IELTS 

1. Level setting

The IELTS test is graded on a scale of 1 to 9, allowing for half points. The details are as follows:

9: Expert level, able to use English fluently, accurately and appropriately.

8 points: excellent level, able to use English freely, occasionally make mistakes but do not affect understanding.

7 points: good level, can use English effectively, some mistakes but do not affect communication.

6 minutes: The level of proficiency is good enough to communicate fluently on a daily basis, with some grammatical and lexical errors.

5 minutes: basic level, able to use English partially and communicate in familiar situations.

4 minutes: limited level, limited English ability, can only communicate in simple communication.

3 minutes: very limited level, able to communicate simply when familiar with each other.

2 minutes: Beginner level, can only say a few isolated words, unable to communicate effectively.

1 minute: Do not understand English, can only say a few words, almost no communication.

2. Content and form of the examination

Academic (Category A) and Training (Category G) tests are divided into four sections: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Listening, reading, and writing are conducted in both paper-and-pencil and computer-based formats, while speaking is conducted in a 'person-to-person dialogue' format. The listening test lasts 40 minutes, including 30 minutes for listening to recordings and 10 minutes for filling out answer sheets, with 40 questions across 4 sections. The reading test lasts 60 minutes, involving 3 passages and 40 questions. The writing test also lasts 60 minutes, with candidates required to complete 2 essays: a short essay for Category A, which describes tables or charts; a short essay for Category G, which asks for information or explains a situation; and a long essay that discusses issues or argues viewpoints. The speaking test lasts 11 to 14 minutes, divided into three parts: daily conversation, topic description, and interaction.

The IELTS Speaking Test, which assesses speaking and listening skills, is conducted in a 'person-to-person dialogue' format. For the A1 level, the speaking test lasts 7 to 8 minutes, while the listening test lasts 9 to 10 minutes. The discussion focuses on everyday topics, with the listening section involving listening to recordings and interactive discussions. For the B1 level, the speaking test lasts 10 minutes, and the listening test lasts 12 minutes. In addition to discussing daily topics, candidates must also work together to plan activities.

3. Scoring criteria

The four individual skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—are each scored independently, with equal weight for each. The final score is the average of these four scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. If the decimal part of the average score is 0.25 or less, it is rounded down to the nearest whole number. If the decimal part is between 0.25 and 0.75, it is rounded to the nearest half number. If the decimal part is 0.75 or more, it is rounded up to the nearest whole number.

4. Examination time arrangement

The 2025 IELTS paper-based test schedule is as follows:

First half: 4, 11 and 18 January; 8, 15 and 22 February; 8, 15,22 and 29 March; 5, 12,19 and 26 April; 10,17 and 24 May; 14,21 and 28 June.

Second half: 5, 19 and 26 July; 2, 9, 16,23 and 30 August; 13 and 27 September; 11,18 and 25 October; 1, 15 and 22 November; 6, 13,20 and 27 December.

Computer-based test