The four IELTS modules and how long each one takes
By Kandy IELTS College
2 min read
IELTS tips
Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking: what happens in each part of the test, how long it takes, and how to plan your time on the day.
IELTS tests the four skills you need to live, study or work in English. Knowing exactly what each module looks like, and how long it lasts, takes a lot of the stress out of test day.
Listening: about 30 minutes
- 4 parts, 40 questions. You hear each recording once only.
- The first two parts are everyday situations, like a conversation and a short talk. The last two are about study and training, like a discussion between students and a lecture.
- In Sri Lanka IELTS is taken on computer, and at the end of Listening you get 2 minutes to check your answers.
Reading: 60 minutes
- 3 sections, 40 questions.
- There is no extra time at the end, so answer each question as you go.
- Question types include multiple choice, True / False / Not Given, matching headings and completing sentences.
Writing: 60 minutes
- 2 tasks. Task 1 needs at least 150 words, Task 2 at least 250 words.
- Spend about 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 minutes on Task 2. Task 2 counts for twice as much.
Speaking: 11 to 14 minutes
The Speaking test is a face-to-face conversation with an examiner, and it is recorded.
- Part 1, 4 to 5 minutes. Questions about you: your home, your work or studies, your interests.
- Part 2, 3 to 4 minutes. You get a topic card and 1 minute to prepare, then speak for up to 2 minutes.
- Part 3, 4 to 5 minutes. A discussion with deeper questions linked to the Part 2 topic.
How the day runs
Listening, Reading and Writing are taken on the same day, one after the other with no breaks, which is about 2 hours and 30 minutes on computer. Speaking can be on the same day or within about a week before or after, depending on the test centre. With Speaking, the whole test takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Practise each module at its real length. Sixty minutes of Reading feels very different from twenty.
Practise it under exam conditions
At Kandy IELTS College we cover all four modules in every batch, online at 8 PM or at the college at 9 AM, and we run a timed mock test every week. For the next test dates and fees, check the official IELTS website, ielts.org.
