IELTS Partners (British Council, IDP, Cambridge English)
IELTS Academic
International English Language Testing System — Academic
One of the world's most widely taken English proficiency tests, accepted for university admission and immigration in the UK, Australia, Canada, and beyond. The Academic module targets higher-education and professional registration.
Full program: 7 decks, 3,919 cards.
What's on the exam
IELTS Academic test format
Listening
25%Everyday conversations · Monologues on general topics · Academic discussions · Lectures and talks · Form, note, and table completion
Reading
25%Long academic passages · Matching headings and information · True/False/Not Given questions · Summary and diagram completion · Skimming and scanning strategies
Writing
25%Task 1: describing charts, graphs, and processes · Task 2: discursive essay · Task achievement and coherence · Lexical resource and grammatical range
Speaking
25%Part 1: introduction and interview · Part 2: individual long turn (cue card) · Part 3: two-way discussion · Fluency, pronunciation, and vocabulary
Frequently asked questions
How much does the IELTS Academic cost?
Fees vary. Approximately $250–310 depending on country and test center.
How long is the IELTS Academic and how many questions does it have?
Listening 40 questions, Reading 40 questions, Writing 2 tasks, Speaking 3-part interview — 2 hours 45 minutes (Listening, Reading, Writing); Speaking 11–14 minutes, sometimes on a different day.
What do you need to pass the IELTS Academic?
No pass/fail — band scores 0–9 per skill and overall; institutions set their own requirements.
Can you retake the IELTS Academic?
Unlimited retakes; One Skill Retake available in some markets.
What is the best way to study for the IELTS Academic?
Start from the official outline and your primary study materials: the exam is weighted by domain (Listening 25%, Reading 25%, Writing 25%, Speaking 25%). Once you've learned the material, spaced-repetition flashcards organized by those domains are an efficient way to retain it and refresh it before test day.
Ready to prepare?
Our IELTS Academic program is organized by this outline's domains and scheduled by spaced repetition, with a path from first card to test day.
Flashcards are a memory tool. Learn the material first, then use NoReread to retain it and refresh what you already know. It doesn't replace studying the subject.