Let’s talk about the best IELTS preparation books. It’s hard to name one absolute best book for IELTS preparation, because what helps one student may not help another. However, our experts have ranked the best IELTS preparation materials for 2026, including the best books for IELTS prep and free IELTS resources (like Magoosh’s free IELTS eBook), and categorized them according to their strengths.

The short answer: start with official Cambridge materials. Cambridge IELTS 20, the newest collection of real past exam papers, and The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS (fully updated in 2025) are the two strongest choices. Then add one resource that targets your weakest skill. Most students need only two or three IELTS preparation books in total.

All of the books below work for both the Academic and General Training versions of the test unless we say otherwise. Let’s get started!

Paper IELTS Is Retiring: What It Means for Your Book Prep

Before the rankings, one important 2026 update. The IELTS partners have announced that from mid-2026, IELTS will no longer be offered as a paper-based test. All IELTS tests will be delivered on computer, and exact timelines vary by market. In selected markets, a new “Writing on Paper” option will let you handwrite your Writing answers while taking the rest of the test on screen, so handwriting practice still matters for some students.

Here is the good news: the skills tested, the question types, and the scoring are not changing. Books, especially the official Cambridge past papers, remain the best source of authentic test content and strategy. What changes is the format. You will type your essays, read passages and move between questions on a screen, and get a 2-minute check of your Listening answers instead of the 10-minute transfer time that paper test takers had.

So plan your prep in two layers. Use books to build skills and learn the test. Then build screen fluency with computer-based practice before test day. The free official tools (covered in the final entry below) are great for learning the interface, but they will not give you human scoring on your Writing and Speaking.

Pro tip: Take at least one full-length practice test on a computer before test day, such as Magoosh’s free IELTS practice test, so the on-screen experience holds no surprises.

The Best IELTS Prep Books of 2026

Click on a heading in the table of contents below to jump directly to each of the IELTS preparation books.

• Cambridge IELTS 20 (Academic and General Training)
• The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS
• The Key to IELTS Series by Pauline Cullen
• IELTS Trainer 2
• IELTS Booster (Academic and General Training)
• IELTS Vocabulary by Pauline Cullen
• IELTS Grammar For Bands 6.5 and Above
• Barron’s IELTS Premium
• Target Band 7
• Computer-Based Practice and Online IELTS Resources

1. Cambridge IELTS 20 (Academic and General Training)

The Cambridge IELTS series takes the top spot for one simple reason: these are the only books made of real past exam papers. The numbered volumes collect retired questions from Cambridge, a co-owner of the IELTS test, so every passage, recording, and Writing task is authentic. This is also why it may be the very best IELTS practice book collection available. The newest volume, Cambridge IELTS 20, was published in July 2025 in two equally useful editions, Academic and General Training. Each edition presents four complete practice tests, along with downloadable audio, answer keys with explanations, sample Writing answers, and an example Speaking test video.

Two buying tips. First, the volume numbers show release order, not difficulty, so buy the newest volume first; it reflects the most recent exams. If you finish it and want more authentic practice, add IELTS 19 (the 2024 volume) next. With their sample answers and detailed keys, these recent volumes now cover the role that the old Official IELTS Practice Materials booklets used to play on this list. Second, Cambridge IELTS 21 is scheduled for July 31, 2026, so if your test date is late in the year, check whether it has been released before you buy.

2. The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS

Cambridge English helps write the real IELTS exam, and this is its complete all-in-one guide. If you plan to buy only one book, make it this one. The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS was fully updated in May 2025, so you are no longer stuck with the old 2014 edition and its DVD-ROM. The new edition includes eight official practice tests, and the first test comes with step-by-step guidance. Audio for the listening exercises and videos of the Speaking test are available online or through the Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS App.

The guide also contains useful chapters with exercises and tips for every question type, designed for students at band 4.0 and above. One suggestion: if you are taking General Training, pair this guide with the General Training edition of Cambridge IELTS 20 above so you get plenty of GT-specific Reading and Writing practice.

3. The Key to IELTS Series by Pauline Cullen

If your Writing score is stuck, this is the series experienced teachers recommend most. Pauline Cullen has spent more than 30 years as an examiner and test writer, and she is the lead author of The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS (entry 2) as well as the author of Cambridge’s official IELTS vocabulary books (entry 6). Her independent Key to IELTS series focuses on the section where self-study help is hardest to find: Writing.

Start with The Key to IELTS Success, a free PDF that clears up common myths about how IELTS Writing is scored. Then, if you are aiming for band 7 or above, the paid titles The Key to IELTS Writing Task 1 (Academic) and The Key to IELTS Writing Task 2 go deeper than any print book we know. These are interactive online ebooks with 12 months of access; the audio, answer keys, and exercises are built into the lessons, and the Task 2 course includes model essays written at band 9. In community discussions, IELTS teachers recommend Cullen’s writing materials more often than any other paid writing resource, and we agree with them.

4. IELTS Trainer 2

For still more official full-length practice with built-in coaching, IELTS Trainer 2 is a great resource, and it comes in separate Academic and General Training editions. Each book collects six practice tests, but it does a lot more than that. The first two tests are fully guided, with step-by-step advice on how to tackle each paper. The extra grammar, vocabulary, and writing activities are informed by a bank of real candidates’ exam papers, so they target the mistakes students actually make. Once you’ve worked through that guided preparation, the remaining four tests are authentic, full-length practice tests, with downloadable audio and answer keys.

The Trainer 2 books are several years old now, so treat the Cambridge IELTS 20 volumes as your most current practice. Teachers and students still recommend Trainer 2, though, because the guided tests teach you how to take the exam, not just what is on it.

5. IELTS Booster (Academic and General Training)

Full mock exams are not the only kind of official practice. IELTS Booster, published by Cambridge in 2022 in separate Academic and General Training editions, is the newest official book of task-by-task drills. Instead of complete practice tests, it gives you authentic practice questions for every IELTS task type, supported by “Test facts” that explain the format, “Test tips” with practical strategies, and “Get it right” boxes that show typical errors and how to avoid them. Extended answer keys and audio access are included.

Use Booster between full mock tests, when you want focused work on one task type without sitting a whole exam. It is also the natural modern replacement for the Official IELTS Practice Materials booklets that used to appear on this list: those date from 2009 and 2012, ship their video content on DVD, and are becoming hard to find.

6. IELTS Vocabulary by Pauline Cullen (Cambridge)

Cambridge publishes two official IELTS vocabulary books, both written by Pauline Cullen (the same author from entries 2 and 3). IELTS Vocabulary Up to Band 6.0 is the place to start if you are currently scoring below band 6. Rather than practice exams, it features an extensive number of practice activities to help you build vocabulary for the exam. The words are very well selected, and all could likely appear on the real test. The book leans toward IELTS Reading, since that is the most vocabulary-intensive part of the exam.

If you are already past band 6, move up to the companion volume, IELTS Vocabulary For Bands 6.5 and Above. It follows the same activity-based approach but is written for students aiming at band 6.5 or higher, where examiners expect more precise and flexible vocabulary.

7. IELTS Grammar For Bands 6.5 and Above (Cambridge)

Like the vocabulary books above, IELTS Grammar For Bands 6.5 and Above focuses on skill-building rather than practice test questions. However, this grammar book does include official IELTS passages, question sets, and tasks, even though it doesn’t include a full test. Strong grammar raises your score in every section, and it is one of the four scoring criteria for both Writing and Speaking. If you are aiming for band 6.5 or higher, this book teaches you how to apply good grammar to every part of the exam.

8. Barron’s IELTS Premium

Barron’s IELTS Premium (seventh edition, October 2023) is the most current all-in-one IELTS book from a major American publisher. It combines six practice tests with a full review section and online audio. It is also one of the easiest IELTS books to find: most U.S. libraries and bookstores carry Barron’s guides.

Know what you are buying, though. Barron’s covers every part of the test at a comfortable pace, but the practice material is a little easier than the real exam, the audio focuses on American accents far more than the real IELTS would, and some of the advice is not quite accurate. For example, these books tell you that the True/False and Yes/No questions are the hardest questions on the test, but this is not true for most students. Treat Barron’s as an accessible starting point, then move to the Cambridge materials above for realistic difficulty.

Barron’s also sells the IELTS Superpack, a boxed set of three books with extra practice tests and a vocabulary guide. Note that the Superpack (2020) is older than the Premium volume, so if you buy only one Barron’s product, Premium is the better choice.

