IELTS Test Information FAQ

IELTS stands for: International English Language Testing System. This means it is about international English, not just British English.

There are 4 skills tested: listening, reading, writing and speaking.

This is an IELTS test which is taken for Visa and Immigration purposes for the UK, hence UKVI. It is the same as the same format, marking etc as the normal IELTS test and can be taken as a paper test or a computer test. This test does, however, require an additional layer of security so please contact your test center for advise. All lessons on my website (ieltsliz.com) are suitable for UKVI IELTS preparation. Make sure you know if you are taking the Academic test or GT test. See this page for information:

Yes, it does. It is an international test of English. For the listening test, American spelling is accepted. For reading, your answers must be taken from the passage previously as written in the passage. For the speaking test, most examiners speak with an English or Australian accent but you can have a mixed accent – pronunciation is marked based on how easy it to understand you, not on having a specific accent.  However, for the writing test, you must choose either US or UK spelling – you can’t mix them.

Listening, reading and writing are all taken on the same day. The speaking test can be taken either before, after or on the same day as the other skills.

No, there is no break between the listening, reading and writing test. They are all taken together and take a total of 2 hours and 40 minutes. So, make sure you eat and drink well before you take your test

No, there is no break between the listening, reading and writing test. They are all taken together and take a total of 2 hours and 40 minutes. So, make sure you eat and drink well before you take your test.

You used to be able to use pen or pencil for your IELTS Test, but since 2025, you can only use a pen.

You can take it as many times as you want. There is no limit. There is no time limit to wait between tests either.

No, you can’t. You can’t wear a watch in any of the IELTS tests, even the speaking test. There will be a clock on the wall so you can check the time.

You should contact your IELTS test center before the exam to let them know. They will adapt any colour pages or illustrations for you in the test.

The GT IELTS test is only different in reading and writing task 1. However, the question types of the reading test are the same as the Academic test which is why all reading lessons on my site will help you prepare for your GT reading test. The Writing Task 2 is also the same but with slightly easier questions. Even the marking criteria are the same for task 2 so you can benefit from all my WT2 lessons on my site. All students (GT and Academic) take the same speaking and listening test.

In 2022, IELTS started offering a full IELTS test online. You can take it in your home or at a test center.

The results will be available in just 3–6 days. Also, you have the option to take your test at home which gives you a more relaxed atmosphere.

The speaking and writing sections of IELTS will always be marked by a trained IELTS examiner.

No. The contents, format, level and marking are all the same. It’s the same test that everyone takes.

This will be done through a video call with an examiner. So, make sure your laptop mic is working and the volume is set properly.

See this page: IELTS Band Scores Explained.

Your results will be posted to you 13 days after you have taken your test. It is possible to get your results by SMS or online at some test centers. Contact them to find out. However, there are times when results are delayed longer than 13 days. See question number 5 below.

Your IELTS results are valid for 2 years.

Yes, you can. You must pay to do this so check with your local test centre for the price. If your results change and your band score goes up, you will get your money refunded. You have 6 weeks after taking your test to get your test remarked. Your test will be remarked by a different examiner. It takes about 6 to 8 weeks for the results of your remark to arrive. Alternatively, you could take your test again. See this page to read about a successful remark and read the comments on that page too for other great results: IELTS Remark Story.

You can use the test in which you scored the highest as long as the result is still valid, which means as long as it is not more than two years old.

Read this page to learn why your IELTS results have been withheld.

There are 4 sections in the IELTS listening test. Section 1 and 2 are based on social situations while sections 3 and 4 are academic.

There is only one listening test for everyone. The same test, same marking. GT and Academic candidates take the same listening test and the same speaking test.

There are a total of 40 questions in the listening test. 10 questions in each section. You get one point for each question you answer correctly.

The IELTS listening test lasts for 40 minutes. You listen to the recording and answer the questions for 30 minutes. After that you have 10 minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet. However, for the computer based test, you only have 2 minutes to check your answers.

You only get a chance to listen once to the recording. So make sure you prepare the questions well and that you concentrate by listening out for keywords and paraphrases.

Yes. Regardless of whether you take the computer based test or paper based test, you see the questions and have a chance to read through them before the recording starts. The length of time to review questions is short so you have to be a fast reader and quick at spotting keywords. If you get the IELTS Cambridge Test Books, they are real tests which will show you precisely how long you have to read the questions. Practising reading the questions quickly should form part of your IELTS preparation.

