Structure
The number of tasks you must complete in the Academic Writing test.
2
This is the highest possible band score on the IELTS.
The number of questions you need to answer in Part 1.
9-12
The only item you are always allowed to have on your desk during the test.
a bottle of water (must be transparent and label-free)
This version of the test is often required for university admission.
IELTS Academic
This section of the test is the shortest, typically lasting only 11-14 minutes.
the Speaking test
If your average overall score is 6.25, it is rounded to this.
6.5
The four criteria on which your Speaking tests are graded.
Fluency & Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range & Accuracy, and Pronunciation
This is the consequence of being caught cheating.
disqualified and unable to take the test again for a period of time
The number of organizations worldwide that recognize IELTS.
over 12,000
This is the total number of questions in the Listening test.
40
Your overall score is the mean of your four individual section scores, rounded to the nearest one of these.
half band
Part 3 lasts for this many minutes.
4-5 minutes
You must bring the same one of these that you used to register for the test on test day.
ID document (e.g., passport)
The year the modern IELTS test was officially launched.
1989
The Listening, Reading, and Writing tests are always completed in this order without one of these between them.
break
This term describes a Band 6 speaker: "A ___ user."
competent
The Speaking test is recorded for this purpose.
re-marking or quality control
You get this amount of time to transfer your answers at the end of the Listening test.
10 minutes
This many people take the IELTS test each year.
over 3 million (estimates from 3-3.5 million)
The two modules of the IELTS test that have different versions for Academic and General Training.
Reading and Writing tests
If you get 20 correct answers in reading, your band score is this.
5.5
In the Speaking test, using less common vocabulary appropriately helps your score in this category.
Lexical Resource
This is the number of days it typically takes to receive your IELTS Test Report Form online.
13 days (or 3-5 days for computer-delivered)
These three organizations jointly own and manage the IELTS test.
the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge Assessment English