Discussion on IELTS exam format.

1. RAIHANUL ISLAM
IELTS Exam
Structure

2. What is IELTS?
Designed to assess the English language
ability of people who intend to study or
work where English is the language of
communication

3. Modules
Academic
General Training

4. IELTS Test Results
• Test Result is valid for 2 years
• A band score is awarded per subtest
(LRWS)
• Band score ranges from 1-9
• There is no passing or failing mark

5. Band scores
• Band 9 - Expert User
• Band 8 - Very Good User
• Band 7 - Good User
• Band 6 - Competent User
• Band 5 - Modest User
• Band 4 - Limited User
• Band 3 - Extremely Limited User
• Band 2 - Intermittent User
• Band 1 - Non User

6. Academic reading
60 minutes
Academic writing
60 minutes
General training reading
60 minutes
General training writing
60 minutes
Listening
30 minutes
Speaking
11-14 minutes
IELTS Test Format

7. Timing:
approx. 30 minutes + 10 minutes transfer time
Questions:
40 items
Types of questions:
multiple choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labelling,
form and note completion, table completion, flow-chart
completion, summary completion, sentence completion,
short-answer questions)
Listening Test

8. Test Parts: 4 sections
Section1: conversation between two people set in everyday
social context
Section2: monologue set in everyday social context
Section3: conversation between up to 4 people set in an
educational or training context
Section4: monologue on an academic subject
Listening Test

9. Skills Assessed:
•Understanding of main ideas and specific factual
information
•Recognising opinions, attitudes and purpose of the
speaker
•Following development of an argument
Listening Test

10. Timing:
60 minutes no transfer time
Questions:
40 items
Test Parts:
3 sections with a total text length of 2,150-2,750 words
Types of questions:
multiple choice, identifying information (True/False/Not Given), identifying
writer’s view/claims (Yes/No/Not Given), matching (information, headings,
features, sentence endings), sentence completion, summary completion, note
completion, table completion etc
Reading Test

11. Reading Test
•Texts are authentic and taken from books, journals,
magazines and newspaper 3 sections with a total text length
of 2,150-2,750 words
•Written for non-specialist audience and are on academic
topics of general interests
•Text range from descriptive and factual to discursive
and analytical
•May contain non-verbal materials such as diagrams

12. Skills Assessed:
•Reading for gist
•Reading for main ideas
•Reading for detail
•Understanding inferences and implied meaning
•Recognising a writers opinion, attitudes and purpose
•Following the development of an argument
Reading Test

13. Timing: 60 minutes
Tasks: there are two tasks
Candidates are required to write at least 150
words in task 1 and at least 250 words in task two
Test Parts: 2 parts
Writing Test

14. Task 1: Presents a table, graph, chart or diagram
Candidate must describe and explain data, describe the
stages of a process, describe an event or an object from a
given,
Task 2: Write an essay in response to a point of view,
argument or problem
**Response for both task should be written in a
formal style.
Writing Test

15. Skills Assessed:
Ability to write a response which is appropriate in terms
of:
 Content
 Organisation of ideas
 Accuracy
 Vocabulary
 Grammar
Writing Test

16. Speaking Test
Timing: 11-14 minutes
Tasks: A face-to-face interview with an examiner. The
speaking test is recorded.
Parts: 3 parts
Part 1: Introduction and interview (3-4 mins)
The examiner confirms candidate identity and ask general
questions on familiar topics e.g. home

17. Speaking Test
Part 2: Individual long turn (3-4 minutes)
•Candidate is given a task card
•Candidate is given 1 minute to prepare their talk
•Candidate talks for 1-2 minutes
•Examiner then asks the candidate 1-2 questions on the
same topic

18. Speaking Test
Part 3: Two-way discussion (4-5 minutes)
•Examiner asks further questions related to topic on
part 2
•These questions can give the candidate an opportunity
to discuss more abstract issues and ideas

19. Speaking Test
Skills Assessed
A wide range of speaking skills is assessed including:
•Ability to communicate opinion and information on
everyday topics, experiences etc by answering a range of
questions
•Ability to speak at length using appropriate language and
organising ideas coherently
•Ability to express and justify opinion and to
analyse, discuss and speculate about issues

20. Speaking Test Criteria
•Fluency: talking at a natural rate without causing too
much effort for the listener.
• Vocabulary range
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy
• Pronunciation

21. Thank You