IELTS Academic
IELTS Academic is taken for university study and professional registration. Listening and Speaking are the same in both modules.
- Used for
- University and professional registration
- Reading
- 3 long texts, 40 questions
- Writing Task 1
- Describe visual data
- Fee
- Varies by country
Full mock tests
IELTS Academic Full Mock 1
Academic · Listening, Reading and Writing back to back (about 2 h 35 min), then Speaking
IELTS Academic Full Mock 2
Academic · Listening, Reading and Writing back to back (about 2 h 35 min), then Speaking
Practise one section
Who takes IELTS Academic
IELTS Academic is for people applying to study at a university or college, and for professionals such as doctors and nurses who need to register to work in an English-speaking country. It tests whether your English is ready for study and training in English.
Always check the exact band your university, professional body or visa authority asks for, and whether they want Academic or General Training. Requirements differ and change.
The test, section by section
All four sections take about 2 hours 45 minutes. Listening, Reading and Writing are taken on the same day with no breaks between them. Speaking is on the same day or within 7 days before or after.
| Section | Time | Questions | What is specific to Academic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | About 30 minutes, plus 2 minutes to review on computer | 4 parts, 40 questions | Nothing: Listening is the same for both modules |
| Reading | 60 minutes | 3 texts, 40 questions | Three long texts, 2,150 to 2,750 words in total, from books, journals, magazines and newspapers |
| Writing | 60 minutes | 2 tasks | Task 1: describe a graph, table, chart, diagram, process or map in 150+ words. Task 2: an essay of 250+ words |
| Speaking | 11 to 14 minutes | 3 parts | Nothing: Speaking is the same for both modules |
How Academic differs from General Training
Listening and Speaking are identical in both modules. Only Reading and Writing change. See IELTS General Training for the other module.
| Academic | General Training | |
|---|---|---|
| Reading texts | 3 long academic-style texts | Short everyday texts, 2 workplace texts, then 1 long general-interest text |
| Writing Task 1 | Describe visual information (graph, table, chart, diagram, process or map) | Write a letter (formal, semi-formal or informal) |
| Writing Task 2 | Essay of 250+ words | Essay of 250+ words |
| Reading raw score for band 6 (approximate) | About 23 out of 40 | About 30 out of 40 |
Because the General Training texts are easier to read, its Reading scale is stricter: you need more correct answers for the same band. The raw-score figures are approximate and vary between test versions.
Ways to take it
IELTS announced on 5 March 2026 that paper-based IELTS is being withdrawn from mid-2026, with dates that vary by country, so most test centres now run IELTS on computer. There are now three ways to sit the test:
| Mode | How it works | Results |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS on Computer | At a test centre. Listening, Reading and Writing on a computer, Speaking face to face with an examiner. | 1 to 5 days |
| Writing on Paper | At a test centre, in selected countries. Listening and Reading on a computer, Writing by hand, Speaking face to face. Not offered for IELTS for UKVI. | Up to 5 days |
| IELTS Online | At home, with Speaking by video call. Academic only, in selected countries, and not accepted for immigration. | Selected countries only |
Your Test Report Form does not show which mode you used. If one section lets you down, One Skill Retake lets you resit that section once, within 60 days, in the same mode as your original test (for a separate fee).
For a UK visa you may need IELTS for UKVI, which has the same content as Academic and General Training but is taken only at UKVI-approved centres (usually at a slightly higher fee). From 8 January 2026 some UK visa routes need English at CEFR B2, which means IELTS for UKVI 5.5 in each of the four skills.
Scoring
Each section gets a band from 0 to 9, in whole or half bands. Your overall band is the average of the four, rounded: an average ending in .25 rounds up to .5, and one ending in .75 rounds up to the next whole band. The full band table is on the IELTS exam page.
| Band | Correct answers |
|---|---|
| 5 | 15 |
| 6 | 23 |
| 7 | 30 |
| 8 | 35 |
Frequently asked questions
Is IELTS Academic harder than General Training?
The Academic Reading texts are longer and more academic, and Writing Task 1 asks you to describe visual data instead of writing a letter. But the General Training Reading scale is stricter, so neither is simply easier. Take the module your university or authority asks for.
Can I use IELTS Academic for Canada PR?
Immigration authorities set their own rules on which module and which scores they accept. Check the current requirement on the official immigration website before you book.
Can I take IELTS Academic online from home?
IELTS Online is Academic only and runs in selected countries, but it is not accepted for immigration. Where it is not offered, plan to take IELTS on Computer or Writing on Paper at a test centre.
How much does IELTS Academic cost?
The fee is set in each country and paid in local currency, and IELTS for UKVI usually costs a little more. Check the current fee with your local test centre or on ielts.org before booking.
How long is an IELTS Academic score valid?
Most organisations accept a result for 2 years from the test date.
Is the Listening test different for Academic?
No. Listening and Speaking are the same for both modules. You can practise with our Listening tests and the Speaking test.