IELTS Academic 2023: Exam Pattern, IELTS Components, Mean Performance, Band Scores

IELTS Academic is a test of English language proficiency created for applicants who want to work or study in an academic setting where English is the primary language. IELTS Academic lasts for two hours and forty-five minutes. There are four different listening, writing, reading, and speaking modules in IELTS Academic. On a scale from 0 to 9, bands are used to determine the IELTS academic band score. Different IELTS modules must meet various requirements in order to receive a score. In India, IELTS academic registration costs INR 16,250. The validity of an IELTS Academic score is two years. Withinielts academic 13 business days of the exam, the IELTS academic test results are typically posted on the official website of the organisation that administers it, IDP.

IELTS Academic Mean Performance

As per data available for IELTS, it is noticed that IELTS Academic is taken by a larger section of candidates as compared to IELTS General Training. Mostly the test takers want to travel to English speaking nations to achieve a better future. Compared to employment purposes, test takers write IELTS Academic for pursuing academic excellence in English speaking nations. 

As the graph mentioned above, female test-takers score better in all sections as compared to male test-takers. Every year, thousands of students take IELTS Academic for securing admission to the best universities in the world. As per data collected, the mean score band for IELTS Academic is 6.1. To get admission into the best universities of UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, or USA, the test takers have to score a minimum 0f 7 out of 9. It is also seen in the writing section in IELTS Academic, the test takers score the least. Before appearing for IELTS, one should have a proper IELTS Preparation schedule. One requires a minimum of 6 months to score well in IELTS. Focus on weak sections for better improvement. 

Is IELTS General harder than Academic? 

Any candidate getting 30 out of 40 in IELTS General Training Reading is as good IELTS scores as getting 23 out of 40 in IELTS Academic reading. Both this score range is converted to an IELTS Band of 6 out on a scale of 9. Both the speaking and listening sections in IELTS academic and general training are the same. Candidates can check IELTS Academic vs General Training to get better understanding of the question types, format and more.

IELTS Academic Listening

IELTS Academic listening section is same as that of General Training. There are four sections in IELTS Academic listening part as follows 

• Section 1: 10 questions (General conversation between 2 English natives) 
• Section 2: 10 questions (Monologue on the general topic) 
• Section 3: 10 questions (Conversation between 2-4 people around academics) 
• Section 4: 10 questions (Monologue on an academic topic) 
• 40 questions to be answered in 30 minutes 

Test takers have to listen to pre-recorded recordings to answer these sections. Questions can be MCQ type, fill in the blanks, flowcharts, or tables. In India, an individual is well acquainted with listening to English content. It is a major reason to score the best in IELTS listening. 

IELTS Academic Listening Score

IELTS band score conversion table is presented at the end of IELTS Academic. There are 40 questions in this section. Each question carries 1 mark. Therefore, IELTS Academic Listening score out of 40 will be converted into 9 band scale. The test taker will be marked out of 9. Grammatical and spelling mistakes will be penalized for listening band score academic. 

IELTS Academic Speaking

IELTS Academic Speaking measures the spoken English skills of the test taker. The total time allotted for IELTS Academic speaking section is 11-14minutes. Examiners measure the skills of candidates on four criteria- accuracy and usage of grammar, coherence and fluency, lexical resource, and pronunciation. Each criterion has a weightage value of 25%

• There are 3 parts to this section 
• In Part 1, questions are asked on general introduction like family, home, studies, work 
• 4-5 minutes are allotted for Part 1 
• In Part 2, test takers have to talk about a topic given through a task card
• 3-4 minutes (including preparation time) test takers have to spend for Part 2
• In Part 3, the examiner will discuss issues with the test-taker related to Part 2 
• 4-5 minutes are allotted for Part 3 

IELTS Speaking Sample 

• Describe an Outdoor Sport you Played for the First Time Cue Card
• Describe a piece of information that you think is not correct Cue Card
• Describe a success in your life Cue Card
• Describe an Interesting Story you Have Read or Heard Cue Card
• Talk about a situation when you taught something to someone Cue Card
• Describe Your Family Cue Card
• Describe a Skill That Was Difficult For You to Learn Cue Card
• Describe a Famous Athlete You Know Cue Card

IELTS Academic Speaking Score

IELTS Academic Speaking Score is marked on four criteria mentioned before. Examiners will mark on the speech given by the test taker. Each criterion carries 25% of the total mark. Test takers are marked on basis of usage of vocabulary, correct grammar, coherence and fluency, lexical resource and pronunciation. 

