IELTS Exam Syllabus (Section-wise) in 2024: Latest & Updated

If you’ve ever thought about studying or working overseas, you will have heard of the IELTS exam. In this article, we will help you understand the IELTS exam syllabus. We will also explain how the paper is laid out section-wise. 

Here is a quick overview of the IELTS exam pattern and syllabus:

After reading this comprehensive guide, all your questions about the IELTS exam syllabus will be answered. So now, without any further ado, let us get right into it.

What is the IELTS exam?

IELTS is an acronym for the “International English Language Testing System”. It is a very popular exam that has, over decades, become the industry standard for gauging your command of English. 

The IELTS is developed and is maintained by the British Council, IDP Education, and Cambridge Assessment English. Today, the IELTS is accepted in over 12,000 places (including universities, corporations, and government immigration departments) across the globe. 

There are two main tracks for the IELTS: The ‘General Training’ and the ‘Academic’. The general track is for people who want to work in an English-speaking country, and the academic track is for people who want to study abroad. There is also a third track called the ‘IELTS UKVI’, which is specifically for those looking to live and work in the UK. 

Now, the IELTS Academic track is the one that most students need to take, and that exam is 2 hours and 45 minutes long. You can take the test online or offline at an IBT/ British Council center.

The IELTS exam syllabus consists of four sections, as under.

• Listening
• Reading
• Writing
• Speaking

The Listening, Reading, and Writing sections are always completed on the same day, while the Speaking section may be scheduled separately. That said, most people do choose to give all four sections on the same day.

Each of those sections has a set pattern, and we will go into more detail for each in the next section. 

Also note that in both the General Training and Academic tracks of the IELTS exam syllabus, the Listening and Speaking sections are the same, but the Writing and Reading are different. 

In the next section, we will learn about the section-wise IELTS exam syllabus.

IELTS exam syllabus in 2024 (section-wise)

First of all, allow us to clear up one big misconception. The IELTS is a language exam, not an academic one. 

Now, sure, in the exam you might get a reading excerpt from a physics lecture, but that does not mean that there is an IELTS physics syllabus.

Similarly, you may be given an essay topic about computers, but there is no IELTS syllabus for computer science. In the same way, there is no IELTS mathematics syllabus, IELTS engineering syllabus, or IELTS quant syllabus. The test is just about your English skills and how good you are at the language.

Next, let’s understand the exam syllabus for each of the sections. 

1. IELTS Listening syllabus

In the Listening section, you will have to listen to four audio recordings. The four audio recordings will be structured as given under.

• Recording 1 will be a basic conversation between two people about everyday things. For instance, it could be someone trying to get directions from someone else.
• Recording 2 is going to be a monologue, i.e. only one speaker. Again, this will be in an everyday situation context. For example, it could be someone talking about the weather.
• Recording 3 is a multi-person conversation, and can have up to four speakers (but usually has 3). This recording is in an educational setting, like an excerpt from a university Q&A session with a professor.
• Recording 4 is again a monologue like #2, but this time the context is in an academic setting. Commonly you will find excerpts from university lectures in recording 4.

Now, you will only get one shot at listening to each recording, so pay attention and take notes. Oftentimes, the recordings use different accents (British, Australian, American, etc.) so be prepared for that.

And that is the IELTS exam pattern and syllabus for the listening section. Next up, we’ll walk you through the Reading section.

1. IELTS Reading syllabus

In the reading section, you’ll need to do more than just understand the text.  You’ll also have to figure out what the writers think, feel, and are trying to do. 

The questions will be mixed up to test different ways of reading, like quickly scanning for info or getting the big picture of what the writer is saying. Now, as we mentioned, for the Reading and Writing sections, the IELTS General test syllabus is different from the Academic test.

For the Academic Reading test:

• You’ll get three long passages to read, each with its own set of questions.
• The topics are usually about issues and events that college or graduate school students would find interesting.
• The passages might be written in different styles. They could also include details like charts or pictures.
• You’ll see texts from all sorts of sources: books, magazines, newspapers, etc. 

For the General Training Reading section:

• You’ll have five or six different texts to read, some longer than others.

