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The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam is one of the most popular language tests in the world, which assesses the language skills of people who want to study or work in English-speaking countries. The academic version of IELTS is particularly aimed at those planning to pursue higher education abroad. What is the IELTS Academic test about? How is it structured and how best to prepare for it? What to look out for and how does it differ from IELTS General Training?
Table of contents:
- Structure of the IELTS Academic test
- How to prepare for the IELTS Academic exam?
- Exam strategies
- Summary
You can read this article in 3 minutes.
Structure of the IELTS Academic test
IELTS Academic consists of four main sections:
- Listening – duration is 30 minutes. This section contains four parts in which participants listen to recordings and answer questions related to them. The recordings cover a variety of situations, such as everyday conversations, specific situations or academic lectures.
- Reading – the duration of this part of the test is 60 minutes. It consists of three academic texts, which are more complex and require analysis and contextual understanding. Test takers must answer 40 questions related to the text.
- Writing – lasts 60 minutes. It consists of two tasks. In the first task, participants describe data presented in the form of a graph, table or diagram – the statement should be no shorter than 150 words. In the second task, the participant has to write an essay on a given topic – the length of the text has to be at least 250 words and the essay topics are very diverse – from education, environment, technology, health, work, culture or family.
- Speaking – it takes 11-14 minutes. This section is conducted in the form of an interview with the examiner and is divided into three parts: an introduction of yourself, a longer statement on a specific topic and a discussion on the topic raised in the second part.
How to prepare for the IELTS Academic exam?
Preparing for the IELTS exam requires time and regularity. There are, of course, many methods, giving test takers the opportunity to adapt the method to their time, temperament and ability.
From our point of view as an Examination Centre, the most important things before approaching IELTS Academic include:
- Understanding the exam structure – knowing the format of the test allows you to better manage your time during the exam. Each section has its own specific requirements and question types that are worth knowing.
- Regular practice – practice makes perfect! Regularly solving mock tests will help you get used to the exam format and improve your time management skills.
- Academic vocabulary learning – focus on expanding your academic vocabulary, which is essential for reading and writing tasks.
- Classes with native speakers – if possible, attend classes taught by native speakers or use online English language learning platforms. This will help you improve your speaking and listening skills and improve your confidence.
- Mistake analysis – only with us can you take the opportunity to take a mock test – Pre-Testing is a format only available at Lang LTC and is an exact reflection of the IELTS Academic test. This gives you the opportunity to see at what level you will pass the various stages of the test, allowing you to verify what you still need to improve. After the mock test, analyse your mistakes carefully. Understanding why you made a particular mistake will help you avoid them in the future. You can also use the individual revision formats for the most difficult parts of the test: Writing and Speaking. This is already a paid version, but it gives you feedback from IELTS-experienced tutors. You will know exactly what to improve, where you made mistakes or how to change your speech to score higher.
Check out also: About the IELTS Test
Exam strategies
During the exam itself, it is useful to apply some tried and tested strategies:
Listening:
- Pay attention to the context of the recording.
- When taking notes, focus on key information.
Reading:
- Read the questions before the text so you know what to look for.
- Pay attention to keywords and phrases.
Writing:
- Plan your answers before you start writing. Take a few minutes to sketch out the structure of your essay.
- Use clear and precise sentences and avoid unnecessary repetition.
Speaking:
- Speak fluently and clearly. Don’t be afraid to take breaks to collect your thoughts.
- Try to develop your answers by adding examples or personal experiences.
Summary
The IELTS Academic exam is an important step for anyone planning to study in an English-speaking country. Preparing for this test requires regularity and commitment. Be sure to practise all four language skills regularly and familiarise yourself with the structure of the exam. By doing so, you will increase your chances of achieving a high score and opening the door to your dream education abroad. If you have any questions, would like more information or need help registering for the test – please contact us.
