Syllabus

IELTS Exam Syllabus 2026

To master the IELTS, you must understand the specific parameters of all four modules. While the Speaking and Listening components are identical for all candidates, the Reading and Writing sections differ based on whether you choose the Academic or General Training track.

Total Test Duration: 2 Hours 45 Minutes

1. Listening (30 Minutes + Transfer Time)

• Format: 40 Questions across 4 recordings.

• The Tasks:
  

  Conversation: Two speakers in an everyday social context (e.g., travel booking).

  Monologue: One speaker in a social context (e.g., a speech about local facilities).

  Educational Conversation: Up to 4 people in a training context (e.g., students and a tutor).

  Academic Monologue: A lecture on a university-level subject.

• Assessment Focus: Ability to identify main ideas, specific factual details, speaker attitudes, and the development of complex arguments.

2. Reading (60 Minutes)

• Format: 40 Questions. Unlike listening, there is no extra transfer time.

• Academic Syllabus: 3 long, high-level texts ranging from descriptive to analytical. Sourced from 2026 journals, books, and research papers.

• General Training Syllabus: Extracts from workplace manuals, company handbooks, advertisements, and daily periodicals.

• Skills Tested: Skimming, scanning, identifying the writer’s purpose, and logical argument mapping.

3. Writing (60 Minutes)

• Academic Module:

• Task 1 (20 Mins): Describe an Infographic (Graph, Table, Chart, or Process Diagram) in at least 150 words.

• Task 2 (40 Mins): Write a formal Argumentative Essay in at least 250 words.

• General Training Module:

• Task 1 (20 Mins): Write a Letter (Formal, Semi-formal, or Personal) based on a given situation.

• Task 2 (40 Mins): Write a semi-formal/formal Essay in response to a point of view.

4. Speaking (11–14 Minutes)

• Format: 3-part interactive interview, recorded for assessment.

Structure:

• Introduction (4-5 Mins): General questions about home, family, work, and interests.

• The Long Turn (3-4 Mins): You are given a topic card. You have 1 minute to prepare and 2 minutes to speak uninterrupted (Extempore).

• Discussion (4-5 Mins): A deeper, abstract thematic discussion linked to the Part 2 topic.