What is IELTS?

IELTS, or the International English Language Testing System, is an internationally recognised test of English language proficiency. It is designed to assess the language skills of people who need to communicate in English for work or study purposes. IELTS is the most widely accepted English language test in the world, with over two million tests taken every year.

IELTS is owned and jointly managed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge English Language Assessment. It is available in two versions – Academic and General Training – and is available in more than 140 countries.

Purpose of IELTS

IELTS is used to assess the language proficiency of people who want to work or study in English-speaking countries. It is recognised by many educational institutions, employers and governments around the world, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States.

IELTS tests four language skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking. It is designed to reflect real-life language use in an academic or professional setting and assesses all four language skills at the same time.

Format of IELTS

IELTS is a paper-based or computer-delivered test. The paper-based test has four sections – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking – and takes two hours and 45 minutes to complete. The computer-delivered test also has four sections, but the Listening and Reading sections are combined and the test takes two hours and 15 minutes to complete.

The Listening and Speaking sections are the same in both versions, while the Reading and Writing sections are different. The Academic Reading and Writing sections are more challenging than those in the General Training version and test a person’s ability to understand and use complex language, while the General Training Reading and Writing sections test a person’s ability to understand and use everyday language.

Scoring System

IELTS results are reported on a nine-band scale, from 1 (the lowest) to 9 (the highest). Each band corresponds to a particular level of English language proficiency. Scores are reported as a whole band or a half band, with the exception of band 9, which is reported in whole bands only.

IELTS Scores

IELTS scores are valid for two years from the date of the test. The scores are valid for visa applications, study and work purposes, and for admissions to universities and colleges.