9. Target Band 7

Target Band 7 by Simone Braverman (fourth edition) is the budget strategy guide on this list, written for the Academic test. It is strongest on Listening and Reading, where its time-saving techniques and question-type tactics are genuinely useful. The 2026 printing also added tips for the computer-delivered test alongside the paper-based advice, which most older strategy guides still lack.

Two caveats. Independent reviewers often find the writing advice weaker than the rest of the book, so rely on the Official Cambridge Guide or Cullen’s writing materials (entries 2 and 3) for Writing. And like most strategy guides, it contains few practice exercises with feedback, so it cannot be your main study source. Use it as an inexpensive strategy supplement next to a practice-heavy book.

10. Computer-Based Practice and Online IELTS Resources

Print books cannot teach you what the IELTS test interface feels like. These online resources can, and most of them are free.

Free Official Computer-Based Practice

• British Council familiarisation test: free full-length sample versions of the Listening, Reading, and Writing sections, built to look and work like the real computer-delivered test. You get instant results for Listening and Reading; Writing is not marked.
• IELTS Ready from the British Council: the free tier includes a 50-minute mini mock test with AI feedback plus two full mock tests with model answers. The expanded IELTS Ready Premium comes free when you book your test with the British Council. One caution from the student community: many test takers report that the Premium mock tests feel harder than the real exam, so do not panic if those scores run low.
• Official sample questions: ielts.org publishes free sample questions for every section. To navigate all of the official sites efficiently, see Magoosh’s guide to the four official IELTS websites.
• The Road to IELTS: the British Council’s long-running online preparation course offers over 300 interactive activities, 17 advice videos, and 40 practice tests, and it includes a computer-delivered IELTS simulator. A free version is available. (Road to IELTS used to be the free bundle for British Council test bookers; that role now belongs to IELTS Ready Premium.)
• IELTS Progress Check: the one paid option here, but it is the official scored online mock. Official IELTS markers grade your full practice test, including Writing and Speaking, and return an indicative band score for each section within about five days.

Magoosh’s IELTS Section and Skill Guides

Magoosh also offers the following free guides to the sections and important elements of the IELTS exam:

• Magoosh’s Guide to the Whole IELTS Exam (free eBook)
• IELTS Writing: Everything You Need to Know
• The Complete Guide to IELTS Speaking
• All Things IELTS Listening
• Everything You Need to Know About IELTS Reading
• All About IELTS Vocabulary
• What You Should Know About Your IELTS Results

Magoosh IELTS Premium (Mock Tests Plus Human Scoring)

The free official tools above are excellent for learning the interface. What they do not give you is expert human scoring on the two sections students worry about most. Magoosh IELTS fills that gap. A subscription includes up to 10 full-length mock tests plus more than 120 video lessons. You take the mock tests in your browser, timed, on a computer: the same delivery mode as the real test. When you submit a Writing essay for scoring or record a Speaking response, human IELTS experts return a detailed score report in less than two days, with an overall band plus a breakdown across the four band descriptors that real examiners use. There is also a score guarantee if you complete the program, and a 7-day free trial so you can see whether it fits your study style.

Those are our rankings for the best IELTS preparation books of 2026! Pick one official practice source, add one resource for your weakest skill, and make sure you have tried the test on a computer before test day. We hope these resources help you prep in an effective and focused way, and Magoosh is here to help every step of the way. Good luck!

IELTS Writing Task 2 is a 40-minute essay where you respond to a point of view, argument, or problem. You must write at least 250 words. This task counts for two-thirds of your total Writing score, making it the most important part of the Writing section.

You will see one of five question types: opinion, discussion, advantages/disadvantages, causes/solutions, or two-part questions. Success requires understanding how examiners score your essay and practicing each question type with a clear structure.

This guide covers everything you need to know about Task 2, with links to detailed resources for each topic.

What Is IELTS Writing Task 2?

IELTS Writing Task 2 is an essay task that appears in both the Academic and General Training versions of the test. The task is identical for both versions.

Here are the key facts:

You will receive a statement or question about a general topic. Topics include education, technology, health, environment, society, and work. You do not need specialized knowledge. The examiners want to see how well you can organize and express your ideas in English.

Task 2 is worth twice as much as Task 1. Many students spend too much time on Task 1 and rush through Task 2. This is a mistake. Aim to spend no more than 20 minutes on Task 1, leaving 40 full minutes for Task 2.

Pro tip: Write Task 2 first if you struggle with time management. This ensures your higher-weighted task gets your full attention.

How IELTS Writing Task 2 Is Scored

Examiners score your essay on four criteria. Each criterion is worth 25% of your Task 2 score.

What Separates Band 6, 7, and 8

Understanding the difference between band scores helps you target your improvements.

Band 6 essays:

• Address the task but may not fully develop all points
• Have a clear structure but linking may be mechanical (“Firstly… Secondly… Finally…”)
• Use adequate vocabulary with some errors
• Mix simple and complex sentences with noticeable errors

Band 7 essays:

• Present a clear position throughout the response
• Organize ideas logically with clear progression
• Use less common vocabulary with awareness of style
• Use a variety of complex structures, like conditional sentences, with good control

Band 8 essays:

• Respond to all parts of the task with fully extended, well-developed ideas
• Sequence information and ideas skillfully
• Use a wide range of vocabulary fluently and precisely
• Use a wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy

The biggest jump for most students is from Band 6 to Band 7. This requires moving beyond basic essay formulas and developing ideas with specific examples.

For the official band descriptors, visit ielts.org.

Pro tip: The difference between Band 6 and Band 7 often comes down to specificity. Instead of writing “this can cause many problems,” explain exactly what problems and why they matter.

The 5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Question Types

Every Task 2 question falls into one of five categories. Each type requires a slightly different approach.

1. Opinion (Agree/Disagree)

Example prompt: Some people believe that children should start learning a foreign language at primary school. Others think they should wait until secondary school. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

For this type, you must give your opinion clearly and support it throughout the essay. You can fully agree, fully disagree, or partially agree.

See our complete guide: IELTS Agree/Disagree Sample Essay

2. Discussion (Both Views)

Example prompt: Some people think that governments should invest in public transportation. Others believe that money should be spent on building more roads. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

You must discuss both perspectives before giving your own opinion. Failing to address both sides will hurt your Task Response score.

See our complete guide: IELTS Discussion Sample Essay

3. Advantages and Disadvantages

Example prompt: Many people now work from home rather than in an office. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?

Some versions ask you to also give your opinion on whether advantages outweigh disadvantages. Read the prompt carefully.

See our complete guide: IELTS Advantages/Disadvantages Sample Essay

4. Causes and Solutions (Problem/Solution)

Example prompt: In many countries, obesity is becoming a major health problem. What are the causes of this trend, and what solutions can you suggest?

You must address both parts equally. Do not spend your entire essay on causes with only one sentence about solutions.

See our complete guide: IELTS Causes/Solutions Sample Essay

5. Two-Part Questions

Example prompt: Many young people today leave their home country to work abroad. Why is this happening? Is this a positive or negative development?

These questions have two distinct parts. Answer both clearly. Organize your essay so each part has dedicated paragraphs.

For a complete breakdown of all five types with example prompts, see our guide to IELTS Writing Task 2 Question Types.

How to Structure Your Essay

A clear structure makes your essay easier to read and improves your Coherence and Cohesion score.

Basic Essay Structure

Introduction (2-3 sentences)

• Paraphrase the question
• State your position or preview your main points

Body Paragraph 1 (4-6 sentences)

• Topic sentence stating your first main point
• Explanation
• Specific example
• Connection to the question

Body Paragraph 2 (4-6 sentences)

• Topic sentence stating your second main point
• Explanation
• Specific example
• Connection to the question

Conclusion (2-3 sentences)

• Summarize your main points
• Restate your position (if applicable)

For most question types, two body paragraphs are sufficient. You can write three if you have time and clear ideas, but two well-developed paragraphs score higher than three underdeveloped ones.

Writing Strong Introductions

Your introduction should do two things: show you understand the question and preview your answer.

Avoid memorized phrases like “In today’s modern world” or “This essay will discuss.” These add nothing and waste words.

See our guide: IELTS Writing Task 2 Introduction and Vocabulary

Developing Body Paragraphs

Each body paragraph needs a clear topic sentence, supporting explanation, and a specific example.

Weak example:

“Education is very important. It helps people get jobs. Many people agree with this.”

