IELTS Syllabus 2025 - Section Wise Exam Syllabus & Pattern

The IELTS exam syllabus 2025 for Indian students consists of four major sections: Reading, Speaking, Writing, and Listening. The IELTS syllabus varies for modules: IELTS Academic for students and IELTS General Training for work or migration. Each has a different syllabus based on its purpose. Aspirants of study abroad must understand IELTS Academic syllabus to ace the exam. In the IELTS exam 2025, the Listening section is 30 minutes long and includes four recordings. The Reading section has 40 questions based on three texts. The Writing section takes 60 minutes and has two tasks. The Speaking section is an 11-14 minute interview to check fluency. The IELTS exam duration is 2 hours and 45 minutes. The main aspects of scoring well in the exam are understanding the IELTS syllabus and good preparation.

IELTS Practice Test:  Reading | Listening | Speaking | Writing

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This Story also Contains

1. IELTS Academic Syllabus for Indian Students
2. IELTS Listening Syllabus
3. IELTS Reading Syllabus
4. IELTS Writing Syllabus
5. IELTS Speaking Syllabus
6. IELTS Exam Pattern
7. IELTS Preparation Tips
8. IELTS Study Material

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is an important English proficiency test for students looking to study abroad, as the majority of foreign universities require it for admission purposes. The IELTS syllabus 2025 is used to measure a candidate's English proficiency in academic, professional, and social settings, which is necessary for studying in a foreign university. A thorough practice and preparation including familiarising with the IELTS syllabus and pattern 2025 is necessary to ace the exam. Read the article further to learn more about the IELTS exam and its syllabus in 2025.

IELTS Academic Syllabus for Indian Students

The IDP IELTS exam syllabus includes different types of questions like multiple-choice, matching, sentence completion, summary completion, short answer, and essay writing. The IELTS Academic syllabus tests candidates' English language skills mandatory for university and college admission abroad in an English-speaking country. It basically checks reading, writing, listening, and speaking to see if students can use English easily in an academic setting or not. Here is an overview of the breakdown of the four sections and their syllabus:

IELTS Exam Syllabus Overview

Related links:

Note: Students can explore different IDP IELTS syllabus 2025 pdfs available online for reference.

Now let us check the section wise IELTS syllabus for Academic module in the below headings.

IELTS Listening Syllabus

The course syllabus for the IELTS listening has four parts: two monologues and two conversations with different accents. Every part can be heard only once. Candidates are permitted to take notes while listening to the discussions and lectures, which they can then use to guide their responses to the questions. In IELTS syllabus for the listening section, there are 40 different types of questions asked to be completed in 30 minutes. 1 mark is given for every right answer. Poor spelling and grammar are penalised. Here are the four listening parts in IELTS 2025:

• Part 1: A conversation between two people on social topics(10 questions)
• Part 2: A monologue set on social topics (10 questions)
• Part 3: A conversation between up to four people in academic settings(10 questions)
• Part 4: A monologue on an academic subject in academic settings (10 questions)

Type of IELTS Listening Questions

Different types of questions are asked in IELTS listening section. Test takers are provided with 30 minutes for listening audio and 10 minutes extra to write answers on the answer sheet. The recordings include different accents such as British, Australian, New Zealand, and North American. Here are the question types which can be asked in the listening section of IELTS:

• Multiple Choice Questions
• Match the following
• Map plan diagram labelling
• Sentence completion
• Short answer questions
• Complete the Form/note/table/flow chart/summary

IELTS Listening Test Tips

• Focus on answers, not understanding everything—the recording plays only once.
• Check your headphones before starting; raise your hand if they don’t work.
• Take notes on your question paper while listening.
• Stick to the word limit for each answer.
• Read questions before the recording begins to prepare.
• Check spelling and grammar before submitting.
• Use all capital letters in your responses.

Check here: IELTS Listening Practice Test

IELTS Reading Syllabus

The IELTS Reading section has three passages on topics relevant to undergraduate and postgraduate students. The Reading section measures reading comprehension through various question types like multiple-choice, matching, and summary completion. Moreover, IELTS Reading section follows the same format for both computer-based and paper-based exams. There are 40 questions in the IELTS reading syllabus, where each passage contains 13–14 questions. These questions must be completed within 60 minutes. While the IELTS Academic and General Training versions have different reading passages and question types, there is no predetermined syllabus for passage topics.

The IELTS Academic Reading Syllabus includes 3 texts sourced from authentic study materials, such as advertisements, handbooks, official documents, books, and newspapers to measure reading skills such as skimming and understanding the writer’s perspective. These texts are based on a wide range of subjects such as science, history, culture, or environmental issues. Check the basic overview of IELTS reading syllabus for Academic module in 2025:

IELTS Academic Reading Syllabus

• Each task includes one long passage with related questions to be answered within 20 minutes.
• Text topics are relevant to the academics of undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
• The IELTS reading text format can vary from diagrams and graphs to illustrations.

