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What is IELTS?
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) tests listening, reading, writing and speaking. It comes in two versions:
- IELTS Academic: for university study and professional registration, such as nursing and medicine.
- IELTS General Training: for work, training and many migration purposes.
Listening and Speaking are the same in both. Reading and Writing are different. Not sure which you need? Read Academic vs General Training.
The test at a glance
| Section | Time | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | about 30 minutes | 4 recordings, 40 questions |
| Reading | 60 minutes | 3 sections, 40 questions |
| Writing | 60 minutes | Task 1 (at least 150 words) and Task 2 (at least 250 words) |
| Speaking | 11–14 minutes | A face-to-face conversation with an examiner, in 3 parts |
The total is about 2 hours 45 minutes. Speaking is sometimes on a different day. See the full IELTS test format.
How band scores work
Each section gets a band from 0 to 9, in half bands (for example 6.5). Your overall band is the average of the four, rounded to the nearest half band.
| Band | Description |
|---|---|
| 9 | Expert |
| 8 | Very good |
| 7 | Good |
| 6 | Competent |
| 5 | Modest |
For Australian visas, Home Affairs requires 6, 7 or 8 in each section for Competent, Proficient and Superior English. IELTS Online (taken at home) isn't accepted for visas. Compare every test in our English tests for Australia table.
Free IELTS practice and guides
- Tests: all free IELTS practice tests, including unlimited reading, listening and speaking mock tests with estimated bands.
- Reading and Listening: reading tips, True False Not Given, matching headings, listening tips.
- Writing: Task 1 chart types, 60 Task 2 questions, General Training letters, and the free IELTS writing checker.
- Speaking: 30 cue cards and Part 1 and 3 questions.
- Vocabulary: IELTS vocabulary flashcards.
- Your goal: how to get band 7, and IELTS in Australia for visas, retakes and booking.
Where to focus
Most people find Writing and Speaking hardest to improve on their own, because they're marked by trained examiners against detailed criteria. Start with our IELTS writing guide and IELTS speaking guide.
For listening and reading, take our full IELTS practice tests (with band estimates) and the official samples from ielts.org, and build vocabulary with our lessons on academic collocations and linking words.
Help preparing
Everything for IELTS on this site
Reading: Full reading test 1 · Full reading test 2 · Full GT reading test 2 · Full GT reading test · GT reading practice · Reading mock test · Reading test 1 · Reading test 2 · Reading test 3 · Reading test 4 · Reading test 5 · Reading test 6
Listening: Full listening test 1 · Full listening test 2 · Full listening test 3 · Listening mock test · Listening test 1 · Listening test 2
Writing: GT letter practice · Writing practice 2 · Writing practice 3 · Writing practice 4 · Writing practice 5 · Writing practice
Speaking: Speaking mock test · Speaking practice 2 · Speaking practice 3 · Speaking practice · Speaking questions · Speaking
Guides: Academic vs General · Band scores explained · How to get band 7 · IELTS in Australia · Practice tests · Test format · Vocabulary flashcards
Everything for IELTS
Frequently asked questions
Can I prepare for IELTS for free?
Yes. We have free IELTS reading and listening tests with band estimates, a writing checker, speaking practice and cue cards.
What's the difference between IELTS Academic and General Training?
Academic is for study and some professional registration; General Training is common for migration and work. Listening and Speaking are the same for both.
How are IELTS band scores calculated?
Each section gets a band from 0 to 9, and the overall band is the average, rounded to the nearest half band.