Is IELTS Hard? Difficulty by Section, Band Level and Background
Is IELTS hard? Official 2024-2025 data on the hardest section, raw marks needed for Band 6 to 8, sticking points by first language, Academic vs GT and TOEFL/PTE.
Quick answer
IELTS has no pass mark, so how hard it is depends on the band you need. Band 6 is within reach for many intermediate learners; Band 7 and above is demanding. On average, Band 6 needs about 23 of 40 correct answers in Listening and Academic Reading, and Band 7 about 30. In official 2024-2025 data, Writing was the lowest-scoring skill for 33 of the 40 first-language groups IELTS lists for the Academic test.
| Band | Listening (out of 40) | Academic Reading (out of 40) | General Training Reading (out of 40) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 16 | 15 | 23 |
| 6 | 23 | 23 | 30 |
| 7 | 30 | 30 | 35 |
| 8 | 35 | 35 | Not published |
Source: average marks per band from IELTS scoring in detail (IELTS.org); first-language data from IELTS test statistics 2024-2025 (IELTS.org); both checked 2 November 2026. Exact marks vary slightly between test versions.
Is IELTS hard? The honest answer
IELTS is not a pass or fail exam. Everyone gets a band from 0 to 9 in each skill and an overall band, and your university, employer or visa route decides what is enough (IELTS scoring in detail (IELTS.org)). That means the real question is not whether IELTS is hard but how hard it is to reach your band, from your current level, in the time you have.
For a learner who already reads English articles and follows films without subtitles, Band 6 is usually a matter of learning the format. For the same learner, Band 7.5 in every skill can take months, because the higher bands demand precision under time pressure, not just understanding. If you are new to the test, start with what IELTS is and then come back here.
The official data shows what most people find hardest. IELTS.org publishes mean scores by skill every year. In 2024-2025, the mean Listening band across all test takers was 6.45, Academic Reading 6.32 and General Training Reading 6.05 (IELTS test statistics 2024-2025 (IELTS.org)). Writing was lower still for most groups, as the section below shows.
Where IELTS difficulty actually comes from
Most of the difficulty is not about rare vocabulary or trick questions. It comes from the test conditions and from the way the higher bands are defined.
- Time pressure. Reading has three texts totalling 2,150 to 2,750 words with 40 questions in 60 minutes, and Writing asks for two tasks in 60 minutes (IELTS test format (IELTS.org)).
- One chance to listen. IELTS.org states that you hear the Listening recordings once only, with a range of accents including British, Australian, New Zealand and North American.
- Stamina. Listening, Reading and Writing are taken in one sitting without a break, so your Writing is produced after about 90 minutes of concentration.
- Holistic marking in Writing and Speaking. Examiners mark against public descriptors, and a script must fully fit a band's positive features to receive it. One weak criterion can hold the whole task down.
- Skill minimums. Many organisations ask for a minimum in each skill, so a strong overall band can still fall short if one skill is low.
Difficulty by section
Each section is hard in a different way. The table combines the official format with the official 2024-2025 mean scores where IELTS publishes them.
| Section | Format | What makes it hard | 2024-2025 mean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listening | About 30 minutes, 4 parts, 40 questions | Recordings heard once; spelling and word limits matter; Part 4 is an academic lecture | 6.45 (all test takers) |
| Reading (Academic) | 60 minutes, 3 long texts, 40 questions | Long academic texts, True/False/Not Given logic and no extra transfer time on computer | 6.32 |
| Reading (General Training) | 60 minutes, 40 questions | Easier texts but more correct answers needed for the same band | 6.05 |
| Writing | 60 minutes, Task 1 (150+ words) and Task 2 (250+ words) | Must answer every part of the prompt, organise ideas and stay accurate under time pressure | About 5.9 (Academic, by gender group) |
| Speaking | 11 to 14 minutes, 3 parts, live examiner | Extending answers in Parts 2 and 3 and speaking fluently without memorised scripts | About 6.0 (Academic, by gender group) |
Listening and Reading means come from the IELTS.org reliability table. IELTS does not publish one all-candidate mean for Writing and Speaking, so those figures are the Academic means for female and male test takers (Writing 5.96 and 5.89, Speaking 6.04 and 5.94) from the same IELTS test statistics 2024-2025 (IELTS.org) download.
