IELTS Exam Pattern- Listening Test
The IELTS exam structure encompasses the Listening Test. This will require around 30 minutes. You will also get an additional 10 minutes in the end for transferring your answers to your final answer sheet. The listening test is similar for both IELTS General Training and IELTS Academic modules. You will be listening to four recorded monologues, texts, and conversations by native speakers. You will thereafter have to write answers to multiple questions.
This will include questions testing the capabilities of candidates to understand key concepts/ideas along with extensive factual data and the attitudes/opinions of the speakers. The test will also examine the ability to understand what is stated and its purpose and ability to follow ideas and their development. Several accents and voices of native speakers are used. Every section can be heard just once.
The four sections of the Listening test are as follows:
Section 1- Conversation between two individuals set in a regular social context.
Section 2- Monologue set in a regular social context.
Section 3- Conversation among four individuals in a training/educational context.
Section 4- Monologue on any academic topic/subject.
The recordings will cover British, New Zealand, Australian, Canadian and American accents.
Multiple question types are used for the test, selected from the following:
- Form/Table/Note/Flow-chart summary
- Diagram labeling
- Matching
- Map/plan/diagram
- Multiple choice
- Sentence completion
Answers have to be written on the question paper by aspirants while listening and they get 10 minutes in the end for transferring the same to their answer sheets. Take care during this process since there are penalties for poor grammar and wrong spelling. Every question is worth one mark.
IELTS Exam Structure: Reading Test
As part of the IELTS exam format, aspirants will take the Reading test for around 60 minutes. This section will come with 40 questions and several question types are deployed for testing reading abilities. These cover reading for main ideas, gist, and detail, understanding logical arguments, recognizing attitudes, purpose, and opinions of writers, and skimming. People who are not proficient in English can go through IELTS exam pattern papers to get an idea. The Reading section is different for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training
This test encompasses three longer texts, ranging from factual and descriptive tests to analytical and discursive ones. The texts are sourced from books, magazines, journals, and newspapers and are suitably appropriate for those enrolling in postgraduate/undergraduate courses or looking for professional registration. Several types of question types apply, covering identification of writer claims/views, matching headings, matching information, matching features, completing sentences, matching endings of sentences, completing summaries, completing notes, completing flowcharts, completing tables, labelling diagrams, and short-answer questions. Texts and passages may be written in numerous styles including descriptive, narrative, or argumentative/discursive. At least a single text has extensive logical arguments while texts may also have non-verbal materials like graphs, illustrations, and diagrams. A glossary is given in case texts have technical terms.
Test aspirants will have to transfer answers to their answer sheets within the time allotted for the entire examination. No extra time is provided. Every question is worth one mark.