in an English speaking environment
Writing
The syllabus for the writing component is different for academic and general training.
- It includes two tasks
- Topics are of general interest and fit for candidates thinking of undergraduate and postgraduate studies overseas or seeking professional enrollment.
- In Task I, you will be shown a graph, table, chart, or diagram and asked to describe, summarise or demonstrate the information in your own words
- In Task 2, you will be asked to draft an essay in response to a point of view, problem, or argument
Speaking
The syllabus for the speaking component is different for academic and general training.
- It comprises a three-part 0ne-on-one conversation
- The test will be recorded for evaluation purposes and will consist of three parts that assume a face-to-face oral discussion with an examiner
- The speaking component evaluates the candidates’ use of spoken English. It takes between 11 to 14 minutes to complete
- The whole Speaking test is recorded by the examiner
- In Part I, you will be asked questions about self and a range of familiar topics, such as home, family, studies, work, and interests
- Part I is for about four to five minutes
- In Part II, you will be granted a card asking you to talk about a particular topic. You will be assigned one minute to prepare before speaking
- In Part III, the questions you will be asked will be related to the Part II topics
As per the IELTS guidelines, there are no eligibility criteria for the IELTS exam. It tests you based on four skills which we have discussed above. You need to note that the selection process through IELTS differs from institution to institution. However, it is suggested that you keep yourself updated on the selection procedure of the college/ university you are applying to.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the fee for IELTS?
A. To apply for the IELTS exam, you have to pay a fee of Rs. 14,000/-.
2. How does rounding up work in IELTS?
A. If you score a band 9 in two skills (for example Reading and Listening) and a band 8.5 in the other two skills (for example Speaking and Writing), you will still get an overall band 9 because of the rounding up.
3. How long is the IELTS valid for?
A. Your IELTS score is valid up to 3 years from the date of the exam. The result date will not be considered. For the IELTS validity, only the test date plays a role.
4. What is the lowest score in IELTS?
A. IELTS results are scored on a scale of band 1 (the lowest) to band 9 (the highest). Band 0 is graded to applicants who did not take up the test.
5. Which is the most difficult and easiest section of IELTS?
A. There is no difficult or easy section in IELTS. But most students find the listening section to be hard as there is a lot of information to remember. The most comfortable section according to applicants is the speaking section. This is because it is the most practiced even in day-to-day life.
