IELTS Exam Pattern 2025 (Section Wise): Question Types and Duration

IELTS Exam Pattern 2025 consists of four major sections, Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. The total IELTS test duration is 2 hours and 45 minutes. Students must understand the IELTS exam pattern and syllabus prior to the exam. They can get help from different IELTS exam pattern pdf available online to prepare as well. The IELTS exam has two modes: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training Test. These two IELTS modules vary as per the purpose of taking the test. IELTS Academic is used by students planning studies abroad, while the General Training IELTS is intended for those applying for jobs and residency abroad. What is IELTS test though? It is an English proficiency exam used to evaluate student's English command and is used in admission applications of universities abroad.

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1. IELTS Test Pattern 2025: Overview
2. IDP IELTS Test Format
3. IELTS Test Syllabus 2025

Students seeking university admission abroad are generally required to attempt the Academic IELTS exam format 2025. There are different questions tested in the IELTS exam pattern for academic. These are as Listening IELTS pattern (30 minutes) with 4 recordings, Reading (60 minutes) with 3 long reading passages, Writing (60 minutes) with two tasks, and Speaking (11-14 minutes).

The IELTS Listening section consists of 40 questions divided into four sections. The IELTS reading section also includes 3 lengthy reading comprehension passages totalling 40 questions. In the IELTS 2025 writing section, there are 2 short essay questions, each of 150-200 words. Meanwhile, the IELTS exam speaking section includes 3 questions in a one-on-one conversation format. There is no optional section in the IELTS pattern 2025.

Candidates take the first three parts of IELTS exam (Listening, Reading, and Writing) on the same day and the Speaking test either on the same day or seven days before or after the test day. Read the complete article to know more about IELTS exam pattern 2025, syllabus, scores, and many more.

IELTS Test Pattern 2025: Overview

IDP IELTS Test Format

The IDP IELTS releases the IELTS exam pattern on its official website. The International English Language Testing System exam consists of four main sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Detailed information for the total number of questions in IELTS exam, section-wise duration, etc has been discussed below.

IELTS Test Format 2025

Detailed information on the IELTS exam structure is mentioned below. Students can read the IELTS format 2025 given below before taking the test.

• Listening: The listening section of the IELTS exam pattern consists of 40 questions. This component is divided into 4 major sections for 4 recorded monologue speeches and conversations. The duration of the IELTS listening test is 30 minutes.

• Reading: The reading section of the IELTS 2025 exam pattern consists of 40 questions. There will be 3 long reading comprehension passages with tests of descriptive, factual, and analytical concepts in tasks. This section lasts for 60 minutes.

• Writing: The writing section of the IELTS 2025 test format consists of 2 short essays of 150-200 words each. Questions will be in the form of Graphs, charts, or diagrams. Candidates have to interpret and describe the data in their essays.

• Speaking: This section comprises 3-part one-on-one conversations: 1 conversation on a familiar topic, a few short questions to answer, and 1 conversation on a structured topic.

Note: the IELTS test format academic is provided above. There may be some changes in the general training one.

IELTS Listening Test 2025

The IELTS listening section is designed to assess the listening skills of the candidates. It includes assessment of their understanding of main ideas and specific factual information, recognition of the opinions, attitudes, and purpose of the speaker, and following the development of an argument. The listening section in the IELTS exam pattern comprises 4 types of questions: Matching, Multiple-choice questions, Sentence completion, and Short answer questions.

IELTS Exam Pattern: Listening Test 2025

The exam pattern consists of 4 recordings and the candidates have to answer a series of questions in writing after listening to four recordings of fluent English speakers.

• Section 1: A discussion between two people takes place in a typical social setting.

• Section 2: A monologue that takes place in a typical social setting, like a speech about a neighbourhood facility.

• Section 3: A discussion between up to four people takes place in an educational or training setting, such as when a student and a university tutor are discussing an assignment.

• Section 4: A monologue about a subject in school, like a lecture at a university.

IELTS Reading Pattern 2025

The IELTS reading section assesses a wide range of student’s reading skills in an academic context. The reading section of IELTS exam format comprises 40 questions and the time allotted for the same is 60 minutes. Therefore, candidates need to read quickly, effectively, and with time management which comes with knowing the IELTS exam pattern as much as with practice.

The IELTS Reading pattern is meant to evaluate a variety of reading abilities, including the ability to:

• Read a piece to determine its overall meaning.

• For the essential points, read on.

• Recognise implications and inferences.

• Recognise the viewpoints, aims, and objectives of a writer.

• Follow an argument's progression.

IELTS Reading Test Pattern 2025

IELTS Test Pattern for Writing 2025

How many parts are there in IELTS writing? The IELTS writing test consists of two tasks. The exam is designed to assess the English skills of individuals entering undergraduate or postgraduate studies, or those seeking professional registration. According to the IELTS test pattern 2025, IELTS writing is made to evaluate a variety of writing abilities, including the ability to:

1. Create a suitable response.

2. Compile ideas.

3. Make accurate use of a variety of words and language.

IELTS Exam Format: Writing Test 2025

IELTS Writing Test Sections 2025

IELTS Writing Task 1:

• Candidates will be presented with a graph, table, chart, or diagram and are asked to describe, summarise, or explain the information in their own words

• Candidates are asked to describe and explain data, explain the stages of a process, how something works, or describe an object or event

IELTS Writing Task 2:

• Candidates will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument, or problem.

• Responses to both tasks must be written in a formal style.

IELTS Speaking Pattern 2025

The IELTS test pattern for the speaking section is divided into three parts. Below are the details of the types of tasks given in the IELTS speaking.

• Part 1: The examiner will introduce themselves and ask about the candidate's home, family, job, studies, and interests. This part should assist in unwinding and speaking naturally

• Part 2: The examiner will hand a task card with instructions on how to talk about a certain subject and suggested talking points. There will be a minute to get ready and take notes. After that, candidates must speak for 1-2 minutes on the subject. After that, candidates will be asked one or two questions on the same subject by the examiner.

• Part 3: More questions about the subject of Part 2 will be posed by the examiner. As mentioned in the IELTS test pattern 2025, these inquiries are meant to provide a chance to talk about more conceptual concerns and concepts.

IELTS Pattern: Speaking Test 2025

Practice here:

IELTS General Exam Pattern 2025

The IELTS General Training test also assesses the English language skills of candidates. Students who want to migrate to an English-speaking country for work or study purposes must take the IELTS General Training test.

As per the IELTS exam pattern, the General Training test consists of four parts: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Each part of the test is 30 minutes long, except for Writing, which is 60 minutes long. We have given the section-wise IELTS test duration as well in the table below.

IELTS Paper Format: General Pattern Test 2025

Check here: IELTS Listening Practice Test

IELTS Test Syllabus 2025

Students planning to take the IELTS exam must go through the IELTS syllabus first to ace it. The IELTS exam syllabus 2025 has 4 main components that are Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. Check out the section-wise IELTS Academic syllabus for 2025 in detail mentioned below in the table:

IELTS Exam Syllabus 2025: An Overview