Yes. IELTS is not a memory test. The questions are in front of you either on paper or on the computer screen depending on which test you take.

The listening answer sheet is for the paper based IELTS listening test. You will be given a question paper and an answer sheet. You write all your answers on the question paper. At the end of the listening test, you’ll be given 10 minutes to transfer those answers to the answer sheet. You should practise transferring your answers to the answer sheet at home before you take the test. However, for the computer test, the method is different.

In the computer test, you put your answers directly into the computer as you listen. This is different to the paper test where you put your answers on the question paper and then get 10 minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet at the end of the recording. For the computer test, your answers are already in the computer by the time the recording finishes so you only get 2 minutes extra at the end of the entire recording to check and review your final answers. This is actually the only difference between the listening paper based test and listening computer tests.

As you listen and read the question, you select the answer on the screen. You will need to type the word into the screen, or drag the answer from one location to another, or click an option. You can practise putting your answers into the computer screen on this Official IELTS website page: BC IELTS Computer Listening Practice. Please note, it isn’t a full practice test, just a chance to see how you put your answers into the computer.

Yes, definitely. It’s the same test whether you write your answers on paper or on a computer screen. The test isn’t a different test, it’s the exact same test. As long as you know how to put answers into the computer using the link given above, you can use all the paper tests as your preparation.

Here is a list of points for band scores 6–8 (visit the Band Scores page for all scores):

• band score 6 = 23 correct answers out of 40
• band score 7 = 30 correct answers out of 40
• band score 8 = 35 correct answers out of 40

No, you don’t lose a point for a wrong answer. This means there are no minus points or points deducted for a wrong answer. If your answer is wrong, you don’t get a point. So, never leave an empty space on your answer sheet, always have a guess.

The answers follow the order of the questions. This means the answer for question 1 will come before the answer for question 2 and so on. However, within one multiple choice question, there will be a list of options, and those options are not in order. For example, option A might come after option C in the recording.

Yes, you can. In the paper based test, you can write all over the question paper. In fact, it’s important to highlight keywords and jot down answers. Only your answer sheet will be marked.

No, you should use the question paper to write on while you listen in the paper test.

No, you won’t. You will hear the audio without the transcript. On my website, when I provide answers, I also provide the transcript. This is for you to further check your answers and also learn from it. That is my way to help you. But IELTS doesn’t release answers or transcripts.

Yes, you should use them as part of your IELTS listening preparation. See this page to learn all about it: Using Listening Transcripts.

No. Capital letters are not important. They won’t affect your score. The recommendation to use capital letters was because in the paper based test, writing in capitals makes it easier for the person marking to read your writing. Some candidates have very bad handwriting so answers in reading and listening were better written in capitals. For the computer based test, this isn’t an issue.

Since 2025, you can only use a pen for your IELTS paper test. It should be a black ballpoint pen.

Yes. IELTS Listening questions come in order.

It is very important that if the instructions ask you to choose a letter, then your answer must be a letter, not words. Read the instructions very carefully so you don’t lose points.

Watch this video lesson, by clicking on the link, to get tips and practice for multiple choice questions in listening.

IELTS is an international English language test so you might hear a variety of different accents in the recording. You should practise listening to different accents before your test.

Yes, it is. If the answer is spelled incorrectly, it will be marked wrong.

You can improve by doing IELTS listening practice exercises on the IELTS Listening Page. And you can develop by listening to a range of accents and topics. If you visit the “Useful Websites” page, you will see links to BBC news and other useful sites for listening. But remember that these sites will improve your listening ability but you will still need to work on listening skills for your IELTS test in order to listen for specific information and answers to questions.

1. Section 4 is a lecture so that means it will be structured. The information will follow a normal pattern which you must try to follow. The speaker will move from point to point. Check your questions to see if they are a new point or examples, etc. See the order of information in the questions.

2. You must build speed at preparing the questions for section 4. You must be able to read and prepare all questions in the time given. This is a skill you must practise. Immediately underline key words which will help you follow the information coming. You should practise this skill again and again to improve. Always underline or circle the words which will help you locate your place in the listening.

3. Always keep your eye on more than one question at once. If you are listening for question 34, then you must also have your eye on question 35. When I say “keep your eye on”, I mean keep your mind open for the key words in the next question(s).

4. Some key words will be repeated but that doesn’t mean other key words will be. You must learn to identify which are useful key words and which are not. Any word that can’t be paraphrased will be useful to help you find your place in the talk. So, academic words, names, dates etc are all useful and can help you.

