IELTS guide
How IELTS Academic works, and how it's scored.
Everything you need to know before your first mock: the four papers, what each band means, how your overall band is worked out, and what examiners look for.
01
Test format
| Paper | Time | Questions | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 30 min | 40 | Four recordings: an everyday conversation, a monologue, an academic discussion and a lecture. Each is heard once. |
| Reading | 60 min | 40 | Three long passages from books, journals and newspapers, with question types such as multiple choice, True/False/Not Given, matching and sentence completion. |
| Writing | 60 min | 2 tasks | Task 1: summarise a graph, table, chart or diagram (150+ words). Task 2: an essay giving an opinion or discussing an argument (250+ words). Task 2 is worth twice as much. |
| Speaking | 11–14 min | 3 parts | Part 1: questions about familiar topics. Part 2: speak for up to two minutes on a cue card after one minute of preparation. Part 3: a deeper discussion. |
02
The band scale
Each skill gets a band from 0 to 9, in half bands such as 6.5. Universities usually ask for 6.0–7.5 overall, often with a minimum in each skill.
- 9Expert userFull command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent, with complete understanding.
- 8Very good userFully operational command, with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies.
- 7Good userOperational command, with occasional inaccuracies and misunderstandings in some situations.
- 6Competent userGenerally effective command despite some inaccuracies and misunderstandings.
- 5Modest userPartial command; copes with overall meaning in most situations but makes many mistakes.
- 4Limited userBasic competence limited to familiar situations; frequent problems with understanding.
- 3Extremely limited userConveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations.
- 2Intermittent userGreat difficulty understanding spoken and written English.
- 1Non-userNo ability to use the language beyond a few isolated words.
- 0Did not attemptNo assessable information provided.
03
How the overall band is worked out
Your overall band is the average of your four skill bands, rounded to the nearest half band. An average ending in .25 rounds up to .5, and one ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band.
Listening and Reading bands come from your number of correct answers out of 40. For example, 30 correct in Academic Reading is about band 7.0.
6.25 ends in .25, so it rounds up to 6.5.
04
What examiners mark
Writing and Speaking are each marked on four equally weighted criteria. Your band is the average of the four.
Writing
- Task Achievement / Task Response
- Did you answer every part of the task, with a clear overview (Task 1) or a clear, developed position (Task 2)?
- Coherence & Cohesion
- Logical paragraphs, clear progression, and linking words that are accurate rather than mechanical.
- Lexical Resource
- Range and precision of vocabulary, natural word combinations, and correct spelling.
- Grammatical Range & Accuracy
- A mix of simple and complex sentences, and how many of them are free of errors.
Speaking
- Fluency & Coherence
- Speaking at length without long pauses, and connecting ideas clearly.
- Lexical Resource
- Vocabulary for different topics, paraphrasing, and less common or idiomatic language.
- Grammatical Range & Accuracy
- Varied structures used accurately and naturally.
- Pronunciation
- How easy you are to understand: sounds, word stress, rhythm and intonation.
05
Practical tips
Listening
Read the questions before each recording starts. Answers come in order. Check word limits: "NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS" means a three-word answer is wrong, even if it's correct.
Reading
Don't read every passage word for word. Skim it first, then scan for the answer. "Not Given" means the passage doesn't say, not that it's false.
Writing
Spend 20 minutes on Task 1 and 40 on Task 2, because Task 2 counts double. Always write an overview in Task 1. Plan for three minutes before you start writing.
Speaking
Extend your answers: give a reason, then an example. In Part 2, use your minute to note a few key words, not full sentences, and keep talking until you're stopped.
Are Ascend bands the same as an official IELTS result?
No. They are practice estimates made with the same criteria and band tables, and they show where you stand and what to improve. Only an official IELTS test gives you a certified result.
How accurate is the AI marking?
It's usually close to a trained examiner, but it isn't perfect, especially on pronunciation, which it can't hear. That's why a teacher checks every Writing and Speaking result and has the final say.
Can I pause a section?
No. As in the real test, each section's timer keeps running once you start it, even if you close the page. Make sure you have time for the whole section before you start.
Which browser and equipment do I need?
A laptop or desktop with Chrome or Edge, headphones and a microphone. Speaking transcription, which the AI needs to mark you, works best in Chrome and Edge.
What if my connection drops?
Your answers save automatically every few seconds. Reopen the test from your dashboard and you'll continue where you stopped, with the time that's left.
How long does my voucher last?
Your school sets the length. You can see it on your dashboard. If it runs out, ask your teacher for a new code and add it on your dashboard.
Can I take a test more than once?
Yes. Each attempt is saved separately, so you can track your progress. Try a different mock test each time for the most reliable picture.
Who can hear my Speaking recordings?
Only you and your teachers. Recordings are stored privately and are never public.