Updated on Jun 28, 2025
Ankita Banerjee
IELTS 2025 Syllabus is divided into four main sections: Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking. Each component has a different syllabus based on its purpose. In the IELTS exam, the duration of the Listening section lasts for 30 minutes, whereas the Reading and Writing sections last for 60 minutes each. Finally, the Speaking section consists of a face-to-face interview, which is held for approximately 11-14 minutes. Each section of the IELTS Exam 2025 contributes 25% of the total overall score.
The syllabus of the Listening section comprises recorded texts, based on which students will have to answer questions, which come in the form of MCQs, Matching, Sentence Completion, etc. The Reading section syllabus consists of passages relevant to undergraduate and postgraduate courses. It involves a wide range of topics, such as science, history, culture, and many more. The Writing section syllabus of IELTS 2025 varies based on the types of versions students choose from, i.e., Academic and General Training. In this section, candidates are required to write reports, essays, etc. Lastly, the syllabus of the Speaking test includes an interview with the examiner where students are asked to talk about a range of familiar topics, like home, family, work, studies, etc. Before appearing for the IELTS test, it is important for all students to go through the IELTS Syllabus 2025 thoroughly to achieve a higher band score.
IELTS 2025 Syllabus: Overview
The IELTS 2025 Syllabus PDF is available on the official website of IDP. The syllabus for IELTS 225 tests candidates’ ability in English language skills, such as comprehension of the English language, expressing thoughts, and communicating effectively. Students can check out an overview of the IELTS 2025 Syllabus in the table presented below:
IELTS 2025 Detailed Syllabus
Students who are willing to move to English-speaking countries for study, work, or immigration purposes must appear for IDP IELTS 2025. Some popular countries that accept this exam include the US, the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, etc. Hence, the syllabus for IELTS 2025 is designed to assess a candidate’s English language proficiency across four areas, such as reading, writing, listening and speaking. Check out the detailed syllabus for IELTS 2025, along with the time allotted for each section:
Check More: IELTS Dates 2025
IELTS 2025 Syllabus: Section-wise
The syllabus for IELTS 2025 is curated in such a way that it effectively evaluates a candidate’s ability to understand and use English in academic settings. Each section of the IELTS exam serves a specific purpose in assessing the candidate’s English skills. Given below is a detailed description of the IELTS Syllabus 2025:
IELTS 2025 Listening Syllabus
The syllabus for the Listening section in IELTS 2025 consists of four parts, i.e., two monologues and two conversations. There will be a total of 4 recordings played, and every part can be heard only once. The recordings include different accents, such as British, North American, Australian, etc. Students are allowed to take notes while listening to the recorded texts, which are presented in the form of monologues and conversations. They can further use those notes to their advantage and answer the questions. There will be a total of 40 questions asked, and students must complete this section within 30 minutes. Tabulated below is the detailed IELTS 2025 Listening Syllabus:
IELTS 2025 Reading Syllabus
For the Reading section, students will be given three passages on topics relevant to the undergraduate and postgraduate courses. There will be a total of 40 questions asked in this section, where each passage will contain 13-14 questions. The questions will come in the form of multiple-choice, matching, sentence completion, etc. The Listening syllabus for the Academic and General Training are different. For the Academic version of the test, the passages include a wide variety of topics, such as science, history, culture, and environmental issues. The duration of this test will be 60 minutes. Tabulated below is the IELTS 2025 Reading Syllabus for students’ reference:
IELTS 2025 Writing Syllabus
The IELTS 2025 Writing Syllabus varies between the two modules of the exams: Academic and General Training. Each of the module contain two tasks. The IELTS Academic version is for candidates who wish to study abroad, while the IELTS General Training version is for those who want to move abroad for work or immigration purposes. Hence, the writing syllabus assesses students’ ability to express themselves through various forms of writing, such as reports, essays, etc. These writings must be done in response to the given data. Here is the IELTS Writing Syllabus in a tabular format:
Know More About IELTS Eligibility Criteria 2025
IELTS 2025 Speaking Syllabus
The Speaking syllabus for IELTS 2025 includes an interview with the examiner to check the candidates’ speaking skills and their ability to communicate effectively with English speakers. It comprises three parts: general questions, cue card topic, and follow-up questions related to part 2. The IELTS speaking syllabus is same for both the Academic and General Training exam modules. The total time allotted for this section is 11-14 minutes. Students can get the details of the syllabus for this section in the table shown below:
IELTS 2025 Syllabus: Exam Pattern
The IELTS Exam Pattern 2025 is the same for both the computer-delivered and paper-based exams. Additionally, the subjects are also the same in both formats. The exam takes place for a duration of 2 hours and 45 minutes, and the reading, writing, and listening tests are conducted on the same day. The speaking test is usually conducted 7 days before or after the scheduled date of the test. The detailed IELTS 2025 exam pattern is provided below for students to review:
IELTS 2025 Syllabus: Key Notes
Candidates willing to appear for this test must keep at least 2 months in hand for preparation before applying for the IELTS Application Process 2025. For adequate preparation, candidates should thoroughly review the IELTS Syllabus and Pattern, helping them develop time management strategies. After complete preparation, when students appear for the test, they should keep some strategy in mind during the test to maximise their chances of achieving a higher band score. Given below are the section-wise key notes that students must consider for IELTS 2025:
Listening: Candidates must check their headphones before starting and raise their hands if they don’t work. They should take notes on their question papers while listening to the recordings. Students should listen to the tapes mindfully as they are played only once. Before submitting, check all the answers, spellings, and grammar, and use all capital letters in the responses.
