IELTS practice in United States

4 parts · 40 questions · 10 questions per part

• Parts 1 and 2 cover everyday social situations. Parts 3 and 4 cover education and training.
• Each recording is played once. Follow the word and number limits for each answer.
• On computer, you get 2 minutes at the end to check answers. Paper-based tests provide 10 minutes to transfer answers.

Sources: IELTS Listening format · Computer and paper timing

3 sections · 40 questions

• Academic: three long texts, with material drawn from sources such as books, journals, magazines and newspapers.
• General Training: everyday texts in Section 1, workplace texts in Section 2 and a longer general-interest text in Section 3.
• The 60 minutes includes recording your answers. There is no extra answer-transfer time.

Sources: Academic Reading · General Training Reading

2 tasks · Complete both tasks

• Task 1: at least 150 words; allow about 20 minutes. Academic asks you to describe visual information, such as a chart, process or map. General Training asks you to write a letter.
• Task 2: at least 250 words; allow about 40 minutes. Write an essay responding to a point of view, argument or problem.
• The 20/40-minute split is guidance within the total 60-minute limit.

Sources: IELTS Writing guidance · General Training Writing

3 parts · Interview with an examiner

• Part 1: introduction and questions about familiar topics, such as home, work, studies and interests.
• Part 2: a topic card, 1 minute to prepare and a talk lasting up to 2 minutes, followed by brief questions.
• Part 3: a more detailed discussion of ideas related to the Part 2 topic.

Source: IELTS Speaking format