Strong example:

“Access to higher education opens career opportunities that would otherwise remain closed. A student from a low-income family who earns a university degree gains access to professional fields like medicine or engineering. Without that education, the same student might be limited to minimum-wage positions regardless of their abilities.”

Notice the specific example and the cause-effect reasoning.

See our complete guide: How to Structure Body Paragraphs

Using Templates Wisely

Templates can help you organize your ideas, but do not memorize entire essays. Examiners recognize memorized content and will penalize it.

Use templates as a starting framework, then adapt them to each specific question.

See our guide: The Best IELTS Task 2 Writing Template

IELTS Writing Task 2 Tips

These strategies will help you maximize your score.

Time Management

• Spend 5 minutes planning before you write
• Use 30 minutes writing your essay
• Save 5 minutes for review and corrections

Many students skip planning and start writing immediately. This leads to disorganized essays and wasted time restructuring halfway through.

Vocabulary Strategies

You do not need rare or complicated words. You need accurate words used appropriately.

Common vocabulary mistakes:

• Using words you do not fully understand
• Repeating the same word throughout the essay
• Using informal language (“kids” instead of “children”)

Focus on:

• Paraphrasing key terms from the question
• Using topic-specific vocabulary naturally
• Choosing precise words over vague ones (“beneficial” vs. “good”)

See our guides:

• Vocabulary for IELTS Writing Task 2
• Advanced Vocabulary for Band 8-9

Linking Words and Cohesion

Linking words help your essay flow. However, overusing them sounds mechanical.

Overused: “Firstly, I believe education is important. Secondly, it helps the economy. Thirdly, it reduces crime. In conclusion, education is very important.”

Better: “Education benefits individuals by expanding their career options. Beyond personal advancement, widespread education also strengthens the broader economy through a more skilled workforce.”

See our guide: Linking Words for IELTS Writing Task 1 and Task 2

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Not answering the question — Read the prompt twice. Identify exactly what it asks.
2. Writing too little — Aim for 270-300 words. Under 250 words receives a penalty.
3. Writing too much — More than 300 words increases error opportunities without improving your score.
4. No clear position — For opinion questions, state your view clearly and maintain it throughout.
5. Memorized phrases — Examiners recognize “in this day and age” and similar phrases.

Pro tip: After writing your conclusion, re-read the question. Check that you actually answered what was asked, not what you wanted to discuss.

Recent IELTS Writing Task 2 Topics [2025-2026]

IELTS draws from a consistent set of themes. Recent exams have featured these common topics:

Education

• Online learning vs. traditional classrooms
• University education: necessary or overrated?
• Teaching practical skills vs. academic subjects

Technology

• Social media’s impact on communication
• Artificial intelligence and employment
• Screen time and children’s development

Environment

• Individual vs. government responsibility for climate action
• Sustainable cities and transportation
• Wildlife conservation priorities

Work and Society

• Remote work: benefits and drawbacks
• Work-life balance challenges
• Age diversity in the workplace

Health

• Mental health awareness
• Healthcare system funding
• Lifestyle diseases and prevention

You do not need to memorize facts about these topics. Focus on having opinions you can support with reasoning and examples.

Sample Essays by Band Score

Reading high-scoring essays helps you understand what examiners want.

We have sample essays for each question type:

When reading sample essays, notice:

• How the introduction paraphrases the question
• How each body paragraph develops one main idea
• How examples support general statements
• How the conclusion summarizes without introducing new ideas

How to Prepare for IELTS Writing Task 2

Create a Study Plan

Consistent practice matters more than cramming. Aim to write 2-3 full essays per week under timed conditions.

Each practice session should include:

1. Reading and analyzing the prompt (2 minutes)
2. Planning your response (5 minutes)
3. Writing the essay (30 minutes)
4. Reviewing for errors (5 minutes)
5. Comparing to sample essays or getting feedback

Get Feedback on Your Writing

Self-study has limits. You need external feedback to identify patterns in your mistakes.

Options for feedback:

• Professional tutoring or essay grading services
• Study partners who can review your work
• Magoosh IELTS Prep — includes writing assessments with professional feedback

Practice with Realistic Conditions

Write by hand if you will take the paper-based test. Type if you will take the computer-based test.

Time yourself strictly. Do not pause to look up vocabulary or check grammar rules during practice. You will not have these options on test day.

One Skill Retake Option

If you take IELTS on computer and are unhappy with only one section score, you can retake just that section within 60 days. This is called One Skill Retake and has been available since 2024.

This means if your Writing score is lower than expected but your other sections are strong, you do not need to retake the entire test.

Pro tip: Take a free IELTS practice test to assess your current level before creating your study plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many words should I write for Task 2?

The minimum is 250 words. Aim for 270-300 words. Writing significantly more than 300 words increases your chances of making errors without improving your score.

How long do I have for Task 2?

You have 60 minutes total for both Writing tasks. The recommended split is 20 minutes for Task 1 and 40 minutes for Task 2.

Can I use bullet points in Task 2?

No. Task 2 requires a formal essay with complete paragraphs. Save bullet points for Task 1 if needed.

Do I lose points for spelling mistakes?

Minor spelling errors will not significantly hurt your score. However, frequent errors affect your Lexical Resource score. British and American spellings are both accepted.

What if I do not finish my essay?

An incomplete essay will receive a lower score for Task Response. If you are running out of time, write a brief conclusion rather than leaving the essay unfinished.

Is Task 2 the same for Academic and General Training?

Yes. Both versions have the same Task 2 format, timing, and scoring criteria.

Next Steps

1. Identify your weakest area — Is it vocabulary, structure, or developing ideas?
2. Study the question types — Make sure you understand what each type requires
3. Practice regularly — Write at least two timed essays per week
4. Get feedback — Use professional grading or study partners
5. Review band descriptors — Know exactly what examiners look for at each level

Good luck with your IELTS preparation.

If you want to master the IELTS Listening question types, strategies, and whole section, then you’ve come to the right place. Read on for everything you need to know about Listening practice material, format, timing, and more. Plus, we’ll give you some expert tips and tricks to get a top IELTS Listening score!

Table of Contents

• IELTS Listening Practice Tests and Resources
• How is the IELTS Listening test conducted?
  • Academic vs. General IELTS Listening
  • Timing
  • Format
  • Scoring for IELTS Listening
• IELTS Listening Question Types
• Tips and Tricks for IELTS Listening
• More Resources for IELTS Listening Prep

IELTS Listening Practice Test and Resources

To prepare well for the Listening portion of the exam, you’ll need quality practice tests. When taking a sample test, incorporate as many real test constraints as you take them. For example, don’t start and stop the recording or listen to the recording more than once. To start, we recommend checking this set of free online IELTS Listening practice tests and sample tasks.

In addition to those practice tests, we offer a number of other general resources that can help you prepare not just for the Listening section, but also for the exam as a whole:

• Our free IELTS Practice Test
• To find a good IELTS textbook with practice exams (and other high-quality IELTS study materials), see our recommended books and resources.
• IELTS Listening Practice Test video. This one is also on our free IELTS Listening practice test post, but I wanted to highlight it here because it’s a really great simulation of a full section with an online timer!

As you go through these kinds of Listening practice materials, closely study the recordings when you review your answers and make sure to use the transcripts as you do so (most practice materials will provide a transcript of the Listening materials). Study them. Make sure to understand each mistake you made, and keep track of new vocabulary.

Don’t limit yourself to practice tests, however. You should listen to a wide variety of material in your IELTS preparation, including English listening beyond IELTS material. Here is a good list of listening materials you can use:

• TED Talks
• This I Believe podcasts from NPR
• Listen and Watch from the British Council
• BBC Radio
• ABC News (Australia)
• Additional Australian listening resources from Magoosh’s TOEFL blog.

How is the IELTS Listening test conducted?

Next, let’s look at the general structure of IELTS Listening: how this section works and what’s in it.

Academic vs. General IELTS Listening

Is IELTS Listening the same for Academic and General? The good news here is that there are no differences between IELTS Academic Listening and IELTS General Listening. The IELTS Listening section is the same for the Academic and General Training versions of the test. So you can prepare in the exact same way no matter which variation of the exam you take! (Only the Reading and Writing sections differ between the two.)

Timing

IELTS Listening takes about 40 minutes total. If you are one of the many students taking the IELTS on paper, around 30 minutes of this section will be listening to recordings and answering questions in your Question Booklet, where you’ll find the instructions and questions. This Booklet is separate from the official Answer Sheet (PDF). After the final recording, you’ll have 10 minutes of “transfer time” to copy your answers from your Question Booklet to your Answer Sheet. Only the answers you write on your Answer Sheet will be marked.

