A Simple Guide to the IELTS Exam Format for Beginners

If you have control over the English language, then you can set sail into almost all the developed nations.

The US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and 140 other nations value IELTS Scores for immigration. This blog tells you the basic format of the IELTS exam. So, if you plan to study at prestigious universities or work abroad, you can start here.

What is IELTS Exam?

IELTS is an English language skill test designed by language assessment experts. It assesses the full range of language skills that you’ll need in an English-speaking environment.

Academic vs. General Training

IELTS has two types:

1. Academic Training
2. General Training

The former is for those seeking higher education or professional registration. The latter is for immigration purposes and for those who want to get work in English-speaking countries.

The IELTS Exam Format

The IELTS exam is an in-depth rating of your English language skills in four areas:

1. Listening
2. Reading
3. Writing
4. Speaking.

Listening (30 minutes): 

This section consists of 40 questions that judge your ability to understand English when spoken in many accents and contexts. You’ll get recordings of conversations and monologues and answer questions from them.

Reading (60 minutes): 

Here too 40 questions test how well you can read and understand text. You’ll get passages from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers, starting from direct and unbiased descriptions and going to complex and critical analyses.

Writing (60 minutes): 

This part challenges you to complete two tasks: a brief essay and a response to a given problem or argument. It evaluates your ability to write clear and persuasive English.

Speaking (11-14 minutes): 

Here, you’ll have an organized conversation with an examiner. They assess how you pronounce words and express ideas, and your fluency while talking.

Each section adds to your overall band score, ranging from 0 to 9.

Listening Section

The Listening section has four recordings, each increasing in difficulty, with 40 questions at the end.

Format: 

You will hear two conversations set in everyday social contexts, like booking accommodations or talking about travel arrangements. The other two recordings are academic in nature, featuring discussions and lectures on various topics.

Question Types: 

The questions will test how well you understand the main ideas, details, and the development of arguments. They include multiple-choice, matching, labelling parts of a map, plan or diagram, Table, flow-chart, summary completion, and sentence completion.

Reading Section

The Reading section is where you’ll show how well you can comprehend English language. You’ll get a variety of texts and a series of questions that assess your ability to understand and analyze written English.

Academic Reading: 

This version includes three extensive passages that cover a spectrum from informative and objective to argumentative and evaluative in nature. These are taken from sources designed for a non-specialist audience.

General Training Reading: 

The General Training version starts with topics of general interest and gradually increases in complexity, ending with a longer text on a topic of general interest.

Question Types: 

Both versions of the Reading section will ask you to complete tasks such as identifying the writer’s views/claims, matching information/headings, completing sentences, summary, notes, table, flow-chart completion, and short-answer questions.

Writing Section

The Writing section demands you to write content in response to a prompt or task. Here’s a breakdown:

Task 1 (Academic): 

Your task will be to describe some visual information (graph/table/chart/diagram) in your own words. You need to identify and compare the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

Task 1 (General Training): 

You should write a letter in a given situation, which may be formal, semi-formal, or informal, depending on the context provided.

Task 2 (Both Academic and General Training): 

Here, you write an essay that addresses a specific perspective, contention, or issue presented to you. Clarity, logic, and the proper use of English are crucial.

Speaking Section

As you’d expect, in this section you’ll show how good you are in speaking English. It has three parts and takes about 11-14 minutes to complete.

Part 1: Introduction and Interview (4-5 minutes)

You need to answer general questions about yourself, your family, your work, studies, interests, and more. This is more like a friendly conversation and it sets the tone for the rest of the test.

Part 2: Long Turn (3-4 minutes)

You’ll get a cue card with a topic and one minute to prepare. Then, you’ll have to speak for two minutes on the topic. This tests how precise you organize thoughts and shows the clarity of the ideas you express.

Part 3: Discussion (4-5 minutes)

The examiner will pose more questions related to the topic you received in Part 2. We ask that you go deeper into the subject and show how you analyze, discuss, and speculate about issues.

Conclusion

In this quick guide we’ve explored the exam’s format and some insights into each section, giving you the knowledge to approach the test with confidence.

Remember, preparation is key. Immerse yourself in English, practice diligently, and utilize resources like practice tests and study groups. You can also join IELTS coaching in Dubai for faster learning. With determination and the right strategies, you can achieve the score you need to fulfil your dreams.

Good luck on your IELTS journey and don’t forget to contact CNA Training Institute for the best IELTS training in Dubai.