How IELTS works: 4 papers, timing, Academic vs General Training
7 min readVideoFor bands 5.5-7Hack Drill: 7 questionsFree
Video transcript (with on-screen text)
Full script
1. [0:00–0:10] Teacher on camera
Welcome to IELTS. Before any hacks, two minutes on how the test works, and which version you actually need.
2. [0:10–0:25] Voice-over
Four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. Two main versions, Academic and General Training. No pass or fail, just bands from zero to nine.
On screen:
- IELTS in 20 seconds
- 4: 4 skills: Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking
- 2: 2 versions: Academic and General Training
- 9: Bands from 0 to 9, in half bands
- No pass or fail: the place you apply to sets the band
3. [0:25–0:36] Voice-over
Hack one, Ask the Receiver. Don't ask which test is easier. Ask who will read your result, and which version they want.
On screen:
- #1 Ask the Receiver
- Statement: ~~Which test is easier?~~
- Statement: Who will read my result? Which version do they want?
- Which version
- Which band: overall and per skill
- How recent the result must be
- Find all 3 on the official page
4. [0:36–0:48] Voice-over
University degrees usually ask for Academic. Many work and migration routes ask for General Training. But these are examples, so check the official page.
On screen:
- Typical examples
- A: University degree: usually Academic
- A: Some professional registration: often Academic
- GT: Many work and migration routes: often General Training
- GT: Training below degree level: often General Training
- Examples, not rules: some places accept both
5. [0:48–0:58] Teacher on camera
And no, General Training isn't the easy option. If they want Academic, a General Training score won't help.
6. [0:58–1:09] Voice-over
Hack two, the Two-Plus-Two Split. Listening and Speaking are exactly the same for everyone. Reading and Writing are the two that change.
On screen:
- #2 Two-Plus-Two Split
- L: Listening: the same for everyone
- S: Speaking: the same for everyone
- R: Reading: different texts
- W: Writing: a different Task 1
7. [1:09–1:24] Voice-over
Academic Reading uses longer academic texts; General Training starts with everyday notices. Writing Task one: Academic describes a chart, General Training writes a letter.
On screen:
- What changes
- Reading, Academic: 3 longer academic texts
- Reading, GT: everyday notices and work texts, then 1 longer text
- Writing Task 1, Academic: describe a chart, table, process or map
- Writing Task 1, GT: write a letter
- Writing Task 2: an essay in both
8. [1:24–1:38] Voice-over
Hack three, the Clock Code: thirty, sixty, sixty, eleven to fourteen. Listening, Reading, Writing, then Speaking, in minutes.
On screen:
- #3 Clock Code: 30 · 60 · 60 · 11–14
- L: Listening: about 30 minutes, 40 questions
- R: Reading: 60 minutes, 40 questions
- W: Writing: 60 minutes, 2 tasks
- S: Speaking: 11–14 minutes, 3 parts
9. [1:38–1:49] Voice-over
Listening, Reading and Writing come back to back, with no breaks. That's almost three hours, so practise the full block at least once.
10. [1:49–2:00] Voice-over
Speaking is separate: a live conversation with an examiner. It may be the same day, or a different day, often within about a week.
On screen:
- Speaking: maybe another day
- 1: Listening, Reading, Writing: no breaks
- 2: Speaking: the same day or a different day
- Often within about a week. Your test centre decides
11. [2:00–2:10] Voice-over
Hack four, Booking Check. Your booking confirmation tells you the version, the format, and your Speaking date and time. Read it twice.
On screen:
- #4 Booking Check
- Version: Academic, GT or UKVI
- Format: computer (Writing on Paper in some places)
- Speaking: date and time
- ID: the same one you booked with
- Read your booking twice
12. [2:10–2:24] Voice-over
Since mid-2026, IELTS has been switching to computer-only tests, country by country. Same question types, same band scale, just a screen.
13. [2:24–2:36] Voice-over
This course is your map: nine modules, each lesson with named hacks and a Hack Drill. Skip the Writing module that isn't yours.
On screen:
- Your course map
- Start Here: how IELTS works, band scores, study plan
- Listening and Reading: every question type
- Writing Task 1: Academic or GT (pick yours)
- Writing Task 2 and Speaking
- Vocabulary & Grammar and Test Day
- Every lesson: named hacks + a Hack Drill
14. [2:36–2:49] Voice-over
Ask the Receiver, Two-Plus-Two Split, Clock Code, Booking Check. Next up: band scores. But first, try them on the Hack Drill.
