Test format & sections
Listening
30m · 40 questions
4 parts: Parts 1–2 everyday conversations; Parts 3–4 academic monologues. Recordings play ONCE only — spelling in answers matters.
Reading
60m · 40 questions
Academic: 3 long texts from journals or newspapers. GT: shorter workplace texts + 1 longer passage. No extra time to transfer answers — write directly on the answer sheet.
Writing
60m · 2 tasks
Task 1: 20 minutes recommended. Task 2: 40 minutes — worth more marks. Scored on Task Achievement, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range & Accuracy.
Speaking
11–14m · 3 parts
Face-to-face with a trained examiner. Part 2: 1 min prep then speak for 2 min. Scored on Fluency & Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range & Accuracy, Pronunciation.
How IELTS is scored
Each skill (L/R/W/S) scored Band 1–9 separately. Overall Band Score = average of 4 skills, rounded to nearest 0.5.
Score levels
Typical requirements
IELTS frequently asked questions
How long are IELTS scores valid?
2 years from the test date. Most universities and immigration authorities will not accept results older than this.
What's the difference between Academic and General Training?
Both share the same Listening and Speaking tests. Academic Reading and Writing use formal, academic texts — required for university entry and professional registration (medicine, nursing, etc.). General Training uses everyday texts — required for migration to Australia, Canada, the UK, and New Zealand, and for secondary education or work programmes.
How is the overall band score calculated?
The four section scores (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) are averaged, then rounded to the nearest whole or half band. For example, 6.25 rounds up to 6.5; 6.0 stays 6.0. Each section is scored equally — no section is weighted more than another.
How quickly do results come back?
Computer-delivered IELTS results are available within 3–5 days. Paper-based test results take up to 13 calendar days. Results are released online via the Candidate Portal.
Is there a limit on how many times I can sit the test?
No — you can take IELTS as many times as you like with no mandatory waiting period. Many candidates retake within weeks to improve their score.
Can I retake individual sections?
Yes — IELTS One Skill Retake (OSR) allows you to retake a single section within 60 days of your original test date, but only for the computer-delivered test. Check availability at your test centre.