IELTS can be taken at an official test center or online, from home. It consists of four modules: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. The first three sections are taken consecutively, without a break, while the Speaking section takes place within seven days before or after the written part of the exam. Listening and Speaking are the same for both Academic and General versions, while Reading and Writing differ depending on the selected test type. The total duration of the exam is 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Duration: 30 minutes, with an additional 10 minutes to transfer answers to the answer sheet
During this section, you listen to four conversations or lectures and answer the given questions.
This module assesses how clearly you understand main ideas, details, and the speaker’s intention, as well as how carefully you can follow the development of a conversation or lecture. It consists of four parts: a conversation from an everyday context, a monologue from everyday life, an academic discussion (e.g. professor and student), and a short university lecture.
You complete a total of 40 tasks, and each correct answer earns one point. Tasks include multiple-choice questions, matching information, labeling plans or maps, and completing summaries, notes, and sentences.
Duration: 60 minutes
In this time, you read three to five texts and answer questions that assess understanding of main ideas, details, and text structure.
The Reading module requires fast and efficient reading with good time management. You read three texts and answer 40 questions that assess understanding of main ideas, details, implied meaning, as well as the author’s attitude and purpose.
Tasks include multiple-choice questions, matching headings to sections of the text, short answers, and sentence completion.
In Academic Reading, texts are longer and taken from books, journals, and newspapers, adapted to an academic level.
In General Training Reading, texts are more practical — from advertisements, manuals, newspapers, and everyday sources.
Duration: a total of 60 minutes (20 + 40 minutes)
In the first task, you write a response to a given topic (minimum 150 words), while in the second task you present and argue your own opinion on a given topic (minimum 250 words).
The Writing module assesses how clearly you organize ideas and how accurately you use grammatical and lexical structures.
In Academic Writing, the first task involves describing and analyzing a graph, table, or diagram (minimum 150 words), while the second task requires an argumentative essay (minimum 250 words). The second task carries twice as many points, so it is important to manage your time carefully.
In General Training Writing, the first task is writing a letter (formal, semi-formal, or informal), while the second task is an argumentative essay. Here as well, the second task carries more weight.
Duration: between 11 and 14 minutes
It consists of three parts: in the first, you introduce yourself and talk about yourself; in the second, you receive a card with a topic on which, after one minute of preparation, you speak for two minutes and answer additional questions; in the third part, the examiner develops the discussion further based on the previous topic.
The Speaking section takes place live with a certified IELTS examiner and is designed as a natural conversation. It assesses how fluently and clearly you express opinions on everyday topics, how well you develop ideas, and how coherently you argue.
The content is the same for IELTS Academic and IELTS General. The conversation is recorded, and it is recommended to speak in a relaxed and natural way — the goal is to demonstrate real language confidence, not perfection.
Structure of the speaking section
The Speaking section consists of three clearly structured parts. In the first part, the conversation is relaxed and introductory — the examiner will ask you to introduce yourself and will ask a few questions about familiar topics such as family, home, studies, work, or personal interests.
In the second part, you receive a card with a topic and several prompts. You have one minute to prepare and make brief notes, and then you speak for one to two minutes without interruption. For this reason, it is important to speak continuously and develop your idea fully.
The third part builds on the previous topic but goes a step further — the questions are more abstract and require broader analysis, reflection, and argumentation.
If you are not satisfied with your result in one skill — Listening, Reading, Writing, or Speaking — you do not need to retake the entire exam. You can retake only one component, once within 60 days of the original test date. This option is called IELTS One Skill Retake.
Although IELTS Online is an officially recognized version of the exam, it is not accepted by all institutions. Some universities require the test to be taken at a test center, especially because the Speaking section in the center is conducted live with an examiner. Additionally, some institutions express concerns regarding security and candidate authentication in online testing.
Each module (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking) is scored separately on a scale from 1 to 9 (Band Score). The overall result (Overall Band Score) is calculated as the average of all four sections.
IELTS does not have a formal “passing score” — the required result depends on the requirements of the institution or program you are applying to. Raw scores from individual sections are converted into Band Scores according to predefined conversion tables.
9.0
BAND SCORE
Listening Raw Score 40-39
Reading Raw Score 40-39
8.5
BAND SCORE
Listening Raw Score 38-37
Reading Raw Score 37
8.0
BAND SCORE
Listening Raw Score 36-35
Reading Raw Score 35
7.5
BAND SCORE
Listening Raw Score 34-33
Reading Raw Score 33
7.0
BAND SCORE
Listening Raw Score 32-30
Reading Raw Score 30
6.5
BAND SCORE
Listening Raw Score 29-27
Reading Raw Score 27
6.0
BAND SCORE
Listening Raw Score 26-23
Reading Raw Score 23
5.5
BAND SCORE
Listening Raw Score 22-20
Reading Raw Score 20
5.0
BAND SCORE
Listening Raw Score 19-16
Reading Raw Score 16
IELTS results are aligned with the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) of the Council of Europe. In other words, your IELTS score can be clearly linked to the European standard of language proficiency.
The levels roughly correspond as follows:
C2
Good user
(Vrsni govornik)
Council of Europe
Common European Framework
8.5 – 9.0
C1
Competent user
(Napredni govornik)
Council of Europe
Common European Framework
7.0 – 8.0
B2
Independent user
(Samostalni govornik)
Council of Europe
Common European Framework
5.5 – 6.5
B1
Threshold user
(Prijelazni stupanj)
Council of Europe
Common European Framework
4.0 – 5.0