5. Listen for signposts. These are words which indicate when the speaker is repeating information, when the speaker is moving on to another point in the talk or just giving examples and details. Signposts are similar to linking devices such as “Another point to consider is…” or “If we look at the aspect of…”. Pay attention to these words.

It means you can write two words or less with a number or without a number. But you can’t write more than two words. Less is fine, more is not possible. Those words can be with a number or not. It is also possible to have a number only without a word.

If you are completing a sentence then you must make sure the sentence is grammatically correct when you fill in the answer. That means you might need to use articles (a / the). However, if you are only writing notes, forms or completing a table, diagram or flowchart, you won’t need to think about grammar.

You should always write numbers as digits, such as 20 or 21st. Because spelling is marked, it is best not to write the words, but just put the digits. It also saves time when writing the answers which is important in the listening test.

It is best to write normal forms of time, such as 9am or 9.30am. It is best not to use “:” in the time, but use a dot instead.

IELTS accept both. We never write the word “of” when writing a date in English, even though we say the word when speaking.

If there are two questions and you must choose only two letters, then you must write one letter for each answer. If you write “11. AD” and “12. AD”, then you have written four letters. When you write only two letters, one for each question, you can write them in any order.

No, it is wrong. If the answer contains two separate words, then they must be written separately. This is testing your spelling of compound nouns.

Books use brackets in the answer key to show which parts are optional or to explain the answers more clearly.

No, you can’t. IELTS candidates must choose one answer only. They cannot use brackets in their answers.

No, you can’t. Either your answer is 100 percent correct or it is wrong. The word you write must be the precise word that you hear in the recording. You can’t alter the word or paraphrase the word.

Yes. As you are marked on spelling, it is best to write numbers as digits. The instructions will always allow for this.

Yes. These are not three independent numbers. They are three connected numbers, making one number.

Flat 36B counts as one word and one number. In English, house numbers might contain letters, such as house 36, house 36A and house 36B. These letters are part of the number.

Firstly, you need to look and see if the three answers you are asked to choose are for three questions. For example, “For questions 11, 12 and 13 choose three letters from a list.” In this case, each letter that is correct is considered an answer for one question. Each question that is answered correctly is one point. So, in this case, you’ve got two questions right and one wrong. However, if you are asked to select three letters for one single question (which is very rare), then you would need all letters right for that one question. All you need to remember is each question you answer correctly counts for one mark.

No. For each part of the test, you decide if you want to use capital letters or lower case. This means you can use all capitals for listening and lower case for reading.

The reading test is 1 hour in length and it comes directly after your listening test. There is no extra time given to transfer your answers to the answer sheet.

There are three reading passages for the Academic paper and the General Training paper. There are 40 questions in total.

No, there are two different tests for IELTS reading. One is the Academic paper and one is the General Training paper. Before your test you will decide which IELTS test you will take and this will affect both your reading and writing papers. If you don’t know which one you are taking, please follow the link to the IELTS British Council page for information.

Each passage in the Academic reading paper is long. The passages are usually taken from books, magazines and newspapers (they are authentic passages). They can often contain complicated language, academic vocabulary and sometimes diagrams, maps or some kind of illustration.

The GT reading paper has three sections, each one getting more difficult. The first one is relevant to everyday English life and could be factual information about a school course or some kind of service, such as a hotel. The second one focuses on work issues, such as training courses at work, resources at work, application procedures or about pay schemes. The last reading passage is longer and is the most difficult. This is based on a topic of general interest and similar to the Academic reading test. For preparation, you can use all the reading lessons on my website because the question types and techniques are the same for both reading tests.

There are 40 questions in total for your reading test.

You get one point for each correct answer. You do not lose points for an incorrect answer. The Academic and General Training papers have different scoring. Please visit the Band Scores page for a list of the scores.

No, they are different. You need to get more questions right for a high score in the GT reading test because it is considered easier. Please visit the Band Scores page for a list of the scores for GT and Academic reading.

No, you don’t lose a point for a wrong answer. You won’t gain a point, but there are no minus points or losing points. So, never leave an empty space on your answer sheet, always have a guess.

No, there is no extra time for transferring or checking answers in the paper test. You must write your answers directly on to your answer sheet during the 1 hour.

