International English Language Testing System — Academic
IELTS Academic
Required by universities and immigration authorities across UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and many European programs.
Duration
2 hours 45 minutes
Cost
≈ USD 245 – 255
Score validity
2 years
Sections
Listening
30 min · 40 questions · four recorded conversations and monologues.
Reading
60 min · 40 questions · three long academic texts.
Writing
60 min · two tasks — describe a graph + an essay (250 words).
Speaking
11–14 min · face-to-face interview with a certified examiner.
Scoring
Band score 0–9, averaged across the four sections. Top universities typically expect 7.0+.
Prep tactics that work
- Take an official British Council practice test to set a baseline.
- Build a daily reading habit using The Economist or The Guardian.
- Record yourself answering Part 2 speaking cue cards and self-review.
- Master Task 1 templates — chart, map, process — to save thinking time.
Coaching by Eduledge
Get expert-led IELTS Academic coaching
Live + recorded IELTS Academic classes with band-by-band writing and speaking feedback.