You must take the seat with your Candidate Number on it. If you don't hear recording loud and clear during the Listening part, you need to inform the invigilator raising your hand. You will not be removed from the exam without a reason such as cheating or talking during the exam.

Select the correct answer about when Speaking exam part is scheduled.

Test centers schedule Speaking part in 2 weeks window around the date of other exam parts. Though test centers might take candidates' needs into account, they are not obliged to do so. Still it is recommended to contact your test center if you have limitations on when you can attend the Speaking part.

All test takers take the same Listening and Speaking tests, while the Reading and Writing tests differ depending on whether the test taker is taking the Academic or General Training versions of the test.

What is the duration of the Speaking part.

It is supposed to be 11-14 minutes.

Select the correct answer.

There is a question about a fish. The instructions say "TWO WORDS". You clearly heard the recording saying "the red herring" and this is the only fishy thing in the recording. What will likely be considered the answer?

IELTS answer tables, which examiners use to mark the answer sheets, sometimes allow some variations, but failure to follow word count instructions will likely result in the answer considered wrong. When there is an ambiguity, it's often useful to check what words already exist in the text of the question itself. This might indicate that they are not the part of the answer. If there is no other way to resolve the ambiguity, which is rare, articles are the first candidate for exclusion. Usually in such cases the phrase without any article is still correct.

Select the correct answer.

You have an old fashioned digital watch which is not really smart. You just use it to check time.

Will you be able to keep it during the exam?

All electronic devices are prohibited during the exam. Some test centers even prohibit regular mechanic watches.

Select the correct answer.

How many tasks test takers need to complete in IELTS Writing part?

There are 2 tasks.

In Academic module Reading, all texts are taken from books, papers and journals like Scientific American

Academic module Reading only contains texts taken from journals.

In General Training module Reading, all texts are taken from books, papers and journals like the Economist

General Training module Reading Sections 1 and 2 contain different texts taken from more "mundane" sources.

At least one text in Academic module Reading, is on workplace-related subject

Even though this is true for General Training module, this is not the case for Academic.

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In IELTS Academic module Listening part contains more complex vocabulary as compared to General Training.

Listeing is the same for Academic and General Training

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Is IELTS Speaking part's audio recorded?

The Speaking part is recorded for possible re-marking and monitoring purposes.

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Do you need to have a specific document with you on the exam date?

You must bring the exact ID document with photo you used to register for the exam.

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You have a nice transparent bottle with water. The label says "Natural mineral water" in real fine print. Will you be able to keep it on your table during the exam?

It's prohibited to bring food or drinks with you except water. Water must be in a transparent bottle without any stickers. Labels on personal belongings are generally also frowned upon. The exact invigilator's actions might differ depending on the test center and the person, but generally items with labels will not be permitted.

Rick is a great listener and understood the Listening part recording completely. He wrote every signle answer down in a way any competent English speaker would understand unambigously.The problem is that Rick is not a good speller and makes spelling errors in every single word he writes. What his Listening mark would be?

Answers with spelling errors are counted as wrong.

Select the correct answer.

You feel that the worst is about to happen and you need to visit toilet immediately.

What should you do?

To go to toilet, you need to draw the invigilator's attention raising your hand. Please note that although you can do this during any part of the exam, extra time is not given for toilet breaks. As Listening is a non-stop activity, and Writing time and word limits are challenging, it's considered practical for most test takers, if at all, to only go to toilet during Reading.

You need to submit the Enquiry on Results form and pay the fee, and the deadline is indeed 6 weeks. Nobody expects the Spanish inquisition. If your score is changed, the fee is refunded. You can submit certain parts for re-mark, in this case the marks fot the remaining parts will not change.

Select the correct answer.

What is the number of sections or parts in IELTS Speaking.

There are three parts: Interview, the Long Turn and Discussion.

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Immediately before the playback reaches the point of the recording containing an answer to a question a special "attention" sound is played.

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Can you register for the exam and take it on the same day?

You need to register for your IELTS exam in advance.

The section 3 is also known as Discussion. It lasts for 4-5 minues. The examiner and the test taker discuss questions generally relating to the subject which they have already spoken during Long turn. This section involves speculating and discussing more abstract ideas.

Test conditions vary depending on different countries and test centers. The conditions also change over time, you need to confirm all the important details with the official sources any time you take the IELTS test.

Select the correct answer.

IELTS Speaking part is the same for Academic and General Training module.

Speaking is the same for the two modules.

The answer to a question might be at any point of the recording irregardles to when other answers are played.

The answers to questions always come in the order of questions on the exam paper.

Some passages in the recording might not contain answers to the questions at all.

This is actually the case. Such passages might be used to help to figure out how current position in the recording corresponds to the position in the sequence of questions.

A special "signpost" language must be used at all times before questions blocks.

Signpost language is indeed often used in the recording and test takers may use this fact to their advantage, but its use in not mandated.

The recording must contain exact question wording immediatly before the answer is given.

This is not neccessary, in fact relevant phrases are often paraphrased.

• No items with labels on them are allowed
• You can have reading glasses without the case
• The only drink allowed is water
• Cologne, perfume or other scented products are not allowed because of possible allergic reactions

Select the correct answer.

Reading part is the same for IELTS Academic and General Training.

The requirements for Academic and General Training Reading texts are different.

Section 1 is a dialog on a mundane subject usually invoving spelling phone numbers, addresses and prices over phone.

Section 2 is a monologue on an everyday subject, usually some kind of briefing or orientation.

Section 3 is a discussiion on an academic subject.

Section 4 is an academic monologue, e.g., a lecture.

The section 2 is also called Long turn. It is 3-4 minutes long. Test takers are given a task card about a topic. One minute is given to prepare before speaking for up to two minutes. The task card lists the points that should be included in the talk and one aspect of the topic which must be explained during the talk. After the monologue, the examiner may ask one or two questions on the same topic.

Section 1 is also known as Introduction or Interview. Test takers are asked about familiar topics such as home, family, work, studies, hobbies and other general topics.

Select the correct answer.

Can the exam venue address be different from the address of the test center where you registrered for the exam.

The address of the exam location might be different to the address of the learning or test center where you registered for the test.

Select the correct answer.

Listening part ends immediately after when the recording stops playing.

Test takers are given additional time after the playback stops. In "common" paper-based IELTS, 10 minutes are given to transfer answers to the answer sheet. This time can also be used to double check the answers especially against the requirements in the questions. For computer-delivered test, 2 minutes are given to check the answers.

Select the correct answer about IELTS Reading part duration.

The duration is 60 minutes. Dedicated 'transfer time' is not provided.

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Bob received 7 for his IELTS listening part. Was more than a half of his answers on the answer sheet marked as correct?

Getting a 7 requires around 30 of 40 answers to be correct.

Select correct answer.

By what amount of time are you allowed to arrive late?

It is recommended to arrive early. Those who arrive late might not be allowed to participate.

British and American English are considered mutually excluding dialects for the purposes of the exam. They cannot be used together. Weird idea, eh?

Select the correct answer.

How many breaks are there during Listening, Reading and Writing parts?

There is no breaks during Listening, Reading and Writing parts.

Test takers are only asked for either an exact phrase or factual information.

Although both exact phrase and factual information might be required, there might be other types of questions, e.g., requiring a paraphrase or summary.

Sometimes the information you are asked about is not given.

TRUE/FALSE/NOT GIVEN is a common question type in Reading part.

Answers are encountered in text in the same order as questions

Unlike IELTS Listening module, the order might be different in IELTS Reading.

You might need to identify views or opinions of characters or writer.

Sometimes this is indeed the case.