It is recommended that you spend 20 minutes on each passage. I agree with this completely. Make sure you keep your eyes on the clock to make sure you manage your time effectively. Don’t leave yourself too little time for passage 3.

There are many different types of questions and you must practise all of them. There is a page with a list of IELTS reading question types and tips on how to deal with them. It is an essential page to read in your preparation for IELTS reading.

Yes, you can. You can make notes, underline words and write on any part of the question paper. Only your answer sheet will be marked. In fact, it is very useful to make notes on your question paper and can help you locate answers.

Yes, you can. Sometimes this is a good idea because usually your writing will be easier to read.

No, you can’t take a highlighter pen into the test. You’ll need to highlight by underlining or circling a word using your pencil.

Yes, you can. If you drag the mouse over a word, then right click, you’ll see two options: one is to highlight and the other is to make notes.

For your reading and listening test, you must use a pencil, so don’t forget to take an eraser with you. However, for writing you can choose either pen or pencil.

Yes, it is. If the answer is spelled incorrectly, it will be marked wrong. So pay attention to your spelling of long academic words. Luckily, if you take the computer test, you’ll be able to copy and paste words from the passage and this way, you’ll never make a mistake with spelling.

Yes, it’s possible to write T instead of the word TRUE or you can write Y instead of the word YES. But if you write T or true and the answer is YES, then it is wrong.

Here are some tips for improving your reading skills for IELTS:
(1) Develop skills for each type of question in reading, focus on just one type of question each day to improve your technique.
(2) Develop your speed reading skills, the passages are long and time is limited so you need to build your speed.
(3) Develop your ability to scan, IELTS reading is not about understanding everything, it’s about locating answers.
(4) Read academic articles on various topics, for example BBC News, New Scientist, The Economist etc.
(5) Practise using reading lessons and practice activities to improve your techniques and skills.
(6) Do practice tests to develop your concentration, test your timing and to know your band score. You should take your practice tests from the IELTS Cambridge books because they are real past exam papers.

No, only some of the question types have answers which follow the order of information in the passage. You need to learn which ones do and which ones don’t.

There are a number of issues with matching headings. Firstly, you need to identify the main point of the paragraph or section. The main point could be the first sentence, in the middle or at the end of the paragraph. This is testing your ability to see the difference between a main point and supporting points. Secondly, spend time looking more closely at the headings. Think of what they mean, paraphrase the words and spot headings which seem to be similar to each other. Thirdly, you don’t need to approach the headings in order. It is recommended to start with a heading which is distinctly different in content to the others, it will be quicker and easier to find. Fourthly, don’t waste time, if you can’t match the heading, then move on to the next heading. There are often more headings than you actually need. Lastly, don’t just try to match key words, try to match meaning. If the heading says “A description of …”, then you need to look for a paragraph which contains adjectives and descriptive language rather than looking for the word “description”. So, don’t just match key words, try to predict the type of language you might find in that paragraph.

Yes, you can. You have one hour for the reading test and you can use that hour as you wish. You can do passage three first if you want. You can skip questions and come back to them later.

There is no extra time to transfer your answers in the IELTS reading test. In listening, you have time to transfer your answers for the paper test and check your answers for the computer test. In IELTS reading, you do not. You should write your answers directly on the answer sheet when you find them.

No, you can’t. At the one hour mark, your answer sheet will be taken away and your computer screen will lock for the computer test. All parts of the IELTS test are strictly time controlled by the second.

There are two parts. Writing Task 1 is a report for the Academic test and a letter for the General Training test. Writing Task 2 is an essay for both tests.

It takes a total of 1 hour. You should spend 20 minutes on Writing Task 1 and 40 minutes on Writing Task 2.

You must write over 150 words for Task 1 and over 250 words for Task 2. See this page: Length of essay advice.

The General Training paper is mainly for people who want to migrate to a foreign country. For this paper, students need to write a letter for Task 1 and an essay for Task 2.
The Academic paper is mostly for people who want to enter college or university or for doctors and nurses. Most people take this paper. For this paper, students need to write an academic report for Task 1 (based on a bar chart or other types of graphs) and an essay for Writing Task 2.

You should make notes and plan on the question paper before you start writing. You are not usually given extra paper for planning.

It is recommended that you spend the first 20 minutes on Writing Task 1. However, if you choose to start with Writing Task 2, it is your choice. Do what works best for you.

