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The IELTS Preparation Guide Test format, scoring criteria, section by section strategies and a four week study plan.
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Academic and General Training explained
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Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking tips
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Writing Task 2 essay structure
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A four week study plan you can start today
Free resource from wizmantraenglishclasses.com
G E T T I N G S TA R T E D
What IELTS is and which test to take IELTS (International English Language Testing System) measures English across four skills: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Universities, employers and immigration authorities use the results to judge whether a candidate can work, study or live in English. IELTS Academic
IELTS General Training
For university and college admissions and some professional registrations.
For work experience, training programmes and many migration applications.
Reading: three long texts from books, journals, magazines and newspapers Writing Task 1: describe a chart, table, graph or diagram in a formal style
Reading: shorter everyday texts such as notices, adverts and workplace handbooks Writing Task 1: a letter, formal or informal depending on the task
Same in both versions
Listening and Speaking are identical for Academic and General Training. Writing Task 2, the essay, appears in both. Check the exact test your university, employer or visa route asks for before you book.
How scoring works
Each skill receives a band score from 0 to 9, and the four scores are averaged into an overall band. Half bands such as 6.5 are common. Organisations usually set a minimum overall band and often a minimum for each skill, so a weak Writing score can hold back an otherwise strong result. Test day rhythm
Listening, Reading and Writing are taken on the same day, back to back, with no breaks. The Speaking test is a face to face interview with an examiner and may be scheduled on the same day or up to seven days before or after, depending on the test centre. IELTS is offered on paper and on computer.
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F O R M AT AT A G L A N C E
The four sections The full test takes about 2 hours 45 minutes. Know the structure before you practise, so every mock test feels familiar. Section
Time
Structure
Listening
30 minutes
4 recorded parts, 40 questions. Two conversations and two monologues, moving from everyday situations to academic contexts.
Reading
60 minutes
40 questions. Academic: 3 long passages. General Training: several shorter everyday and workplace texts.
Writing
60 minutes
Task 1: at least 150 words, about 20 minutes. Task 2: an essay of at least 250 words, about 40 minutes.
Speaking
11 to 14 minutes
3 parts: introduction and interview, a long turn on a topic card (1 minute to prepare, up to 2 minutes to speak), and a two way discussion.
Common question types Listening
Form, note and table completion Multiple choice Map and plan labelling Matching Sentence and summary completion
Reading
True / False / Not Given and Yes / No / Not Given Matching headings to paragraphs Matching information and features Sentence, summary and diagram completion Short answer questions
Spelling counts
In Listening and Reading, a correct answer that is misspelled is marked wrong. Read every instruction for word limits too: if the task says NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS, a three word answer scores zero.
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RECEPTIVE SKILLS
Listening and Reading strategies Listening
Read ahead. Use the pause before each part to read the questions and underline the key words. Predict the type of answer: a number, a name, a place, a noun. Expect paraphrase. The recording rarely repeats the exact words in the question. "Cheapest option" in the question may be "the most affordable" in the audio. Watch for corrections. Speakers often change their minds: "Tuesday, sorry, no, Thursday." The final answer is the one that counts. Never leave a blank. There is no penalty for a wrong answer, so always guess. Train your ear daily. Podcasts, news and lectures in British, Australian, American and other accents all appear in the test. Reading
Manage the clock. With 60 minutes and 40 questions, aim for roughly 20 minutes per passage and move on when time is up. Skim, then scan. Skim each passage for its main idea in two to three minutes, then scan for names, dates and key terms when answering. Questions usually follow text order for most completion and True / False / Not Given tasks, which helps you locate answers fast. Understand Not Given. False means the text says the opposite. Not Given means the text simply does not say. Do not use outside knowledge. Build vocabulary in families. Learn words with their synonyms and word forms (economy, economic, economical) because the test is built on paraphrase. Practice routine
Do one timed Listening or Reading section a day. Afterwards, spend as long reviewing as you spent testing: find the exact line in the transcript or passage that gives each answer, and write down why every wrong answer was wrong.
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PRODUCTIVE SKILLS
Writing: score where it matters Task 2 contributes twice as much to your Writing band as Task 1. Spend about 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 minutes on Task 2, and never go under the minimum word count. The four marking criteria Criterion
What the examiner looks for
Task Achievement (Task 1) Task Response (Task 2)
Every part of the question is answered, with a clear position and relevant, developed ideas.