Use this transfer time to your advantage. You don’t need to record your answers in the Answer Sheet until the allotted transfer time at the end. Use this time to write carefully and neatly — graders need to be able to read your writing! Misspellings are marked incorrect, so use this time to also double-check the spelling.

Format

You’ll hear four different Listening passages on the Listening exam, and answer 10 questions in each section (40 total). The passages come in the form of four separate recordings, and they get tougher as you progress through the exam.

Passage 1: This is usually a conversation between two people. Typically, the conversation will involve a basic exchange of information in everyday context (business interactions, job training contexts, etc…). For example, someone might be placing an order over the phone, or confirming details for a reservation. The topic will be a daily-life situation.

Passage 2: This is usually a monologue (one person speaking). Passage 2 will also come from a common daily situation, a very general topic. For example, you might hear someone providing directions, or presenting basic information about a place or an event.

Passage 3: The topics become noticeably more challenging in Passage 3. This will be a conversation, often among several people, about an academic topic. You might hear a few students discussing something from class, or a professor providing feedback about an assignment, for example. Passage 3 is tougher because the vocabulary is more difficult, the topics are more complicated, and there are more speakers involved in the discussion.

Passage 4: This will be a university lecture from a professor. It could cover any topic from a typical college course. You are not required to have specialized knowledge about the academic subject matter. However, the language will be difficult, and the lecture will be complex. This is the toughest passage on the Listening exam for most students.

Scoring for IELTS Listening

The Listening section has a pretty simple scoring system. Each question is worth 1 point, so you can achieve a “raw” score up to 40 points which is then converted to a band score. (See Magoosh’s IELTS score calculator to convert your raw Listening score to a band.) This IELTS Listening rubric breakdown will help you understand what each band means more specifically. Because your band is based on your raw score, you’ll want to treat each question from Section 1 onwards with the same weight.

IELTS Listening Question Types

There are six basic question types in the IELTS Listening section. For a practice set of each question type, click the button below to download Magoosh’s IELTS Listening Question Types PDF.

And for a description of each of the IELTS Listening question types, see below:

IELTS Listening Question Type: Short Answer

The Sentence Completion IELTS Listening Question Type

The Plan, Map, and Diagram Completion IELTS Listening Question Types

Matching in IELTS Listening

IELTS Multiple Choice Questions

Completion IELTS Listening Question Types: Forms, Summaries, Flow-Charts, Tables, Notes

Tips and Tricks for IELTS Listening

Before we get into the rest of the tips and tricks, let’s talk about the directions. You’ll receive many specific directions for different question types. If you fail to follow those directions, you could lose points even if you know the answers. To avoid needlessly missing test questions like that, click below to open up an in-depth set of tips for following directions in IELTS Listening.

 
And now, here are links to additional IELTS guides from Magoosh, full of tips and tricks that extend far beyond just following directions:

• IELTS Listening Tips and Strategies
• IELTS Listening Section 4 Tips and Practice
• IELTS Listening Section One Tips and Practice
• How to Read IELTS Listening Questions
• IELTS Listening Accents: What to Expect
• Best Tips for Note Taking on the IELTS

More Resources for IELTS Listening Practice and Preparation

Studying for the IELTS Listening exam is just one part of a good study plan. Make sure you have all the resources you need to achieve your target band score for the whole IELTS test! Magoosh offers IELTS Prep video lessons to help you on the Listening section, but the lessons cover the other IELTS sections as well. (And paid subscribers also have access to tutor assistance via email!)

Many students who need guidance with Listening also need some assistance with IELTS writing. Here are some Guides to IELTS Writing Task 1 and Task 2 to help you prepare for this difficult portion of the exam.

Finally, depending on how much time you have before you take the IELTS, this one-month study schedule can help you stay organized. If your prep time for the IELTS exam is more limited, go over to the web page for our one-week schedule!

Best of luck, and happy studying!

The IELTS Speaking test is the shortest part of the IELTS exam, lasting only 11-15 minutes. However, for many test-takers, this brief experience can seem to last an eternity! Speaking is a quick but intense in-person interview. It requires focus, creativity, and strong English skills to think of responses to the interviewer’s questions quickly.

This Guide to IELTS Speaking covers what you need to know about this short, but challenging part of the IELTS exam. We’ll start with basic (but important!) information to introduce you to IELTS Speaking and how it’s scored. The second half of the post focuses on each of the three main parts of the test, with tips and strategies to help you develop your approach. Read on to learn how to prepare for IELTS Speaking!

Table of Contents

IELTS Speaking: The Basics

IELTS uses either a test-booklet or computer format for its Reading, Writing, and Listening tests, all of which are completed together in one sitting. Speaking takes place separately. In most cases, Speaking interviews are scheduled on the same day as the booklet or computer test. However, sometimes the interview can be scheduled up to one week before or after you take the rest of the exam by booklet or computer. You will receive instructions about this when you register for the IELTS at your local test center.

When you take the Speaking test, you will enter a room where your examiner will be waiting to greet you. He or she will ask you to identify yourself, and your Speaking test will begin immediately after that. To get an idea of what the test is like, check out this short IELTS Speaking sample video. The student is answering IELTS Speaking questions in Part 1 of the exam.

The Speaking Test has three parts. We will look at each part in depth later in this post. For now, let’s just get familiar with each one.

IELTS Speaking Format: Parts 1, 2, and 3

IELTS Speaking Part 1 is like a personal interview. Speaking Part 1 lasts about 4-5 minutes. You will in introduce yourself and talk about IELTS Speaking topics related to your life and your experiences in response to the examiner’s questions. Think of this interaction as “small talk.” These are the kinds of questions you might exchange with someone you just met.

IELTS Speaking Part 2 is called the “long turn.” In Speaking Part 2, you are given a question on a topic and some sub-points you must cover in your speech. You will have a minute to prepare a response, and your goal is to speak for about 2 minutes. The examiner may ask you some follow-up questions when you finish your short speech.

Finally, you’ll have a conversation on the same (or similar) issue you spoke about in Part 2 in IELTS Speaking Part 3. Speaking Part 3 will be a discussion, much like the first section of the exam (Part 1). However, the questions are more complicated because they require you to offer an opinion or some analysis. To illustrate, imagine your Part 2 topic is to describe a happy memory from your childhood. In Part 3, the examiner could ask you: “What are some important things a person should do in order to live a happy life?” Here, the theme of “happiness” connects both sections.

Scoring and Rules for IELTS Speaking Test

IELTS uses four scoring categories to assess your speaking skills. Make sure to look over these official “Speaking Band descriptors (PDF)”, which IELTS uses to assign Speaking Band scores. These band descriptors go from 0-9, with 9 being the highest. Here are some key takeaways:

• To get a band score of 9 in each of the categories, you need to show fluency/a full range of skills related to that scoring area.
• You can make a handful of errors in any/all scoring categories and still get a band score of 8.
• Hesitating too much and making too many mistakes will knock your score down to a band score of 7 in some categories.
• If you show up and are able to speak at least a litte, the minimum score you will get is a 2.
• You can only get a 0 if you don’t show up 😉

For a detailed overview, check out our guide to Speaking band descriptors with score improvement tips! Now, to help you understand the grading schema better, let’s take a look at each category.

Fluency & Coherence

Fluency and Coherence are measurements of a speaker’s ability to communicate logically, clearly, and without difficulty in English. In other words, this aspect of the official Speaking band descriptors measures your overall skill and confidence, relative to that of a native English speaker. While this can sound a little intimidating, Magoosh has you covered. We offer a guide to mastering Fluency and Coherence for Speaking.

Lexical Resource

On the Speaking rubric, Lexical Resource measures your ability to use words effectively–your command of spoken English vocabulary, in other words. To get a top score, use words in the correct context, with the correct meaning. And your word use is not just tested at the individual word level, but at the level of idioms and phrases. Want to know more? Again, we’ve got you covered! Our guide to Lexical Resource for Speaking will tell you everything you need to know.

Grammatical Range

To score well on grammatical range, you should not only have accurate grammar, but also grammar that is varied, yet natural. For more information on how to cultivate and use top-scoring grammar in Speaking, see our guide to Grammatical Range for the Speaking section of IELTS.

