Cambridge English / IELTS · Exam format
IELTS Academic: What each skill evaluates
Official exam format details may change. The descriptions below are consistent with the latest publicly available specifications.
| Skill | At this level | Practice tip |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | Understand lectures, tutorials and conversations in academic contexts; take structured notes | Daily practice: 20–30 min |
| Reading | Read academic texts quickly; identify main ideas, supporting details, author opinion | Daily practice: 20–30 min |
| Writing | Task 1 (150 words): describe, compare or summarise visual data; Task 2 (250 words): essay with argument | Daily practice: 20–30 min |
| Speaking | Part 1 (interview), Part 2 (individual long turn), Part 3 (two-way discussion on abstract topic) | Daily practice: 20–30 min |
3 Sample Questions
Sample · Writing Task 1
The chart below shows the percentage of male and female students enrolled in higher education in four countries in 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Answer: Model: Overall, female enrolment exceeded male enrolment in all four countries...
Sample · Writing Task 2
Some people believe that universities should focus on providing academic skills, while others think they should prepare students for their future careers. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. (250 words)
Answer: Model: While academic skills provide a foundation, universities increasingly recognise...
These are U2C practice items aligned with the official framework, not real exam questions.
About Cambridge English / IELTS
Cambridge B2/FCE, C1/CAE; IELTS Academic is separate but maps to similar CEFR levels.
U2C provides practice exercises following Cambridge/IELTS format, not official exam papers.
Next step
Framework: Cambridge English / IELTS. Cambridge English / IELTS Official: https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/. Updated: 2026-11-02.