Type of IELTS Reading Questions

Generally, there are different types of questions which can be asked in IELTS reading section. Test takers are provided a total of 60 minutes where 20 minutes are allocated per passage. These texts from books, journals, or newspapers include questions such as:

• Multiple Choice Questions
• Match the following
• True False questions
• Finding writer's views or claims
• Match the list of headings (line in the question) to the appropriate paragraphs (texts number)
• Matching Features/Sentences
• Filling up the blanks
• Complete the Summary/Note/Table/Flow-Chart
• Label the diagram
• Short answer questions

IELTS Reading Test Tips

• Use all capital letters for answers.
• Skip tough questions and return to them later.
• Be clear, correct, and to the point; proofread before submitting.
• Check figures, graphs, and images carefully before answering.
• Write answers directly as there’s no extra time to transfer them.
• Read questions carefully and find answers in the passage.

Practice Here:

IELTS Writing Syllabus

The IELTS 2025 Writing syllabus varies between the Academic and General Training modules, each consisting of two tasks. The IELTS Academic Writing section is for study abroad aspirants looking for undergraduate or postgraduate studies to test the candidate's understanding and relevancy of his/her short report for graph, chart, or diagram and responses to an argument, opinion, or problem. As a part of IELTS writing syllabus 2025, there are two compulsory tasks (1 and 2) to be completed in 60 minutes.

Task 1 (Report Writing): IELTS Writing Syllabus

Candidates are required to write a report writing under 150 words in a clear and structured explanation in their own words. Interpretation must include summarising and presenting information as a response to the given data. Task 1 can include questions in the form of 'Creating a short report based on Graphs, Diagram, Process, Map, Table, or Raw Data. Hence, candidates might be asked to describe or analyse data, explain a process or flowchart or describe an object or event.

• Time Allotted: 20 minutes

Task 2 (Essay): IELTS Writing Syllabus

As a part of the IELTS syllabus for Writing task 2, candidates are required to write a long essay of at least 250 words to provide a response to a point of view, argument or a problem within 40 minutes. These responses are required to be in a formal and academic style aimed at a common audience with knowledge but not specialised expertise. There are no MCQ-based questions.

• Time Allotted: 40 minutes

IELTS Writing Test Tips

• Manage time wisely – 20 minutes for Task 1, 40 minutes for Task 2.
• Meet word limits – 150+ words for Task 1, 250+ words for Task 2.
• Plan your answers before writing.
• Keep answers clear and concise – avoid long paragraphs.
• Use active voice, not passive.
• Avoid repetition of ideas, phrases, and words.
• Include a conclusion in Task 2.
• Proofread carefully before submitting.

Practice Here:

IELTS Speaking Syllabus

The IELTS speaking section includes an interview with the examiner to check the candidate's general speaking skills and his/her ability to understand and communicate with native speakers of English. This interview lasts for 11 to 14 minutes, including three parts. One must note that there are no specific questions as part of the IELTS syllabus for the speaking section; however, it generally includes basic questions, 1 minute monologue and its related questions, and a discussion. Candidates should speak clearly and naturally, avoiding rehearsed answers or fake accents during the face-to-face interview. The IELTS Speaking syllabus and components is similar in both Academic and General Training modules. Moreover, the entire IELTS speaking test is recorded by the examiner. The speaking component is delivered in such a way that it does not allow candidates to rehearse set responses beforehand.

Part 1 (4–5 minutes): The examiner will ask general questions about a candidate and a range of familiar topics, such as home, family, work, studies, and interests. This part lasts for about four to five minutes.

Part 2 (3–4 minutes): Candidates will be given a card that asks them to talk about a particular topic. They will have one minute to prepare before speaking for two minutes. The examiner will then ask one or two questions on the same topic to complete the second part of the speaking test.

Part 3 (4–5 minutes): Test takers will be asked further questions connected to the topic in Part 2. These questions will allow candidates to discuss more abstract ideas and issues. This part of the test lasts for about four to five minutes.

IELTS Speaking Test Tips

• Listen carefully and answer directly.
• Add details to your answers but stay relevant.
• Speak clearly and at a steady pace.
• Avoid long pauses.
• Use correct vocabulary, tenses, grammar, and sentence structure.
• Ask for repetition if needed.
• Be confident while speaking.

Check an overview of the IELTS Syllabus 2025

IELTS Exam Pattern

The IELTS test pattern is the same for the computer-based and paper-based tests, with the same IELTS exam subjects in both formats. Knowing both the pattern and IELTS syllabus helps target the exam meticulously. Candidates can read the information below related to the same:

IELTS Exam Pattern 2025

As per the IELTS 2025 exam pattern, the Listening, Reading, and Writing tests are conducted in a single day, while the speaking module may be taken on the same day or within seven days before or after the test. The IELTS syllabus 2025 pdf and pattern helps students in preparation.

IELTS Preparation Tips

Scoring high on the IELTS exam requires thorough preparation for candidates. Targeting IELTS without knowing the various techniques and tricks is not a good strategy. One of the best IELTS preparation tips is to be familiar with the IDP IELTS syllabus and pattern. Students must solve as many sample papers and refer to as many syllabus books as they can. Other important tips to ace the IELTS exam and get good result include

• Join an online course
• Follow a study plan and prepare consistently
• Practice regularly with IELTS tests and online interactions
• Use sample papers and IELTS books to familiarise yourself with the exam format

Also Read: IELTS preparation books and materials

IELTS Study Material

For Section-Wise IELTS Preparation Tips, Check