The main change to the test is that it will be shorter! This will no doubt be popular with test takers. Let’s run through the new structure section by section.

• The reading section consists now of just two passages with 10 questions after each passage. You have 35 minutes for this section and the timing is for the whole section. This means that for example if you complete the first passage in 15 minutes, you can use 20 minutes for the second.

• The listening section has 28 questions and the section takes 36 minutes to complete. This time includes the time you spend listening and answering the questions

• The speaking section is unchanged. There are 4 tasks and the section takes 16 minutes. Your speaking time is 3 minutes and 45 seconds. The rest of the time is spent reading and listening to passages on which the questions are based.

• The major change is in the writing section. There are still two tasks and the time for writing is 30 minutes. The 20-minute integrated writing task is unchanged. There is no longer a 30-minute independent essay. This has been replaced by a 10-min “Writing for an Academic Discussion” question. Here you read a professor’s question and the responses of two students to the question. Then you write your own response to the question in the form of a contribution to the discussion. Your response should be of at least 100 words. Your job here is to express and support your opinion, and contribute to the discussion by acknowledging some of the views expressed by the others.

The whole test will now take less than 2 hours.

There are no breaks and no test questions.

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