IELTS Academic Writing

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 and Task 2 together constitute IELTS Academic writing section. Sections have been described in details below for IELTS writing task 1 academic and task 2:

• 2 writing tasks to be completed in 60 minutes 
• In writing task 1 academic, test takers have to visual information comprehended through the chart, diagram or graph. 
• In 20 minutes, test takers have to complete IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 in 150 words 
• In writing task 2 IELTS academic, test takers have to respond to a point of view or problem or argument from the given topic 
• In 40 minutes, test takers have to complete writing task 2 academic in 250 words 

IELTS Academic Writing Score

In IELTS Academic writing section, both tasks carry different weightage. Examiners mark the test takers after assessing responses given to questions. This section is marked on basis of four criteria- task achievement, coherence and cohesion, lexical resources, and correct usage of grammar. Marks are given either in half bands or whole bands. 

For example, if Task 1 IELTS gets following marks:

• Task Achievement: 6.0,
• Coherence and Cohesion: 7.5,
• Lexical Resource: 7.0,
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy - 7.5.

then score for IELTS Task 1 is (6.0+7.5+7.0+7.5)/4 =7.0.

So if you get 8.0 for task 2 and 6.5 for task 1, the total score for IELTS Writing Section is 8.0*(2/3)+(6.5)*1/3=7.5.

IELTS Writing Samples Task 1

• Average percentages in typical meals of three types of nutrients IELTS writing task 1
• Southland’s Main Exports in 2000 and Future Projections For 2025 IELTS Writing Task 1
• Different Sources of Air Pollutants IELTS Writing Task 1 
• Different Types of Crime in England and Wales From 1970 to 2005 IELTS Writing Task 1
• The Graph below shows the Total Births and the Total Deaths in a European Country from 1950 to 2050 IELTS Writing Task 1
• Line Graph Showing Percentage of Car Ownership in Great Britain IELTS Writing Task 1
• Number of Books Read by Men and Women at Burnaby Public Library IELTS Writing Task 1
• Journeys made by Different Forms of Transport in Four Countries IELTS Writing Task 1

IELTS Writing Samples Task 2

• Scientists Say that Junk Food Is Harmful IELTS Writing Task 2
• In spite of the Advances Made in Agriculture Many People Around the World still go Hungry IELTS Writing Task 2
• Most Employers Do Job Interviews Before Offering A Position To A Person IELTS Writing Task 2
• People Should Follow The Customs And Traditions IELTS Writing Task 2
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Shopping Essay IELTS
• People think that Zoos are Cruel IELTS Writing Task 2
• Copying Famous Personalities IELTS Writing Task 2
• Ambition IELTS Writing Task 2

IELTS Academic Reading

IELTS Academic Reading is designed to measure the wide spectrum of reading skills of the candidates. Passages are discursive, analytical, and factual in nature. Most IELTS Academic Reading passages are selected appropriately for those applying to universities. 

• 3 reading passages taken from journals, newspapers, books, or magazines. 
• 40 questions to be answered in 60 minutes 
• Mostly 11 kinds of task type will have to answer like- MCQ, Identifying information, Identifying writer’s opinions, Matching information, Matching heading, Matching features, Matching sentence endings, Sentence completion, Summary or flow chart completion, Diagram label completion, and short answer questions

IELTS Academic Reading Score

For IELTS Academic Reading Score, test takers have to answer 40 questions in 60 minutes. Examiners in reading band score academic measure the analytical, logical, and deductive skills of the test takers. After marking, Cambridge Assessment English further analyzes the scoring band. Scores are given out of 40 which is later converted to an IELTS score band of 9.