IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is an English language competence test for individuals who do not speak English as their first language but wish to pursue an education abroad. It is regarded as an admission ticket to study abroad. The test is divided into four sections: listening, speaking, writing, and reading.
The reading and writing portions are different for the General Training and Academic papers but the speaking and listening sections are the same for everyone. We’ll give you a thorough IELTS curriculum in this blog post to make your preparation simple.
These information on the IELTS Syllabus are very important for those students that are preparing for the Test. If you are currently enrolled in IELTS coaching classes, then you can ask your trainer for more information.
What is IELTS and Why it is Important?
IELTS Academic
Candidates should take the IELTS Academic if they want to apply for higher education or professional registration in nations where English is the main language of communication.
The test’s main objective is to ascertain if a candidate is prepared to start studying or training in English.
The IELTS is recognized for academic purposes in a number of nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
IELTS General Training
IELTS General Training is intended for those who wish to immigrate to an English-speaking nation such as New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United States, or the United Kingdom or who want to apply for secondary education, training programs, or employment.
This test focuses on a candidate’s fundamental survival abilities in a wide range of social and professional contexts.
IELTS Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2022
IELTS Academic and IELTS General are the two different categories of IELTS tests. These have a similar and hardly differentiating curriculum. Before going into detail about the IELTS syllabus, let’s look at the exam format and the permitted time for each section:
| Section | Number of Questions | Duration | Contents | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Listening to 4 Recordings | 40 Questions | 30 Minutes + 10 minutes transfer time | Four recorded monologues and conversations | 1 mark per question |
| Reading | 40 Questions | 60 Minutes | 3 Passages (can be descriptive, analytical, factual, or discursive) | 1 mark per question |
| Writing | 2 Questions | 60 Minutes | Writing task (Minimum 150 words) Essay (minimum 250 words) Each task is assessed independently. | The assessment of Task 2 carries more weight in marking than Task 1. |
| Speaking | 3 Questions | 11-40 Minutes | Part 1: Q&A Part 2: Speaking in detail on a familiar topic Part 3: Structure Discussion |
IELTS Exam Pattern & Test Format
IELTS Reading Section
Three general texts on subjects pertinent to applicants looking to work, relocate overseas, or enroll in undergraduate and graduate programs make up this part.
Three parts of 40 questions, mostly multiple-choice questions (MCQs), make up the reading modules.
The ability of applicants is tested in a variety of contexts, including identifying information for short answer questions, sentence or summary completion, recognizing the writer’s attitudes/views, and matching lists of words or phrases.
To complete the part, students will have 30 minutes and 10 minutes of transfer time. The key distinctions between the two types of Reading sections on the IELTS curriculum are listed below.
IELTS Reading: Academic
Three long paragraphs are given which could be factual, descriptive, or analytical.
The paragraphs, which are most likely from newspapers, books, journals, research papers, etc., are intended to assess the English proficiency of students or working professionals. Three paragraphs that can be taken directly from corporate policies, marketing, brochures, etc. are structured similarly to the academic part.
Writing Section IELTS
The ability of the applicants to produce an effective general report or brief essay will be assessed in this area.
The segment of the IELTS exam has just two questions. The applicants will be given a diagram, data, or table for the first question, and they will then be required to represent the material in their own words. The answer to this question may not exceed 150 words.
Candidates are given an argument or point of view difficulty in the second question. The goal is to evaluate the candidate based on the viewpoint, arguments, suggestions, and supporting details they offer. The applicants will have a total of 60 minutes to complete this part.
IELTS Reading: General
Number of Questions: 2
Within a 150-word essay, the applicant must summarise and describe the offered diagram or data using the first answer’s explanation and illustrations. Two questions total
Candidates must format their letters to fit the circumstances. Depending on the questions, it might be informal, formal, or semi-formal.
Additionally, the candidate will be requested to submit an essay mentioning pertinent examples to substantiate the letter (if any)
Listening section of the IELTS
There are four sections in this segment of the IELTS exam where applicants will hear audio snippets. The first would deal with social requirements, whilst the other two would deal with circumstances involving schooling. The audio pieces, which will each last for around three minutes and be played just once, might either be a dialogue or a monologue. Short answers, note-taking exercises, multiple-choice questions, and many other sorts of questions will be based on these films. This section’s IELTS syllabus includes the following:
- Audio 1: Social context-based dialogue
- Audio 2: A monologue discussing common socioeconomic concerns
- Audio 3: A discussion between four persons about education Audio 4: A solo academic speech
Speaking Portion of IELTS
This part of the interview tests the candidates’ general communication abilities. It would finally result in a thorough evaluation of whether the individual can speak English well or not. This component of the IELTS syllabus is broken down into three stages: a brief introduction, individual long runs, and a concluding in-depth discussion. The following are the elements evaluated in this section:
Part 1 (Introduction Followed by an Interview) (Introduction Followed by an Interview)
The applicants must introduce themselves in this activity by speaking for roughly 4-5 minutes about their backgrounds, families, interests, hobbies, and education.