Pronunciation

Speaking also measures your pronunciation. Keep in mind that pronunciation involves more than just articulating or enunciating individual words correctly. Many students have even larger pronunciation problems at the sentence level. These problems occur when a student doesn’t have a feel for native-like rhythm or intonation patterns. Unfortunately, there is no easy fix for most pronunciation issues. Generally, the best way to improve is to use your English in daily life.

If you can’t use English on a regular basis, then it can be helpful to listen to recordings of English speakers. Pause the recordings occasionally and attempt to pronounce entire sentences exactly the same way as the speaker. Try to copy the speaker’s tone (the rise or fall of the voice). Also try to copy how the speaker speeds up, slows down, and pauses throughout the sentence. Even try to mimic the speaker’s emotion! You may feel a little silly doing this exercise, but that is actually a sign you’re doing it correctly! Over time, you will develop your ear to hear the sounds of English and reproduce them more accurately.

For more information on how to truly excel in English pronunciation on the exam, see our guide to Pronunciation on IELTS Speaking.

IELTS Speaking Preparation Tips

Just knowing the band descriptors from the IELTS rubric for speaking isn’t enough to boost your score, though. You need to apply that knowledge to your responses!

Never fear! Listen to this podcast on how to prepare for IELTS Academic Speaking with our experts, Eliot and Naomi. Then, read on for the top five IELTS Speaking preparation tips to help you get ready for test day!

1. Avoid common mistakes: Filler verbs, repetition…there are some habits that are common in everyday speech–but that will hurt your IELTS score. Learn more about which common IELTS Speaking mistakes to avoid to bring your score up on test day!

2. Ask your examiner for clarification: If you weren’t sure what the question was or need to hear it again, don’t worry! You can definitely ask for clarification from your examiner. It’s far better than giving an off-topic response, which will seriously hurt your score. But don’t ask your interviewer to define a word!

3. Use notes to plan your response for Speaking Part 2: It can be seriously tough to remember everything you want to say in Part 2. But don’t worry! You can use notes. Here’s how to take helpful IELTS Speaking notes.

4. Work on overcoming test day nervousness: Test anxiety is real–but it can be overcome. Here’s what to do to make sure you beat stress on the IELTS!

5. Try to make it sound natural: One of the best ways to do this? Use natural connectors in your responses.

IELTS Speaking Resources

Practice Tests

• IELTS Speaking Diagnostic Test
• Magoosh’s free IELTS Practice Test

Tips and Resources

• IELTS Speaking Strategies for Parts 1, 2, and 3 (PDF)
• IELTS Speaking Topics PDF
• How to Compare and Contrast in IELTS Speaking
• Giving an Opinion in IELTS Speaking
• How to Express Likes and Dislikes in IELTS Speaking
• Useful Prompt Phrases on IELTS Speaking
• Top 10 IELTS Speaking Tips

Videos

• How to Score Band 8+ on IELTS Speaking
• Self-Study Tips
• How to Greet the Examiner
• What to Do When You Get Stuck

Podcast

• How to Prepare for IELTS Academic Speaking

Study Resources

Looking for a plan to help you map out your studying? Check out Magoosh’s IELTS study schedules! We have a plan for everyone–even if you only have one week to study for IELTS!

Books

Official IELTS practice tests and textbooks with practice exams can also be fantastic resources for IELTS Speaking preparation. The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS includes a DVD with videos of Speaking sample responses representing a variety of Band scores. And don’t forget to check out our post on the best IELTS books and resources that may help you in Speaking and other areas of the IELTS.

We hope this guide on how to prepare for IELTS Speaking was useful for you. Be sure to bookmark this page so you can reference these resources and tips throughout your studies!

The IELTS Reading section can feel massive and mysterious — it’s not obvious where we should start! If you’re feeling this hazy and heavy stress, this guide is for you. It lays out concrete steps, strategies, and resources you’ll need to prepare for test day. This guide is a broad overview that deals with both the Academic and General Training versions of the test.

Table of Contents

• IELTS Reading Resources and How to Practice With Them
  • Trusted Practice Materials vs. Quality Reading Materials
• Get to Know the IELTS Reading Section
  • Academic or General Training? Two Types of IELTS Reading Sections
  • Academic IELTS Reading Section
  • General Training IELTS Reading Section
  • Question Types (With Sample Practice Tests)
• How can I practice reading for IELTS? Tips and Tricks
• Next Steps: IELTS Reading Practice and Preparation

IELTS Reading Resources and How to Practice With Them

There are two major practice resources for IELTS Reading prep: trusted practice materials and quality reading materials. It’s important to draw on different resources in your studies to improve your reading skills. This is because different resources more effectively develop different necessary skills.

Think about it this way. Imagine your reading skills like woodworking skills. If we want to build a wooden table to demonstrate that we’re a good table crafter, we’ll definitely need a hammer and some sandpaper to build the table. But we don’t want to use a hammer or sandpaper for every step. Each tool has its own time, use, and place. Likewise, each practice resource is particularly useful for honing certain skills necessary to demonstrate your linguistic proficiency to your examiner. Using each tool for its proper purpose will make the most of your study time.

Trusted Practice Materials vs. Quality Reading Materials

Trusted practice materials — like official IELTS practice tests or Magoosh questions — are great for two things: familiarizing ourselves with the fine-grain details of the IELTS Reading section and trying out reading strategies. The practice materials are especially important for learning the quirks of the particular version of the test you’re taking — be it the Academic or General Training. If you’re in need of trusted practice materials, check these resources out:

• IELTS Reading Practice Tests and Resources
• Recommended IELTS Prep Books
• IELTS Reading Diagnostic Quiz
• Free IELTS Academic Reading Practice Test (Video)

Now’s a good time as ever to discuss a very understandable but short-sighted impulse that we’ll want to head off. When studying for a test, there’s the impulse to answer a bunch of official questions and call it a day. We might think that that’s what we’re going to be tested on, so why not take the practice tests to use strategies and practice reading.

But relying solely or primarily on official IELTS reading passages and questions for your studies isn’t the most effective or even a particularly good use of practice materials — it’s kind of like trying to sand a wood with a hammer. There’s a limited number of these sorts of questions, so relying entirely or mostly on practice material makes it easy to exhaust these resources. Instead, we recommend using quality reading materials to build up your vocabulary and reading comprehension.

Get to Know the IELTS Reading Section

Academic or General Training? Two Types of IELTS Reading Sections

First things first, it’s important to point out that the IELTS Reading section comes in one of two types: the Academic and the General Training. Before you sign up for the IELTS, make sure you’re signed up and study for the correct version of the test. If you aren’t sure about which test you have to take, contact the institution requesting the test results and they can guide you to the correct one.

In general, the Academic passages deal with more specialized, academic topics and closely resemble articles you’d find in a newspaper or magazine. The General Training Reading section covers more general, daily life topics or relates to work in some capacity.

Depending on whether you’re taking the Academic or General Training version, there are several similarities and differences between the two:

Academic IELTS Reading Section

Academic IELTS Reading passages cover a wide range of subjects from environmental science to economic history. It’s important to stress that you don’t need to be a subject expert to do well. What you will need is an expansive vocabulary; test-takers with a large vocabulary have a massive advantage. Academic IELTS Reading passages may contain some technical terms and even visual materials such as charts and graphs. IELTS commonly uses passages from professional and academic journals, textbooks, reports, and newspapers.

The Academic Reading paper consists of three passages. For each one, you will answer 10-14 questions. Here are some sample Reading passages and questions from the British Council (the makers of the IELTS exam) so you can see what Academic Reading passages and questions look like. Try to answer the questions and see how you do!

• Academic IELTS Reading passage 1: Making Time for Science
• Academic IELTS Reading passage 2: The Triune Brain
• Academic IELTS Reading passage 3: Helium’s Future up in the Air

General Training IELTS Reading Section

Like Academic Reading, General Training Reading also includes articles from journals, newspapers and magazines. However, the majority of the passages are much shorter, with simpler vocabulary. Additionally, the topics tend to relate to daily life. Some passages, especially towards the beginning of the General Training Reading paper, are taken from advertisements, guidebooks, magazines, notices, or employee manuals.

While each version of General Training IELTS Reading can be slightly different, you can generally expect that the exam will get more and more challenging from beginning to end. In Section 1, there will be 2 to 3 very short (and relatively simple) articles related to everyday life topics. In Section 2, there will be two short texts. These are often related to work in some way, such as a job application or company handbook. Finally, Section 3 will contain a longer text discussing a more academic or abstract topic. This is the toughest article on the General Training Reading exam.