You have one hour to complete Task 1 and Task 2. You can choose how to use your time. If you want to spend only 15 minutes on Task 1 and 45 minutes on Task 2, you can do that. But it is not recommended. Even though Task 1 only counts for around 33 percent of your marks, those are often vital marks that make the difference between a good score and a poor score. The recommendation of 20 minutes for Task 1 is good advice to follow. Remember to keep your eye on the clock so that you don’t run out of time.

There are no fixed rules. It is vital that your paragraphs are very clear for the examiner to see because you are marked on your use of paragraphs. Leaving a space before the first word of a paragraph (indenting) is the old fashioned way to show paragraphs and it isn’t always easy to see, though it is possible. But the best way is to leave an empty line between paragraphs which makes your paragraphs stand out.

You can use either UK spelling or US spelling, but you can’t mix them. You need to choose which one you will use.

There are many types for the Academic IELTS paper. Here are the main types: diagrams, maps, building plans, bar charts, line graphs, pie charts and tables. It is also possible to get more than one type in your Task 1 test. However, for the GT paper, you only need to write a letter.

It is worth only one third of your marks for IELTS writing. Task 2 is worth twice as much.

In the General Training paper you have to write a letter whereas in the Academic paper you must write a report based on a chart.

No, there is a difference between the way one of the four criteria is marked. Task Achievement, which accounts for 25 percent of your marks, is assessed differently in the General paper and Academic paper.

In the General Training paper you have to write a letter whereas in the Academic paper you must write a report based on a chart, table etc.

You must manage your own time in the writing test. However, it is highly recommended that you don’t take more than 20 minutes to write Task 1.

Always organise your information into the following paragraphs for task 1:

1. Introduction
2. Overview (key features)
3. Body Paragraph A (accurate detail in a logical order)
4. Body Paragraph B (accurate detail in a logical order)

Task 1 is like a formula that you apply to all task 1 types. The more you get used to the formula, the quicker it will be to write your task 1 report. Also, the more you practice and develop a technique for each kind of task 1, the quicker you will write.

No, you don’t. The instructions say to compare and contrast where relevant. It is not always appropriate to compare and contrast everything. In fact, it can sometimes make your report very confusing to read. You must decide if the data should be reported only or compared and contrasted when you look at the chart and plan your writing.

The introduction is quite formulaic and can be learned. You look at the information given by IELTS and paraphrase it. You also need to add the dates, countries etc. It is usually short and no more than two sentences. Here is an example introduction: “The graph illustrates the number of people travelling abroad from the UK over a ten year period from 2000 to 2010 .” You can also add information about the units: “Units are measured in …..”

No, you don’t need a conclusion for writing task 1. Watch this video to learn about the difference between an overview and conclusion in writing task 1

It’s not easy to grade your own writing. However, following the requirements for each band score will help you understand your score. Here’a a link to understand the difference between band score 5 and 8 for each of the 4 assessment criteria in writing task 1:

It’s not easy to grade your own writing. However, following the requirements for each band score will help you understand your score. Here’a a link to understand the difference between band score 5 and 8 for each of the 4 assessment criteria in writing task 1: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-1-band-scores/ . Here are also some more tips:

1. If you can’t find an IELTS teacher to mark your writing, get an English native speaker to check your vocabulary and grammar mistakes. If you have frequent errors, then you know you will get band score 5 or few errors you will get band 7 in each criteria for vocab and grammar. Of course there are other criteria involved for a total band score, but at least you will know your level for two out of four criteria.
2. Practice writing charts that have models attached then compare your writing to the model.
3. Learn and understand all the marking criteria on the link I provided above.

Yes, the examiner will pay attention to your spelling. This is part of the criterion of vocabulary. If you have a lot of spelling mistakes, you will get a lower score in that criterion.

It depends on the chart, some charts have more than two key features so you will need include all of them in the overview. There is no fixed rule about how many key features to have. Take a look at this bar chart report, you will see more than two key features mentioned..

Follow the order of the bullet points – don’t change that order. You will also have an opening line and closing line.

Yes, you need to imagine the information you will use to write your letter. But control how creative you are. These are functional letters, not creative writing. For academic candidates, you cannot include any made up information or opinions in task 1 reports.

It’s up to you. You can use your own name or any name at all.

No, this isn’t a real letter. Your first words will be “Dear Sir” or “Hi Dave”, for example.

For writing task 2, you must write an essay which is over 250 words and you have 40 mins to do this. IELTS will provide you with the essay question.

It is recommended to take 40 mins to plan and write your essay.

