The format, band system and deadlines of the IELTS Academic explained plainly, including the 2026 transition to the computer-based exam, plus the training programme we use at ULIC to get you to your target band.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Examining body | The IELTS Partners: British Council, IDP and Cambridge University Press & Assessment. |
| What it measures | Academic English across four skills: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, each weighted equally. |
| Current format | Computer-based at an official centre since mid-2026. The paper exam has been discontinued; in selected markets there is the Writing on Paper option to handwrite only the Writing part. |
| Formats | At an official centre or from home with IELTS Online (Academic only; not valid for UKVI visas). |
| Recognition | Over 12,000 institutions in more than 140 countries: universities, professional bodies, governments and companies. |
| Retakes | No limit on attempts. In addition, One Skill Retake lets you retake a single skill within 60 days of the exam. |
| Approximate price (Spain) | Roughly €245 to €285 depending on centre and format in 2026, with fee increases announced from August 2026. Always confirm the current fee before booking. |
| Where to sit it | At an official IELTS centre in Spain. ULIC Centre is an IELTS affiliate: write to us and we handle your registration in the official exam. |
Swipe horizontally to see the full table.
There is no pass or fail: each institution sets the minimum band it requires.
The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) in its Academic form measures the English a candidate needs to study or practise a regulated profession in an English-speaking setting. It is jointly run by the British Council, IDP and Cambridge University Press & Assessment, and is accepted by over 12,000 institutions in more than 140 countries: universities, professional bodies, governments and companies.
In Spain it is the go-to exam for anyone studying a bachelor's or master's in the UK, Ireland, Australia or Canada, for healthcare professionals registering abroad and for visas that require a Secure English Language Test (SELT). Each candidate receives a band from 0 to 9 per skill and an overall band, and it is the destination institution that sets the minimum band it requires.
One overall band and four bands by skill. The institution sees exactly where you are strong and where you are not, and you know exactly what to train.
A real 11 to 14-minute conversation with a certified examiner, not a monologue recorded into a microphone.
If a single skill falls short, you can retake just that skill within the next 60 days, without sitting the whole exam again.
On 5 March 2026 the IELTS Partners announced the end of the paper exam. The whole exam moves to computer-based format, at an official centre or with IELTS Online (Academic only).
The paper exam has been discontinued. In selected markets there is the Writing on Paper option, which lets you handwrite only the Writing part. Confirm its availability at the Madrid centres before relying on it.
| Skill | Parts | Questions | Time | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | 4 | 40 | ~30 min | 25% |
| Reading | 3 | 40 | 60 min | 25% |
| Writing | 2 tasks | 2 | 60 min | 25% |
| Speaking | 3 | Guided interview | 11 to 14 min | 25% |
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| Part | Format | Context | Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conversation between two people | Everyday situation (a booking, an enrolment) | 10 |
| 2 | Monologue | Everyday situation (an informative talk) | 10 |
| 3 | Conversation among up to four people | Academic context (a tutor and students) | 10 |
| 4 | Academic monologue | A university lecture or talk | 10 |
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| Section | Text source | What it assesses |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Long text from a book, academic journal or press | Gist, detail, inference |
| 2 | Long text of the same kind, increasing difficulty | Author's attitude and opinion, matching headings |
| 3 | Long text, the densest of the three | Complex argumentation, True/False/Not Given |
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| Task | What is required | Minimum length | Recommended time | Weight within Writing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Describe and interpret a graph, table, map or process | 150 words | 20 min | 1/3 |
| 2 | Argumentative essay on a topic of general interest | 250 words | 40 min | 2/3 |
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| Part | What happens | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · Introduction | Personal questions: work, studies, hobbies, routine | 4 to 5 min |
| 2 · Long turn | A card with a topic, 1 minute to prepare and up to 2 minutes speaking alone | 3 to 4 min |
| 3 · Discussion | An analytical conversation on the Part 2 topic, with more abstract questions | 4 to 5 min |
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Within Writing, Task 2 is worth double Task 1: a weak essay is not offset by a good graph. And the overall band is the arithmetic mean of the four skills rounded to the nearest half band: a 6.125 becomes 6.0, a 6.25 rises to 6.5.
In the computer format the Listening does not have the 10 extra minutes to transfer answers to the sheet that the paper exam had: there are only a few minutes to check. Anyone preparing with paper mock exams arrives at the real exam with the wrong rhythm. Train on screen from day one.
Each skill receives a band from 0 to 9, in half-band increments (6.5, 7.0, 7.5). There is no pass or fail: you meet the requirement or not, depending on the institution you are applying to.