Reading: The first thing students must do is read the passage carefully and try to find its answers. Be clear, correct, and to the point when answering the questions. They must check the figures, graphs, and images carefully before submitting. Skip the tough questions at first, and solve them later. Candidates should ensure to proofread their answers before handing them over.
Writing: One of the most important factors of this section is time management. Candidates must use their time wisely, i.e., 20 minutes for task 1, and 40 minutes for task 2. They should also meet the word limits set for each task. Before writing, ensure all the answers are planned and the ideas behind them are clear. Most importantly, students must use active voice and avoid using passive voice sentences. There should be a conclusion in task 2. Before submitting, make sure that all the writings are proofread.
Speaking: Students should listen to the questions carefully and not jump to answer them immediately. The answers should be relevant and full of details. Candidates should avoid saying rehearsed answers or using fake accents. The answers should feel natural, candid, and accurate to the self. Students should be confident while speaking, and can ask for repetition if needed.
IELTS 2025 Syllabus: Recommended Books
Candidates preparing for the IELTS 2025 must refer to the books that can help them expand their vocabulary, enhance their reading and listening skills, and polish their speaking abilities. These books must offer structured practice, expert guidance, and a strategic approach to the preparation. Recommended below are some of the best IELTS Syllabus Books that students can refer to:
IELTS 2025 Syllabus FAQs
What is the IELTS 2025 syllabus?
The syllabus for IELTS consists of four components: Listening, Writing, Reading, and Speaking. The syllabus is designed to evaluate candidates’ ability to understand the English language, express themselves through essay or report writing, and communicate effectively in English. The Listening section consists of 4 recordings, the Writing section comprises 2 writing tasks, the Reading section involves passage-based questions, and finally, the Speaking section includes an interview with the examiner.
What are the topics for IELTS Writing 2025?
The IELTS Writing syllabus 2025 consists of two tasks: Task 1 and Task 2, and the time allocated for this section is 60 minutes. In the first task, candidates will be asked to write a report under 150 words based on graphs, diagrams, a map, a table, etc. In the second task, candidates will be required to write a long essay of at least 250 words within 40 minutes.
What kind of questions usually come in the IELTS Reading section in 2025?
The Reading section of IELTS 2025 usually consists of three passages relevant to undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Each passage will comprise 13-14 questions,a nd the time duration will be 30 minutes. The questions are usually asked in the form of multiple-choice questions (MCQs), match the following, true or false, fill-in-the-blank, summary completion, and many more.
What is there in the IELTS Listening test?
The IELTS Listening test comprises four recordings of native English speakers, totalling 40 questions. These recordings are played only once, and test-takers must answer questions based on what they hear. The test is approximately 30 minutes long, with an additional 10 minutes to transfer answers to the answer sheets. The recordings cover two monologues and two conversations based on social and academic contexts.
What is the duration of the Speaking test in IELTS 2025?
The IELTS Speaking test has a duration of 11-14 minutes. It is a face-to-face interview format divided into three parts: Introduction & Interview, Long-turn, and Discussion. For the first part, students get 4-5 minutes, for the next part, which is long-turn, they will receive 2-3 minutes to talk about the topic they have received in the flashcard, and a deeper discussion will take place for another 5-6 minutes.
What is the same in both Academic and General Training versions of IELTS 2025?
In both the Academic and General Training versions, the Listening and Speaking sections are the same. Both tests have the same format and difficulty level, requiring candidates to listen to the audio recordings, answer questions and participate in a one-on-one interview with an examiner. However, the Reading and the Writing sections differ in both formats and content.
How do I practise for the IELTS Reading test 2025?
To effectively practise for the IELTS Reading test 2025, students must focus on developing strong reading comprehension and time management skills. Students should familiarise themselves with the exam pattern and question types. They should often practise official materials like mock tests. One of the most important aspects of preparing for IELTS Reading test is to learn to skim the text quickly for the main idea and scan for specific keywords. Also, students must pay attention to spelling, read extensively in English, and practise reading faster.
Can I prepare for IELTS 2025 without any coaching?
Yes, candidates can prepare for the IELTS 2025 without any coaching. They can use the official materials available on the internet to practise the questions. This is how candidates can prepare for IELTS without any professional help: familiarising themselves with the four sections of IELTS, understanding the format of each section, and using IELTS preparation materials, such as practice tests, sample questions, and guides available on the IDP official website.
What is the IELTS 2025 exam pattern?
The exam pattern for IELTS 2025 involves the types of questions asked in the exam, exam duration, marking scheme, etc. The four sections of the IELTS 2025 assess different English language skills, and the overall score is awarded in the form of bands, ranging from 1 to 9. The Listening, Reading, and Writing sections are conducted on the same day, whereas the Speaking test is scheduled a week before or after the test. The exam duration is 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Which books should I refer to while preparing for IELTS 2025?
For IELTS 2025 preparation, many books are highly recommended. Candidates can refer to the Cambridge IELTS Series, especially the Cambridge IELTS 12-17. Apart from this, IELTS Superback is another choice for both the Academic and General Training versions of the exam.
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