IELTS Exam Pattern 2022

There are 4 parts to the IELTS test, Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Each test part is made up of question types that assess your English-language skills in either an everyday work environment or life situation, academic or professional setting.

The Reading section consists of 40 questions designed to assess a variety of reading abilities. Reading for gist, reading for main ideas, reading for detail, skimming, understanding logical argument, and recognizing writers’ opinions, attitudes, and purpose are examples of these. The texts are taken from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers and have been written for a non-specialist audience. All of the topics are of general interest. They address issues that are interesting, recognizably relevant, and understandable to test takers entering undergraduate or postgraduate courses or seeking professional registration. Nonverbal materials such as diagrams, graphs, and illustrations may be included in texts. A simple glossary is provided if technical terms are used in the text.

Three reading passages with a variety of questions using a number of task types.

Task types:

• Multiple choice
• Identifying information
• Identifying the writer’s views/claims
• Matching information
• Matching headings
• Matching features
• Matching sentence endings
• Sentence completion
• Summary completion
• Note completion
• Table completion
• Flow-chart completion
• Diagram label completion
• Short-answer questions

Test Format: Paper

Timing: 60 minutes

No. of questions: 40

Marks: Each question is worth 1 mark.

The Reading section consists of 40 questions designed to assess a variety of reading abilities. The first section is about obtaining and delivering general factual information, such as notices, advertisements, and timetables. The second section,’ includes job descriptions, contracts, and materials for staff development and training. The third section includes items such as newspapers, magazines, and fictional and nonfiction book excerpts.

Task Types:

• Multiple choice
• Identifying information
• Identifying writer’s views/claims
• Matching information
• Matching headings
• Matching features
• Matching sentence endings
• Sentence completion
• Summary completion
• Note completion
• Table completion
• Flow-chart completion
• Diagram label completion
• Short-answer questions

Test Format: Paper

Timing: 60 minutes

No. of questions: 40

Marks: Each question is worth 1 mark.

Academic Writing:

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
Test format – General Training Writing (60 minutes)

In Writing Task 1, students may be asked to describe facts or figures presented in one or more graphs, charts, or tables on a related topic, or they may be given a diagram of a machine, device, or process and asked to explain how it works. They should write in an academic or semi-formal/neutral style, highlighting the most important and relevant points. This task should take no more than 20 minutes for test takers. This task assesses the ability to identify the most important and relevant information and trends in a graph, chart, table, or diagram, and to provide a well-organized overview of it in an academic style using accurate language.

No. of questions: 1

IELTS Academic Writing Task 2

In Writing Task 2, test takers are given a topic to write about in either an academic or semi-formal/neutral style. The responses should be a discursive examination of the pertinent issues. They must fill out the answer booklet with their responses. This task assesses your ability to present a clear, relevant, well-organized argument, provide evidence or examples to back up your ideas, and use language correctly.

No. of questions: 1

General Writing:

IELTS General Writing Task 1

Test Format – General Training Writing (60 minutes)

In Writing Task 1, test takers are given a circumstance and asked to write a personal response in the form of an informal, semi-formal, or formal letter of at least 150 words in the assigned answer booklet.

No. of questions: 1

IELTS General Writing Task 2

Writing Task 2 requires test takers to prepare a semi-formal/neutral discursive essay of at least 250 words in the accompanying answer book. This task assesses the ability to adhere to English discursive writing conventions (i.e., what order to place information in, what style to use, how to begin and end discursive writing, how to paragraph), to organize and link information coherently and cohesively, and to use language accurately and appropriately.

No. of questions: 1

The speaking section assesses your use of spoken English. Every test is recorded.

Part 1 – Introduction and Interview

In this section, the examiner introduces himself/herself and verifies the identity of the test participants. They next pose generic questions about home, family, work, studies, and interests to the exam takers. Questions are taken from a script to maintain uniformity. Part 1 lasts around 4–5 minutes.

Part 2 – Long Turn

The examiner hands each test taker a task card that asks them to talk about a certain topic, lists points to cover in their discussion, and advises them to describe one element of the issue. Test takers are given one minute to prepare their presentation and a pencil and paper to take notes. Using the task card points properly and taking notes throughout preparation time can assist test takers in thinking of relevant things to say, structuring their discourse, and remaining silent for 2 minutes. The examiner invites the test takers to speak for 1 to 2 minutes, then interrupts them and asks one or two questions on the same topic. Part 2 lasts around 3–4 minutes, including preparation time.

No. of questions: Variable

In Part 3, the examiner and test takers address issues relating to the topic in Part 2 in a more general and abstract manner, as well as in greater depth if applicable. Part 3 is 4–5 minutes long.This section of the test focuses on the ability to articulate and justify viewpoints, as well as analyze, discuss, and hypothesize on issues.

No. of questions: Variable

Timing: 11–14 minutes

In this test, you will listen to four recordings of native English speakers and then write your answers to a series of questions. There are four sections, each with ten questions. The questions are formatted in such a way that the answers appear in the order that they are heard in the audio.

The first two sections deal with scenarios that occur in ordinary social settings. Part 1 has a dialogue between two speakers , and Part 2 contains a monologue. Part 3 features a conversation between two major speakers, and Part 4 features a monologue on an intellectual subject.

Task Types: 

1. Multiple choice
2. matching
3. plan/map/diagram labelling
4. form/note/table/flow-chart/summary completion
5. sentence completion

Marks: Each question is worth 1 mark.