New GyanDhan Loan Mela Happening in Your City Know More
Register for GyanDhan's scholarship Register Now

IELTS Exam To Study Abroad

Academic & General IELTS by IDP

ielts

Understanding the IELTS exam pattern and syllabus is very important for candidates who want higher IELTS band scores. Before we start with the IELTS syllabus, make sure you have gone through the types of IELTS exams. Once you have a clear picture of the IELTS exam pattern, you can easily finish your IELTS syllabus. Let us see the IELTS exam pattern first:

Sprinkles

IELTS Exam Pattern 2025

The following is the exam pattern of the IELTS exam from the table below. We have mentioned the details of each of the sections:

Section Duration Number of Questions

Listening

30 minutes

40

Reading

60 minutes

40

Writing

60 minutes

2 tasks

Speaking

11-14 minutes

3 parts

Sprinkles

Section-wise IELTS Exam Syllabus 2025

The IELTS exam subjects for syllabus 2025 are mentioned in detail along with the duration. We recommend that you go through each of them:

1. IELTS Reading Syllabus 2025 | Duration: 60 Minutes

The Reading section consists of 3 long passages with 40 questions that test various comprehension skills. Questions include:

 

  • list items
    Multiple-choice
  • list items
    Sentence or summary completion
  • list items
    True/False/Not Given
  • list items
    Matching headings, lists, or phrases
  • list items
    Diagram or flowchart completion

IELTS Academic - Reading Syllabus:

  • list items
    IELTS subjects are taken from books, journals, newspapers, research papers, and academic articles.
  • list items
    Questions assess your understanding, analysis, and explanation of complex ideas.

IELTS General Training - Reading Syllabus:

  • list items
    IELTS subjects are taken from advertisements, company guidelines, notices, newspapers, and brochures.
  • list items
    Questions assess your understanding of everyday workplace and social situations.
 

The question format remains the same for both versions, but Academic Reading is more complex.

2. IELTS Listening Syllabus 2025 | Duration: 30 minutes

The Listening part has four sections with 40 questions. Each section includes a mix of conversations and monologues. The audio clips last about 3-4 minutes each. You hear each recording only once, so be attentive throughout the section. Question types include:

 

  • list items
    Multiple-choice
  • list items
    Short-answer
  • list items
    Sentence and note completion
  • list items
    Diagram or map labelling
  • list items
    Matching
 

The IELTS subjects for the listening syllabus is the same for Academic and General Training. Please note that apart from the 30-minute test, an extra 10 minutes will be given for transferring your answers.

3. IELTS Writing Syllabus 2025 | Duration: 60 minutes

The Writing section consists of two tasks. Please note that Task 2 is given more importance than Task 1.

IELTS Academic - Writing Syllabus:

  • list items
    Task 1: Describe a graph, table, chart, diagram, or map in at least 150 words.
  • list items
    Task 2: Write an essay of at least 250 words on a given topic (argument, discussion, problem-solving).

IELTS General Training - Writing Syllabus:

  • list items
    Task 1: Write a letter (formal, semi-formal, or informal) based on a given situation.
  • list items
    Task 2: Write a 250-word essay on a general topic (similar to Academic).

4. IELTS Speaking Syllabus 2025 | Duration: 11-14 minutes

The Speaking module tests communication skills, fluency, and pronunciation.
It is divided into three parts:

 

  • list items
    Part 1 (Introduction and Interview): Personal questions about home, studies, work, hobbies, or interests. Usually for 4-5 minutes.
 
  • list items
    Part 2 (Speech / Long Turn): You will be given a cue card topic with 1 minute to prepare and then you have to speak for 1-2 minutes. The examiner may ask some follow-up questions. This part is for around 3-4 minutes.
 
  • list items
    Part 3 (Discussion): This involves a deeper discussion on the Part 2 topic. You may be asked some abstract questions to asses your reasoning and opinion
 

The IELTS subjects for the speaking syllabus are the same for Academic and General Training.

 

To help you score 8+ bands in the IELTS exam, GyanDhan has launched the Free IELTS Preparation Course with IELTS exam topics and a detailed explanation which is divided into 30 episodes. Make sure to check them all for the best results.

 

Important Points Regarding IELTS Exam:

  • list items
    The Listening, Reading, and Writing sections are to be completed on the same day without any breaks, so prepare accordingly.
  • list items
    The Speaking section may be scheduled on the same day or 7 days before or after the other sections.
  • list items
    The total test time is approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes.
 

It is very important to be thorough with the IELTS exam syllabus if you are planning to score high in the exam. You have to make sure that your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills are well practised and according to the IELTS exam syllabus. You need to practice regularly, learn to manage your time and understand the familiarity with the question types that are asked in the exam. To assist your preparation in the IELTS exam, GyanDhan has a free IETLS course that offers structured lessons, mock test and expert tips. All you need to do is stay dedicated to your goals and you achieve your target IELTS score.

 

Check loan eligibility for study abroad

Sprinkles

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the syllabus different for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training?
 

Yes, the Reading and Writing sections are different. The Listening and Speaking sections are the same for both.

Are there any specific topics for IELTS Writing Task 1 and Task 2?
 

There are no specific topics but general guidelines for topics are as follows:

  • list items
    Task 1 for IELTS Academic: Describe a graph, chart, table, diagram, or map.
  • list items
    Task 1 for IELTS General Training: Write a formal, semi-formal, or informal letter.
  • list items
    Task 2 (For IELTS Academic and General Training): Write an essay on a given topic (opinion, problem-solving, discussion). Topics are general and do not require expert knowledge.
How long is each section of the IELTS exam?
 

Following is an estimate for each section of the IELTS exam:

  • list items
    Listening: 30 minutes
  • list items
    Reading: 60 minutes
  • list items
    Writing: 60 minutes
  • list items
    Speaking: 11-14 minutes
  • list items
    Total Duration: About 2 hours 45 minutes
Does the IELTS syllabus change every year?
 

No, the overall format remains the same, but question topics may vary in each test.

Can I take the IELTS test online?
 

For IELTS Academic, you can take the test online. For IELTS General Training, the test is still only available in test centres.

Beyond IELTS. Get Expert Admission Support

Find the right admission consultant for your profile. It's FREE!

Our free tools will help you out.

Powered by AI

Algorithm equipped with multiple data points, will steer you through your study abroad journey.

Check Eligibility
L

Loan Eligibility Checker

Find the best education loan for you in just 2 minutes

Check Eligibility
EMI Calculator
E

EMI Calculator

Determine your EMIs and repayment schedules before committing to a student loan.

Calculate Now
Estimate Your Future Earnings
E

Estimate Your Future Earnings

Project your potential future earnings and compare countries based on return on investment.

Estimate Now
Admit Predictor
A

Admit Predictor

Check the probability of your MS in US admission

Evaluate Now
University Compare
U

University Compare

Get insights on income, employability, costs, and top recruiters of upto 4 universities.

Compare Now
Automated SOP Reviewer
A

Automated SOP Reviewer

Get your Statement of Purpose evaluated on matter, grammar, readability using Natural language processing.

Submit SOP
Grade Converter
G

Grade Converter

Convert your percentage or 10-point CGPA to GPA score with just a single click.

Convert Now
Sprinkles

Relevant blogs

View more
Get Admission Help