IELTS Academic – get ready for a higher education environment

The IELTS Academic test measures whether you have the level of English language proficiency needed for an academic, higher education environment.

It reflects some of the features of academic language and assesses whether you are ready to begin studying or training in English.

Download our free guide to the IELTS Academic test

Take this test if you want to:

  • study at either undergraduate or postgraduate level anywhere in the world
  • work in a professional organisation in an English speaking country.

You can choose how to take your IELTS test: at one of our testing points in Italy on computer or paper, or at home with IELTS Online.

Fees, duration and format of IELTS Academic

Fee for IELTS Academic: Duration:
 €260 2 hours and 45 minutes for Listening, Reading and Writing, plus 11-14 minutes for the Speaking section

Test format: 

The IELTS test has four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. You can take the test at an official British Council IELTS testing point or, if you choose IELTS Online, at home or any private location with a stable internet connection.

  • If you take IELTS at a testing point on a computer or on paper, you have a choice of Speaking test dates and venues. Some IELTS Speaking tests will be delivered via video calls at the official testing point. This means greater flexibility in delivering IELTS Speaking tests, along with increased availability.
  • With IELTS Online, you can take your test from home or any private location with a stable internet connection. You will write the answers to the Listening, Reading, and Writing sections on your own computer. The Speaking test will be conducted online via video call.

You will take the Video-call Speaking test with the same high standard of identity verification. The test will be exactly the same as the in-person Speaking test in terms of content, scoring, timing, question format and security arrangements. 

Delivered by an IELTS Speaking Examiner, the video-call Speaking test will maintain the face-to-face features of the in-person Speaking test. Find out more in this video.

IELTS Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking sections explained

IELTS Academic test Part 1: Listening Tasks

Duration: 30 minutes plus 10 minutes to transfer your responses to the answer sheet

Format: Four audio recordings in varying accents

You will write your answers using: 

  • multiple choice
  • matching
  • diagram labelling
  • sentence completion.

You will listen to four recordings of native English speakers and then write your answers to a series of questions.

  • Recording 1 – a conversation between two people set in an everyday social context.
  • Recording 2 – a monologue set in an everyday social context, e.g. a speech about local facilities.
  • Recording 3 – a conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context, e.g. a university tutor and a student discussing an assignment.
  • Recording 4 – a monologue on an academic subject, e.g. a university lecture.

Assessors will be looking for evidence of your ability to understand the main ideas and detailed factual information, the opinions and attitudes of speakers, the purpose of a word and evidence of your ability to follow the development of ideas.

IELTS Academic test Part 2: Reading Tasks

Duration: 60 minutes

Format:

  • Three long reading passages with tasks (including diagrams, graphs or illustrations)
  • Texts range from descriptive and factual to the discursive and analytical.

The Reading section consists of 40 questions, designed to test a wide range of reading skills. These include skim reading, reading for main ideas, reading for detail, understanding logical arguments and recognising writers' opinions, attitudes and purpose.

This section includes three long texts which range from factual information to discussion pieces and analysis. These are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers. They have been selected for a non-specialist audience but are appropriate for people entering university courses or seeking professional registration.

IELTS Academic test Part 3: Writing Tasks

Duration: 60 minutes

Format:

  • One written task to describe, explain or summarise text or diagrams (minimum 150 words)
  • One essay task (minimum 250 words)

Topics are of general interest to, and suitable for, test takers entering undergraduate and postgraduate studies or seeking professional registration. There are two tasks:

  • Task 1 – you will be presented with a graph, table, chart or diagram and asked to describe, summarise or explain the information in your own words. You may be asked to describe and explain data, describe the stages of a process, how something works or describe an object or event.
  • Task 2 – you will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. 

Responses to both tasks must be in a formal style.

IELTS Academic test Part 4: Speaking Tasks

Duration: 10 – 14 minutes

Format:

  • Face-to-face interview with your Examiner including short questions about familiar topics and speaking in detail about one topic.
  • Please note: depending on the test centre location, you may be required to sit the Speaking section of your test on a different day.

The Speaking section assesses your use of spoken English. Every test is recorded.

  • Part 1 – the Examiner will ask you general questions about yourself and a range of familiar topics, such as home, family, work, studies and interests. This part lasts between four and five minutes.
  • Part 2  – you will be given a card which asks you to talk about a particular topic. You will have one minute to prepare before speaking for up to two minutes. The Examiner will then ask one or two questions on the same topic.
  • Part 3 – you will be asked further questions about the topic in Part 2. These will give you the opportunity to discuss more abstract ideas and issues. This part of the test lasts between four and five minutes.

Your success starts with IELTS

If your goal is to study at university or work in an English-speaking country, then IELTS Academic is the right test for you.

Get free access to IELTS Ready Premium when you book with us. We are dedicated to supporting your success in the test.

Find a test date and book 

Before booking your test, confirm the specific test requirements with the organisations you are applying to.