For more information about the types of topics you might see, check out our blog post on General Training Reading passages.

For practice, here are some reading sample tests from British Council for the General Training IELTS exam. Try to answer the questions and see how you do: Section 1, Section 2 and Section 3.

Question Types (With Sample Practice Tests)

There are several basic IELTS reading question types that you’ll want to familiarise yourself with. Here’s a quick overview of them with practice samples linked below them:

• True/False/Not Given & Yes/No/Not Given
  • General Training Sample: True/False/Not Given
• Multiple choice
  • Academic Sample: Multiple Choice
• Matching
  • Headings
    • Academic Sample: Matching Headings
    • General Training Sample: Matching Headings
  • Information
    • Academic Sample: Matching Information
    • General Training Sample: Matching Information
  • Features
    • Academic Sample: Matching Features
    • General Training Sample: Matching Features
  • Sentence Endings
    • Academic Sample: Matching Sentence Endings
• Sentence Completion and Short Answers
  • General Training Sample: Sentence Completion
  • General Training Sample: Short Answer
• Note, Table, Diagram, or Summary Completion
  • Academic Sample: Table Completion
  • Academic Sample: Diagram Completion
  • General Training Sample: Flow-Chart Completion

How can I practice reading for IELTS? Tips and Tricks

With a grasp on the different versions of the test and question types in mind, we’re now in a great place to talk shop about tips and strategies. Here’s an overview of some of the core strategies you’ll want to regularly revisit:

• IELTS Reading Tips
• IELTS Reading Strategies
• IELTS Reading: Should You Take Notes?
• Identifying Writers’ Views in IELTS Reading
• How to Understand Long Sentences in IELTS Reading?
• Signal Words in IELTS Reading

Next Steps: IELTS Reading Practice and Preparation

Now that we’ve talked about the materials and strategies — the tips and tricks of the test — it’s important to start putting together a study plan. If you’d like help putting together a study plan and have at least a month before your test, check out Magoosh’s Academic IELTS One-Month Study Plan or General Training IELTS One-Month Study Plan. If you’re in a time crunch and only have a week, we have a plan for that too!: One-Week IELTS Study Plan.

In addition to a study plan for the IELTS Reading section, it also helps to have a guide who can walk you through all the concepts and strategies. If you’re looking for lessons for all the different parts of the IELTS as a whole, check out Magoosh’s study plans.

Added up, these strategies and resources for the IELTS Reading section should help relieve the pressure that comes from the test and prep you for the big day!

All the best, and happy studying!

When it comes to IELTS writing task 1, 25% of your marks are for the range of words you use. That means IELTS graph vocabulary is a very important component to review as you prepare for the Writing Task 1. You can start by checking out this IELTS writing task 1 vocabulary guide. And below, I’ll provide an overview of words and useful phrases to incorporate into your writing so that you can get top marks on the lexical resource category and a high band score overall. Basically, the better your IELTS writing chart vocabulary, the higher score you’ll get. It’s not hard, but there is a clear formula to doing well.

How to Use IELTS Graph Vocabulary in Writing Task 1

Because IELTS writing task 1 involves describing a graph or chart of some type, it will help to have a handle on IELTS writing chart vocabulary — words and phrases that help you write about the information on the chart or graph.

How are graphs described in IELTS? Let’s walk through the best vocabulary for the task, step by step.

1. Start With Introduction Phrases

Often ESL students start their essay with ‘The graph shows…’. While this is fine, the verb ‘shows’ could be replaced by a more exciting and high-level vocabulary word. Here are four different prompts to start your essay:

• The graph illustrates the trends in…
• The graph reveals information about the changes in…
• The graph provides the differences between…
• The graph presents how X has changed over a period of…

• DO NOT write the word below or above in your introduction. i.e. The graph above/below shows…

2. Add Suitable Adverbs

Adverbs help express a relation of place, time, circumstance, manner, cause, and degree, and can greatly add some color and interest to your writing as well as show off your range of vocabulary. Unlike adjectives (which describe nouns), adverbs describe verbs, or actions. Here’s a great list of adverbs to use:

3. Use Appropriate Synonyms

Again using a variety of nouns and verbs for words like rise and fall will help increase your overall score. Here are some suggestions:

4. Add Time Phrases

Below are some excellent time phrases with sentence examples:

Using IELTS Graph Vocabulary in a Model Essay

Look at the sample IELTS writing Task 1 graphs on the British Council website. Below is my model answer with useful words in bold:

The bar charts illustrate the trends in computer ownership, with a further classification by level of education, from 2002 to 2010.

Over the period, it can be observed that there was a significant surge in the percentage of the population that owned a computer. In the year 2002, only about 58% of the population owned a computer, whereas by 2010, this gradually increased to where over three-quarters of individuals had a home computer.

Looking at the information by level of education reveals that higher levels of education correspond to higher levels of computer ownership in both of those years. In 2002, a significantly low percentage of the population who did not finish high school had a computer, but this figure skyrocketed by 2010, going from 15% to over 40%. There were also dramatic climbs, of approximately 30 percentage points, for those with a high school diploma or an unfinished college education (reaching 65% and 85%, respectively, in 2010).

To conclude, during the last decade, there has been a substantial growth in computer ownership across all educational levels.

Other IELTS Graph Vocabulary Resources

Keep in mind that IELTS writing task 1 may contain one of several different types of infographic: a bar chart, pie chart, line graph, diagram, etc. Regardless of the type, you’ll want to have a good handle on IELTS writing chart vocabulary.

For more specific guides to the different kinds of graphs, charts, and graphics you may find on IELTS writing task 1, check out the following resources:

• How to Describe a Bar Chart
• How to Describe a Pie Chart
• How to Describe a Map
• How to Describe a Process Diagram

You can also check out Magoosh’s IELTS linking words PDF for transitions between ideas. Hopefully you’ll start to incorporate some of these key words and phrases, as well as the above suggestions, in your IELTS Task 1 Writing. If you still don’t feel comfortable doing so, consider dedicating more time to your IELTS studies with Magoosh’s fun, engaging IELTS prep for extra practice.

If you’re not sure where to start, that’s ok! In this piece, we’ll provide an overview of how to describe a typical IELTS Writing Task 1 bar chart. We also suggest taking a look at resources in this piece on useful words for writing an IELTS Graph Essay

Table of Contents

• What will you see in an IELTS Writing Task 1 bar diagram?
• How to Write About an IELTS Writing Task 1 Bar Chart
• How to Describe an IELTS Writing Task 1 Bar Chart
• A Final Word on Describing IELTS Academic Bar Charts

What will you see in an IELTS Writing Task 1 bar diagram?

A bar chart uses either horizontal or vertical bars to show comparisons among two or more categories. The bar chart has two main features: an X-axis and a Y-axis. One axis of the chart shows the specific categories being compared, and the other axis of the graph shows a given value (usually a percentage or a dollar amount).

How to Write About an IELTS Writing Task 1 Bar Chart

To effectively write about an IELTS Writing Task 1 bar chart, follow these tips.

1. Start by Reading the Title

First and foremost, you should read the title. Often, I have students report on the essay in an inverted order because they didn’t read the bar chart title.

For example, an IELTS Writing Task 1 bar chart that I give students has the chart title “Expected City Visits by Country of Origin for 2018.” Yet I often get sample sentences back that read: “It is predicted that people from France will be the most likely to visit the United States in 2018.” The correct answer should be “It is predicted that Americans will choose France as their favorite city to visit in 2018.”

2. Look at the Time Frame

Look at the given period of time covered in the chart. Are you looking at a specific year? Are there multiple years being compared? Are we talking about something in the future? This will determine your grammar and style to some extent. For example, whether you need to use past tense language, the language of change, or future tense language when discussing your data.

3. Decide What You Are Comparing

What titles are given to the Y- and X-axis? This important information will form the language that you will use in the essay and the corresponding synonyms you should also use.

For example, the bar chart above compares the gross earnings of fiction books in five categories (Young Adults, Classics, Mystery, Romance and Sci-Fi and Fantasy) between 2006 and 2010. (Incidentally, this sentence is exactly what you would say for your introduction!)

How to Describe an IELTS Writing Task 1 Bar Chart

Now that you know what the IELTS Writing Task 1 bar chart is about, these are the vital elements to include in your essay:

• Start with an introduction. The introduction explains what the chart is about, and gives an overview of the main points. Make sure you include one! Your introduction can be short, but it must be there. If you’ve spent time examining the chart this should be easy to write.

