The IELTS exam has been the standard for assessing English language proficiency for over 30 years. Trusted by over 12,000 organisations across 140+ countries globally, IELTS is widely recognised by educational institutions, employers, governments and professional bodies when verifying language skills.
Your IELTS score will be accepted for study abroad, professional registration, recruitment, immigration or visa formalities in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and more. This article explores the IELTS exam syllabus and pattern in detail to help your preparation process.
What is an IELTS exam?
IELTS or International English Language Testing System is an internationally recognised test of English language proficiency. It reflects real-life English skills and goes beyond the textbook curriculum. The test assesses a candidate’s ability to communicate in the language for studying abroad, professional registration, employment or immigration.
There are two types of IELTS exam. However, The IELTS exam pattern remains the similar for both the tests:
1. IELTS Academic: The IELTS Academic test evaluates the English skills needed to study or train at the undergraduate or postgraduate level in an English-speaking country. The content and tasks are more academically oriented.
2. IELTS General Training: The IELTS General Training evaluates English proficiency needed for secondary education, vocational training, work experience and immigration. The content and tasks are more general focusing on basic survival skills.
IELTS syllabus
The IELTS syllabus covers a wide range of everyday and academic English skills:
1. Listening: Ability to understand native English speech including conversations and lectures.
2. Reading: Ability to read and comprehend a variety of texts and identify key information, ideas and details.
3. Writing: Ability to write clear, well-organised texts using an appropriate style and a range of vocabulary and grammar structures.
4. Speaking: Ability to communicate verbally in English by answering questions and engaging in focused discussions.
IELTS exam pattern
Below is the breakdown of the IELTS exam pattern:
1. Listening
The IELTS exam pattern first includes the listening section. The listening section tests your ability to understand spoken English. It lasts for 30 minutes and consists of 4 recordings with 10 questions for each recording. The recordings include 2 conversations between native English speakers in everyday social situations and 2 monologues delivered in common social contexts.
The difficulty level increases with each subsequent recording. The first features basic exchanges about simple daily activities while the second involves a complex university lecture or presentation.
A variety of question types are used in the IELTS exam pattern to test understanding including multiple choice, matching, labelling diagrams, sentence completion and short answer questions. Candidates hear each recording once and answer the questions simultaneously.
2. Reading
The reading section of the IELTS exam pattern includes reading 3 texts of increasing difficulty and answering 40 questions in 60 minutes. The texts and topics are academic in nature. They are selected from books, journals, magazines and newspapers.
The first text is factual and descriptive, the second is discursive and analytical, and the third presents a detailed, logical argument. The third text is the most complex.
Reading skills like skimming, scanning, understanding logical argument and recognising opinion and attitude are tested through multiple choice, short answer questions, labelling diagrams, matching headings and completing sentences.
3. Writing
There are two writing tasks to be completed in 60 minutes. In Task 1, you must write at least 150 words in about 20 minutes responding to a prompt asking you to describe a piece of visual information like a graph or table. In Task 2, you must write at least 250 words in about 40 minutes responding to a prompt asking you to present an argument or opinion on an issue.
Writing is assessed based on task achievement, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy.
4. Speaking
The speaking section involves a face-to-face oral interview with an examiner lasting 11-14 minutes. It is recorded.
There are three parts in the speaking section in the exam pattern for IELTS. First, you will be asked general questions about familiar topics like work, studies and interests. Second, you will receive a topic card and must speak about it for 2 minutes after 1 minute of preparation. Third, the examiner will ask you broader questions related to the topic.
Speaking evaluates your fluency, grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and ability to express complex ideas.
IELTS exam preparation tips
By understanding the IELTS exam pattern, having ample preparation time and these key tips in mind, achieving the desired score is possible:
1. Understand the IELTS syllabus and pattern, task types and evaluation criteria. Be aware of timing and word limits. Practice previous year’s question papers and mock tests.
2. Reading newspapers, novels, magazines and non-fiction books in English will expand vocabulary and enhance reading speed.
3. Practice writing in English daily including descriptive essays and letters. Incorporate new words or rules learned rather than trying direct translation from your native language. Review grammar books and focus on areas of difficulty.
4. Practice speaking in English through conversations, group discussions or even self-talk. Voice recording apps can also help identify areas of improvement. This builds confidence for the speaking IELTS speaking test.
5. Rigorously follow section-wise time limits and word counts for writing tasks during practice. Skim read lengthy passages in the reading test. This will help in building a pace for the completion of tasks within the allotted duration.
6. Appear for mock tests regularly to better comprehend the IELTS test pattern. Analyse errors to continually upgrade skills. Eventually, aim to complete mock tests scoring your target band.
Wrapping up
The IELTS exam pattern is designed to assess real-life skills in English for global mobility. By understanding the IELTS exam format and preparing adequately with a timely plan, you can aim for your desired band score easily.
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15 February 2024
5 mins read
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