ILETS

The IELTS Academic test is designed to assess a candidate’s readiness to study in an English-speaking academic environment, including MBA programs. The total test time is 2 hours 45 minutes and is divided into four components: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. The Listening, Reading, and Writing sections are taken in a single sitting, while the Speaking section may be conducted on the same day or up to 7 days before/after the other sections.

• Listening: This section evaluates the ability to understand spoken English in various accents (British, American, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand). Candidates listen to four recordings: a conversation, a monologue, a discussion, and an academic lecture, and answer a total of 40 questions.

• Reading: Focuses on academic reading skills through 3 long passages taken from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers. Includes tasks like multiple-choice questions, matching information, identifying writer’s views, and sentence completion. Total of 40 questions.

• Writing: Consists of two tasks.

  • Task 1: Summarize, describe, or explain visual information (graph, chart, table, or diagram) in at least 150 words.

  • Task 2: Write an academic essay in response to a point of view, argument, or problem in at least 250 words.

• Speaking: A face-to-face interview conducted in three parts - introduction & interview, long turn (2-minute monologue), and two-way discussion on abstract topics.

Scoring & Band Scale:

• IELTS is scored on a band scale of 0-9, in half-band increments.

• Each section is scored separately, and the overall band score is the average of the four.

• There is no negative marking; unanswered questions simply get a zero.

Educational Qualification

• There is no minimum educational requirement to take IELTS. However, for MBA admissions, candidates must meet the academic qualifications required by the university they are applying to.

• IELTS is recommended for candidates who have completed or are completing their undergraduate degree.

Age Requirement

• Must be at least 16 years old.

• No upper age limit.

Other Details

• Work Experience: Not required for the test itself, but some MBA programs may require it.

• Nationality: Open to all nationalities.

• Attempts: No restriction on the number of attempts.

Although IELTS does not publish a fixed “official” syllabus, the test consistently follows its well-established section-wise pattern - Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Success comes from mastering the core language skills and adapting them to the academic test format.

1. Listening Section
This section tests your ability to comprehend spoken English in various accents and contexts:
• Conversation & Monologue (Social Context): You might hear a dialogue between two people (e.g., booking a service) or a short speech (e.g., providing public information). The focus is on understanding facts, attitudes, and specific details.
• Academic Contexts: Includes lectures, discussions, and seminars where you must follow the flow of ideas, identify main arguments, and interpret supporting details.
• Question Formats: Multiple choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labeling, form completion, and short-answer questions.
• Preparation Tip: Practice with a variety of English accents (British, Australian, North American) and develop active listening skills by noting key points while listening once.

2. Reading Section
This section evaluates your ability to read and understand academic-level written material:
• Academic Reading Passages: Three long passages sourced from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers, ranging from descriptive and factual to analytical and discursive.
• Question Focus: Identifying main ideas, matching headings, finding specific information, understanding logical arguments, and recognizing writers’ opinions or claims.
• Common Question Types: True/False/Not Given, Yes/No/Not Given, multiple choice, matching features, sentence completion, summary/note/table/diagram completion.
• Preparation Tip: Build a reading habit in diverse academic subjects and practice skimming for main ideas and scanning for details under time constraints.

3. Writing Section
This section measures your ability to present ideas clearly and logically in written form:
• Task 1 (150 words): Interpret and describe visual data such as graphs, charts, tables, diagrams, or processes. You must summarize trends, compare data, or explain a sequence.
• Task 2 (250 words): Write an essay responding to a point of view, argument, or problem. The essay must be well-structured, present a clear argument, and support points with examples.
• Marking Criteria: Task achievement, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy.
• Preparation Tip: Practice writing within word limits and under time pressure while focusing on structure, clarity, and academic vocabulary.

4. Speaking Section
This section assesses your ability to communicate fluently in spoken English:
• Part 1 (4-5 minutes): Introduction and general questions about yourself, your studies, work, hobbies, and familiar topics.
• Part 2 (3-4 minutes): A one to two-minute talk based on a task card, with one minute to prepare notes before speaking.
• Part 3 (4-5 minutes): A discussion with the examiner on more abstract topics related to Part 2, requiring deeper opinions and reasoning.
• Preparation Tip: Practice speaking on a range of topics, record yourself to monitor pronunciation and fluency, and expand your vocabulary for academic discussions.

Additional Syllabus & Trend Insights
• Size & Structure: The IELTS Academic test has four sections - Listening (30 minutes), Reading (60 minutes), Writing (60 minutes), and Speaking (11-14 minutes). Listening, Reading, and Writing are completed in one sitting, while Speaking may be scheduled on the same day or up to a week before/after.
• Listening & Reading Focus: Accuracy is critical, as there is no partial credit; spelling and grammar count.
• Writing Trends: Examiners value clarity, logical progression, and evidence-backed arguments rather than overly complex vocabulary.
• Speaking Trends: Natural fluency, pronunciation, and confidence matter more than having a “perfect” accent.