Basically there are 2 types of IELTS exams which are Academic and General. Now listening and speaking are same for both of them but the reading and writing sections are different depending on which test you go for.

Writing, Listening and reading sections of IELTS test are completed on the same day and there are is no breaks in between.

As far as the speaking section goes can be conducted up to a week before or after the other 3 tests and your test center will inform you about it.

The total test time of the IELTS exam is 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Following is an in-depth understanding of all the 4 different sections of the IELTS exam pattern: –

• LISTENING: –

The listening section is of 30 minutes. There will be 4 recordings of native English speakers which will include:

1. An everyday social context conversation between two sets of people
2. A monologue or a speech about an everyday social context topic
3. A 4 people conversation set in an educational context
4. An academic subject monologue

The assessors will judge your listening skills, comprehension, understanding and ability to follow ideas.

Allotted time to this section is 30 minutes. There are 4 sections of 10 questions each. Recordings will be played only once and they will have a mixture of accents like American, Australian and British. Each question is of 1 mark.

The types of tasks in listening section are as follows: –

1. Multiple choice: –

In this section the student has to choose the correct option between the given options. Sometimes more than one option can be correct and the student has to mark the correct answer.

2. Matching: –

The test takers are required to match a number of list items from the listening text to the set of options given in the question paper.

3. Map, Plan and Diagram labelling: –

Labels are required to be completed on a plan, map or a diagram from the information gathered from the listening tape.

4. Form, note, table, flow-chart, summary completion: –

This section requires test takers to fill in the gaps in an outline of part or of all listening texts. The focus of the outline will be the main ideas and facts in the text. It can be a form, notes, a table or a flowchart.

5. Completing Sentences: –

Test takers are required to fill in the gaps in the sentences after listening to the audio recording. Also there is a word limit in this section.

6. Short answer type questions: –

This section includes short answer type questions and a word limit is prescribed. There is a penalty for over exceeding the word limit.

Each question is of one mark and there are 40 questions. A band table is produced which translates the score out of 40 into a 9 band score system. Certified markers check the listening test and also there is a penalty for spelling errors or wrong grammar.

• READING: –

There are 40 questions in the reading section and they test the test takers reading comprehension and understanding. These also includes reading for gist, reading for main ideas, reading for detail, skimming, understanding logical argument and recognising writers’ opinions, attitudes and purpose.

There are 3 long texts which are randomly taken from different sources and range from the descriptive and factual to the discursive and analytical

The total time allotted is 60 minutes and there are 40 questions. Each question is of 1 mark.

These are the different types of questionsand IELTS exam syllabus: –

1. Multiple Choice: –

Here the test taker has to choose from 3 or 4 options and mark the 1 or 2 correct options. Also the questions may include complete the sentence and fill in the blanks.

• Information Identification: –

These are true or false type questions also there is an option of not given and it is different from false and test givers should be careful and cautious while writing the answer.

• Writer views Identification: –

The test takers will be asked whether the statement agrees with the view of the writers and there are choices which include true, false or not given

• Matching Information: –

In this task the test takers are required to locate specific information within a text and write the correct paragraph or sections in the answer sheet.

• Matching Headings: –

Here the test takers are given headings and they have to match them with the correct paragraph.

• Matching Features: –

The test takers are required to match a statement or a piece of information to a list of options. These options are a group of features from the text and are identified by letters.

• Matching Sentence Endings: –

Half a sentence is given and option are given to complete it from a list of possible options.

• Sentence Completion: –

Half the sentence is given and the test takers are required to complete the sentence from a list of given words and phrases.

• Summary, note, table, flow-chart completion: –

Using the information from the text the test taker has to fill in the table, flow chart and also write a summary or complete notes

• Diagram Label completion: –

Labels on diagrams are needed to be completed from the information from the text

• Short answer type questions: –

Some short answers are required with the context of the text.

• WRITING: –

60 minutes are given for this section. There are 2 questions in total.

In the first task you will be presented with a graph, table, chart or diagram and asked to describe, summarize or explain the information in your own words. The exam takers have to write 150 words in 20 minutes here.

In the second task you will have to write an essay describing your point of view, problem or argument. The test takers have to write 250 words in 40 minutes over here.

As far as the marking is concerned in Task 1, the responses are assessed on Grammatical accuracy, coherence and cohesion, Lexical resource and Task achievement.

In Task 2, responses are assessed on Grammatical accuracy, coherence and cohesion, Lexical resource and Task achievement.

• SPEAKING: –

11 to 14 minutes are allotted to this section.

This section assesses your spoken English and there are three parts to it.

Part 1 lasts for 4 to 5 minutes and the examiner will ask about general things like interests, home, family and study

Part 2 lasts for up to 2 minutes and you will be given a card with a particular topic and then you have to speak on it for 2 minutes. After that the examiner will ask a couple of questions about the same topic

Part 3 lasts between 4 to 5 minutes. The examiner will ask some more questions about the topic in Part 2 here.

The assessment of the responses is assessed based on Grammatical accuracy, coherence/fluency and cohesion, Lexical resource and Pronunciation.

Thus to succeed in the IELTS exam you need to work on all 4 aspects of the exam and should take IELTS Online Coaching and also practice as much as possible. The more you practice the better you will become. Also you should do a SWAT analysis so that you can improve on your weaknesses and work upon your strengths.