IELTS Academic is the version of IELTS used for university admission and for many professional registration bodies. If you know exactly what each section asks of you, you can spend your preparation time on skills rather than surprises. This guide walks through the test in the order you will take it.
IELTS Academic at a glance
| Section | Time | Questions / tasks | What it tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | About 30 minutes | 40 questions in 4 parts | Understanding conversations and talks in social and academic settings |
| Reading | 60 minutes | 40 questions on 3 passages | Reading long academic texts for detail, argument and opinion |
| Writing | 60 minutes | 2 tasks | Describing visual data (Task 1) and writing an argumentative essay (Task 2) |
| Speaking | 11–14 minutes | 3 parts | Spoken interaction with an examiner |
You can take IELTS Academic on paper or on a computer at a test centre, depending on what your centre offers. The content and scoring are the same; the main practical difference is in Listening, covered below.
Listening: four parts, one play each
The Listening test has 40 questions split evenly across four recordings. You hear each recording once.
- Part 1 – a conversation between two people in an everyday social context, such as booking a course or reporting a problem.
- Part 2 – a monologue in an everyday context, such as a talk about local facilities or a guided tour.
- Part 3 – a conversation among up to four people in an educational setting, for example students discussing an assignment with a tutor.
- Part 4 – a monologue on an academic subject, similar to a short university lecture.
Question types include multiple choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labelling, form or note completion, and sentence completion. Completion questions come with a word limit such as "no more than two words and/or a number". Writing three words where two are allowed makes the answer wrong even if the content is right.
Paper vs computer. On paper, you write answers on the question booklet while listening and then get 10 minutes to transfer them to the answer sheet. On computer, you type answers as you go and get a short review period at the end instead of transfer time. If you are taking the computer version, practise typing answers while the audio keeps playing.
Listening strategy
- Use the pause before each part to read ahead and predict the type of answer (a number, a name, a noun).
- Watch for distractors: speakers often mention an option, then correct themselves.
- Check spelling. Misspelled answers are marked wrong.
Reading: three passages in 60 minutes
Academic Reading gives you three long passages drawn from books, journals, magazines and newspapers, written for a non-specialist audience. Together they total around 2,150 to 2,750 words, and the passages generally get harder as you go. There are 40 questions and no extra transfer time on paper, so answers must be on the answer sheet within the 60 minutes.
Common question types:
- Multiple choice
- True / False / Not Given (facts) and Yes / No / Not Given (the writer's views)
- Matching headings to paragraphs
- Matching information, features or sentence endings
- Sentence, summary, note, table or flow-chart completion
- Diagram label completion
- Short-answer questions
Reading strategy
- Budget time by passage, not by question. Roughly 17–18 minutes for Passage 1, 20 for Passage 2 and 22–23 for Passage 3 is a common split, since the last passage is usually the hardest.
- Know the difference between False and Not Given. False means the passage says the opposite. Not Given means the passage does not address the point at all.
- Answers to most question sets appear in passage order. Matching headings and some matching tasks are the main exceptions.
Writing: two tasks, one hour
Task 1 – describe visual information (at least 150 words)
You get a graph, table, chart, diagram of a process, or map (sometimes two visuals together) and must summarise the main features and make comparisons. You are not asked for opinions or causes. The recommended time is 20 minutes.
Task 2 – academic essay (at least 250 words)
You respond to a point of view, argument or problem. Prompts may ask you to discuss both views, give your opinion, evaluate advantages and disadvantages, or propose solutions. The recommended time is 40 minutes, and Task 2 counts for twice as much as Task 1 in your Writing band.
Both tasks are assessed on four criteria:
| Criterion | What examiners look for |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement (Task 1) / Task Response (Task 2) | Answering every part of the question with relevant, well-developed content |
| Coherence and Cohesion | Logical organisation, clear paragraphs, accurate linking |
| Lexical Resource | Range and precision of vocabulary |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | Variety of structures and how accurately you use them |
Writing under the word minimum is penalised. For a deeper walkthrough of Task 1, see our IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 guide.
Speaking: a live, three-part interview
The Speaking test is a recorded conversation with an examiner and lasts 11 to 14 minutes.
| Part | Length | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 – Introduction and interview | 4–5 minutes | Questions about familiar topics: home, work, studies, interests |
| Part 2 – Long turn | 3–4 minutes | You get a task card, 1 minute to prepare, and speak for up to 2 minutes; the examiner may ask one or two follow-up questions |
| Part 3 – Discussion | 4–5 minutes | Abstract questions linked to the Part 2 topic |
Speaking is assessed on Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation. Pronunciation is about being easy to understand, not about sounding British or American.
Speaking strategy
- In Part 1, extend each answer with a reason or an example. One-word answers give the examiner nothing to assess.
- In Part 2, use your minute to jot a few key words for each prompt on the card, then keep talking until the examiner stops you.
- In Part 3, it is fine to take a moment to think ("That's an interesting question...") before developing a view.
Test day checklist
- The same identification document you used to register (usually your passport)
- Arrive early; late arrivals may not be admitted
- Only permitted items in the test room; everything else goes in storage
- Water in a clear bottle only if your centre allows it
- For the paper test, pencils and an eraser are normally provided; check your centre's instructions
How to prepare efficiently
The most useful thing you can do is sit a complete, timed test early, so you know which section costs you the most marks. Then practise that section in short, focused blocks and repeat a full mock every week or two.
On EnglishHub you can do this in a real-format IELTS Academic simulator, with 50 full mock tests and 200 practice sets, plus AI feedback on your Writing and Speaking. The first mock is free: start with an IELTS Academic mock test, or explore the IELTS Academic practice hub.
EnglishHub is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with IELTS, the British Council, IDP or Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Always confirm current test rules on the official IELTS website.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the IELTS Academic test?
Listening, Reading and Writing are taken in one sitting with no break between them and take up to about 2 hours 40 minutes on paper (including 10 minutes of Listening transfer time), a little less on computer. The Speaking test lasts 11 to 14 minutes and may be on the same day or up to about a week before or after, depending on the test centre.
How many questions are in IELTS Academic Reading and Listening?
Each has 40 questions. Listening has four parts of 10 questions each. Reading has three long passages with 40 questions spread across them, and you have 60 minutes to finish.
Is IELTS Academic Speaking done with a computer?
No. Speaking is a face-to-face conversation with a certified examiner, even when you take the other three sections on a computer. Some centres run it by video call with an examiner, but it is always a live person.
What is the difference between IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training?
Listening and Speaking are the same in both versions. Reading and Writing differ: Academic uses academic texts and a visual-data description in Writing Task 1, while General Training uses everyday and workplace texts and a letter in Task 1.
Does Writing Task 2 count more than Task 1?
Yes. Task 2 carries twice the weight of Task 1 in your Writing band, which is why the recommended split is 20 minutes for Task 1 and 40 minutes for Task 2.
