Welcome to IELTS: the test at a glance
Know exactly what you are walking into: Academic vs General Training, the four sections and their timing, computer vs paper, test-day rules, results and the scores universities ask for.
By the end of this lesson you will be able to:
- Explain why IELTS Academic (not General Training) is the right test for university admission
- Name the four sections in order with their timing, question counts and task types
- Choose confidently between computer-delivered and paper-based IELTS
- Follow test-day rules so nothing outside your English costs you marks
- Read a university requirement such as 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0 and plan for it
What IELTS is
IELTS (the International English Language Testing System) measures how well you can use English to study, work and live where English is the main language. It is run jointly by the British Council, IDP and Cambridge University Press & Assessment, and in Bangladesh you can book it through the British Council or IDP.
You receive a band from 0 to 9 for each of the four skills, Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, plus an overall band, which is their average. There is no pass or fail. Each university simply sets the band it needs.
Two versions: Academic and General Training
IELTS comes in two versions. They share the same Listening and Speaking tests, but the Reading and Writing tests are different.
Academic vs General Training
IELTS Academic (your test)
Who it is for: undergraduate and postgraduate admission, plus some professional registration (e.g. doctors, nurses).
Reading: three long passages taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers. They are written for a non-specialist reader but are genuinely academic in style, with arguments, data and research findings.
Writing Task 1: describe a graph, chart, table, process diagram or map in at least 150 words.
Writing Task 2: an academic-style essay (at least 250 words).
IELTS General Training
Who it is for: migration (for example, many Canadian and Australian visa routes), work experience and secondary-school study.
Reading: everyday texts first (notices, adverts, workplace documents), then one longer general-interest passage.
Writing Task 1: a letter (formal, semi-formal or informal).
Writing Task 2: an essay on a general topic.
Universities do not normally accept General Training for degree admission.
If you are applying to a university abroad, book **IELTS Academic**. Some UK visa routes specifically ask for **IELTS for UKVI (Academic)**. It has the same content and scoring but is taken at an approved UKVI session, so check your university’s instructions before you book.
The four sections at a glance (IELTS Academic)
| Section | Time | Questions / tasks | What it tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| About 30 minutes, plus 10 minutes to transfer answers (paper) or 2 minutes to check answers (computer) | 4 parts, 40 questions, each recording heard ONCE | Understanding main ideas, specific facts, opinions and the development of an argument in conversations and talks |
| 60 minutes, with NO extra transfer time | 3 passages (about 2,150–2,750 words in total), 40 questions | Skimming, scanning, detailed understanding, recognising the writer’s views and paraphrase |
| 60 minutes | Task 1: at least 150 words (about 20 min). Task 2: at least 250 words (about 40 min) | Describing visual data accurately; arguing a clear position in an organised essay |
| 11–14 minutes | Part 1 interview, Part 2 long turn (cue card), Part 3 discussion | Speaking fluently and coherently with good vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation |
Inside each section
Listening (40 questions). Part 1 is an everyday conversation (booking, registration, enquiry). Part 2 is a monologue in a social setting (a tour, a talk about a facility). Part 3 is an academic discussion between two or three people, such as students and a tutor. Part 4 is a university-style lecture. The parts get harder as you go. Question types include form, note and table completion, multiple choice, matching, and map or plan labelling.
Reading (40 questions). Three passages, usually rising in difficulty. You will meet True/False/Not Given, Yes/No/Not Given, matching headings, matching information, matching features, sentence endings, multiple choice, summary/note/table/flow-chart completion, diagram labelling and short answers. There are no extra minutes at the end, so your answers must be on the sheet (or on screen) inside the 60 minutes.
Writing (2 tasks). Task 2 is worth twice as much as Task 1, so it deserves about 40 of your 60 minutes. Writing fewer than 150 or 250 words is penalised.
Speaking (3 parts). This is a live, recorded conversation with a certified examiner.
- Part 1 (4–5 min): questions about familiar topics such as your studies, home town, hobbies and daily routine.
- Part 2 (3–4 min): you get a cue card and one minute to prepare (with pencil and paper), then you speak for up to two minutes.