The overall band is the arithmetic mean of the four skills, rounded to the nearest half band: an average of 6.25 rises to 6.5 and a 6.125 drops to 6.0.
| Band | CEFR level | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 8.5 – 9.0 | C2 | Expert user. Full and natural command of the language. |
| 7.0 – 8.0 | C1 | Advanced user. The range demanding master's degrees and healthcare bodies ask for. |
| 5.5 – 6.5 | B2 | Competent user. The entry range for most bachelor's and master's degrees abroad. |
| 4.0 – 5.0 | B1 | Modest user. Not enough for direct university admission. |
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| Skill | What it assesses | Common trap for Spanish speakers |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | Detail, speaker attitude, following an academic thread | Misspelling the word in completion answers: a correct answer spelt wrong is a mistake |
| Reading | Comprehension of dense academic texts | Confusing False with Not Given: the text not saying it does not make it false |
| Writing | Organisation, argumentation, accuracy and grammatical range | Memorised templates and set phrases the examiner detects and penalises in Task Response |
| Speaking | Fluency, coherence, vocabulary, pronunciation | One-sentence answers in Part 1 and running out of ideas at minute 2 of the Long turn |
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If your overall result holds up on three skills but one falls below the requirement, you can retake just that skill once, within 60 days of the exam, and receive a new Test Report Form with the updated score. Available in the computer-based format.
Many institutions accept the One Skill Retake, but not all: confirm it with yours before relying on it. Also confirm availability and the fee at the Madrid centres when booking.
Listening and Reading are scored by number of correct answers out of 40, with no penalty for mistakes. These conversion tables are approximate: the IELTS Partners slightly adjust the cut-offs in each version of the exam to keep difficulty equivalent.
| Correct (of 40) | Band |
|---|---|
| 39 – 40 | 9.0 |
| 37 – 38 | 8.5 |
| 35 – 36 | 8.0 |
| 32 – 34 | 7.5 |
| 30 – 31 | 7.0 |
| 26 – 29 | 6.5 |
| 23 – 25 | 6.0 |
| 18 – 22 | 5.5 |
| 16 – 17 | 5.0 |
| 13 – 15 | 4.5 |
| 10 – 12 | 4.0 |
| Correct (of 40) | Band |
|---|---|
| 39 – 40 | 9.0 |
| 37 – 38 | 8.5 |
| 35 – 36 | 8.0 |
| 33 – 34 | 7.5 |
| 30 – 32 | 7.0 |
| 27 – 29 | 6.5 |
| 23 – 26 | 6.0 |
| 19 – 22 | 5.5 |
| 15 – 18 | 5.0 |
| 13 – 14 | 4.5 |
| 10 – 12 | 4.0 |
Writing and Speaking do not work by correct answers: a certified examiner marks them against 4 official criteria, each equally weighted. In Writing: Task Achievement/Response, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. In Speaking: Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy and Pronunciation. A practical reading of the tables: for a 7.0 in Reading Academic you can miss up to 10 questions, but for a 7.0 in Listening only 10 as well, and in the General Training version the bar of correct answers in Reading is higher.
Unlike Cambridge certificates, the IELTS works with a recommended validity of 2 years from the exam date. The IELTS Partners recommend it because language level changes over time, and virtually all universities, professional bodies and visa authorities apply it strictly.
The final decision, as always, is the institution's: some accept slightly older results if you can show you have maintained the level. But plan with the 2-year rule. If your university or visa application is three years away, taking the IELTS today is probably throwing away the exam fee.
Sit the exam when your application calendar requires it, not simply when your English level is ready. The best time is within the 12 months before the application, with room for a One Skill Retake if a skill falls short.
The most common question. They are two different exams under the same brand, with the same band scale, the same Listening and the same Speaking. Two skills change.
| IELTS Academic | IELTS General Training | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is for | Studying a bachelor's or master's, registering in a regulated profession (healthcare, engineering) | Emigrating, working or training below university level in an English-speaking country |
| Reading | 3 long texts of academic origin: books, specialist journals, analytical press | Short, practical texts: notices, manuals, workplace rules, plus a final long text |
| Writing Task 1 | Describe and interpret a graph, table, map or process | Write a letter (formal, semi-formal or informal) |
| Who asks for it | Universities and professional bodies, almost always by name | Immigration authorities (Australia, Canada, the UK) and some employers |
| Common mistake | Taking General Training "because it looks easier" and finding the university does not accept it | Taking Academic when the visa asked for General Training, or the other way round |
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If your destination is a university or a regulated profession, Academic. If your destination is a residence or work visa, probably General Training. If in doubt, do not settle it by booking: confirm the requirement in writing with your institution before paying the fee.
| At an official centre | IELTS Online | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | On computer at an official IELTS centre. In Madrid, sessions several times a month. | From home, on your own computer. |
| Available formats | Academic and General Training. | Academic only. |
| UKVI | Valid in the digital SELT format the visa requires. | Not valid for UKVI visas. |
| Acceptance | Standard: accepted by every institution that asks for IELTS. | Measures the same, but some universities do not accept it. |
| Who it is for | Any goal, and required if your destination demands SELT or does not accept Online. | Anyone who values flexibility and has confirmed in writing that their institution accepts it. |
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If your goal is a visa or a specific institution, confirm which format it requires before booking. The fee is not refunded for choosing the wrong format.
