IELTS Academic measures English language proficiency needed for an academic, higher learning environment. The tasks and tests are accessible to all test takers, irrespective of their subject focus.IELTS General Training measures English language proficiency in a practical, everyday context. The tasks and tests reflect both workplace and social situations.
IELTS Academic | IELTS General Training |
---|---|
Listening* (30 minutes, plus 10 minutes extra to transfer your answer to your answer sheet)Four recorded monologues and conversations. | Listening* (30 minutes, plus 10 minutes extra to transfer your answer to your answer sheet)Four recorded monologues and conversations. |
Reading (60 minutes)· Three long reading passages with tasks· Texts range from descriptive and factual to the discursive and analytical· Includes non-verbal material such as diagrams, graphs or illustrations· Texts are authentic (e.g. taken from books, journals and newspapers) | Reading (60 minutes)· Three reading passages with tasks· Section 1 contains two or three short factual texts· Section 2 includes two short, work-related, factual texts· Section 3 contains one longer text on a topic of general interest· Texts are authentic (e.g. taken from books, journals and newspapers) |
Writing (60 minutes)· Writing task of at least 150 words where the test taker must summarise, describe or explain a table, graph, chart or diagram· Short essay task of at least 250 words | Writing (60 minutes)· Letter writing task of at least 150 words· Short essay task of at least 250 words |
Speaking* (11 to 14 minutes)· Face-to-face interview· Includes short questions, speaking at length about a familiar topic and a structured decision | Speaking* (11 to 14 minutes)· Face-to-face interview· Includes short questions, speaking at length about a familiar topic and a structured decision |
Each band corresponds to a level of English competence. All parts of the test and the Overall Band Score can be reported in whole and half bands, eg 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0.
Band 9 | Expert user: has fully operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding. |
Band 8 | Very good user: has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacy. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well. |
Band 7 | Good user: has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriacy and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning. |
Band 6 | Competent user: has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacy and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations. |
Band 5 | Modest user: has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field. |
Band 4 | Limited user: basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language. |
Band 3 | Extremely limited user: conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication occur. |
Band 2 | Intermittent user: no real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or short formula in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English. |
Band 1 | Non-user: essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words. |
Band 0 | Did not attempt the test: No assessable information provided. |