Know the test before Lesson 1
IELTS is one test with four papers, taken on the same day. Listening and Speaking are identical for everyone.
Only Reading and Writing Task 1 change between the Academic and General Training versions.
The four papers
| Paper | Timing | Structure | Weighting | Same for both? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 30 min (+10 min transfer on paper) | 4 sections · 40 questions | 25% of the overall band | Identical |
| Reading | 60 min (no extra transfer time) | 3 sections · 40 questions | 25% of the overall band | Differs |
| Writing | 60 min (20 min Task 1 · 40 min Task 2) | 2 tasks · 150 + 250 words minimum | 25% of the overall band | Differs |
| Speaking | 11–14 min | 3 parts · Face-to-face with one examiner | 25% of the overall band | Identical |
Four recordings — everyday conversation, everyday monologue, academic discussion, academic lecture. Played once only.
Academic: three long, journal-style texts. General Training: everyday notices and workplace texts, building to one long text.
Task 1 differs: a data description (Academic) or a letter (General Training). Task 2 is an essay in both, marked to the same criteria.
Interview, a 2-minute long turn from a cue card, then an abstract discussion linked to the Part 2 topic.
Bands at a glance
Your course target — Band 6.5–7.0 — sits on the B2/C1 border of the CEFR.
Read these next
4 sections, 40 questions, 30 minutes — identical for Academic and General Training.
60 minutes, 40 questions — but the texts differ between Academic and General Training.
Two tasks in 60 minutes. Task 1 is completely different in each test.
A 3-part face-to-face interview, 11–14 minutes — identical for both tests.
Exactly what changes, what stays the same, and which one you should sit.
How band scores are calculated and how they map onto the CEFR levels.
Official materials
Everything below comes straight from the test owners — free, authentic and current.
Sample papers, answer sheets, videos and the official test-day guide.
Official comparison of IELTS bands with CEFR levels and other tests.