• It’s split into three parts:

1. The first part has two or three short texts (or a bunch of tiny ones) about everyday stuff.
2. Next, you’ll see two short texts about work-related things.
3. Last up is one longer text about something generally interesting.

• Like the Academic test, these texts come from all types of sources: ads, company guidebooks, official papers, books, newspapers, and so on.

Remember, both versions of the test check how well you can understand and work with written English in different situations. Next, let’s talk about what you can expect in the Writing section of the IELTS exam.

1. IELTS Writing syllabus

In the Writing section, you’ll have two tasks to complete. The tasks differ slightly depending on whether you’re taking the Academic or General Training version of the test.

For the Academic Writing test:

• For task 1, you’ll get a visual like a graph, chart, or diagram. Your job is to describe what you see in your own words. You need to write at least 150 words in about 20 minutes.
• In task 2, you’ll be given a topic to discuss. This could be a point of view, an argument, or a problem. You should write at least 250 words in about 40 minutes.

The topics are usually ones that college or graduate school students, or professionals in training, would find relevant.

For the General Training Writing test:

• In the first task, you’ll need to respond to a situation, often by writing a letter. For example, you might need to ask for information or explain something. Like the Academic Task 1, aim for at least 150 words in about 20 minutes.

• The general test’s task 2 is the same as the Academic Task 2, where you’ll discuss a topic, writing at least 250 words in about 40 minutes.

The topics here are more about everyday life and situations you might encounter in the real world.

Remember, both versions of the test are checking how well you can express yourself in writing. The Academic one focuses more on analyzing and describing data, while the General Training one is more about practical communication.

Next up, we’ll go over what you can expect in the Speaking section of the IELTS exam.

1. IELTS Speaking syllabus

The speaking section of the IELTS exam tests how well you can communicate in spoken English. It’s the same for both Academic and General Training versions, just like the listening section. The whole exercise takes about 11 to 14 minutes and is recorded for scoring.

The speaking test is divided into three parts, as under.

• Part 1 lasts 4-5 minutes. The examiner will ask you general questions about yourself and everyday topics. They might ask about your home, family, work, studies, or hobbies.

• Part 2 takes 3-4 minutes. You’ll get a card with a topic to talk about. You get 1 minute to prepare, then you’ll speak for up to 2 minutes. After that, the examiner might ask you a couple more questions about the same topic.

• Part 3 goes for 4-5 minutes. The examiner will ask more questions related to the topic from Part 2. These questions are usually a bit more challenging, asking you to discuss abstract ideas or concepts.

Remember, the goal is to show how well you can express yourself in English. Try to speak clearly and confidently, and don’t be afraid to ask for clarification if you need it.

That covers all four sections of the IELTS exam syllabus: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. In the next section, we will give you preparation tips, specific to each section.

How to prepare for the IELTS Exam?

Now, let’s look into some preparation tips specific to each section. 

• Listening Section Tips

• First and foremost, check if your headphones are working properly. If not, don’t hesitate to raise your hand.
• Use the preparation time wisely. Read through the questions before the recording starts.
• Listen attentively, focusing more on finding answers than understanding every word. Remember, you only get one chance to hear the recording.
• Jot down notes on your question paper as you listen.
• Be mindful of the word limit for each answer.
• Before submitting, review your answers for spelling and grammar errors.

• Reading Section Tips

• Pay close attention to any figures, graphs, or images in the question paper.
• If you get stuck on a question, move on and come back to it later.
• Write your answers directly on the answer sheet. You won’t get extra time to transfer answers later.
• Read questions carefully and focus on finding the relevant information in the passage.
• Be concise, grammatically correct, and to the point.

• Writing Section Tips

• Analyze the tasks thoroughly and plan your answers mentally.
• Manage your time wisely: 20 minutes for Task 1 and 40 minutes for Task 2.
• Aim for over 150 words in Task 1 and over 250 words in Task 2.
• Avoid repeating ideas, phrases, and words.
• Always include a conclusion for Task 2.
• Write precise, relevant answers. Avoid overly long paragraphs and sentences.
• Use active voice rather than passive voice.
• Don’t forget to revise and proofread before submitting.

