IELTS Syllabus in Nepal: Format, Timing & Scoring Explained

The IELTS test is divided into four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Each section assesses a specific language skill and follows a fixed structure, duration, and marking system.

The IELTS syllabus and exam pattern are the same worldwide, including in Nepal. However, the four modules are not entirely the same for the Academic and General Training tests.

This guide explains the official IELTS format, including section-wise syllabus, timing, and scoring criteria.

IELTS Exam Overview

IELTS Listening Syllabus & Pattern

The IELTS Listening test determines your ability to understand spoken English in everyday and academic contexts. The test consists of four sections that progress from social conversations to academic monologues and lectures.

In the IELTS Listening test, you must answer 40 questions while listening to the recordings. It lasts 30 minutes, with an additional 10 minutes provided at the end to transfer your answers to the answer sheet. In Nepal, IELTS test takers are provided with headphones for clear audio playback.

Before each section begins, you are given time to read the questions related to that section. Once the recording starts, you must listen and answer the questions at the same time. A brief pause is provided at the end of each section, allowing you to review their answers before moving on.

Listening Sections

The IELTS Listening test consists of four sections, each with one recording.

Section 1 – Social conversation:

• A conversation between two speakers
• Set in an everyday social context (e.g., booking, enquiries, arrangements)
• Focuses on factual information

Section 2 – Monologue (daily-life context):

• One speaker talking about a general topic
• Contexts include public information or instructions
• No interaction between speakers

Section 3 – Academic discussion:

• A conversation involving 2 to 4 speakers
• Set in an academic or training environment
• Involves discussion, opinion, and agreement or disagreement

Section 4 – Academic lecture:

• One speaker delivering an academic talk
• The subject is educational in nature
• Requires understanding of main ideas, details, and structure

Listening Question Types

Across the four listening sections, you may notice the following question formats:

1. Multiple choice
2. Matching
3. Labelling plan, map, or diagram
4. Table, flow chart, form, note, or summary completion
5. Sentence completion
6. Short-answer questions

No matter the question type, they always follow the order of the audio.

IELTS Reading Syllabus & Pattern

The IELTS Reading test measures your ability to read and understand written English used in academic and formal contexts. The test is designed to find out how well you understand the main ideas, specific details, logical arguments, opinions, and implied meaning in a text.

Both Academic and General Training IELTS reading tests contain three passages and 40 questions. The total test duration is 60 minutes, with no extra time to transfer answers to the answer sheet. This means all answers must be completed within the given time.

Academic Reading

The IELTS Academic Reading test includes three long passages, which increase in difficulty from Passage 1 to Passage 3.

• Texts are taken from books, journals, magazines, and newspapers.
• Topics are academic, factual, descriptive, or analytical.
• Each passage is written for an academic audience (e.g. students).
• Passages contain arguments, explanations, or research-based information.
• Some texts may include diagrams, illustrations, graphs, or tables.

General Training Reading

The IELTS General Training Reading test consists of three sections, and the content is more practical and work-related. As you move from the first to the third passage, they become more difficult. These are the types of text that you must understand to live in an English-speaking country.

• Section 1: 2 to 3 short texts related to everyday life (notices, advertisements, timetables)
• Section 2: Work-related texts (job descriptions, contracts, training materials)
• Section 3: One long, complex passage on a general topic taken from magazines, books, or newspapers.

Reading Question Types

Across the three reading passages, the IELTS reading test question formats include:

• Multiple choice
• True/False/Not Given or Yes/No/Not Given
• Matching headings/information/features
• Sentence completion
• Summary completion
• Table or flow-chart completion
• Short-answer questions

IELTS Writing Syllabus & Pattern

The IELTS Writing test measures your ability to express ideas clearly and accurately in written English. It assesses how well you can organise information, present arguments, and use appropriate language in a formal context.

In the IELTS Writing test, you must complete two writing tasks within 60 minutes. Both tasks are compulsory, and answers must be written on the answer sheet or typed on the computer, depending on the test format.

Writing Task 1 Format

The first writing task is different for the Academic and General Training variations of the IELTS exam.

Academic:

In IELTS Academic, writing task 1 requires you to write a short report based on visual information by describing, summarising, or explaining the information shown. Visuals may include graphs, charts, tables, diagrams, and maps.

The main objective of this task is to see how clearly you can identify key features and present factual details.

General Training:

In writing task 1 of IELTS General Training, you must write a letter based on a given situation. The situation may be personal, social, or work-related, and the letter can be formal, semi-formal, or informal. In addition, the response must be written based on the points given in the question prompt.

The main objective of this task is to assess how clearly you can communicate information, make requests, give explanations, or express opinions in an appropriate tone.

Writing Task 2 Format

In IELTS Writing Task 2, you must write an essay of at least 250 words in response to a topic that presents a point of view, argument, or problem. The question requires you to state your clear opinion and respond directly to the issue raised.

Task 2 is longer than Task 1 and carries more weight in the overall IELTS Writing assessment. The essay topics are academic and formal in nature, relating to education, society, health, history, technology, environment, or government policy. This task is the same for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training.

The main objective of writing task 2 is to assess how well you can:

• Present and develop ideas clearly
• Support opinions with explanations or examples
• Organise information logically across paragraphs
• Use appropriate vocabulary and grammatical structures accurately

IELTS Speaking Syllabus & Pattern

The IELTS Speaking test measures your ability to communicate effectively in spoken English. It assesses how well you can express ideas, give opinions, and respond to questions clearly and naturally. It is conducted as a face-to-face interview with a certified examiner, and is the same for both Academic and General Training tests.

Speaking Test Structure

The Speaking test is divided into three parts and lasts between 11 and 14 minutes in total.

Speaking Part 1 – Introduction and Interview

In part 1, the examiner asks you questions about yourself and familiar topics like your home, family, work, studies, interests, or daily activities.

The questions are simple and personal in nature, and this part focuses on your ability to give basic information and express simple opinions clearly.

Speaking Part 2 – Long Turn

In part 2, you are given a cue card with a topic and a set of points to cover. You are allowed 1 minute to prepare and take notes before speaking. Afterwards, you must speak for 1 to 2 minutes on the given topic.

After you finish speaking, the examiner may ask one or two short follow-up questions related to what you have said.

Speaking Part 3 – Discussion

Often considered the most difficult part, the examiner asks more detailed questions related to the topic introduced in part 2.

Part 3 involves a two-way discussion and requires you to explain ideas, compare different viewpoints, and give reasons for your opinions. The questions are less personal and more analytical in nature.

IELTS Marking & Scoring

IELTS uses a 9-band scoring system to measure English language proficiency. Each candidate receives a band score for Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking, along with an overall band score.

Listening and Reading are scored based on the number of correct answers, while Writing and Speaking are evaluated using standard assessment criteria by certified IELTS examiners. There is no negative marking in any section of the IELTS test.

The higher the band score, the better your understanding of the English language:

The IELTS scoring system is the same worldwide, including in Nepal, and scores are accepted by universities, employers, and immigration authorities globally.