What is the format of IELTS General Training?
IELTS stands for: International English Language Testing System. The IELTS test assesses your abilities in all four skills in English– listening, reading, writing and speaking.
There are two versions of IELTS to choose from:
- IELTS Academic
- IELTS General Training
Everyone takes the same Listening and Speaking tests, regardless of which version they take. The Reading and Writing tests differ in content, depending on whether you are taking IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training.
There is no limit for the IELTS test . One can give the exam as many times as he wants.
The IELTS General Training Test is for those who are going to English speaking countries for secondary education, work experience or training programs. Hence, it is also a requirement for migration to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK.
In the IELTS General Training Test, you will take the Listening, Reading and Writing tests all on the same day one after the other, with no breaks in between them. They are always taken in this order. So, these 3 tests together take a total of 2 hours 40 minutes. These 3 tests are paper tests and
Your Speaking test will either be after a break on the same day as the other three tests, or up to seven days before or after that. This will depend on your test center. The Speaking Test is a face-to-face test with an IELTS examiner and lasts about 11-14 minutes.
Details about the Test formats in IELTS General Training:
| Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time - 30 mins An extra 10 minutes to transfer answers to the answer sheet 4 sections - Sec 1 – a conversation between two people set in an everyday social context. Sec 2 - a monologue set in an everyday social context, e.g. a speech about local facilities. Sec 3 – 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. Sec 4 - a monologue on an academic subject, e.g. a university lecture. Audios are played only once. Total - 40 questions - each sections has 10 questions. The questions are designed so that the answers appear in the order they are heard in the audio. 1 mark for each correct answer. You do not lose marks for a wrong answer. |
Time - 60 mins No extra time is allowed for transferring answer to answer sheet. 3 sections - Sec - 1 contains 2 or 3 short factual texts on topics relevant to everyday life in an English-speaking country e.g., hotel advertisement. Sec -2 contains short factual texts focusing on work-related issues e.g., company policies, etc Sec - 3 contains 1 longer, more complex text on a topic of general interest One point for each correct answer. You do not lose point for a wrong answer. Total - 40 questions. The number of qs. in each section may vary. 1 mark for each correct answer. You do not lose marks for a wrong answer. |
Time - 60 mins 2 questions / writing tasks - Task 1 - test takers are asked to respond to a situation, for example, by writing a letter requesting information or explaining a situation. Should be atleast 150 words long. Task 2, test takers write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. Should be at least 250 words long. |
Time - 11 -14 mins 3 parts - Part 1 - an interview. The examiner will ask you general questions about yourself and a range of familiar topics, such as home, family, work, studies and interests. 4-5 mins Part 2 - a talk. You will be given a card which asks you to talk about a particular topic. You will have 1minute to prepare before speaking for up to 2 minutes. The examiner will then ask 1or 2 questions on the same topic. 3-4 mins. Part 3 - a discussion. It is a two-way discussion with the examiner on the topic in Part 2. 4 -5 mins.The number of qs. in each section may vary. |
About the IELTS Listening Test
- The audios include a range of accents, including British, Australian, New Zealand, American and Canadian.
- In this test, the students are required to simultaneously listen, read and write. They are first given some time to read the questions before an audio is played and then they can write their answers on the question paper as they listen to the audio. At the end of the test they are given 10 minutes to transfer their answers to an answer sheet.
- multiple choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labeling, form/note/table/flow-chart/summary completion and sentence completion- these are the questions that come.
- Avoid poor spelling, grammar and illegible handwriting.
- The Speaking Test is a face-to-face test with an IELTS examiner. Computer is not used.
- Here, the students are marked on fluency of speech and consistency of ideas; vocabulary used; grammar and pronunciation in this test.
- So, a variety of question types are used, chosen from the following: multiple choice, identifying information, identifying writer’s views/claims, 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.
- Please note that only some questions may come in order e.g. they come in order for summary completion or sentence completion questions but not for matching information or matching headings.
About the IELTS General Training Writing Test
- For this paper, students need to write a letter for Question / Task -1 and an essay for Question / Task -2. Each task The assessment of Task 2 carries more weight in marking than Task 1.
- The overall clarity and fluency of the message / passage; the appropriate and accurate use of grammar and vocabulary.
About the IELTS General Training Reading Test
- So, a variety of question types are used, chosen from the following: multiple choice, identifying information, identifying writer’s views/claims, 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.
- Also, please note that only some questions may come in order e.g. they come in order for summary completion or sentence completion questions but not for matching information or matching headings.
- You wont get extra time for transferring answer sheets. Avoid poor spelling, grammar and illegible handwriting.
IELTS scores
- You cannot fail the test. This test will access you English language skills
- On a band of 1-9 , you can score. You can score whole (e.g., 5.0, 6.0, 7.0) or half (e.g., 5.5, 6.5, 7.5) bands in each part of the test on the basis of 4 tests.
- So, your overall band score may be crucial if you intend to emigrate, apply for university or take up a job in an English-speaking country.
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