ULIC Centre is an IELTS affiliate. Write to us and we handle your place in the official IELTS system, and you prepare for the exam with us while you wait for your sitting.
Computer-based registration allows much shorter lead times than the old paper exam, at the British Council's official centres in Spain (29 centres, including Madrid and Las Rozas).
Book a place in the official examIELTS Online (from home) exists only in the Academic format and is not valid for UKVI visas. Some universities do not accept it either.
If your goal is a visa or a specific institution, confirm which format it requires before booking.
| Use | Detail |
|---|---|
| University admission | Bachelor's and master's degrees in the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada and the US. |
| Healthcare registration | Healthcare professionals registering abroad. The British NMC, for example, requires 7.0 in the Academic version. |
| UKVI | Secure English Language Test (SELT), digital format only. |
| Spanish university | Level accreditation in Spanish university programmes that accept IELTS in their equivalence tables. |
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Official IELTS Affiliate
Enrolment isn't handled on the website. Message us and we'll send you your personal link to complete it, with the session, deadline and payment. We are an official IELTS affiliate.
We send your personal enrolment link and confirm the session, deadline and payment.
Enrol via WhatsAppWe reply during office hours · admon@ulic.es
Many institutions accept the One Skill Retake, but not all: confirm it with yours. Also confirm availability and the fee at the Madrid centres.
If you have already taken an IELTS and just one skill fell short, One Skill Retake plus targeted training on that skill is the most efficient route to your target band.
| IELTS Academic | TOEFL iBT | C1 Advanced | Duolingo English Test | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type of result | Band 0 to 9, overall and by skill. | Score 0 to 120. | Certificate by level (B2, C1 or C2 by score). | Score 10 to 160. |
| Best for | The UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, professional bodies, visas. | US universities. | Accreditation with no official expiry, public-sector exams in Spain. | Fast, cheap admissions where accepted. |
| Speaking format | Face to face, one to one with an examiner. | Recorded, no live human interaction. | Face to face, in a pair with another candidate. | Recorded, marked with AI support. |
| Unique feature | One Skill Retake: retake a single skill within 60 days. | Integrates skills (listen, then write about it). | Certification one level above or below by score. | Taken from home in an hour, result in 2 days. |
| Perception in Spain | The standard for going abroad to study or practise. | Associated almost exclusively with the US. | Very well recognised in public exams and education. | Growing but still uneven acceptance. |
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If your goal is only Spain, you probably do not need the IELTS.
For a public-sector exam, your CV or entry to a Spanish university, a Cambridge certificate with no official expiry usually fits better than an IELTS you will have to renew after 2 years. The IELTS Academic really makes sense when you are going abroad: to study, to register professionally or with a visa that requires it. We would rather tell you straight before you invest time and money in the wrong exam.
Tell us your goal and we will tell you straight whether IELTS Academic, General Training, Cambridge or TOEFL is right for you.
Reading terrified me and it ended up being my highest score: an 8.5.
Psychologist. She prepared the IELTS for a master's in Canada and turned her most feared skill into her strongest.
One word: efficient. I averaged an 8 and no score dropped below 7.
A 10-hour One to One intensive for her master's in the UK. No skill below 7.
I was stuck and thanks to it I've broken through. They teach exactly what you need.
I wasn't going to do anything I hadn't done a thousand times in class. That puts you at ease.
I didn't feel ready, and as the classes went on I realised I was capable after all.
The IELTS is won on exam technique as much as English level: clock management in Reading, the exact structure that scores in Writing Task 2 and a 2-minute Long turn that cannot be improvised. At ULIC we train the four skills against your target band, on screen, as in the real exam. These are the two relevant formats for IELTS Academic. Tap one to see the full format.
Concentrated training in the weeks before your date, 100% online and live, with full computer-based mock exams and skill-by-skill correction against your target band.
Individual sessions focused on the skill that separates you from your band, usually Writing Task 2 or Speaking, with correction against the examiner's official criteria. Ideal after a One Skill Retake: train only the skill you are retaking.
You already know the format, the bands and the deadlines. What decides your result is training aimed at the skill that separates you from your goal today. At ULIC we have done it since 2010, with mock exams under the same conditions as the real exam. And as an IELTS affiliate, you also register for the official exam with us.
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