What is the IELTS syllabus for 2026?

You hear four recordings once only. The questions follow the order of the recording, so the answer to question 1 comes before the answer to question 2 (ielts.org). The six task types range from multiple choice and matching to labelling a plan or map and completing forms, notes, tables, flow charts or sentences. Gap-fill answers must keep to the word limit, and hyphenated words such as "check-in" count as one word.

Practise each type with our free IELTS Listening practice tests, which play original audio and score you instantly. Full detail: IELTS Listening test format.

Academic texts may be narrative, descriptive or argumentative and can include diagrams or graphs; if a text uses technical words, a simple definition is given (ielts.org). General Training moves from short everyday texts in Section 1 to work texts in Section 2 and one longer, more complex text in Section 3 (ielts.org). Academic Reading has 11 task types, General Training 8; Yes/No/Not Given and matching sentence endings appear only in Academic.

The skill most candidates underestimate is telling "False" from "Not Given". ielts.org defines False as contradicting the text and Not Given as neither agreeing nor contradicting, and warns against using what you already know about the topic. Practise with Academic Reading drills and General Training Reading drills. Full detail: IELTS Reading test format.

Academic Task 1 can ask you to compare data, describe the stages of a process, describe an object or event, or explain how something works (ielts.org). General Training Task 1 is a personal, semi-formal or formal letter, for example to a landlord or employer about a problem; you do not need to write addresses (ielts.org). Task 2 in both tests asks you to present a solution, justify an opinion, compare evidence or evaluate an argument.

Both tasks are marked on task achievement or response, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, and grammatical range and accuracy. Answers in notes or bullet points are penalised, and so is writing that does not relate to the topic. Read model essays in our Writing Task 2 samples and check them against the IELTS band descriptors.

The Speaking test is a recorded, face-to-face interview with an examiner (ielts.org). Part 1 covers familiar topics; in Part 2 you get a task card, 1 minute to prepare with pencil and paper, and talk for up to 2 minutes; Part 3 discusses the Part 2 topic in a more abstract way. The four criteria are fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation, which ielts.org describes as being understood without too much effort.

Our IELTS cue cards cover Part 2 topics with sample answers and Part 3 questions. Full detail: IELTS Speaking test format.

There is no separate grammar or vocabulary paper: both are judged inside Writing and Speaking through the lexical resource and grammatical range and accuracy criteria. There are no prescribed books or set texts, and no subject knowledge is tested. Academic Reading texts are written for a non-specialist audience, and in Academic Writing Task 1 all the information you need is in the chart or diagram.

Nor is IELTS a test of a particular accent. You will hear several accents in Listening, and in Speaking the pronunciation criterion is about being understood, not about sounding British or American.

Work by task type, not by random tests. Start with one timed IELTS mock test to see which skills and question types cost you marks, then drill those types in Listening, Academic Reading or General Training Reading. Write one Task 1 and one Task 2 a week, and record your Speaking answers. A week-by-week version is in how to prepare for IELTS.