IELTS 2019 Exam: Dates, Pattern, Syllabus, Question Papers
STREAM

IELTS Exam

https://www.ielts.org/

IELTS is an English Language Proficiency test that is required to be taken by non-native students for study in countries where the medium of instruction is English.
Frequency
Anytime
Mode
Online & Offline

IELTS Registration

Registration Mode
Online
Payment Modes
Credit Card
Debit Card
Fee
General / OBC
INR 16,250
SC / ST / PH
INR 16,250
Female
INR 16,250
Note
You can register and pay online or download an application form to print, complete and submit to your local test centre.
IELTS
IELTS 2018
IELTS 2023

IELTS 2023 Dates

IELTS Pattern

IELTS Exam
FORMAT OF EXAMINATION

There are two modules to choose from – Academic and General Training.

  • IELTS Academic : IELTS Academic is for test takers wishing to study at undergraduate or postgraduate levels, and for those seeking professional registration.
  • IELTS General Training : IELTS General Training is for test takers wishing to migrate to an English-speaking country (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK), and for those wishing to train or study at below degree level.
  • Each organisation sets its own entry requirements. In some cases both Academic or General Training may be accepted. If you are in doubt as to which to take, you should contact the organisation you are applying to in order to check their requirements.
  • You are tested on all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking, unless you have an exemption due to a disability (see section on special requirements). Everyone takes the same Listening and Speaking tests. There are different Reading and Writing tests for IELTS Academic and General Training.
  • The Listening, Reading and Writing tests must be completed on the same day. The order in which these tests are taken may vary. There are no breaks between these three tests. The Speaking test may be taken up to seven days before or after the other three tests.
The Four Components of the IELTS Test

  • LISTENING
  1. Timing : Approximately 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes’ transfer time).
  2. Questions : There are 40 questions. A variety of question types are used, chosen from the following: multiple choice, matching, plan/ map/diagram labelling, form completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, summary completion, sentence completion, short-answer questions.
  3. Test Parts : There are 4 sections:
  • Section 1 is a conversation between two people set in an everyday social context (e.g. a conversation in an accommodation agency).
  • Section 2 is a monologue set in an everyday social context (e.g. a speech about local facilities or a talk about the arrangements for meals during a conference)
  • Section 3 is a conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context (e.g. a university tutor and a student discussing an assignment, or a group of students planning a research project).
  • Section 4 is a monologue on an academic subject (e.g. a university lecture).
  • Each section is heard once only.
  • A variety of voices and native-speaker accents are used.
4. Skills assessed : A wide range of listening skills are assessed, including:

  • understanding of main ideas
  • understanding of specific factual information
  • recognising opinions, attitudes and purpose of a speaker
  • following the development of an argument.
5. Marking : Each correct answer receives 1 mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS 9-band scale. Scores are reported in whole and half bands.

  • READING
  1. Timing : 60 minutes (no extra transfer time).
  2. Questions : There are 40 questions. A variety of question types are used, chosen from the following: multiple choice, identifying information (True/False/Not Given), identifying a writer’s views/claims (Yes/No/Not Given), matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, sentence completion, summary completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion, short-answer questions.
  3. Test Parts : There are 3 sections. The total text length is 2,150-2,750 words.
  4. Academic Reading : Each section contains one long text. Texts are authentic and are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers. They have been written for a non-specialist audience and are on academic topics of general interest. Texts are appropriate to, and accessible to, test takers entering undergraduate or postgraduate courses or seeking professional registration. Texts range from the descriptive and factual to the discursive and analytical. Texts may contain non-verbal materials such as diagrams, graphs or illustrations. If texts contain technical terms, then a simple glossary is provided.
  5. General Training Reading :
  • Section 1 contains two or three short factual texts, one of which may be composite (consisting of 6-8 short texts related by topic, e.g. hotel advertisements). Topics are relevant to everyday life in an English-speaking country.
  • Section 2 contains two short factual texts focusing on workrelated issues (e.g. applying for jobs, company policies, pay and conditions, workplace facilities, staff development and training).
  • Section 3 contains one longer, more complex text on a topic of general interest.
  • Texts are authentic and are taken from notices, advertisements, company handbooks, official documents, books, magazines and newspapers.
6. Skills assessed : A wide range of reading skills are assessed, including:

  • reading for gist
  • reading for main ideas
  • reading for detail
  • understanding inferences and implied meaning
  • recognising writer’s opinions, attitudes and purpose
  • following the development of an argument.