• Look for the key data and make sure that you are comparing and contrasting the data, NOT just listing the data from one section to the next. If you just write about what happened to X, what happened to Y, and what happened to Z, without showing any relationship between them, you will not get a high score.

• In the second paragraph and beyond, make sure that you show the connection between the pie charts and the graph or bar chart rather than just listing the data from each separately. Focus on similarities and differences (and highlight them using linking words!).

  To do this, you will need to look for similarities and differences when you first analyze the chart and you will need to decide what can logically be put together or not. This means that you don’t have to describe everything that you see in the bar chart, just the key points!

  For example, for the above chart, you might say: It is interesting to note that Romance novels earned the most income each year between 2006 and 2010 with sales ranging from $70,000 to $115,000. In contrast, Sci Fi and Fantasy novels were the poorest revenue generators of the five categories earning only $20,000 at its highest point in 2007 and a mere $10,000 at its lowest point in 2009.

• Group the data together so that you have a well-organized and coherent answer. It is a good idea to divide your answer into two or three paragraphs so it is well organized. To do this, you should group similar ideas together into paragraphs or sections. Cohesion and coherence are key!

• Use a wide variety of sentence structures. Include complex sentences and simple sentences.

• It is equally important to use appropriate transitions between describing each data point.

• Always provide a short summary conclusion of what you included in your essay. One line is enough here. For example, It can be seen from the chart that overall, 2007 was the best year for book sales in all five categories.

• Finally, make sure that your word count is 150.

A Final Word on Describing IELTS Academic Bar Charts

Overall, describing a an IELTS academic bar chart is a pretty straightforward task on your exam. Remember that in order to write well about a bar chart, you’ll want to be very clear on the relationship being expressed in it, so be careful not to rush past this step.

That said, you won’t want to spend more than about 20 minutes on IELTS writing task 1, so save most of your time for essay writing.

We hope we answered all of your IELTS Writing Task 1 bar diagram and bar chart questions! For more advice, we recommend taking a look at this IELTS writing task 1 vocab guide.

Good luck on your IELTS writing test!

If you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this piece, we’ll give you an overview of how to describe an IELTS writing task pie chart, some specific IELTS writing pie chart tips, and some IELTS task 1 pie chart vocabulary. These strategies will help you score high on IELTS writing task 1 and earn a high band score overall.

We also recommend that you take a look the IELTS graph vocabulary guide, which covers useful language for IELTS writing task 1, including appropriate words and phrases.

How do pie charts work in IELTS Writing Taks 1?

A pie chart is a type of graph in which a circle is divided into sections, where each section represents a proportion of the whole. The various sections add up to 100%.

Sometimes you will see the pie charts illustrated as above, without any percentage marks. When this happens, you will need to approximate the amount. I like to think of the pie chart like a clock and imagine that the part where each section ends corresponds to the minute hand of the clock.

For example, in the pie chart above, you can imagine that the long hand falls on the 20-minute mark between “bus” and “walk,” which is a third of an hour. Therefore, the percentage of bus travel would be 33%. Likewise, the percentage of walking travel makes up the rest of the time before the clock hand reaches the 30-minute mark, so through some simple math, we can see that the walking travel is roughly 17%.

Rarely will you have just one pie chart. You will usually be presented with two or more pie charts or you might have both a pie chart and a graph that are related that need to be compared and contrasted. In each, though, there will be the following language: “Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.”

Step-by-Step: How to Describe an IELTS Writing Task 1 Pie Chart

1. First, take a few minutes to read the pie chart’s heading and data labels. Do the same with the graph if there is one. Make sure you know what the information is about and what specific details are included. This will be critical to answering the IELTS pie chart question effectively.

    

2. When you write your introduction, or overview paragraph, show that you are looking at the IELTS Writing Task 1 pie chart with the relevant language (i.e. From the pie chart, it is clear/obvious/evident that…).

    

3. In the second paragraph and beyond, make sure that you show the connection between the pie charts and the graph or bar chart rather than just listing the data from each separately. Focusing on similarities and differences is the logical way to crate a good essay structure.

    

4. Try to relate a particular item in the IELTS Writing Task 1 pie chart to an aspect of the graph/chart by using language such as is related, is connected to, has an effect on.

    

5. Choose the most important points to write about first. Usually, these will be the largest pie slices. Items such as ‘other’ are usually less important and account for small amounts, so can be left until the end or excluded if you don’t have enough time or word count.

    

6. As with any Task 1, it is important to vary your language and sentence structures. You should not keep repeating the same words and phrases but instead use a good range of IELTS task 1 pie chart vocabulary. The key language when you write about pie charts is proportions and percentages. Common phrases to see are “the proportion of…” or “the percentage of…”. Other phrases can include: a large number, a small minority, less than a fifth…

    

7. Avoid drawing conclusions and stating opinions about information that is not in the charts. If you think that the bus travel is higher than car travel because you think the graph is representing a metropolitan city, it doesn’t matter. If it isn’t included in the data, do not mention it!

    

8. Think about what tense you will use to write your essay. Often your essay will be given a date in the past, so be sure to use the past tense instead of present tense when writing in these cases. If you can, try to vary your sentences between short and complex sentences. And of course, by mindful of your grammar.

    

9. Finally, remember that practice makes perfect. Use Magoosh IELTS prep lessons to not only improve your bar and pie chart descriptions, but to help increase your score across the test.

A Final Word on Describing IELTS Pie Charts

Remember that the in order to discuss a pie chart correctly, you will need to understand what exactly the graph shows. Make sure not to rush through reviewing the chart thoroughly, but also remember that you should only take about 20 minutes total on this IELTS writing task 1.

IELTS writing task 1 is short and straightforward, but a huge key to scoring well on the IELTS exam is having a good understanding of IELTS task 1 pie chart vocabulary. We hope this has been a helpful tutorial for this IELTS academic task!

Good luck!

As you may know, there’s an IELTS word count penalty for writing task 1 and writing task 2. To avoid a penalty, for task 1, you will need to write a minimum of 150 words and for task 2, you will need to write a minimum of 250 words.

Let’s talk a little bit more about how to avoid getting an IELTS word count penalty below.

What is the Word Count Penalty for Task 1 and Task 2?

If you don’t write enough words on writing task 1 and 2, you will get a lower score. While IELTS doesn’t say exactly how much you will get penalized, they do clearly state that your score will be lower if you don’t meet the word count requirements.

To avoid the penalty, I recommend writing more than the minimum number of words required. You should target 175 words for Task 1 and 250 words for Task 2. This not only ensures that you won’t lose points for not writing enough, but it will also help you to increase your score. Many essays that achieve the highest band score are above the minimum requirements.

How Words are Counted on the IELTS

How are words counted in IELTS writing? Most of that time whatever seems like one word will be counted as one word. But sometimes, it can be hard to tell if certain words count as more than one word.

Below is a quick overview of different kinds of words and how they’ll be counted on the IELTS test.

Compound Nouns

A compound noun is a noun (person, place, thing, or animal) that is made up of one or more words. Sometimes these words are pushed together into one word, and sometimes they’re separated into two or more words.

Compound nouns that are written as one word count as one word. For example:

• Toothpaste = tooth + paste pressed into one word
• toothpaste = one word

Similarly:

• Sunrise = one word
• Dishwasher = one word

Compound nouns that are written as two words count as two words, even if the two words are used together to reflect one idea. For example:

• Full moon = two words
• Washing machine = two words

Hyphenated Words

All hyphenated words count as one word. For example:

• Mother-in-law = one word
• Up-to-date = one word

Numbers, Dates, and Times

Numbers, dates, and times are almost always counted as one word. For example:

• 500 = one word
• 7:15am = one word
• 10/24/1982 = one word

However, if a number is written out like this, it will count as two words or more:

• ten thousand = two words
• 3 million = two words

Similarly, dates that are written like this count as two words or more:

• October 24th = two words
• August 24th, 2021 = three words

Fractions

Fractions are counted as one word. For example:

• 1/3 = one word
• two-fifths = one word

Words With Symbols

Words with symbols (like the $ or %) attached to them count as one word. For example:

• $10.00 = one word
• 25% = one word

However, note that if a dollar or percentage is written out, they count as two words:

• Ten dollars = two words
• Twenty-five percent = two words

Websites and URLs

Websites and URLS are counted as one word. For example:

• Magoosh.com = one word
• https://ielts.idp.com/ = one word

Contractions

Contractions are always counted as one word, even though they represent the combination of two words. For example:

• it’s = one word (even though it’s = it is)
• we’re = one word

Words in Parentheses

Singular words in parentheses are always counted as one word. For example, consider the following sentence:

• Hybrid cars are (much) more energy efficient.
• (much) = one word

If there’s more than one word in the parentheses, each word is counted. For example:

• Hybrid cars are (so much) better for the environment.
• (so much) = two words

Prepositions and Articles

Many people assume that “small” words like “a” or “the” or “in” are not counted on the IELTS but they all are.

