| Updated On - Sep 4, 2025
IELTS Syllabus Highlights:
- Format: Academic and General Training
- Sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking
- Questions: 40 Listening, 40 Reading, 2 Writing, 3 Speaking
- Duration: 2 hours and 45 minutes
- Score Range: 0-9
- Negative Marking: No
The IELTS exam syllabus is structured to evaluate a candidate’s proficiency in the English language across 4 core language skills: listening, reading, speaking, and writing. You will take the first 3 parts of the test on the same day, in the following order: Listening, Reading, and Writing (with no breaks in between). The IELTS Speaking test will be held either on the same day or 7 days before or after that, depending on your test center.
In the Listening section, candidates respond to 4 recordings, testing their ability to understand main ideas, specific information, and opinions. The Reading section differs slightly between the Academic and General Training versions. Academic includes texts from books, journals, and newspapers, while General Training focuses on everyday materials like workplace documents. The Writing section assesses a candidate’s ability to present information and arguments, with Academic test-takers interpreting graphs or charts and composing formal essays, while General Training includes letter writing and a short essay. The Speaking test is a face-to-face interview that evaluates fluency, pronunciation, and coherence through a structured conversation.
This comprehensive syllabus ensures that test-takers are well-prepared for academic or professional environments in English-speaking countries.
| Important Articles | |
|---|---|
| IELTS Registration | IELTS Exam Fee |
| IELTS Exam Dates | IELTS Test Centers |
IELTS Syllabus Highlights
The table below gives a section-wise breakdown of the IELTS exam pattern and syllabus:
| Section | Duration | Number of Questions | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 30 minutes | 40 |
4 recorded monologues and conversations. Tests understanding of main ideas, opinions, and factual information. |
| Reading | 60 minutes | 40 |
Academic: 3 passages from books, journals, etc. General: Extracts from advertisements, handbooks, newspapers. |
| Writing | 60 minutes | 2 tasks |
Academic: Describe visual data (Task 1) + essay (Task 2) General: Letter writing (Task 1) + essay (Task 2) |
| Speaking | 11-14 minutes | 3 tasks | Face-to-face interview with an examiner: Introduction, Speaking on a given topic, and Discussion. |
IELTS Listening Syllabus
The IELTS Listening test is designed to assess how well you understand spoken English across different contexts and accents. In this test, you will be given some recordings and questions based on them. The recordings can only be played once, so focused listening is essential. The test includes a variety of English accents, including British, American, and Australian.
The details of the IELTS Listening section are given in the table below:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of recordings | 4 |
| Number of questions | 40 |
| Duration | 30 minutes |
| Recording Types |
Conversation in a social context Monologue Conversation in an academic context Lecture on a given topic |
| Question Types |
Multiple-choice Matching Map/diagram labelling Form completion Short-answer questions |
| Also Check | |
|---|---|
| IELTS Listening Topics | IELTS Listening Tips |
IELTS Reading Syllabus
The IELTS Reading test assesses your ability to read and understand English effectively. This test includes various question types and evaluates different skills. It consists of 3 passages, each followed by a series of questions based on them. The IELTS Reading test evaluates your understanding of the main ideas, details, and implied meanings in the texts. It requires you to learn several tips and tricks, including skimming, scanning, and interpreting the author's views.
The table below explains the IELTS Reading section in detail:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of passages | 3 |
| Number of questions | 40 |
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Passage sources |
Academic: Books, journals, magazines, and newspapers. General Training: Passages you are likely to encounter in an everyday context. |
| Question Types |
Diagram label completion Analyzing a writer's views or claims Information identification Feature matching Heading matching Matching information Sentence ending matching Multiple choice questions Sentence completion Short-answer questions Summary, note, table, flow-chart completion |
| Also Check | |
|---|---|
| IELTS Reading Books | IELTS Reading Tips |
IELTS Writing Syllabus
The IELTS Writing section assesses your ability to communicate your ideas clearly and effectively in written English. This section consists of tasks like writing an essay, summarizing, or describing a given graph, table, chart, or diagram. The Academic Writing test will contain topics suitable for anyone entering a university or a professional institution. The General Training Writing test will contain topics based on general interest.