Part 2 (Long Turn) (Long Turn)
The applicants will be given a flashcard with a topic printed on it for this IELTS speaking section. They can take some time to reflect and get knowledgeable about the subject before speaking for two to three minutes. The interviewer may then ask additional questions to gauge the candidate’s comprehension of the subject.
Part 3 (Discussion) (Discussion)
There would be a thorough examination of the candidate’s speech, the subject covered in Part 2, and understanding. You will get the opportunity to learn more about the subject and discuss it in detail. This task typically takes 5 to 6 minutes to complete.
Details of Each Sections
Now that you are familiar with the IELTS standard curriculum, let’s look at some specifics for each component.
Listening
- Recording 1: a discussion (Two people set in an everyday social context)
- Recording 2: A solo performance (An everyday social context, e.g. a speech about local government)
- Recording 3: A talk (Set between up to four people in an educational or training context)
- Recording 4: A solo performance (On an academic subject, e.g. a university lecture)
Speaking
- Task 1: Describe yourself in general terms, answering questions about your family, job, studies, home, and interests. His contribution lasts for around 4-5 minutes.
- Part 2: You will choose a card with a topic and discuss it. You have up to two minutes to talk after one minute of preparation. The examiner will next ask you a couple of questions on the same subject after this.
- Part 3 – On the same subject as assignment 2, you will be given more questions. These will enable you to talk about more ethereal concepts and problems. This task takes exactly the same amount of time as the first one.
Part 3 (Reading (Academic and General)
- Task Type 1: Multiple Choice: The questions will require you to finish a phrase with the appropriate response.
- Task Type 2 – Identifying Information: You must select “true,” “false,” or “not given” as your response to the question.
- Task Type 3: “Identifying Writer’s Views/Claims,” requires you to respond to the questions with “yes,” “no,” or “not given.”
- Task Type 4 – Matching Information:- Finding particular information in the form of an example, a justification, a description, a comparison, a summary, or an explanation will be the focus of this section.
Writing (Academic)
A schematic of a machine, a device, or a process may be provided, and you will be asked to explain how it operates. Task 1: You will be needed to describe facts or statistics shown in one or more graphs, charts, or tables on a relevant topic.
Task 2: A topic will be provided for you to write on in an academic or neutral/semi-formal manner.
Writing (General)
Task 1: You’ll be given a scenario and instructed to compose a letter asking for details or outlining the circumstances. The letter’s style might be informal, official, or personal.
Task 2 will require you to respond in writing to a point of view, argument, or issue.
How are the IELTS sections marked differently?
The scoring system for the various IELTS exam portions is as follows:
Listening
The IELTS Listening test consists of 40 questions. Each appropriate response earns the applicant one mark, and the scores are converted to the nine bands of the IELTS scale.
Reading
On the 40-item IELTS Reading exam, a candidate receives one mark for each correctly answered question. The candidate’s score out of 40 is translated to the nine-point IELTS band scale.
The Academic and General Training Reading exams are the only two that contain questions from the same body of material. Academic reading tests sometimes have questions with more difficult language or more intricate question structures. To get a better score on a given band score on the General Training Reading test, a candidate must correctly answer more questions.
The tables below illustrate how many points typically need to be earned in Listening, Academic Reading, and General Training Reading for a candidate to attain a certain band score.
Writing
The two tasks in the IELTS Writing part are the 250-word essays based on a point of view or argument and the 150-word summaries of visual information. Examiners use a number of equally weighted grading criteria to provide a band score between zero and nine. The average of these results is the task score.
Task Response, Task Achievement (for Task 1) (for Task 2)
Cohesion and coherence
Grammar accuracy and the range of lexical resources
Speaking
A candidate’s speaking abilities are assessed during a face-to-face interview with the examiner during the IELTS Speaking test on three assignments. Using evaluation criteria, examiners award a band score, which is the average of the points gathered for each distinct activity.
Coherence and Fluidity
Grammar Range and Accuracy Lexical Resources Pronunciation
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