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International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Exam
IELTS 2024 Exam Pattern: Paper Pattern, Question Types
IELTS exam format: The IELTS exam pattern primarily comprises four sections – Writing, Reading, Listening, and Speaking. The test lasts for 2 hours and 45 minutes. There are two test formats for the IELTS exam – IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training Task. Although both the IELTS exam formats are mostly similar, they are different in their purpose. Refer to the following table to review the IELTS test formats for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training.
| Section | Academic Test Tasks | General Training Tasks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 4 Recordings | 4 Recordings | 30 Minutes |
| Reading | 3 Long Passages | 3 Long Passages | 60 Minutes |
| Writing | Task 1 (Graph, Table, Chart) Task 2 (Essay) | Task 1 (Letter) Task 2 (Essay) | 60 Minutes |
| Speaking | Three Parts: Discussion, Introduction, Conclusion | Three Parts: Introduction, Discussion, Conclusion | 11-14 Minutes |
IELTS Exam Pattern for Academic Test
IELTS Pattern: Test-takers who wish to take the IELTS Academic Test in 2024 should keep the IELTS exam format in mind. Keeping abreast of the up-to-date IELTS pattern will not only help you understand the exam and its nuances but also give you the confidence to tackle challenging questions on your own.
Familiarity with the IELTS exam pattern 2024 will give you a solid idea of the types of questions that are usually asked and the time you must allot to each question type on the day of your IELTS exam. Go through the table below to get a basic idea of the IELTS exam pattern for the Academic Test in 2024.
| Section | Assesses | Task | Time | No. of Questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | Listening skills and ability to comprehend the core ideas of the audio clips. | 4 Recordings (Lectures & Conversations) | 30 Minutes | 40 |
| Reading | Reading skills, ability to understand complex arguments, and analyse information presented in texts. | 3 Passages (Factual, Analytical, & Discursive) | 60 minutes | 40 |
| Speaking | Speaking skills such as fluency, coherence, grammatical range, accuracy and pronunciation. | Introduction & General Questions Part Individual Long Turn (Describe a topic) Discussion (Elaborate on ideas) | 11-14 Minutes | 3 |
| Writing | Writing skills, ability to organise information coherently and construct arguments logically. | Task 1: Report (Summarize data, Describe the process) Task 2: Essay (Discuss an issue, Analyze a problem) | 60 Minutes | 2 |
IELTS Exam Pattern for General Training Test
Test-takers who wish to move abroad for work or take a vocational training programme in a predominantly English-speaking nation must take the IELTS General Training Test. The IELTS General Training Test evaluates an individual’s English language proficiency in a pragmatic, day-to-day setting.
Those who look forward to taking the IELTS General Training Test in 2024 should keep abreast of the IELTS pattern. Doing so will give you a solid idea of the types of questions that are usually asked and the time you must allot to each question type on the day of your IELTS exam. Having said so, go through the table given below to get a basic idea of the IELTS exam pattern for the General Training Test in 2024.
| Section | Assesses | Task | Time | No. of Questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | Listening skills, ability to comprehend the core ideas of the audio clips. | 4 Recordings (Lectures & Conversations) | 30 Minutes | 40 |
| Reading | Reading skills and ability to recognise factual information. | 3 Passages (Factual, Analytical, Discursive) | 60 minutes | 40 |
| Speaking | Speaking skills, such as fluency, coherence, grammatical range, accuracy and pronunciation. | Introduction & General Questions Part Individual Long Turn (Describe a topic) Discussion (Elaborate on ideas) | 11-14 Minutes | 3 |
| Writing | Writing skills, ability to organise information coherently and construct arguments logically. | Task 1: Report (Summarise Data, Describe the Process) Task 2: Essay (Discuss an issue, Analyse a problem) | 60 Minutes | 2 |
Section-Wise Format and Types of Questions in IELTS Exam Pattern
Securing a band score of 8 or 9 in IELTS can be challenging for some. However, such a feat can be easily achieved with prior preparation. It is advisable to be familiar with the common types of questions generally asked in the IELTS exam. Keeping abreast of the IELTS question types will give you a solid idea of what to expect during the test.
IELTS Reading Section
Read and analyse the given texts and develop well-articulated and comprehensible responses. The text excerpts may be taken from books, journals, magazines, newspapers and online sources.