- Part 3 (4–5 min): a deeper, more abstract discussion linked to the Part 2 topic.
Every question in Listening and Reading is worth one mark. Wrong answers are not penalised, so never leave a blank.
How test day runs
- 1
Arrive early and register
Arrive well before the registration time on your confirmation; latecomers may not be allowed to sit the test. Staff check your ID (the same document you used to book, usually your passport in Bangladesh), take your photograph and often scan a fingerprint. The same checks are repeated before Speaking.
- 2
Store your belongings
Phones, smartwatches, fitness bands, bags, wallets and notes go into the storage area. In the room you may normally keep only your ID, the stationery you are allowed, and water in a clear bottle with the label removed. On the computer test the centre gives you a pencil and paper for notes.
- 3
Listening → Reading → Writing, back to back
The three written sections run in this order with no break between them, taking about 2 hours 40 minutes. You cannot leave the room during Listening. In Reading and Writing you may raise your hand to go to the toilet with a supervisor, but the clock keeps running.
- 4
Speaking: same day or a different day
Speaking may be later the same day, or on another day (often within about a week before or after the written test, depending on the centre). Check your confirmation email carefully, because candidates do miss rescheduled Speaking slots.
- 5
Follow the rules exactly
Talking, looking at another screen or paper, using a phone, or taking notes out of the room can cancel your result. On paper, stop writing the instant you are told. On computer, the system ends each section automatically.
Computer-delivered vs paper-based IELTS
Computer-delivered
- Same content, same difficulty, same scoring as paper
- You type your answers; Writing shows a live word count
- Listening: answer on screen as you listen, then 2 minutes to check at the end
- You can highlight text and make notes on screen in Reading
- Results usually online within a few days (commonly 1–5 days)
- More test dates; often smaller rooms with headphones for everyone
- Speaking is still a live conversation with an examiner
Paper-based
- Write in pencil on an answer sheet (pen or pencil for Writing)
- Listening: write on the question paper, then 10 minutes to transfer answers to the answer sheet
- Reading: write straight onto the answer sheet; no transfer time
- You count words yourself, and handwriting must be legible
- Results usually 13 days after the test
- Fewer dates; Listening is often played through speakers in a hall
- Speaking is identical: a live conversation with an examiner
Neither version is easier. Choose **computer** if you type at a reasonable speed (about 30+ words a minute), like a visible word count and want results fast. Choose **paper** if you type slowly or think better with a pencil. Whichever you choose, practise in that format.
Check your understanding: the format
8 questions- 1
Nusrat wants to do a Master’s in Public Health in the UK. Which test should she book?
- 2
Which TWO sections are exactly the same in IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training?
Select 2.
- 3
Put the written sections in the order you take them on test day.
Drag the cards (or use the arrows) into the correct order.
- 1Reading
- 2Listening
- 3Writing
- 4
The Listening test has four parts and a total of questions.
- 5
In paper-based IELTS, candidates write their Listening answers on the question paper while listening and then have ten minutes to transfer them to the answer sheet. In the Reading test, answers must be written directly on the answer sheet within the 60 minutes.
Paper-based candidates also get ten extra minutes at the end of the Reading test to transfer their answers.
- 6
Match each part of the test to its timing.
ReadingSpeakingSpeaking Part 2 preparationListening check time on computer - 7
How should you divide your 60 minutes in the Writing test?
- 8
You are unsure of a Listening answer. What should you do?
Answer every question to check.
Results: when, how and for how long
- Computer-delivered: results are usually available online within a few days (commonly 1–5 days).
- Paper-based: results are usually released 13 days after the test.
- You receive a Test Report Form (TRF) showing a band for each section and your overall band. Universities can verify it online with the test provider.
- Validity: institutions generally accept results for two years from the test date. Plan your test so your results are still valid when your admission and visa applications are assessed.
If one section lets you down: One Skill Retake
In some locations, candidates who took the computer-delivered test can retake one section (Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking) within about 60 days instead of the whole test. You then get a new TRF that combines the new section score with your original scores. Two important cautions:
- It is not available everywhere and not for every test type, so check with your test centre.
- Not every institution accepts it. Confirm with your university before you rely on it.
