IELTS TEST GUIDE
IELTS test guide: formats, results, remarks and retakes
A plain summary of the practical points around the test itself, written by examplat from the test organisers' public pages. Rules, availability and fees vary by country and test centre, so always confirm the details with your test organiser before you book.
Information checked on 2026-10-17. We review this page once a year. If anything here differs from your test organiser's pages, follow the test organiser.
Computer-delivered and paper-based IELTS
At a test centre, IELTS has been offered in two ways. On computer, you read the Listening, Reading and Writing questions on screen and type your answers. On paper, you write your answers by hand on answer sheets. The content, question types, timing and scoring are the same in both, and in both the Speaking test is a face-to-face conversation with a trained examiner.
In March 2026 the test organisers announced that IELTS is moving to computer delivery and that the paper-based test is being withdrawn from mid-2026, on a timetable that differs by country. In some countries a Writing on Paper option lets you take Listening and Reading on computer while writing your Writing answers by hand. Paper-based results that have already been issued remain usable for the usual recommended period.
Results come faster on computer: the test organisers say they are usually ready within one to two days of the test (sometimes a few days longer), while paper-based results took up to about two weeks. Your booking confirmation tells you when to expect yours.
Test structure and timing
| Part | Time | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | About 30 minutes | 4 parts, 40 questions, from everyday conversations to a lecture |
| Reading | 60 minutes | 3 long texts, 40 questions |
| Writing | 60 minutes | 2 tasks: Task 1 (differs by version, see below) and Task 2 (an essay) |
| Speaking | 11–14 minutes | A face-to-face conversation with an examiner, in 3 parts |
The whole test takes about 2 hours 45 minutes. Depending on the centre, Speaking may be on the same day as the other three parts or on a different day, up to about a week before or after.
Each part is reported as a band from 0 to 9 (whole or half bands), and the overall band is worked out from the four.
How long are results accepted?
The test organisers recommend that a result be treated as evidence of your English for up to two years from the test date, because language skills can fade when they are not used. Many universities, employers and immigration authorities apply this two-year period.
The final decision belongs to each receiving organisation: some may set their own period, and some may accept an older result, for example with evidence that you have kept using English. If your test date will be close to two years old when you apply, check the organisation's rules first.
Enquiry on Results (asking for a remark)
If you think a score is wrong, you can apply for an Enquiry on Results through the centre where you took the test. You can ask for one or more of the four parts to be marked again.
There is a deadline counted from your test date (six weeks at the test organiser pages we checked) and a fee. The test organisers say the fee is refunded if your band score changes. The outcome can take from the same day to about three weeks. Check the current deadline and fee on your test organiser's page or with your test centre.
One Skill Retake
One Skill Retake lets you resit a single part (Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking) instead of the whole test. It is available only after a full IELTS taken on computer, and only at test centres and in countries that offer it. You must sit it within 60 days of your original test, and you can use it once for each full test.
You receive a new Test Report Form that combines the retaken score with your other three original scores, and you can choose which report to use. Not every organisation accepts a result that includes a One Skill Retake, so before you book, ask your test organiser whether your centre offers it and ask your target institution whether they accept it.
How to check the score you need
There is no single pass mark for IELTS. Each university, employer, professional body or immigration authority sets its own requirement, and the same institution may ask for different scores for different courses or visa types.
On the organisation's own admissions or requirements page, check which version it accepts (Academic or General Training), the minimum overall band, the minimum band for each of the four parts (these may differ from one another), how recent the test must be, and whether it accepts One Skill Retake. If anything is unclear, ask the organisation directly. Requirements change, so check again close to your application.
IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training
Listening and Speaking are the same in both versions. Reading and Writing differ. Academic Reading uses longer texts of an academic nature, while General Training Reading uses everyday and workplace material such as notices, advertisements and brochures. In Writing Task 1, Academic asks you to describe a graph, table, chart or diagram, while General Training asks you to write a letter. Writing Task 2 is an essay in both.
Academic is usually asked for by universities and some professional bodies; General Training is usually used for work, training or migration. Check which version your organisation requires. examplat currently covers IELTS Academic only.
Sources
examplat wrote this page in its own words from the following public pages of the IELTS test organisers. If your test centre tells you something different, follow your test centre.
- IELTS: IELTS Academic test
- IELTS: IELTS General Training test
- IELTS: Updates to IELTS test delivery (5 March 2026)
- IELTS: Fast test results and sharing
- IELTS: Verifying IELTS results
- IELTS: Cancellations, refunds, remarks and transfers
- IELTS: One Skill Retake
- IDP IELTS: IELTS on computer
- IDP IELTS: How to request a remark
- IDP IELTS: Academic vs General Training
- British Council: IELTS test modes
Information checked on 2026-10-17. We review this page once a year. If anything here differs from your test organiser's pages, follow the test organiser.
FAQ
How long is an IELTS result valid?
The test organisers recommend that a result be accepted for up to two years from the test date, but each receiving organisation decides for itself. Check the rules of the organisation you are applying to.
Can I retake just one part of IELTS?
Yes, with One Skill Retake, if your full test was taken on computer at a centre that offers it. It must be taken within 60 days of the original test, once per test, and not every organisation accepts it.
Is the computer-delivered test different from the paper-based one?
The content, question types, timing and scoring are the same. What differs is how you answer (typing on screen or writing by hand) and how quickly results come. The paper-based test is being withdrawn from mid-2026, with timing that varies by country.
Does examplat cover IELTS General Training?
Not yet. examplat currently covers IELTS Academic. Listening and Speaking are the same in both versions, but Reading and Writing Task 1 differ.
IELTS is a registered trademark of the British Council, IELTS Australia and Cambridge University Press & Assessment. examplat is an unofficial service by Sakakikaen Co., Ltd. and is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. This page is a summary for reference; the test organisers' own pages take priority.