You must have a solid grasp of vocabulary and grammar to be able to construct answers that are coherent, articulate and understandable. Check the IELTS Reading exam pattern in the table below.
| Types of Question | Description |
|---|---|
| MCQ | You are given a passage with several answer choices for each question. Each question comes with four possible answers. You need to select the option that best reflects the information in the text. |
| True/ False/ Not Given | You are given some statements. You need to decide whether they are ‘True’ according to the passage, ‘False’, or the information is ‘Not Given’ in the text. |
| Yes/ No/ Not Given | These questions are similar to True/False/Not Given but these are phrased as yes or no questions based on the passage content. |
| Matching Information | Identify the corresponding sections of the text that discuss them. |
| Matching Heading | Match the headings with the most suitable paragraphs in the passage. |
| Matching Features | Match the features/criteria with the descriptions or examples found in the passage. |
| Matching Sentence Endings | Identify the phrases that best complete the incomplete sentences. |
| Summary Completion | Fill in the blanks with words from the passage that accurately reflect the information. |
IELTS Listening Section
Listen and analyse the core idea from the given audio clips. After that, answer 40 questions based on the clips. You are given 10 minutes at the end of the test to transfer your answers to an answer sheet. Be very careful when writing answers as marks are deducted for incorrect spelling and grammar.
IELTS Listening evaluates the listening and comprehension skills of test-takers, requiring them to demonstrate their ability to retain information and decipher challenging ideas on the spot. Refer to the table below to go through the IELTS exam pattern for the listening section.
| Types of Question | Description |
|---|---|
| MCQ | You’ll hear a recording and be presented with several answer choices. Choose the option that best fits the information you heard. |
| Matching Information | An audio clip is played. Pay close attention to the information provided in the audio clip. Match the information in the clip with the corresponding options on the question sheet. |
| Note Completion | Listen to the information given in the audio clips and fill in the blanks with details from the recording. |
| Form Completion | Listen to the information given in the audio clips and fill in the blanks with details from the recording. |
| Diagram Labelling | Listen to the information given in the audio clips and fill in the blanks with details from the recording. |
| Sentence Completion | Listen an incomplete sentence and fill in the blanks with a word or short phrase based on the recording. |
IELTS Speaking Section
The IELTS speaking section requires test-takers to formulate well-organised and articulate responses under a strict time constraint. Unlike written answers, spoken responses necessitate the creation of a cohesive structure on the fly.
Craft an engaging introduction, develop the body with well-supported arguments, and conclude with a clear summary or final thought.
This is a face-to-face interview between the candidate and an examiner. You must complete the IELTS listening test within 11-14 minutes. Refer to the table below for the IELTS exam pattern for the speaking section.
| Types of Question | Description |
|---|---|
| General Introduction | Answer introductory questions like – ‘What’s your name?’, ‘What do you do?’ etc. |
| Familiar Topics | Talk about topics such as life, hobbies, interests, hometown, or studies. |
| Cue Card Task | Assesses your ability to speak at length on a specific topic for 1-2 minutes. You'll be given a cue card with a topic and bullet points to guide your talk. |
| Independent Speaking | Talk about the topic given on the cue card for 2 minutes. Read the topic and come up with coherent and comprehensible responses. |
| Extended Discussion | Answer the follow-up questions related to the topic in IELTS Speaking Part 2. Requires you to organise your thoughts and formulate well-developed answers. You must have a stronghold on grammar and vocabulary to ace such questions. |
| Abstract and Hypothetical Topics | The discussion will shift to more abstract or hypothetical topics, requiring you to think critically and express your views on broader concepts. |
IELTS Writing Section
This task has two parts – IELTS Writing Task 1 and IELTS Writing Task 2.
The IELTS Writing Task 1 requires you to write a concise summary of at least 150 words about some visual information, generally in the form of a graph or chart.
Select the main characteristics and describe and compare the data provided. Your essay answers should have a solid introduction, two body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph.
Refer to the table below for the IELTS exam pattern for the writing section.
| Types of Question | Description |
|---|---|
| Report Writing/ Process Description | Summarise data in a visual format and explain the stages involved in a process clearly and logically. |
| Essay Writing | Write comprehensive essays that have coherence and are understandable to the readers. Common IELTS essay writing types include Opinion Essays, Advantages and Disadvantages Essays, Problem and Solution Essays, Discussion Essays, and Two-Part Question Essays. |
FAQs
The IELTS exam lasts for 2 hours and 45 minutes.
The IELTS exam is evaluated on a scoring range of 0-9 band scores.
The IELTS reading section comprises 3 long passages and 40 questions.
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