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.
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?
Study the official blueprint, not random material: the exam is weighted by domain (Listening 25%, Reading 25%, Writing 25%, Speaking 25%). Spaced-repetition flashcards built domain-by-domain against that blueprint are the most time-efficient way to cover everything the exam tests.
Program in development
We're building a blueprint-complete program for this exam. Meanwhile, explore live programs across 7 exam.
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