The IELTS General Training exam measures your English ability in real-world, everyday contexts — work, social life, and basic migration requirements. Unlike the Academic version, the Reading and Writing sections focus on practical texts and tasks (ads, letters, workplace notices).
Below is the exact syllabus for each section, estimated weightage, and study strategies that actually work.
Listening Section (30 minutes, 40 questions)
Four recorded monologues and conversations. Each recording is played once.
Section breakdown:
- Part 1 (20%): A conversation between two people in a daily social context — booking a hotel, arranging a meeting.
- Part 2 (20%): A monologue on a general topic — a guided tour, public announcement.
- Part 3 (20%): A conversation between up to four people in a training or educational setting — a class discussion, workplace orientation.
- Part 4 (20%): A monologue on an academic-style topic (but general enough for migration).
- Remaining 20%: Mixed question types across all parts — multiple choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labelling, form/note/table completion, sentence completion.
Study tip: Practice with BBC News podcasts or YouTube travel vlogs at 1x speed. Focus on identifying synonyms — the test often paraphrases the audio in the question.
Reading Section (60 minutes, 40 questions)
Three long passages from books, magazines, newspapers, notices, advertisements, or company handbooks. Texts are practical and non-specialist.
Section breakdown:
- Section 1 (30%): Several short factual texts related to everyday life — timetables, ads, public information leaflets.
- Section 2 (30%): Two short workplace-related texts — job descriptions, staff training manuals, company policies.
- Section 3 (40%): One longer, more complex text on a general interest topic — travel, culture, health. Requires deeper comprehension.
Question types: Multiple choice, identifying information (True/False/Not Given), matching headings, sentence completion, summary completion, diagram label completion.
Study tip: Skim the passage first for gist. Then read questions and scan for keywords. For True/False/Not Given, remember: if the text doesn’t say it, it’s Not Given — even if it seems logical.
Writing Section (60 minutes, 2 tasks)
Task 1 (33% of Writing score, 20 minutes): Write a letter (informal, semi-formal, or formal) based on a given situation. You might need to request information, explain a problem, or make a complaint. Aim for 150 words.
Task 2 (67% of Writing score, 40 minutes): Write an essay responding to a point of view, argument, or problem. Topics are general — education, environment, technology, society. Aim for 250 words.
Study tip: For Task 1, memorise the formal/informal tone markers. For Task 2, use the PEEL structure (Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link). Always leave 5 minutes to proofread for grammar and spelling.
Speaking Section (11–14 minutes, 3 parts)
Face-to-face interview with a certified examiner. Recorded for quality control.
Part 1 (20% of Speaking score, 4–5 minutes): Introduction and general questions about familiar topics — home, work, hobbies, family.
Part 2 (40% of Speaking score, 3–4 minutes): You receive a task card with a topic. You have 1 minute to prepare notes, then speak for 1–2 minutes. The examiner may ask 1–2 follow-up questions.
Part 3 (40% of Speaking score, 4–5 minutes): Two-way discussion on abstract issues related to Part 2 topic — for example, if Part 2 was about a festival, Part 3 might discuss the role of traditions in modern society.
Study tip: Record yourself speaking on random topics for 2 minutes daily. Focus on fluency over perfection — pauses for thinking are fine, but avoid long silences.
Take a free IELTS General Training demo mock to find out where you stand: <a href="/demo">Try the demo →</a>
Weightage Summary Table
| Section | Time | Questions | Approx Weightage | |---------|------|-----------|------------------| | Listening | 30 min | 40 | 25% of overall score | | Reading | 60 min | 40 | 25% of overall score | | Writing | 60 min | 2 tasks | 25% of overall score | | Speaking | 11–14 min | 3 parts | 25% of overall score |
Each section is scored on a band scale of 0–9. Your overall band score is the average of the four sections, rounded to the nearest half band.
How to Prepare for Each Section
Listening
- Daily practice: 20 minutes of active listening — take notes while listening to English news or podcasts.
- Question strategy: Read questions before the audio starts. Underline keywords. Watch for plurals and tenses in the answer.
Reading
- Time management: Spend 20 minutes per passage. Don’t get stuck on one question.
- Vocabulary: Learn 10 new words daily from general interest articles. Focus on synonyms — the test loves them.
Writing
- Task 1: Practise writing letters with different tones. Use a timer.
- Task 2: Build an essay template — introduction, two body paragraphs, conclusion. Stick to it under timed conditions.
Speaking
- Part 2: Use the 1-minute prep time to jot down 4–5 bullet points. Speak naturally, not like a robot.
- Part 3: Develop opinions on current events. Practise explaining your reasoning.
See IELTS General Training mock-test packs and pricing: <a href="/plans">View plans →</a>
Common Myths About the Syllabus
- Myth: The Academic and General Training Listening sections are different. Fact: They are identical — same recordings, same questions.
- Myth: You need a high vocabulary for a high band. Fact: Clarity and accuracy matter more than fancy words.
- Myth: Writing Task 2 topics are always about technology. Fact: Topics are broad — education, environment, society, health, and more.
Where to next?
- Take a full-length IELTS General Training mock test to benchmark your current band: <a href="/demo">Start free demo →</a>
- Explore our IELTS General Training study plans with video lessons and personalised feedback: <a href="/plans">View plans →</a>
- Read our guide on IELTS General Training vs Academic: which one do you need? <a href="/blog/ielts-general-vs-academic">Read the comparison →</a>