The table below gives details about the IELTS Writing section:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of tasks | 2 |
| Duration | 60 minutes (Task 1: 20 minutes, Task 2: 40 minutes) |
| Task 1 |
Academic: Describe, summarize, or explain the information given in a graph, table, chart, or diagram in 150 words. General Training: Write a letter requesting information or explaining a given situation. |
| Task 2 |
Academic: Write an essay in response to a point of view, argument, or problem. General Training: Write an essay in response to a point of view, argument, or problem (slightly informal than the Academic writing task). |
| Answer length |
Task 1: 150 words Task 2: 200 words |
| Also Check | |
|---|---|
| IELTS Writing Topics | IELTS Writing Tips |
IELTS Speaking Syllabus
The IELTS Speaking section is designed to evaluate your English-speaking skills through a face-to-face interview with an examiner, without disruptions or distractions. This section includes short questions, speaking at length about a familiar topic, and a structured discussion.
The table below gives the key information about the IELTS Speaking section:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of tasks | 3 |
| Duration | 11-14 minutes (4-5 minutes for task 1, 3-4 minutes for task 2, 4-5 minutes for task 3) |
| Tasks |
Introduction Speak at length on a topic given by the examiner Answer questions related to the topic asked by the examiner |
Also Check: IELTS Speaking Tips
IELTS Syllabus: Academic vs General Training
The IELTS exam is offered in 2 formats: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, each tailored for different purposes. While the Listening and Speaking sections are the same for both versions, the Reading and Writing sections differ in terms of content and complexity. Here are the key differences between IELTS Academic and General Training syllabi.
| Section | IELTS Academic | IELTS General |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | For candidates applying to study at undergraduate or postgraduate levels, or for professional registration in English-speaking countries. | For candidates migrating to English-speaking countries, like Canada, the UK, or Australia, for work, training programs, or secondary education. |
| Listening | Same for both | Same for both |
| Reading |
3 passages from books, journals, and articles. Passages are more analytical and complex. |
3 passages taken from advertisements, notices, handbooks, and newspapers. Focuses on daily English and workplace context. |
| Writing task 1 | Describe visual data, like a graph, a chart, a table, or a diagram. | Write a letter (formal, semi-formal, or informal) based on a given situation. |
| Writing task 2 | Formal essay in response to a point of view, argument, or problem. | Essay writing is similar to Academic, but the language can be slightly less formal. |
| Speaking | Same for both | Same for both |
IELTS Preparation Tips
To achieve a good IELTS band score, candidates need effective preparation. Taking coaching classes, reading books, and regularly solving practice papers helps the candidates to understand the IELTS syllabus and pattern. Here are some tips to prepare for the IELTS exam.
- Understand the questions carefully and focus on finding answers in the passage.
- Write within the given word limit for each question.
- Write precise, relevant answers. Avoid writing long paragraphs and sentences.
- Listen to the questions asked carefully, and answer directly.
- Be precise, grammatically correct, and to the point.
- Use an active voice. Avoid writing in the passive voice.
- Focus on vocabulary, range of tenses, grammar, and sentence structure.
- Revise and proofread for spelling and grammar errors before submission.
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| IELTS Preparation | IELTS Preparation Apps |
| IELTS Preparation Books | IELTS Coaching in India |
The IELTS exam syllabus is designed to test a candidate's English skills for work, PR, or study abroad. The academic and general syllabi are different for the reading and writing sections. The Reading and Writing sections evaluate the candidate's ability to understand and communicate. The Listening section includes lectures and note-taking activities. For speaking, candidates need to discuss personal details and a given topic. You will be advised to practice the IELTS grammar syllabus to give effective answers.
FAQs
Ques. Is the IELTS syllabus the same for Academic and General Training?
Ans. No, the Listening and Speaking sections are the same for both. However, the Reading and Writing sections differ in terms of content, difficulty level, and context.
Ques. How many sections are there in the IELTS exam?
Ans. The IELTS exam has 4 sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. All four assess different aspects of English language proficiency.
Ques. Is there any negative marking in the IELTS exam?
Ans. No, there is no negative marking in the IELTS test. It’s better to attempt all questions even if you're unsure of the answer.
Ques. Can I choose between paper-based and computer-based IELTS?
Ans. Yes, IELTS is available in both paper-based and computer-based formats. The content and structure are the same, but the result delivery is faster in the computer-based format.
Ques. What is the minimum IELTS band score required for universities?
Ans. Most top universities require an overall band score of 6.5 to 7.0, but the requirement may vary depending on the institution and program.
Ques. Can I prepare for IELTS without coaching?
Ans. Yes, many candidates prepare for IELTS on their own using books, online resources, and practice tests. Coaching can help, but it's not mandatory.
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