ACADEMIC – IELTS Academic test is divided into four sections:-

Listening
The test is of 30 minutes, additional 10 minutes are given for transferring the answers to the answer sheet. The candidates are tested on their ability to understand lectures and conversations in various Western accents, primarily British.

Reading
The test includes 40 questions which are divided in 3 sections. The test is 60 minutes long and it measures the the ability of candidates to understand descriptive, factual, and analytical passages.

Writing
In this test, 2 tasks have to be completed in 60 minutes. Task 1 comprises of describing tables, graphs, charts, diagrams in a minimum of 150 words and in task 2, candidates are required to write a 250 words long essay on the given topic. The contribution of task 2 to the total writing score is twice of task 1.

Speaking
The speaking test is generally 12 to 15 minutes long and is conducted in a face to face interview format . This test has 3 sections, in the first section- the examiner asks questions related to the candidate’s introduction etc. In the second section- the candidate is asked to speak for 2 minutes on a general topic and in the third section- followup questions related to the topic in section 2 are asked.

GENERAL – IELTS General Training is also divided into four sections

Listening
The test is of 30 minutes, an additional time of 10 minutes is given for transferring the answers to the answer sheet. The candidates are tested on their ability to understand lectures and conversations in various Western accents, primarily British

Reading
The duration of this test is 60 minutes in which three passages are given. Each passage forms one section of the test and is accompanied with 10 to 14 questions. There are a total of 40 questions.
Section 1 generally has two or three short paragraphs on factual texts.
Section 2 mostly has on two short paragraphs based on factual texts.
Section 3 is likely to be a long passage on a general topic.

Writing
In this test 2 tasks have to be completed in 60 minutes. Task 1 comprises of writing a 150 words long formal or an informal letter on the given situation and in task 2 candidates are required to write a 250 words long essay on the given topic. The contribution of task 2 to the total writing score is twice of task 1.

Speaking
The speaking test is generally 12 to 15 minutes long and is conducted in a face to face interview format . This test has 3 sections, in the first section the examiner asks questions related to the candidate’s introduction etc. In the second section the candidate is asked to speak for 2 minutes on a general topic and in the third section followup questions related to the topic in section 2 are asked.