General module
IELTS General Reading module
The IELTS General Training reading module is one of the four sections of the IELTS General exam. It is designed to assess the reading skills of candidates who plan to migrate to English-speaking countries for work or general training purposes. Here's an overview of the IELTS General Training reading module:
1
Format
The reading test consists of three sections, and there are a total of 40 questions. The passages are taken from materials you might encounter on a daily basis in an English-speaking environment, such as newspapers, magazines, advertisements, notices, and company handbooks.
2
Task Types
The reading passages are accompanied by various task types, including multiple-choice, matching headings, matching information, sentence completion, summary completion, matching sentence endings, and short answer questions. These tasks assess different reading skills such as skimming, scanning, understanding main ideas, understanding detail, and recognizing opinion or attitude.
3
Time Limit
Test takers have 60 minutes to complete the reading test. It's important to manage your time effectively to ensure you have enough time to read the passages carefully and answer all the questions.
4
Scoring
Each correct answer is awarded one point, and there is no penalty for incorrect answers. The total score is 40 which is converted to the IELTS nine-band scale, ranging from Band 1 (Non-User) to Band 9 (Expert User).
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Tips
- Practice reading a variety of texts in English, including newspapers, magazines, and online articles, to improve your reading comprehension skills.
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- Familiarize yourself with the different question types and practice answering sample questions under timed conditions.
- Develop strategies for skimming and scanning texts to quickly locate relevant information.
- Pay attention to keywords and instructions in the questions to help you identify the information you need in the passage.
- Practice summarizing key points and main ideas from the passages to improve your ability to understand and remember information.
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Overall, the IELTS General Training reading module assesses your ability to read and understand texts in English in a variety of everyday contexts.
IELTS General Writing module
The IELTS General Training writing module is designed to assess the writing skills of candidates who plan to migrate to English-speaking countries for work or general training purposes. Here's an overview of the IELTS General Training writing module:
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Format: The writing test consists of two tasks, and candidates are given 60 minutes to complete both tasks.
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Task 1: Letter Writing (20 minutes)
In Task 1, candidates are required to write a letter in response to a given situation or request. The situation or request is typically related to everyday social or business contexts. There are three types of letters that candidates may be asked to write:
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- Formal letter: Writing to someone you don't know or in a professional context.
- Semi-formal letter: Writing to someone you know, but it still requires a respectful tone.
- Informal letter: Writing to a friend or family member.
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Candidates are expected to follow the appropriate letter-writing conventions, including addressing the recipient, organizing the content logically, and using an appropriate tone and register.
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Task 2: Essay Writing (40 minutes)
In Task 2, candidates are required to write an essay in response to a prompt or question. The essay prompt typically presents a point of view, argument, or problem, and candidates are asked to provide their opinion, discuss the issue, or propose solutions. Candidates are expected to present a clear position or viewpoint, support their ideas with relevant examples and evidence, and organize their essay coherently with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The essay should demonstrate the candidate's ability to develop and express ideas, use appropriate vocabulary and grammar, and maintain coherence and cohesion in their writing.
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Scoring: Each task is scored separately on a scale of 0 to 9, and the scores are averaged to calculate the overall writing band score, ranging from Band 1 (Non-User) to Band 9 (Expert User).
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Tips:
- Practice writing letters and essays on a variety of topics to familiarize yourself with different writing styles and conventions.
- Pay attention to the task requirements and make sure you understand what is being asked of you before you start writing.
- Plan your writing carefully, and allocate time for brainstorming, outlining, writing, and editing.
- Use a variety of sentence structures and vocabulary to demonstrate your language proficiency.
- Practice writing under timed conditions to improve your time management skills and ensure you can complete both tasks within the allotted time.
IELTS General Listening module
The IELTS General Training listening module assesses candidates' listening skills in everyday contexts, such as social and workplace situations. Here's an overview of the IELTS General Training listening module:
1
Format
The listening test consists of four sections, and there are a total of 40 questions. The recordings are taken from everyday conversations, discussions, lectures, and speeches that candidates might encounter in English-speaking environments.
2
Audio
​Candidates listen to each recording only once, and they are provided with a question booklet and an answer sheet. The recordings are played on a CD player or computer, and candidates are required to listen carefully and answer the questions as they listen.
3
Task Types
The listening test includes a variety of task types to assess different listening skills, including multiple-choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labeling, form/note/table/flow-chart/summary completion, sentence completion, and short answer questions. These tasks require candidates to understand main ideas, specific details, relationships between ideas, and speakers' attitudes and opinions.
4
Time Limit
The listening test takes approximately 30 minutes, including the time for candidates to transfer their answers from the question booklet to the answer sheet. It's important to listen carefully and manage your time effectively to ensure you answer all the questions within the allotted time.
5
Scoring
Each correct answer is awarded one point, and there is no penalty for incorrect answers. The total score is 40 which is converted to the IELTS nine-band scale, ranging from Band 1 (Non-User) to Band 9 (Expert User).
5
Tips
- Practice listening to a variety of English accents and types of recordings, such as conversations, interviews, lectures, and radio programs.
- Familiarize yourself with the different question types and practice answering sample questions under timed conditions.
- Focus on listening for key information, such as main ideas, specific details, names, numbers, and dates.
- Take notes while you listen to help you remember key points and organize your thoughts.
- Pay attention to the instructions and make sure you understand what is required for each task.
IELTS General Speaking module
The IELTS general training speaking test is used to assess the English language proficiency of non-native English speakers who want to move to countries where English is the primary language of communication. It assesses candidates' English speaking proficiency in everyday social and workplace situations. Here's an overview of the IELTS Academic speaking test:
Format: The speaking test is a face-to-face interview conducted with an examiner. It consists of three parts and typically takes around 11-14 minutes to complete.
Part 1
Introduction and Interview (4-5 minutes)
The examiner introduces themselves and confirms your identity. You're asked general questions about yourself, such as your name, where you're from, your job or studies, hobbies, interests, etc.This part aims to put you at ease and get you talking.
Part 2
Cue card/Long Turn (3-4 minutes)
In this part, you're given a task card with a topic and some prompts. You will have 1 minute to prepare and make notes. You will then speak on the topic for 1-2 minutes. The topic could be about describing a person, place, object, event, or experience, and you may need to give your opinion, explain something, or describe a situation. You should try to address all the prompts or questions provided on the cue card during your response. The examiner will let you know when the time is up.
Part 3
Discussion (4-5 minutes)
The examiner asks further questions related to the topic from Part 2. This part involves a deeper discussion where you're expected to express and justify your opinions, speculate, compare and contrast, and discuss abstract ideas related to the topic.
Assessment Criteria: The speaking test is assessed based on four criteria: fluency and coherence, lexical resource (vocabulary), grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation. Examiners evaluate your ability to express ideas clearly and coherently, use a wide range of vocabulary and grammatical structures accurately, maintain a natural pace of speech, and pronounce words intelligibly.
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Tips:
- Practice speaking English regularly to build fluency and confidence.
- Familiarize yourself with the test format and practice answering sample questions, preferably with a trainer to get detailed feedback.
- Focus on speaking clearly and coherently, even if you make some mistakes.
- Use a range of vocabulary and grammatical structures to demonstrate your language proficiency.
- Pay attention to your pronunciation and intonation.
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Overall, the IELTS General Training speaking module assesses your ability to communicate effectively in English in everyday social and workplace situations. It evaluates your speaking skills in terms of fluency, coherence, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.