On screen:
- Your 4 start-here hacks
- Ask the Receiver: they decide Academic or GT
- Two-Plus-Two Split: L + S same, R + W differ
- Clock Code: 30 · 60 · 60 · 11–14
- Booking Check: version, format, Speaking date
- Now try them: Hack Drill
Narration only (plain transcript)
Welcome to IELTS. Before any hacks, two minutes on how the test works, and which version you actually need. Four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. Two main versions, Academic and General Training. No pass or fail, just bands from zero to nine. Hack one, Ask the Receiver. Don't ask which test is easier. Ask who will read your result, and which version they want. University degrees usually ask for Academic. Many work and migration routes ask for General Training. But these are examples, so check the official page. And no, General Training isn't the easy option. If they want Academic, a General Training score won't help. Hack two, the Two-Plus-Two Split. Listening and Speaking are exactly the same for everyone. Reading and Writing are the two that change. Academic Reading uses longer academic texts; General Training starts with everyday notices. Writing Task one: Academic describes a chart, General Training writes a letter. Hack three, the Clock Code: thirty, sixty, sixty, eleven to fourteen. Listening, Reading, Writing, then Speaking, in minutes. Listening, Reading and Writing come back to back, with no breaks. That's almost three hours, so practise the full block at least once. Speaking is separate: a live conversation with an examiner. It may be the same day, or a different day, often within about a week. Hack four, Booking Check. Your booking confirmation tells you the version, the format, and your Speaking date and time. Read it twice. Since mid-2026, IELTS has been switching to computer-only tests, country by country. Same question types, same band scale, just a screen. This course is your map: nine modules, each lesson with named hacks and a Hack Drill. Skip the Writing module that isn't yours. Ask the Receiver, Two-Plus-Two Split, Clock Code, Booking Check. Next up: band scores. But first, try them on the Hack Drill.
Welcome to the course! 👋 Before any hacks for True/False/Not Given or cue cards, you need the big picture. What is IELTS? Which version do you need? How long is each paper, and what happens on the day?
Two minutes of facts now saves you from the worst mistake of all: preparing for the wrong test.
This lesson gives you 4 hacks and a map of the whole course.
IELTS in 20 seconds
| What it tests | Your English in 4 skills: Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking |
| Two main versions | Academic and General Training (GT) |
| Result | A band from 0 to 9 for each skill, plus an overall band, in half bands (6.0, 6.5, 7.0...) |
| Pass or fail? | Neither. There is no pass mark. The place you apply to sets the band it wants |
Hack #1: Ask the Receiver 📮
The most important question is not "Which test is easier?" It's "Who will read my result?" The university, employer, professional body or visa office that receives your score decides which version you need.
| Your goal (typical examples) | Usually asks for |
|---|---|
| A degree at a university: bachelor's, master's, PhD | Academic |
| Registering to work in a profession, e.g. some doctors and nurses | often Academic |
| Moving to another country to live or work (many migration routes) | often General Training |
| Work experience, training or a course below degree level | often General Training |
| A UK visa | possibly IELTS for UKVI: a version of the same test, booked differently |
🔎 These are examples, not rules. Rules change and some places accept both versions. Open the official page of the place you're applying to and find three things: which version, which band (overall and per skill), and how recent the result must be.
Example: Tomás wants a foundation year before a bachelor's degree in design. The college page says "IELTS Academic, overall 5.5, no skill below 5.0". Done. He doesn't need to wonder about GT at all. Priya is joining a two-year hotel traineeship abroad, below degree level. The programme page says "IELTS General Training, 6.0 overall, at least 5.5 in each skill, taken in the last two years". She now has all three facts (version, band, how recent) before she books a single thing.
❌ "GT is easier, so I'll take GT for my university application." The two versions are scored on the same 0–9 scale for different purposes. If the receiver wants Academic, a GT score won't help you.
Hack #2: Two-Plus-Two Split ✂️
Here's the shortcut to understanding both versions at once: two papers are the same, two are different.
| Paper | Academic | General Training |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | same test | same test |
| Speaking | same test | same test |
| Reading | 3 longer texts from books, journals, magazines: academic in style | short everyday texts first (notices, adverts, workplace texts), then one longer general text |
| Writing Task 1 | describe a chart, graph, table, process or map (at least 150 words) | write a letter (at least 150 words) |
| Writing Task 2 | an essay (at least 250 words) | an essay (at least 250 words), on more everyday topics |
💡 So 2 out of 4 papers are identical. Most of your practice (Listening, Speaking, Writing Task 2, timing skills) works for both. Only Reading style and Writing Task 1 really split.
Hack #3: Clock Code ⏱️
Memorise four numbers: 30 · 60 · 60 · 11–14.
| Paper | Time | Questions / tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | about 30 minutes | 40 questions, 4 parts, recording played once |
| Reading | 60 minutes | 40 questions, 3 sections, no extra time to transfer answers |
| Writing | 60 minutes | 2 tasks: Task 1 (about 20 min) + Task 2 (about 40 min, worth more) |
| Speaking | 11–14 minutes | 3 parts, a live conversation with an examiner |
The order: Listening → Reading → Writing, one after another with no breaks. That's around 2 hours 40 minutes in one block. 🧠 Speaking is separate. It may be the same day (before or after the other papers) or a different day, often within about a week of the main test. Your test centre decides.