• Speaking Section Tips

• Speak clearly and at a steady pace.
• Listen carefully to the questions and answer them directly.
• Feel free to add relevant information to your answers.
• If needed, ask the examiner to repeat the question.
• Maintain confidence as you speak.
• Try to avoid long pauses.
• Pay equal attention to vocabulary, tense range, grammar, and sentence structure.

Remember, mastering the IELTS verbal syllabus takes practice (a lot of it). By following these tips and consistently practicing, you’ll be well-prepared for test day. 

Below is a list of free resources, including ones from the official IELTS website to help you prepare for your exam.

• Free IELTS (Academic) mock paper
• Free IELTS (General Training) mock paper
• Free IELTS (UKVI) mock paper
• Free app for IELTS takers by IDP India
• Free online IELTS masterclass
• Free IELTS listening practice questions by the British Council
• Free IELTS (academic) reading practice questions by the British Council
• Free IELTS (academic) writing practice questions by the British Council
• Free IELTS (general) reading practice questions by the British Council
• Free IELTS (general) writing practice questions by the British Council
• Free IELTS speaking practice questions by the British Council

IELTS for studying overseas

A lot of people take the IELTS because they want to pursue higher education overseas. Many American, UK, Australian, and Canadian institutions require foreign students to have the IELTS as an admission requirement.

Now, a lot of students also take the IELTS preemptively, without having applied to any universities. They’ll apply to universities later, and this could be for several reasons. 

Maybe you’re still in high school or undergraduate college. Maybe you haven’t decided which university (or even which country) to apply to. This is understandable; with so many great options, it can be quite daunting to make a decision that will certainly change your life. 

That is exactly why we have designed SelectRight–to help your university search. SelectRight is an AI-based tool that will find the perfect program for your individual needs and preferences. It’s like having a personal advisor who understands your unique situation, aspirations, and constraints, and gives you options that tick all boxes. The AI algorithm that powers SelectRight matches your profile with the best programs and universities across a pool of 40,000+ programs and 4,000+ universities. This ensures you can shortlist universities where you are very likely to get admission, and still be able to meet your academic and career aspirations. 

Once you’ve applied to the most suited universities for you, the next step is to get an education loan. To simplify this, we have built FundRight to make the process of securing an education loan easier and more efficient. By creating an account and completing your profile, you can access loan offers from over 15 top lenders, both Indian and international. FundRight gets you competitive loan offers within 2 days and then lets you compare and negotiate right from your home, using your laptop or smartphone. With FundRight, you can secure your education funding quickly and focus on your academic journey.

And with that, we come to the end of this article on the IELTS exam syllabus. We hope you found it useful, and we’ll see you in the next one. 

Frequently asked questions

• What is the IELTS exam syllabus for electrical engineering?

As we’ve outlined above, the IELTS is an English exam, so there is no subject-specific syllabus. Likewise, there is no IELTS CS syllabus, IELTS math syllabus, or any specific IELTS exam syllabus for MS programs. The only thing that is tested in the IELTS is your ability to understand and communicate in English.

• How much does it cost to take the IELTS exam in India?

The cost of the IELTS exam in India varies slightly depending on the test center and type of test (Academic or General Training). As of 2024, the fee is typically around INR 15,500 to 16,000. However, it’s best to check with your local British Council or IDP center for the most current pricing.

• What are the minimum IELTS scores required by popular universities for studying abroad?

The minimum IELTS scores vary depending on the institution and program. Generally, most universities require an overall band score of 6.0 to 7.0 for undergraduate programs and 6.5 to 7.5 for postgraduate programs. Some top-tier universities may require higher scores, up to 7.5 or 8.0.

• Are there any advantages for Indian students in taking the computer-delivered IELTS over the paper-based test?

The advantages of computer-delivered IELTS for Indian students include the following:

• More frequent test dates and flexible scheduling options
• Faster results (typically available in 3-5 days)
• Comfortable for students used to working on computers
• Easier editing and word count tracking for the writing section
• Potentially clearer audio for the listening section