Difficulty by target band
The jump between bands is not linear. Each step up asks for fewer errors and more control, and the raw marks show it: moving from Band 6 to Band 7 in Listening needs about seven more correct answers, but moving from 7 to 8 needs about five more out of the ten you were still missing.
| Target band | Official skill level | What it means in practice | How hard it usually feels |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0 to 5.5 | Modest | Partial command; copes with overall meaning but makes many mistakes | Reachable with basic format practice for most intermediate learners |
| 6.0 to 6.5 | Competent | Effective command despite some inaccuracies and misunderstandings | Needs steady practice in all four skills and fewer basic errors |
| 7.0 to 7.5 | Good | Operational command with occasional inaccuracies; handles complex language well | The main hurdle for most candidates; Writing and Speaking need real control |
| 8.0 and above | Very good | Fully operational command with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies | Demanding even for advanced users; precision in every task |
Skill levels and descriptions summarise the band scale in IELTS scoring in detail (IELTS.org). For what different organisations actually ask for, read what is a good IELTS score. For how examiners judge Writing at each level, see the band descriptors explained.
Common sticking points by first language
IELTS.org publishes mean scores by first language every year. The figures below are for the Academic test in 2024-2025, rounded to two decimals (IELTS test statistics 2024-2025 (IELTS.org)). They are averages for everyone from that language background who sat the test, so they reflect who takes IELTS as much as how hard each skill is. Use them to spot your likely weak skill, not to predict your own band.
| First language | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Overall | Lowest skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arabic | 5.70 | 6.10 | 5.54 | 6.22 | 5.95 | Writing |
| Chinese | 6.24 | 5.97 | 5.78 | 5.54 | 5.95 | Speaking |
| Hindi | 6.62 | 7.14 | 6.36 | 6.66 | 6.76 | Writing |
| Japanese | 5.99 | 5.92 | 5.65 | 5.45 | 5.82 | Speaking |
| Korean | 6.52 | 6.53 | 5.95 | 5.87 | 6.28 | Speaking |
| Spanish | 6.93 | 6.91 | 6.09 | 6.61 | 6.70 | Writing |
| Vietnamese | 6.49 | 6.38 | 6.07 | 5.61 | 6.20 | Speaking |
| English | 6.84 | 7.40 | 6.49 | 7.25 | 7.06 | Writing |
Two patterns stand out. For Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese speakers, Speaking is the lowest mean skill, with Writing close behind. For Arabic, Hindi and Spanish speakers, Writing is the lowest while Speaking is relatively strong. The notes below are common teaching observations that fit these patterns; they are not IELTS data.
- Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese speakers: these languages do not use articles the way English does, so a, an and the errors are common in Writing. In Speaking, short answers and long pauses limit Fluency and Coherence, so practise extending each answer with a reason and an example.
- Arabic speakers: Listening and Writing are both below the overall mean. Spelling in Listening answers and sentence boundaries in Writing (long sentences joined by and) are frequent targets.
- Hindi, Spanish and other speakers with strong Reading or Speaking: fluency can hide accuracy problems. Writing often needs more precise vocabulary, fewer run-on sentences and a clearer position.
- First-language English speakers: Writing is still the lowest skill on average, which shows that IELTS Writing rewards exam technique (task coverage, structure, timing), not just native fluency.
Academic vs General Training: which is harder?
Listening and Speaking are the same in both versions; Reading and Writing differ (IELTS test types (IELTS.org)). Academic Reading uses longer texts from books, journals and newspapers, while General Training uses everyday and workplace texts. IELTS.org states that the two Reading tests are graded on the same scale, but "it is usual that a greater number of questions must be answered correctly on a General Training Reading test to secure a given band score" (IELTS scoring in detail (IELTS.org)).
In practice, that means GT Reading texts feel easier but leave less room for mistakes: on average, Band 6 needs about 30 of 40 in GT Reading against about 23 in Academic Reading. In Writing, GT Task 1 is a letter rather than a chart or diagram report, which many candidates find more familiar. Task 2 is an essay in both versions.