🏋️ Stamina tip: at least once before test day, do Listening, Reading and Writing back to back, with no phone break. Writing comes last, after about 90 minutes of Listening and Reading: you want your brain used to that.
(Old paper-based test only: Listening also had 10 extra minutes to copy answers onto the answer sheet. On computer you type your answers as you go, with a short check time at the end. See the lesson Computer vs paper IELTS: what changes.)
Hack #4: Booking Check 📋
Some facts are not the same for everyone. Don't guess them: they're written on your booking confirmation.
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Version: Academic, GT or UKVI | Booking the wrong one is an expensive mistake. Re-check it against Hack #1 |
| Format: computer, or computer with Writing on Paper | In March 2026 IELTS announced that paper-based tests end from mid-2026, with exact dates varying by country, so most test takers now sit IELTS on computer. Some places offer Writing on Paper: the test is on computer, but you handwrite Writing. Check your local test centre for what is offered where you live |
| Speaking date and time | It may be a different day. Plan travel, work and sleep for both dates |
| ID | Bring the same ID you used to book |
Good to know about the computer test:
- Same papers, same question types, same band scale. It's not easier or harder, just a different screen.
- You type your Writing (the word count is shown on screen) and answer Reading and Listening on screen.
- Results usually come within a few days (the old paper test took about two weeks). Check your centre for exact times.
- An older paper-based result is still fine: it keeps the usual recommended two-year validity.
Watch the hacks work
Nadia wants to study nursing at a university abroad, and later work as a nurse.
| Question | Hack | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Academic or GT? | Ask the Receiver: the university page says "IELTS Academic, 6.5 overall, 7.0 in Speaking" | Academic |
| Which practice is wasted for her? | Two-Plus-Two Split: GT letters and GT everyday reading | Skip Module 4 and the GT Reading lesson |
| How long without a break? | Clock Code: 30 + 60 + 60 | About 2 h 40 min, then Speaking (maybe another day) |
| The main test is on Friday, Speaking on the Monday after. Mistake? | Booking Check: centres can schedule Speaking separately | Normal. Plan for both days |
Your map of this course 🗺️
Every lesson works the same way: a short read (or video), 3–5 named hacks, a Hack Drill, then real practice in our test bank. Hacks have short names so you can remember them under pressure, like the Finger Test for True/False/Not Given.
| Module | What you get | For |
|---|---|---|
| 0. Start Here | This lesson, band scores decoded, your study plan | everyone |
| 1. Listening | The 4 parts, form completion, spelling and numbers, multiple choice, maps, matching, lectures, final checks | everyone |
| 2. Reading | True/False/Not Given, Yes/No/Not Given, headings, matching, completion, multiple choice, skimming and scanning, the 60-minute plan | everyone (one lesson is GT only) |
| 3. Writing Task 1 (Academic) | How Writing is marked, the overview, charts, tables, processes, maps | Academic |
| 4. Writing Task 1 (General Training) | Letter tone, covering all 3 bullet points | GT |
| 5. Writing Task 2 (both modules) | Question types, structure, body paragraphs, band 6 vs 7, planning | everyone |
| 6. Speaking | The 3 parts, how it's marked, Part 1, 2 and 3 hacks, fluency, pronunciation | everyone |
| 7. Vocabulary & Grammar for Band 7 | Paraphrase, collocations, complex sentences, common errors | everyone |
| 8. Test Day | Computer vs paper, test-day checklist | everyone |
🎯 Short on time? Do Module 0, then the module of your weakest skill first. The study-plan lesson shows you how to find it.
SageTutor is an independent course. It is not affiliated with IELTS, the British Council, IDP or Cambridge.
Your 10-second checklist
Next: Hack Drill (7 questions, about 5 minutes) → then lesson 2, Band scores decoded: how many correct answers make a band 6 or 7, and how the overall band is rounded. Want to see the four papers for real? Look at Test 1 in our bank: Listening Part 1 (t001-lis-01), Academic Reading Passage 1 (t001-acr-01) or GT Reading Section 1 (t001-gtr-01), Writing Task 1 Academic (t001-acw-01) or GT (t001-gtw-01), and Speaking Part 1 (t001-spk-01).
Hack Drill
7 questions. Answer them all, then check: you get the answers, the reason and the hack for each one.
Questions 1-7
Each question is about how the IELTS test works.
Choose the correct letter.