| Updated On - Dec 6, 2025
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 syllabus is designed to assess your English proficiency across all 4 essential skills: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. While Listening, Reading, and Writing are conducted on the same day, the Speaking test may be scheduled on the same day or up to 7 days before or after, depending on your test center.
- Listening: 4 recordings that test understanding of main ideas, details, and opinions.
- Reading: Academic includes texts from books and journals; General Training focuses on everyday materials like notices and workplace documents.
- Writing: Academic requires describing visual information and writing an essay; General Training includes letter writing and an essay.
- Speaking: A face-to-face interview assessing fluency, coherence, and pronunciation.
IELTS Syllabus 2026
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, Cue Card, and Discussion. |
IELTS Listening Syllabus 2026
The IELTS Listening test is designed to assess how well you understand spoken English across different contexts and accents. 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 Mp/diagram labelling Form completion Short-answer questions |
Tips:
- 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.
- Focus on synonyms and paraphrasing.
| Also Check | |
|---|---|
| IELTS Listening Topics | IELTS Listening Tips |
IELTS Reading Syllabus 2026
IELTS Reading evaluates your understanding of the main ideas, details, and implied meanings in the texts. 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 Analysing 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 |
Tips:
- Manage time (about 20 minutes per passage).
- Academic passages are more complex and require understanding of academic vocabulary.
| Also Check | |
|---|---|
| IELTS Reading Books | IELTS Reading Tips |
IELTS Writing Syllabus 2026
The IELTS Writing section assesses your ability to communicate your ideas clearly and effectively in written English. 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, summarise, 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 |
Tips:
- Task 2 carries more weight, so plan your response carefully.
- Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures, and remember that answers below the required word count will be penalised.
| Also Check | |
|---|---|
| IELTS Writing Topics | IELTS Writing Tips |
IELTS Speaking Syllabus 2026
IELTS Speaking involves a face-to-face interview with an examiner followed by short questions, speaking at length about a 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 |
Tips:
- Speak clearly and naturally. Expand answers with explanations and examples.
- No need for perfect grammar; focus on communication.
Also Check: IELTS Speaking Tips
IELTS Syllabus 2026: Academic vs General Training
The IELTS exam is offered in 2 types: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. The Listening and Speaking sections are the same for both versions, while 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 Syllabus 2026 Preparation Tips
To achieve a good IELTS band score, candidates need effective preparation. Here are some tips to help you prepare for the 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.
| Must-read Articles for IELTS Preparation | |
|---|---|
| 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.
1720429164.png?tr=w-305,h-145,c-force?h=40&w=40&mode=stretch){kind=small}
_(6)1721042889.png?tr=w-305,h-145,c-force?h=40&w=40&mode=stretch){kind=small}
1720433180.jpg?tr=w-305,h-145,c-force?h=40&w=40&mode=stretch){kind=small}
Comments