79% of test takers
IELTS Academic
Harder Reading texts and a visual report in Writing Task 1, but more room for wrong answers in Reading.
- •Band 7 Reading: about 30 of 40
- •Task 1: chart, table, map or process
- •Required for most degree courses
21% of test takers
IELTS General Training
Everyday texts and a letter in Task 1, but more correct answers needed for the same Reading band.
- •Band 7 Reading: about 35 of 40
- •Task 1: a letter
- •Used for many migration and work routes
Test-taker shares are from the IELTS test statistics 2024-2025 (IELTS.org) download (78.93% Academic and 21.07% General Training in 2024-2025). Do not choose a version because it seems easier: book the one your organisation requires. Our Academic vs General Training guide explains the differences in detail.
Is IELTS harder than TOEFL or PTE?
No test is objectively easier. Each rewards a different profile, so the better question is which format suits you and which test your organisation accepts.
| IELTS | TOEFL iBT | PTE Academic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Score scale | 0 to 9 in half bands | 1 to 6 in half bands since 21 January 2026 | 10 to 90 |
| Speaking | Live conversation with an examiner | Recorded responses on computer | Recorded responses on computer |
| Marking of Writing and Speaking | Certificated human examiners | See ETS for current scoring details | AI scoring combined with human expertise (Pearson) |
| May suit you if | You prefer talking to a person and writing structured essays | You are comfortable with academic, computer-based integrated tasks | You like short, fast computer tasks and need quick results |
TOEFL details are from TOEFL iBT scores explained (ETS): section and overall scores now use a 1 to 6 scale, and for a two-year transition score reports also show a comparable 0 to 120 score. PTE details are from PTE Academic (Pearson), which describes a single test of about 2 hours with results typically in 2 days. All checked 2 November 2026. For fees, results times and acceptance, see our full IELTS vs TOEFL vs PTE comparison.
How long should you prepare?
IELTS does not publish an official number of study hours per band, and any exact figure you see online is an estimate. A more useful approach is to measure your gap, then pick a plan that matches it.
| Your situation | Suggested approach |
|---|---|
| Diagnostic within about 0.5 band of target, 15 to 20 hours a week | A focused one-month sprint such as our 30-day study plan |
| Gap of about 1 band, or fewer than 10 hours a week | A longer plan of two to three months with weekly Writing and Speaking feedback |
| Gap of more than 1 band | Build general English (vocabulary, grammar, listening habits) before heavy exam practice |
| One skill far below the others | Spend about half your time on that skill until it reaches the required minimum |
Find out how hard IELTS will be for you
The fastest way to answer the question for yourself is to measure where you are now. Two quick checks give you a realistic starting point.
- 1Check your vocabulary levelTake the free vocabulary level test. It takes about 5 to 10 minutes and shows which topics to strengthen first.
- 2Sit a timed mockDo a full mock test under real timing to get Listening and Reading bands and see how Writing feels after 90 minutes of work.
- 3Compare with your requirementWrite down the overall and per-skill bands your organisation asks for, then find your largest gap.
- 4Choose a planUse the table above to pick a timeline, and give your weakest skill the most hours.
Is IELTS hard? FAQ
What is the hardest part of IELTS?+
For most people it is Writing. In IELTS.org data for 2024-2025, Writing was the lowest mean skill for 33 of the 40 first-language groups listed for the Academic test. For several East Asian language groups, Speaking was the lowest.
How many correct answers do I need for Band 7?+
On average about 30 out of 40 in Listening and Academic Reading, and about 35 out of 40 in General Training Reading. IELTS.org notes that the exact number varies slightly between test versions.
Is IELTS harder than TOEFL?+
Not objectively. IELTS has a live Speaking interview with an examiner and separate skill sections, while TOEFL iBT is fully computer-based and now reports scores on a 1 to 6 scale. Choose the test your organisation accepts and whose format suits you.
Is General Training easier than Academic?+
The Reading texts and Writing Task 1 are more everyday in General Training, but you need more correct Reading answers for the same band. Book the version your university, employer or visa route requires.
Can I pass IELTS without studying?+
There is no pass or fail in IELTS. You can sit the test without preparation, but learning the format and practising under timed conditions usually improves your band, especially in Writing.