7. Marking : Each correct answer receives 1 mark. Scores out of 40 are converted to the IELTS 9-band scale. Scores are reported in whole and half bands.

  • WRITING
  1. Timing : 60 minutes Tasks There are 2 tasks. You are required to write at least 150 words for Task 1 and at least 250 words for Task
  2. Test Parts : There are 2 parts.
  • Academic Writing :
In Task 1, you are presented with a graph, table, chart or diagram and are asked to describe, summarise or explain the information in your own words. You may be asked to describe and explain data, describe the stages of a process, how something works or describe an object or event.
In Task 2, you are asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. The issues raised are of general interest to, suitable for and easily understood by test takers entering undergraduate or postgraduate studies or seeking professional registration.

Responses to Task 1 and Task 2 should be written in an academic, semi-formal/neutral style.

  • General Training Writing :
In Task 1, you are presented with a situation and are asked to write a letter requesting information or explaining the situation. The letter may be personal or semi-formal/neutral in style.

In Task 2, you are asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. The essay can be slightly more personal in style than the Academic Writing Task 2 essay. Topics are of general interest.

3. Skills assessed : In both tasks, you are assessed on your ability to write a response which is appropriate in terms of:

  • content
  • the organisation of ideas
  • the accuracy and range of vocabulary and grammar.
  • Academic Writing :
In Task 1, depending on the task type, you are assessed on your ability to organise, present and possibly compare data; to describe the stages of a process or procedure; to describe an object or event or sequence of events; to explain how something works.

In Task 2, depending on the task type, you are assessed on your ability to present a solution to a problem; to present and justify an opinion; to compare and contrast evidence, opinions and implications; to evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence or an argument.

  • General Training Writing :
In Task 1, depending on the task type, you are assessed on your ability to engage in personal correspondence in order to: elicit and provide general factual information; express needs, wants, likes and dislikes; express opinions (views, complaints etc.).

In Task 2, you are assessed on your ability to provide general factual information; to outline a problem and present a solution; to present and possibly justify an opinion; to evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence or an argument.

4. Marking : You are assessed on your performance on each task by certificated IELTS examiners according to the IELTS Writing test assessment criteria (Task Achievement/Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy). The public version of the assessment criteria can be found at www.ielts.org/criteria.

  • Task 2 contributes twice as much as Task 1 to the Writing score.
  • Scores are reported in whole and half bands.
  • SPEAKING
  • Timing : 11-14 minutes
  • Test Parts : There are 3 parts.
  • Part 1 Introduction and interview (4-5 minutes) : The examiner introduces him/herself and asks you to introduce yourself and confirm your identity. The examiner asks you general questions on familiar topics, e.g. home, family, work, studies and interests.
  • Part 2 Individual long turn (3-4 minutes) : The examiner gives you a task card which asks you to talk about a particular topic and which includes points you can cover in your talk. You are given 1 minute to prepare your talk, and are given a pencil and paper to make notes. You talk for 1-2 minutes on the topic. The examiner may then ask you one or two questions on the same topic.
  • Part 3 Two-way discussion (4-5 minutes) : The examiner asks further questions which are connected to the topic of Part 2. These questions give you an opportunity to discuss more abstract issues and ideas.
4. Skills assessed : A wide range of speaking skills are assessed, including:

  • the ability to communicate opinions and information on everyday topics and common experiences and situations by answering a range of questions
  • the ability to speak at length on a given topic using appropriate language and organising ideas coherently
  • the ability to express and justify opinions and to analyse, discuss and speculate about issues.
5. Marking :

  • You are assessed on your performance throughout the test by certificated IELTS examiners according to the IELTS Speaking test assessment criteria (Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, Pronunciation).
  • The public version of the assessment criteria can be found at www.ielts.org/criteria.
  • Scores are reported in whole and half bands.



IELTS Recommended Reading

Exambazaar couldn't locate you with accuracy