IELTS band scores by visa & pathway
IELTS reports an overall band score and individual band scores for each of the 4 skills. Most visa authorities require a minimum score in EACH skill individually — a high overall cannot compensate for one low skill band.
All IELTS sections in detail
IELTS has 4 sections totalling 2 hours 45 minutes. Listening and Speaking are identical for Academic and General Training. Only Reading and Writing differ between streams.
4 sections: everyday social conversation, monologue on social topic, academic discussion between 2-4 people, and an academic lecture. Each section is played once — no repeats. Identical for Academic and GT.
3 long academic passages (2,000-2,750 words total) from journals, books and magazines. Passages increase in difficulty. Tests skimming, scanning, detailed comprehension and vocabulary in context.
3 sections from practical texts: notices and advertisements, workplace documents, and a longer descriptive or analytical passage. Generally considered slightly easier than Academic Reading.
Task 1 (150+ words, 20 min): Describe a graph, chart, diagram, map or process. Task 2 (250+ words, 40 min): Argumentative essay. Task 2 carries double the marks of Task 1 — always complete it.
Task 1 (150+ words, 20 min): Write a formal or semi-formal letter. Task 2 (250+ words, 40 min): Same argumentative essay as Academic — identical marking criteria and requirements.
Part 1: 4-5 min interview on familiar topics. Part 2: 1 min prep + 1-2 min individual talk on a cue card topic. Part 3: 4-5 min discussion on abstract themes. Conducted by a trained human examiner.
6 IELTS strategies that move you up a full band
These strategies come from our IELTS Band 9 instructors and are based directly on the marking criteria examiners use.