IELTS Syllabus and Exam Pattern for 2024 | IELTSMaterial.com

Courtney Miller

6 min read

Updated On Feb 02, 2024

What are IELTS Academic and IELTS General?
Components of the IELTS Exam
IELTS Exam Pattern
IELTS Exam syllabus
Conclusion

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In the ever-evolving landscape of language proficiency assessments, staying well-informed about the IELTS syllabus and exam pattern for 2023 is paramount. As aspirants gear up to demonstrate their English language skills, let’s dive into the details of what to expect in this crucial test, with insights from IELTSMaterial.com.

What are IELTS Academic and IELTS General?

The IELTS tests are of two formats, namely IELTS Academic Test and IELTS General Training Test and you’ll have to choose between the two, depending on your reason for migrating. The IELTS syllabus comprises of four modules, Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking. The two formats of the test differ in the Reading and Writing sections, while the Listening and Speaking sections are the same in both. The total time duration of the test is 2 hours 45 minutes.

Components of the IELTS Exam

The IELTS syllabus consists of these four categories:

Listening
Reading
Writing
Speaking

IELTS Exam Pattern

The total duration of the test is 2 hours 45 minutes, and this is how the test pattern is going to be:

Section	Duration	No of questions
Listening	30 mins	40
Reading	60 mins	40
Writing	60 mins	2
Speaking	12 – 14 mins	3

IELTS Exam syllabus

The IELTS exam is important if you’re planning to migrate to a country where English is one of the languages of communication.

The syllabus for the test is set by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge Examinations for both the exam types, i.e. Academic and General Training. Between both the exam types, the test format will be the same in the Listening and Speaking sections but will differ in the Reading and Writing sections.

Section-wise Syllabus

The IELTS exam syllabus for each of the 4 categories are:

IELTS Listening (Same for Academic and General Training)

The Listening Test includes four sections and overall, lasts for 3 minutes.

There’ll be 40 questions in total, with each question carrying one mark.
Remember, the questions get more difficult as you progress through the test.
The conversations could be both monologues and dialogues and these conversations can be heard once only.
This is a test to assess your listening ability to pick up on and understand the information, ideas, and opinions conveyed by the speaker.

The detailed syllabus for the four sections of the Listening Test are:

Section	Content
1	You’ll hear a conversation happening between two people on everyday social topics. The topic of conversation will be something generic.
2	In this section, you’ll hear a speaker giving a speech or a monologue in a social context.
3	You’ll hear a conversation happening between 2-4 people in an academic or educational context. The topic of conversation will be something related to education, courses, and so on.
4	In this section, you’ll hear a person giving a lecture or a talk on an academic-related topic.

IELTS Reading (Different for Academic and General Training)

The IELTS Reading includes three sections with a total of 40 questions. The type of questions includes multiple-choice, identifying data, matching lists or phrases, and so on. Though the format is the same, the type of questions will be different for both Academic and General Training.

Reading IELTS Academic	This section will include three long paragraphs, where the subject matter will be authentic text, taken from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers. The passages will be written in various styles such as narrative, descriptive, or argumentative. The content will be meant for students looking to enter university or seeking registration in various professional fields.
Reading IELTS General Training	This section will include paragraphs, where the content will be taken from advertisements, handbooks, magazines, and newspapers. The subject of the content will be everyday topics that you are likely to encounter in an English-speaking environment.

IELTS Writing

The Writing test includes 2 tasks that are different for Academic and General Training. For these tasks, you’ll have a total of 60 minutes to complete. Task 1 should be written in at least 150 words, while Task 2 should be in at least 250 words. It’s recommended to spend not more than 20 minutes on Task 1.

Writing IELTS Academic

Task 1

You’ll be given a question containing either a diagram, table, or graph. After analyzing the data, you’ll have to process the information and present it in your own words.

Task 2

In this section, you’ll have to write an essay of at least 250 words, responding to the given question and supporting your viewpoint with relevant examples. Remember to make sure to write in a formal tone. And don’t deviate from the given topic, as you may lose marks if the answer is irrelevant to the given topic.

Writing IELTS General Training

Tasks 1 & 2

In the General Training type of test, Task 1 will be a situation where you’ll have to write a letter. The letter can be a personal, semi-formal, or formal letter depending on the type of situation.

For Task 2, you’ll have to write an essay responding to a situation or a problem. The essay doesn’t necessarily have to be in a formal style and be written like a personal letter.