If you are unhappy with a score, you can also request a re-mark (an Enquiry on Results). This is done for a fee, which is refunded if your band changes.
Typical IELTS Academic requirements (always confirm on your university’s website)
| Destination / level | Typical overall band | Typical minimum in each section |
|---|---|---|
UK undergraduate | 6.0–6.5 | 5.5–6.0 |
UK taught Master’s | 6.5 (7.0 at many top universities) | 6.0, sometimes 6.5 in Writing |
Canada (university) | 6.5 | 6.0 |
Australia (university) | 6.5 | 6.0 |
USA (graduate school) | 6.5–7.0 | Varies; often no band below 6.0 |
Medicine, law, nursing, teaching, journalism | 7.0–7.5+ | Often 7.0 in every section |
Listening practice: a call to the test centre
7 questionsA candidate phones a test centre to check the rules for his computer-delivered IELTS test.
Recording
🎧 Read the questions first, then play the recording once — just like the real test. You can replay it after checking your answers.
Questions 1–5
Complete the notes below.
Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Test-day notes
Test-day notes: Tanvir Hossain
- Registration closes at:
- Identification: bring the used when booking (national ID card not accepted)
- Drinking water: only in a bottle with the label removed
- Phone, wallet and watch: leave in the on the ground floor
- Speaking test day: , at 4.20 pm
Questions 6 and 7
Choose the correct letter, A, B or C.
What does the receptionist say about leaving the room?
When will Tanvir probably receive his results?
Final quiz: are you test-ready?
10 questions- 1
Rakib’s university requires 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0. He scores Listening 7.0, Reading 7.0, Writing 5.5, Speaking 6.5. What happens?
- 2
How long does the whole Speaking test last?
- 3
Which TWO items can you normally keep with you in the test room?
Select 2.
- 4
One Skill Retake lets candidates who took the computer-delivered test retake a single section. It is offered in some locations, and candidates should check that their chosen institution accepts the resulting Test Report Form.
Every university is required to accept results that include a One Skill Retake.
- 5
One Skill Retake lets candidates who took the computer-delivered test retake a single section. It is offered in some locations, and candidates should check that their chosen institution accepts the resulting Test Report Form.
One Skill Retake is cheaper than taking the full IELTS test again.
- 6
Most institutions accept IELTS results for years from the test date.
- 7
Farhana types very slowly and gets anxious with screens, but she writes quickly by hand. Which statement is the best advice?
- 8
In a paper-based test, when should you write your Reading answers on the answer sheet?
- 9
Match each Listening part to its typical content.
Part 1Part 2Part 3Part 4 - 10
Writing Task 1 must be at least words long.
Answer every question to check.
Key takeaways
Test-day vocabulary
Saved as flashcards with a free accountinvigilator
noun/ɪnˈvɪdʒɪleɪtə/
A person who supervises candidates during an exam to make sure the rules are followed.
পরীক্ষা পরিদর্শক
The invigilator collected our question papers at the end of the Reading test.
candidate
noun/ˈkændɪdət/
A person who is taking an exam or applying for a position.
পরীক্ষার্থী
Each candidate must show a valid passport at registration.
requirement
noun/rɪˈkwaɪəmənt/
Something that is officially needed or demanded.
প্রয়োজনীয় শর্ত
The university’s English language requirement is 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0.
admission
noun/ədˈmɪʃn/
Permission to join a university, school or organisation.
ভর্তি
She applied for admission to a Master’s programme in Toronto.
validity
noun/vəˈlɪdəti/
The period during which an official document or result is accepted.
বৈধতা
IELTS results generally have a validity of two years.
proficiency
noun/prəˈfɪʃnsi/
A high level of skill or ability in something, especially a language.
দক্ষতা
IELTS is a test of English language proficiency.
transfer
verb/trænsˈfɜː/
To move information or something from one place to another.
স্থানান্তর করা
Paper candidates have ten minutes to transfer their Listening answers to the answer sheet.
identification
noun/aɪˌdentɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/
An official document, such as a passport, that proves who you are.
পরিচয়পত্র
You will not be admitted without the identification you registered with.
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