overview
structure
speaking
writing
score
Reading
The Test
All candidates are tested in
Listening
30 minutes
Reading
Writing
60 minutes 60 minutes
Speaking
11-14
minutes
Total Time
2 hours 45 minutes
Time: 30 minutes 4 sections, 40 questions
Real-world listening situations 
Difficulty 
Range of topics and tasks 
- listening for specific information
e.g.dates, place names
- understanding gist
- understanding speaker attitude/opinion

Section
Section
Section
Section
1:
2:
3:
4:
conversation – 2 speakers
monologue 
conversation – 4 speakers
lecture 


Recording is played once 
Read question CAREFULLY BEFORE listening
Familiarise yourself with question types 
- completing a chart
- selecting pictures
- note-taking exercises
-MC questions

Time: 60 minutes 3 reading passages, totally
40 questions
Texts are taken from books, magazines, 
journals and newspapers
Question types 
- find detailed information
- identify attitudes and views
- complete a diagram

Do not read, scan
Do not read the whole passage
Do not try to understand every word
Scan quickly through the text
Get the main idea of each paragraph
Do not read the whole paragraph
Scan the whole essay
Time: 60 minutes 2 tasks 
Task 1(20mins): Writing a report(descriptive 
report of a table or diagram, 150 words )
Task 2(40 mins):Writing an essay(250 word 
essay in response to an opinion or a
problem.
Discuss issues, construct an argument and 
use the appropriate tone and register).
Read the question carefully

Familiarise yourself with descriptions of
data – in newspapers, textbooks

Practise formulating your own ideas on topics

Time: 10 – 15 minutes 
Face to face interview between one 
candidate and one examiner.
Part 1(4-5mins): Introduction and interview
Part 2(1-3 mins incl. prep): Individual talk 
Part 3(4-5 mins): Discussion topics 

• Speak without long pauses.
1-
• Understand the examiner and answer accordingly.
• Demonstrate how many smart words you know.
• Use all tenses when you talk(correctly).
• Pronounce the words correctly.
• Accent has nothing to do with pronunciation, so it will not affect
your score
Part 1

Take the initiative if possible ◦
Always say more than yes or no ◦
Try to overcome nerves ◦
Part 2 
- Take the 1 min preparation time
- Jot down some main ideas
- Sound interested in the talk
Part 3 
- Give informed responses
- Demonstrate your control of the language
- Attempt to express abstract ideas
- Support your opinions
- Show that you are willing to provide
extended replies
Part 3
IELTS provides a profile of a candidate’s 
ability to use English
Candidates receive a score on a Band Scale
from 1-9

Band 0-Did not attempt the test
Band 1-Non User 
Band 2-Intermittent User 
Band 3-Extremely Limited User
Band 4-Limited User 
Band 5-Modest User 


Competent User

Has generally effective command of the 
language despite some inaccuracies,
inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can
use and understand fairly complex language,
particularly in familiar situations.
Band 7-Good User 
Band 8-Very Good User
Band 9 -Expert User 

Familiarise yourself with the test.
Practise 
Time Management 

Available with the teacher on a flash

UGC Introductory site 
http://www.ugccepa.com
IELTS homepage 
http://www.ielts.org/index.htm
ELC homepage http://elc.polyu.edu.hk