You can decide the length of time to spend on your essay but I wouldn’t recommend spending more than 40 mins on it.

It is your choice. You can decide which one to do first. Most students do task 1 first and I would recommend that. However, it is your choice.

There is little difference. Both the GT writing task 2 and the academic are essays which have similar topics, the same format and techniques. The only difference is that the GT essay question is slightly easier than the academic test.

It is worth double the marks of writing task 1. So, make sure you give yourself the full 40 minutes to write your essay.

There are a number of different essay types: opinion essays, discussion essays, advantage / disadvantage essays, solution essays and direct question essays. You can see a list of essay types and examples on this page: IELTS Essay types. Some teachers give these essay types different names. To get practice essay questions by topic and also by type of essay, go to this page: 100 IELTS essay questions page.

It is marked by an examiner who will assess you on 4 criteria: Task Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Vocabulary and Grammar. Each criteria is equal and worth 25% of your task 2 marks. Here is a link to learn more about the IELTS Test Band Scores (for all sections of the test). If you want to learn about the marking criteria specifically for Writing Task 2 with tips to improve, click here: Writing Task 2 Scores & Marking.

Only give your opinion if the instructions ask for your opinion. For example, Do you agree or disagree? this is clearly asking for your opinion. Don’t give your opinion if it doesn’t ask for it. Read the instructions carefully. Here’s a lesson to help you learn when you should and shouldn’t give your opinion in IELTS writing task 2. Also here’s a link to a video tutorial about how to give your opinion in an IELTS essay.

You must write over 250 words but there is no upper limit. For more advice, please watch this free video lesson on how many words to write.

Before the rules changed, you used to receive a penalty for being under the word count. However, that has changed and no penalty is applied now. But being under words will still have a negative impact on your score for Task Response because a higher score requires that ideas are well developed, which requires a good word count. So, you should aim for between 270 and 290 words, but 250 is adequate for a lower score, such as band 5 or 6.

You can have either 4 or 5. You must have an introduction and conclusion. You can have either two or three body paragraphs.

Yes, you do. It is vital that you conclude your essay. If you think you are running out of time, then jump to your conclusion. Follow this link to learn the best linkers to use for your conclusion paragraph.

There are common topics which appear frequently in the test. Follow this link to see a list of common topics for writing task 2.

No, you shouldn’t. The examiner has the essay title so you do not need to repeat it on your paper. Your first sentence should be the beginning of your essay.

Yes, the examiner will check your spelling. It is part of the criterion of vocabulary.

Yes, it is. This is part of the grammar marking criterion. Try to avoid using ; or : because they are not necessary. Just use commas and full stops.

There are quite a lot of differences. Firstly, you’ve got a time limit of only 40 minutes. Secondly, you’ve got a specific word count of over 250 words. Thirdly, IELTS is testing your English grammar and vocabulary, you have to demonstrate particular skills and ability to get a particular band score. Fourthly, there is a particular essay structure and use of linking devices that is recommended to follow. Lastly, you need to get used to the different types of essay questions and how to address the tasks fully to get more marks. So quite a lot of differences really.

There’s no difference. Teachers give essays different names. Some teachers call them opinion essays and some teachers call them argumentative essays. They are both essays in which you need to give your opinion because the task states “To what extend do you agree?” or something similar, directly asking what you think.

For IELTS writing, you can choose whether to use a pen or pencil, it’s your choice.

Yes, you can. Put your hand up and the exam supervisor will come to you. You can then ask for more writing paper.

Yes, you can. On the BC IELTS website, you can find a couple of practice tests for writing where you can also download the answer sheet to practice on. Click here: BC IELTS Writing Practice Tests.

There are 3 parts. There is an interview, a talk and a discussion with the examiner.

It takes a total of 11 to 14 minutes. Part 1 is 4–5 mins, part 2 is 3–4 mins and part 3 is 4–5 mins.

Your speaking test will be face to face with an IELTS examiner. There is no option to do your IELTS test by computer.

You will be marked on fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. Each one accounts for 25% of your marks. To learn more about the speaking criteria, follow the link.

The examiner who conducts the test and asks you the questions will decide your score when you leave the room. The recording is only used if you ask for a remark. At that time a senior examiner will listen to it and decide your score.

There are many different topics for each part of the speaking test. Follow the link to get a list of common topics and questions for part 1, part 2 and part 3.

