hugThe IELTS exam: what it is, how it works and how to prepare in Barcelona
If you want to study abroad, emigrate or prove your English for work, you’ll very likely be asked for the IELTS. Here we explain what it is, its parts, how it’s scored and what to do to reach the score you need without wasting months.
IELTS at a glance
- 2 h 45 min in total, with 4 parts: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
- Score from 0 to 9 in bands, including half points (6.5, 7.0…).
- Two versions: Academic (university) and General Training (work and migration).
- Results in 1 to 5 days if you take it on computer.
- Recommended validity of 2 years for most universities and organisations.
What is the IELTS exam?
The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is one of the most widely recognised English exams in the world. It is run jointly by the British Council, IDP and Cambridge University Press & Assessment, and is accepted by thousands of universities, employers, professional bodies and governments, especially in the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
Unlike other certificates, you can’t pass or fail the IELTS: everyone gets a score, and each institution decides the minimum it requires. So first of all, you need to know what score you need and by when.
IELTS Academic or General Training: which one do you need?
Both versions share Listening and Speaking. Reading and Writing are different.
- IELTS Academic: for studying a degree or master’s in English, or registering as a healthcare professional (medicine, nursing) in another country. The texts and tasks have an academic tone.
- IELTS General Training: for emigrating (for example to Canada, Australia or New Zealand), non-university training or working in an English-speaking country. The texts are more everyday: adverts, letters, company documents.
- IELTS for UKVI: is the same exam, but taken at a centre approved by the UK Home Office. You need it for some UK visas.
If in doubt, ask the university or organisation that requires it. Choosing the wrong version means retaking the exam.
The 4 parts of the IELTS exam
| Part | Duration | What it tests |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | ≈ 30 min | 4 recordings and 40 questions. You hear each one only once. |
| Reading | 60 min | 3 texts and 40 questions: true/false, sentence completion, matching headings… |
| Writing | 60 min | Task 1 (min. 150 words) and Task 2, an essay (min. 250 words) that counts double. |
| Speaking | 11–14 min | An interview with an examiner in 3 parts: personal questions, a 2-minute talk and a discussion. |
Listening
It starts with everyday situations and ends with an academic-style talk. The difficulty isn’t just understanding, but reading, listening and writing at the same time without losing track. Spelling mistakes count, so an answer you understood but misspelled scores nothing.
Reading
The texts are long and time is tight: about 20 minutes per text. If you try to understand every word, you won’t finish. What works is learning to find information quickly and to handle the True / False / Not Given questions, which cost the most points.
Writing
In Academic, Task 1 is describing a graph, table or process; in General Training, writing a letter. Task 2 is an opinion or argumentative essay. Four criteria are assessed: task achievement, organisation, vocabulary and grammar. It’s where most students get stuck, because it’s hard to spot your own mistakes without someone correcting them.
Speaking
It’s a face-to-face conversation with an examiner, recorded to ensure objectivity. Your accent isn’t assessed, but your fluency, coherence, range of vocabulary and grammatical accuracy are. Practising out loud with someone who gives you feedback makes a big difference here.
How the IELTS is scored
Each part gets a score from 0 to 9, and the overall score (Overall Band Score) is the average of the four, rounded to the nearest half point. Many institutions also require a minimum in each part, for example “6.5 overall with no band below 6.0”.
| IELTS score | CEFR level | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 8.5 – 9.0 | C2 | Near-native proficiency |
| 7.0 – 8.0 | C1 | Top universities, master’s degrees, healthcare professions |
| 5.5 – 6.5 | B2 | Many degrees and master’s (6.0–6.5 is the most common requirement) |
| 4.0 – 5.0 | B1 | Some visas and foundation courses |
If you’re B1 today and need a 6.5, it’s a big jump but achievable with a plan. If you already have a solid B2, what’s often missing is exam technique, especially in Writing and Reading.
Computer or paper, dates and results
In Barcelona you can take the IELTS on computer, with dates almost every week, or on paper, with fewer sessions. On computer, results arrive in 1 to 5 days; on paper they usually take about two weeks. The Speaking test is the same in both formats and is sometimes on a different day.
If you take the computer version and one part doesn’t go as planned, there’s IELTS One Skill Retake: you can retake just that part within 60 days, without redoing the whole exam.
The price varies by version (Academic, General Training or UKVI) and test centre. Always check the current fee on the official British Council Spain website before booking. We recommend registering once you’re close to your target score, not before: retaking the exam is the most expensive way to practise.
IELTS or Cambridge (B2 First, C1 Advanced)?
It’s one of the questions we’re asked most. Both are official, recognised exams, but they serve different purposes.
| IELTS | Cambridge (B2 First, C1 Advanced) | |
|---|---|---|
| Result | Score from 0 to 9, nobody fails | You pass a specific level |
| Validity | Usually accepted for 2 years | The certificate never expires |
| Best for | Universities abroad, visas, migration | Your CV, public-sector exams and universities in Spain |
If you need to prove your English for an application or enrolment outside Spain with a deadline, the IELTS is usually the most direct option. If you want a qualification for your CV that never expires, Cambridge is usually a better fit. As an official Cambridge Platinum exam centre, we at Hugschool help you decide which one suits you before you pay any exam fee.
How to prepare for the IELTS (without wasting months)
- Set your target score and date. Confirm which version and score you need, and count backwards. With a solid B2, many people need 8 to 12 weeks of specific preparation.
- Know the format inside out. Each question type has its own strategy. Knowing it is worth half a point or more without improving a single word of your English.
- Do timed mock exams. Time pressure is part of the exam. Practising without a timer gives you a false idea of your level.
- Get your Writing corrected. Writing essays that nobody checks only reinforces the same mistakes. A teacher tells you what’s lowering your score and how to raise it.
- Speak out loud every week. Speaking improves by speaking, not reading. Ideally, practise with someone who knows the exam criteria.
Most students who come to us after trying on their own have a good general level but fall half a point short of what they need, almost always in Writing. With specific feedback and a weekly plan, that half point usually comes much sooner than they expect.
Prepare for the IELTS with Hugschool in El Clot
We’ve been preparing students for official English exams in Barcelona for over 10 years. We work in small groups, so every student has time to speak and gets personal corrections, and we design your plan around your target score and date.
- Timed mock exams and detailed Writing correction.
- Speaking practice with teachers who know the exam criteria.
- A realistic plan from day one: how many weeks you need and what to focus on.
IELTS FAQ
How long is the IELTS exam?
About 2 hours and 45 minutes in total. Listening, Reading and Writing are taken back to back, and Speaking lasts 11 to 14 minutes, sometimes on another day.
What IELTS score equals B2 or C1?
Roughly, 5.5 to 6.5 corresponds to B2 and 7.0 to 8.0 to C1.
How long is the IELTS valid?
The certificate has no expiry date, but most universities and organisations only accept results from the last 2 years.
Can I retake just one part of the IELTS?
Yes, if you took the exam on computer. With IELTS One Skill Retake you can retake a single part within 60 days.
How long do I need to prepare?
It depends on your starting level and the score you need. With a solid B2, 8 to 12 weeks of specific preparation is usually enough to gain half a point or a full point.