IELTS Speaking

The Speaking test is almost like an interview where the examiner will ask you a few questions and you’ll have to reply to them accordingly. The entire test will be recorded by the examiner for the purpose of evaluation. The purpose of this test is to test your spoken English and your fluency while speaking.

Part 1 (Introduction)

You’ll be asked to introduce yourself and talk about your background, family, friends, studies, hobbies, and so on.

Part 2 (Talk based on topic)

In this part, you’ll be given a cue card, with a topic on it. You’ll have to speak on the topic after one minute of preparation time.

Part 3 (Discussion)

In this part, you’ll be asked questions where you’ll have to elaborate more in relation to the given topic in Part 2.

Apart from this, there is vocabulary and grammar too.

Syllabus for Grammar:

Good grammar is essential for a good score. You need to be familiar with a variety of grammar structures like:

Listening & Reading:

Prepositions
Articles
Subject-verb agreement
Proper nouns

Writing & Speaking:

Tenses
Countable, uncountable nouns

Conclusion

As we draw the curtains on our exploration of the IELTS syllabus and exam pattern for 2023, it’s evident that knowledge is power when it comes to this critical language proficiency test. The IELTS journey is not just about acing a test; it’s about opening doors to education, career opportunities, and global experiences. Here are some key points that you shouldn’t miss:

Two Variants: IELTS offers two types – Academic and General Training – each designed for specific purposes.
Four Sections: The test consists of four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.

Listening: This section consists of four recorded monologues and conversations. Duration: 30 minutes

Reading: In this part, you’ll encounter three lengthy reading passages accompanied by various tasks. The texts encompass a wide spectrum, ranging from descriptive and factual to discursive and analytical. They may also incorporate non-verbal elements like diagrams, graphs, and illustrations. These texts are sourced from authentic materials such as books, journals, and newspapers. Duration: 60 minutes

Writing: For the writing component, you will be tasked with composing at least 150 words, wherein you must summarize, describe, or explain a table, graph, chart, or diagram. Additionally, you will need to craft another short essay with a minimum length of 250 words. Duration: 60 minutes

Speaking: The speaking segment involves a face-to-face interview that includes responding to short questions, speaking at length about a familiar topic, and engaging in a structured discussion. Duration: 11 to 14 minutes

Test Duration: IELTS takes around 2 hours and 45 minutes to 2 hours and 55 minutes, depending on the test variant.

As you prepare for the test in 2023 and beyond, let your journey be marked by determination, perseverance, and the knowledge that you are on the path to unlocking a world of opportunities.

Preparing for IELTS? Are you certain you didn’t miss anything? Cross-check the IELTS syllabus of 2022 with our IELTS online classes and unlock the path to your success.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the syllabus for IELTS?

IELTS Syllabus contains four sections, i.e., Reading, Speaking, Writing, and Listening. There are two types of IELTS tests, i.e., Academic and General. The sections of reading and writing vary for both modules. However, the listening and speaking sections remain the same for both versions.

Describe the syllabus for the IELTS Reading Academic Test.

IELTS syllabus for the academic reading version includes three long texts where the subject matter could be descriptive and factual to discursive and analytical. The probable sources of the paragraphs are newspapers, books, journals, research works, etc. The IELTS Academic test aims to examine the English skills of students.

What are the differences in syllabus between the IELTS Writing Academic and General training exam?

In task 1 of the IELTS Academic test, the test taker has to define the data or diagram within 150-words, and in task 2, they've to write an essay in response to the point of view, arguments, or problem. Responses to both the tasks must be formal and academic. Contrastingly, in task 1 of the IELTS General training test, the test taker has to write a letter according to the given situation (formal, semi-formal, or informal). In task 2, the test taker has to write an essay.

What is the syllabus for the IELTS speaking part 2 module?

The IELTS Speaking test consists of three parts that involve a face-to-face oral interview with an examiner. This section of the IELTS Syllabus will start with a short introduction, individual long-run, and a final in-depth discussion. In speaking part 2, the candidates will be given a flash/cue card with a topic written. They will be given a minute to prepare before being asked to speak for 2-3 minutes. Later, the interviewer might ask some questions to evaluate the candidate's understanding of the topic.

What is the intent of conducting the IELTS Reading Test?

Be it Academic or General reading, this portion intends to test the applicants’ abilities in the following aspects: --->Overall understanding --->Identifying information --->Scan specific information --->Recognition of ideas --->Summarizing