Prepositions like “under” and “in” and “on” and “at” are all counted as one word.

Note that prepositional phrases like “across from” and “adjacent to” are counted as two word (or however many words are in the phrase).

Articles like “a” and “the” are counted every time they show up in a sentence. For example:

The dog ran around the block while the dog walker chased it = 12 words (with “the” showing up 3 times)

But I Thought the IELTS Eliminated the Word Count Penalty…

Unfortunately, no. As of this time, IELTS has not announced that they will eliminate the word count penalty. Some teachers say that you can write slightly under the word count and not get penalized, but we don’t believe it’s worth the risk!

What’s the IELTS Word Count Penalty for Writing Too Many Words?

There is no penalty for writing too many words. That said, we don’t encourage you to overwrite. Again, the IELTS writing task 1 word count you should aim for is 175 and the IELTS writing task 2 word count you should aim for is 275.

Writing more than this can cause you to stray off topic and include information you don’t need. You may also run out of time to edit your work.

Should I Count the Words in My Essay?

No, it’s probably not worth it. Your time is better spent drafting a well-written essay than counting your words. If you practice, you should hit your word count targets without a problem.

Remember, as long as you meet the word count, the goal is quality, not quantity.

IELTS Paper-Based Writing Recommendations

To avoid an IELTS word count penalty, we highly suggest that you practice answering task 1 and task 2 under similar conditions as you will on testing day. If you’re taking the paper test, that means writing on official IELTS answer sheets.

Here are sample answer sheets for task 1 and task 2. Since everyone’s handwriting is different, how many lines you use will differ from other test takers.

Practicing these tests on the official paper will help you see how many lines you use to write 150 and 250 words. When you’re familiar with what these amounts look like on the page, you’re more likely to be successful on testing day!

IELTS Computer-Based Writing Recommendations

If you’re taking the IELTS exam on a computer then the computer will count your words for you. We still recommend practicing these tasks so you can get a feel for each essay length.

In Conclusion: What to Know about the Word Count Penalty

So, just to recap: to avoid an IELTS word count penalty, you will need to write at least 150 words for task 1 and at least 250 words for task 2.

Keep in mind that these are the other factors that will impact your score:

• Your handwriting—if the examiner can’t read your handwriting, you will be penalized.
• The quality and content of you responses—if your responses seem in any way memorized, your answers could be disqualified and result in a score of zero. Likewise, if you do not answer the questions fully or you stray far off topic, you will lose points.

Happy practicing and good luck!

One of the most common mistakes students make when approaching their IELTS Task 2 Writing test is to just start writing. If you start to write before you think about what you are going to say, your essay may be incoherent and irrelevant—and your band score will suffer. The best way to fix this? Brainstorm IELTS Writing Task 2 topics before you write! In this post, we’ll take a look at how you can come up with essay topics for a variety of IELTS Task 2 Question Types to create the most coherent and relevant opinion essays possible.

Getting Started with IELTS Task 2 Essay Topics

Remember: on IELTS Academic Task 2 and the IELTS General Training Task 2, you’ll be writing a formal essay about an important issue facing the modern world or affective people’s lives. You won’t have outside resources with which to research the topic, so you’ll be relying on your own opinion. Because of this, factual accuracy is less important than the overall main ideas, cohesion, vocabulary (complexity, synonyms), and grammatical range (complex sentences) you show in your essay.

The biggest problem when students don’t brainstorm in IELTS essay writing is that it can make their essay choppy and off-topic. Together, coherence and relevance make up 50% of your score on the essay! (Vocabulary/lexical resource and grammar are the other 50%.) Therefore, it is 100% essential that you spend 3 to 5 minutes planning your IELTS Task 2 writing—before you begin writing.

As the bulk of your points will be picked up in your two body paragraphs, I recommend that you start your essay by first brainstorming what ideas you will write about and what relevant examples you will include to back up your own knowledge. Let’s look at how to do this in IELTS writing Task 2. First, here’s the overall process that you’ll use.

1. Understand the type of question being asked.
2. Brainstorm ideas.
3. Choose an idea/ideas.
4. Take short notes about your ideas.
5. Start writing!

With that in mind, let’s look at each of these steps in greater detail.

Step-by-Step Guide to Brainstorming IELTS Writing Task 2

Step 1: Understand the type of question being asked.

In another post, we examined the 5 main types of questions that you might see in the IELTS exam. Classifying IELTS questions into one of these categories according to common topics will help you make sure that you are answering the task response correctly. Look at the example Task 2 question below. How would you classify it?

This is a Problem + Solution question type, so keep that in mind as you start to brainstorm!

Step 2: Brainstorm ideas.

Let your mind wander for 30 to 60 seconds with all the possible ideas that instantly come to your mind. There is no need to make notes here, just mentally explore as many ideas as possible. These can be the negative effects or a negative impact of the problem, with a solution about how to avoid negative development of the situation—or they can be a positive suggestion, coming up with better ways to address the issue through a more positive development of the topic.

As you’ll see, these are the same types of ideas, just framed differently. The main point? Be sure you come up with examples in response to the direct questions the prompt is asking you.

Below, I have written out some of the thoughts and IELTS Writing Task 2 topics that initially came to my mind when I read the questions above.

Step 3: Choose the idea.

Whilst brainstorming ideas, several ideas should come to your head. You need to choose one for each question you need to answer. However, before you decide to go with an idea, ask yourself these questions:

• Does my idea relate exactly to the question?
• Can I explain this idea with reasons and examples? (It is better to choose an idea that you can explain clearly over your best idea.)
• Is it a simple idea? (You have limited time and words to explain your idea. If the idea is too complex you will not be able to develop it fully and this will cost you points! A simple idea can still impress the examiner as long as you develop it well and provide relevant reasons and examples.)

Step 4: Write down short notes around your chosen ideas.

In the ‘Problem + Solution’ type question in IELTS Task 2 writing, there are usually two questions that need to be answered. You must first come up with an idea that answers the first question, and then provide an example that backs up that idea. Then you must come up with an idea for the second question and provide and example that backs up the second idea. Below are the ideas I went with and the examples I created on the above IELTS writing Task 2 question.

Step 5: Start writing!

Now that you have the main ideas confirmed, your essay is practically written. The Q1 and Q2 notes can form two body paragraphs! And you can have a similar two body paragraph outline for other question types. For Advantage/disadvantage, for instance, you might have one body paragraph for advantages and one for disadvantages.

Just follow this simple formula for constructing your essay and you will complete Task 2 within 40 minutes. And to see how this formula worked for a full essay based on the outline above, check out a full sample response based on the question and notes above. I would also encourage you to look at similarly structured responses for common IELTS Writing Task 2 question types.

Again, brainstorming and prewriting a brief outline serve as the foundation for all of those model essays. Brainstorming may seem like a lot of work to start, but trust me, by brainstorming and planning your ideas first, you will save time and energy in the long run. By building this strong foundation, your essays will actually become easier to write, and you’ll be able to write them more quickly!

IELTS Essay Topics with Answers: Let’s Practice!

Practice makes perfect! Work with a variety of essay topics for IELTS to brainstorm the types of ideas that would best answer the questions. Here are just a few IELTS writing topics with answers (IELTS Academic) to get you started!

• Advantage/Disadvantage Essay
• Two-Part Question Essay
• Discussion Essay
• Agree/Disagree Essay

• You may wish to write your own response for each topic before you read the sample essay/model answers.

A Final Word on IELTS Task 2 Topics

The more you practice English writing topics for the IELTS, the easier it will be to brainstorm and find essay topics for IELTS! This will take a lot of the pressure and stress off of you as you focus on IELTS essay questions.

As you practice, keep in mind that you should stick to one idea and one example per paragraph! On the IELTS test, too many ideas and examples complicate your essay. By separating your IELTS Writing Task 2 topics into a clear, efficient organizational structure, you’ll show the IELTS examiners exactly how great your ideas actually are!