Coherence and Cohesion
Logical paragraphing, one main idea per paragraph, natural linking words that are not overused.
Lexical Resource
A range of accurate vocabulary, natural collocations and correct spelling.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A mix of simple and complex sentences with few errors.
A reliable Task 2 structure 1
Introduction (2 to 3 sentences). Paraphrase the question and state your position clearly.
2
Body paragraph one. Topic sentence, explanation, specific example.
Body paragraph two. Second main idea, or the opposing view if the question asks you to discuss both sides. 3
4
Conclusion (2 sentences). Restate your position. Add no new ideas.
Task 1 essentials
Academic: write an overview sentence describing the main trends or biggest differences. Many candidates skip it and lose marks. Report the data; do not explain why it changed. General Training: cover every bullet point in the prompt and match the tone to the reader: formal for a manager, friendly for a friend.
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PRODUCTIVE SKILLS
Speaking: sound natural, not memorised The Speaking test is a recorded conversation with a certified examiner. It is assessed on Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation. Part 1 · Interview
Part 2 · Long turn
About 4 to 5 minutes of questions on familiar topics such as home, work, studies and hobbies.
You get a topic card, 1 minute to prepare notes, then speak for up to 2 minutes.
Give two to three sentence answers: answer, reason, example.
Use the minute to jot key words for each bullet, not full sentences.
Part 3 · Discussion
Broader, more abstract questions linked to the Part 2 topic. This is where higher bands are earned: give opinions, compare, speculate and support your view with reasons.
Habits that raise your band
Extend every answer. One word or one line answers give the examiner nothing to assess. Do not memorise scripts. Examiners are trained to spot rehearsed answers. Buy thinking time naturally: "That's an interesting question. I'd say..." sounds better than silence. Ask for repetition if needed. "Could you repeat the question, please?" is perfectly acceptable. Focus on clarity, not accent. Pronunciation is about being easy to understand: word stress, sentence stress and intonation. Record yourself. Listen back for filler words, repeated vocabulary and grammar slips. Why live practice matters
Speaking is the one skill you cannot fully practise alone. Regular mock interviews with a tutor who gives band based feedback are the fastest way to build fluency and confidence.
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YO U R P L A N
A four week study plan Built for about 90 minutes a day. If your test is further away, stretch each week into two. Week
Focus
Daily tasks
Week 1
Diagnose
Take one full timed practice test. Score it and note your weakest skill. Learn every question type in Listening and Reading. Start a vocabulary notebook organised by topic.
Week 2
Build skills
One Listening or Reading section a day with full review. Write one Task 1 every other day. Answer five Part 1 Speaking questions aloud each day and record them.
Week 3
Writing and Speaking
Write a Task 2 essay every day using the four paragraph structure, then check it against the four criteria. Practise two Part 2 cue cards and their Part 3 follow up questions daily.
Week 4
Simulate
Two to three full mock tests under real timing. Review mistakes only; avoid new material. Rest the day before the test and confirm your venue, ID and timings.
Five common mistakes to avoid
Practising without a timer, then running out of time on test day. Writing under the word count, which is penalised. Skipping the overview in Academic Writing Task 1. Using memorised "advanced" words that do not fit the context. Only taking practice tests without reviewing why answers were wrong. Use official practice material
Free sample tests are published on ielts.org and by the official test partners. Use them for your full mock tests, since they match the real format most closely.
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N E XT S T E P
Prepare with a personal IELTS tutor Self study builds the foundation. A tutor shows you exactly what is holding your band back and how to fix it. How WizMantra IELTS classes work
1-on-1 online sessions. Every class is private, never a batch, so the full lesson is built around your target band. Academic and General Training. Preparation for either version of the test. All four skills. Listening and Reading strategy, Writing feedback against the official criteria, and live Speaking mock interviews. Beyond IELTS. Spoken English, grammar and business English, plus French, German and Spanish with personal tutors.
Book a trial class Tell us your target band and test date, and we will plan your preparation around them.
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IELTS format details in this guide were checked against official IELTS and test partner sources in November 2026. Test formats and policies can change, so always confirm the latest information on ielts.org before your test. IELTS is a registered trademark of its owners; WizMantra is an independent tutoring provider and is not affiliated with IELTS.
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