You will be asked 12 questions in part 1 (these are based on 3 different topics) and in part 3, you will be asked 5 or more questions – it depends on the length of your answers. Try to aim for long, detailed answers in part 3.

To get band score 6 and above for the criterion of fluency, you must show the examiner that you are willing to speak at length. This means you are happy to give longer answers.

In part 2, you must talk for between 1 and 2 minutes. I recommend you aim for between 1.5 to 2 mins which will show a good level of fluency and the ability to speak at length. However, if you are not a confident speaker, don’t try to push it too far and just aim for slightly over 1 minute.

The examiner will control the time very strictly in your test. The examiner will stop you when you reach 2 minutes and then he/she will move on to part 3.

No, the examiner will give you a topic card which contains a list of prompts.

No, you can’t change the topic. You must try to talk on the topic you are given.

No, you don’t have to, it’s not compulsory. However, I recommend that you do follow the prompts because they offer a good structure for your talk. This is part of the criterion of fluency.

Yes, of course. Your notes are there to help you during your talk. But do remember to also make eye contact with the examiner when you can rather than only looking at your notes.

Yes, definitely. The examiner will only take away your cue card after you finish your talk. And during your talk you can glance at your cue card when you need to.

No, your notes are for you. When you finish your talk, the examiner will remove the cue card and your notes. At the end of the test, your notes will be put in the bin and the examiner will not mark them.

No, you don’t. The examiner will give you a pencil and paper during speaking part 2 so that you can take notes. You’ll have both your notes and the cue card in front of you during your talk. After part 2 is finished and before part 3 starts, the examiner will remove the cue card, pencil and paper. The examiner does not look at your notes. They are not part of the marking.

No. The examiner will not mark your notes and will not look at them. They are for you to use for planning and to help guide you through your talk.

Part 1 is like an interview. The examiner will ask you short answer questions on common topics relating to your life or your country. In part 3, it is more similar to a discussion. The examiner will ask you about world issues or broader, more complex questions. In part 3, your answers should be longer and more detailed.

Yes, it is very useful to do that, particularly in part 3 when you need to give longer, more detailed answers.

In speaking part 1, you can ask the examiner to repeat the question but the examiner can’t explain it or help you. In part 2, the examiner will give you a topic and you can’t change it. In part 3, you can ask the examiner to explain the question, just say “I’m sorry, could you explain that, please?”

No, it will not affect your score. However, only do this two or three times and no more.

It sometimes happens that you are asked a question for which you have no ideas. Here’s a typical example: “How do you think space exploration benefits mankind?” If you get a question but you have no ideas for the answer, you can say “To be honest, I’ve never really thought about it before. I guess there are benefits to space exploration but I can’t say what they are.” This answer is still good. You are still using a range of good language.

No, as long as the examiner can understand clearly. If your accent prevents the examiner from understanding you, it will lower your score drastically.

It is possible for the examiner to interrupt your answer and not let you finish. There are three main reasons why this might happen. Firstly, there is a time limit and the examiner must move on to the next question. Secondly, the examiner is satisfied with the language in your answer and wants to move quickly to a new question which tests another part of your English. Thirdly, your answer has gone off topic and the examiner wants to start a new question. So, if the examiner interrupts your answer, don’t worry about it. Just focus on the next question and answer confidently.

No, this is a language test, the examiner wants to hear your English and your opinions.

Follow this link and you will be able to do a practice speaking test on video and then get a link to model answers.

It is ok to correct some mistakes but make sure it doesn’t affect your fluency. Every time you stop speaking to correct a mistake, it will affect your fluency score. So, mostly just ignore your mistakes and keep talking.

When you walk into the speaking exam room, the examiner will greet you and do an ID check. Follow this link to learn all about the questions for the ID check and how to greet the examiner: Greeting & ID Check in IELTS Speaking. After the ID check, the examiner will start the recording device and your speaking test begins.

You can wear whatever you want. This is not a formal interview, it is only an informal speaking test. Wear clothes that you are most comfortable in. Also take an extra layer in case it is cold.

The examiner has quite a long list of possible questions and they choose which questions to ask and which not to ask. So if your answer includes the answer to the next question on the examiner’s list, he or she will skip that question and move on to the question after that. So never worry about adding extra information to your answer – it won’t affect the next question.

The examiner is only interested in hearing your English language. It is your choice if you want to use body language or not. Most people find it natural to use body language while talking so feel free to use it. It is important that you are relaxed and talk naturally during your test.