This PPT was made for a Chinese university class whose students were mostly unfamiliar with the IELTS exam. It is intended as an introduction to the various components of IELTS and the information is taken and modified from the IELTS website.

1. IELTS Overview

2. Test Format
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

3. Listening Test
What you need to know about IELTS
listening

4. Listening
Time: 30 minutes + 10 minutes answer transfer
Questions: 40
Sections: 4
Question Types: multiple choice, map labelling,
form completion, sentence completion, etc

5. Example Questions

6. Listening
Section 1: normal conversation between 2 people,
often on the phone
Section 2: one person talking in everyday context
Section 3: 2-4 people talking in an academic setting
Section 4: a monologue (usually a lecture) in an
academic context (university)

7. Skills Assessed
In this exam, you will be tested on your
ability to:
» Understand main ideas and specific
details
» Infer opinions and recognize ideas
» Follow a conversation

8. Example Test
Listen to the exam IELTS Listening Exam.

9. Reading Test
Key facts about IELTS Reading

10. Reading
Time: 60 minutes
Questions: 40
Sections: 3 (up to 2,750 words)
Questions types: multiple choice, T/F/NG,
identifying views, matching headings, etc

11. Kinds of Text
These are non-specialist reading passages taken
from magazines, books, journals, and
newspapers
Academic topics of “general interest”
Descriptive, factual, discursive, or argumentative
- one will contain a “logical argument”
May contain diagrams, images, etc

12. Notes
If difficult words (ie technical terms) are included,
a glossary is given with definition
No extra time is allowed for answer transfer
Each question = 1 mark

14. Example
Let’s look at a PDF document from an IELTS
practice test book.

15. Reading Skills Assessed
You should be able to do the following:
» Reading for main idea
» Reading for details
» Understanding subtle ideas
» Recognizing opinions

16. Writing Exam
What you need to know for IELTS Writing

17. Writing
Time: 60 minutes
Sections: 2
Word count: 150 words for task 1
250 words for task 2

18. Writing
Task 1
Describe a table, chart, graph, illustration,
diagram, or map. Spend about 20 minutes.
Task 2
Respond to a prompt, asking for an argument or
point of view, with an essay. Spend about 40
minutes.

19. Requirements
You must:
» Write in a formal style
» Adhere to a simple structure
» Answer the question directly
» Stay above the minimum word count

20. Task 1
Here are some examples of what you may need
to describe. In each case, you should only write
about the main features, highlighting any
comparisons if necessary.
For Task 1, you should never give opinions or
add extra details.

21. Bar Chart

22. Line Graph

23. Pie Chart

24. Table

25. Process Diagram

26. Map

27. Combination

28. Skills Assessed
Your writing should show your:
» Vocabulary
» Grammar
» Structure
» Understanding

29. Speaking
Key facts about IELTS Speaking

30. Speaking
Time: 11-14 minutes
Sections: 3
Type: Face-to-face interview, which is recorded

31. Speaking Part 1
Examiners confirms the candidate’s identity
Questions are short and simple like a basic
conversation
Topics include home, family, work, hobbies
Lasts 4-5 minutes

32. Speaking Part 2
Examiner gives a “cue card” with a task.
Candidate must talk for 1-2 minutes.
You have 1 minute to prepare
Question is usually “describe…” something
Examiner will ask one or two follow-up questions.
Total time 3-4 minutes

33. Speaking Part 3
Longer discussion based upon part 2 topic
Answers must be longer and more detailed
Ideas can be difficult and answers should be
substantial
Time: 4-5 minutes

34. Example
Let’s watch a video of an IELTS Speaking Exam