IELTS Parts & Topics

What do you need to know to take the IELTS test?

Introduction     

The IELTS test is a general test, in that you don't need specialist knowledge to take the test – everyone, no matter what their educational background or field, should be able to answer each question. However, it is always useful to be able to include 'real-life' examples in writing and speaking. To do this confidently you need a good level of general knowledge.

IELTS Parts

The IELTS test consists of four parts in the following order

Listening test
Reading test
Writing test
Speaking test

Listening test takes about 30 minutes – 20 minutes to listen to a tape and to answer questions on what you hear, and 10 minutes to transfer your answers to Answer Sheet.

Reading test takes 1 hour and your task is to read passages of text and answer questions according to what you have read. There are also other types of assignments which I will cover later on in following posts.
Writing test takes also 1 hour and is divided into 2 sub-parts: 20 minutes to write a letter/report and 40 minutes to write an essay.
Speaking test takes up to 15 minutes and consists of 3 parts: Personal Interview, Little Speech and a Discussion.
All the parts continue one after another, and only before the Speaking test you get a break.   

 
IELTS Topics 


IELTS questions cover a limited number of topics, so if you develop your general knowledge in these areas, it should help you in the test. The topics the IELTS test cover include:
 
Media, Culture and Popular Culture
Possible areas: 
  • Television.
  • Film.
  • Popular music.
  • The role of music in popular culture.
  • Privacy and the media.
  • Newspapers.
  • Accountability in the media.
  • Etc.
Crime/Punishment
Possible areas:
  • Suitable punishments for crime.
  • How to rehabilitate criminals.
  • The responsibility of parents in preventing crime.
  • Etc.
Advertising
 Possible areas:
  • The influence of advertising.
  • Stereotypes in advertising.
  • Ensuring responsible advertising.
  • Government regulation.
  • Etc.
Food and Diet
Possible areas:

  • Food culture in your country.
  • Food and health.
  • Should food be genetically modified?
  • Etc.
Education
Possible areas:

  • Different education systems in different countries.
  • Males and females and the impact of gender on performance at school.
  • Different types of vocational training.
  • Etc.