The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a highly recognized and extensively utilized examination designed for assessing individuals’ English language proficiency. It is widely employed by over 11,000 educational institutions and organizations across more than 140 countries for immigration and higher education purposes.
This test serves as a comprehensive means of evaluating the language skills and abilities of candidates aspiring to study or migrate to different countries. The IELTS exam has gained immense popularity due to its reliability, credibility, and adherence to international standards. It offers a fair and objective assessment of candidates’ reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills, enabling institutions to make informed decisions regarding their eligibility for admission or immigration.
| Conducting body | IDP and British Council |
| Mode | Paper-based and online |
| Exam fee | INR 16,250 |
| Scoring | 1-9 band |
| Accepting countries | UK, Canada, Australia, USA, New Zealand, etc. |
| Duration | 2 hours 45 minutes |
Primarily there are two types of IELTS exams to demonstrate language proficiency at various levels. The listening and speaking sections of the exam in both types are often similar.
| IELTS Academic | This IELTS test type is primarily designed for candidates who wish to pursue higher education abroad. As the name suggests, it is suitable for academic purposes and assesses whether candidates have the necessary English language proficiency to understand and communicate effectively in academic settings. |
| IELTS General Training | This test type is intended for individuals planning to migrate to an English-speaking country for work, training programs, secondary education, or immigration purposes. It assesses practical, everyday English language skills needed in social and workplace contexts. |
| IELTS for UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) | This version of the test is approved by the UK government for visa applications, primarily for immigration purposes. |
Apart from the above-mentioned types, there is also an IELTS Life Skills test designed for those who need to prove their speaking and listening skills at levels A1 or B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for visa and immigration purposes in the UK.
The fees for the IELTS exam are the same in all Indian states, Candidates can easily get a refund of INR 12,000 in case they cancel the test 5 weeks before the test date. A rescheduling fee of INR 4,050 is charged in case the candidate wishes to change the date of the test.
| IELTS exam fee in India | INR 16,250 for both online and paper-based test |
| IELTS exam fee in Canada | Ranges between INR 19,000 - INR 20,000 |
| IELTS exam fee in Nepal | INR 16,920 |
| IELTS exam fee in the USA | INR 17,795 and above |
The IELTS examination consists of four sections, each of which is significant in assessing one’s understanding of the English language.
The Listening section is the initial part of the IELTS exam, which is applicable for both academic and general testing. It comprises two monologues and two conversations, and the examinees are expected to listen attentively and respond to the questions accordingly. It is important to note that this test can only be heard once.
The reading and comprehension skills of the candidates are evaluated in the second section of IELTS. In IELTS Academic Testing, the reading section comprises three passages, which the candidates must read, comprehend, and answer the questions accurately. On the other hand, the IELTS General Test has three sections, with section 1 containing two or more shorter texts, section 2 having two texts, and section 3 consisting of one long text. The candidates must read, comprehend, and answer all the questions by carefully reading the text.
The purpose of the writing section is to assess the writing abilities of the candidates. In the Academic Test, there are two tasks. The first task involves summarizing the provided information, which can be in the form of a table, graph, chart, or diagram, using one’s own words. The second task requires writing an essay from an argumentative, problem-solving, or other perspective on a given topic. Similarly, in the General Test, there are also two tasks. The first task involves writing a letter to describe a situation or request information. The second task is the same as the one in the Academic Test.
The speaking examination is identical for both the Academic and General Tests. The initial assignment entails conducting face-to-face interviews on diverse general subjects for a duration of 4 to 5 minutes. In the second task, participants are provided with a card on which they can speak for 2 minutes. The candidate will be granted one minute for preparation. The examiner will then pose questions to the candidate pertaining to the second task. The following chart illustrates the total number of questions in each section and their respective durations.
Before appearing for the IELTS, the candidates must check the official website for all the critical details regarding the test.
| Age limit | The primary eligibility criteria stated for the IELTS exam is that the candidates must be of age 16 years and above |
| English proficiency level | There is no specific minimum or maximum English proficiency level required to register for the test |
Candidates can choose to take the test based on their current language abilities. Major institutions accept an IELTS score of 7 with a minimum of 6.5 in each section.Each country and university has different minimum requirements for the IELTS score. It is advisable to the candidates that they check the requirements.
IELTS scores range from 0-9 as they numerically rate a candidate’s proficiency in the language. Each section is scored individually, and the overall band score is calculated as an average of the scores obtained in each section. The IELTS band score scale is as follows:
| IELTS band score | Skill level |
|---|---|
| 9 band | Expert level |
| 8 band | Very good |
| 7 band | Good |
| 6 band | Competent |
| 5 band | Modest |
The above-mentioned band score system offers a clear and standardized way to determine a candidate’s language abilities, ranging from non-user 1 band) to expert user (9 band). The IELTS results are widely accepted by educational institutions, employers, immigration authorities, and professional organizations worldwide. The scores are valid for two years from the test date, and candidates can view their results online or receive them via email. The IELTS results play a crucial role in helping individuals achieve their academic, professional, and migration goals, making it one of the most recognized and trusted English language proficiency tests globally.
Preparing for the IELTS exam is a very important process in order to score well in the exam
The exam has four different sections out of which the listening, reading, and writing sections can be completed in one day. The speaking section is completed within or after one week.
The reading section is 60 minutes long and aims to test the candidate's ability to read and comprehend complex academic texts. It contains three reading passages of increasing difficulty. The passages are typically taken from books, journals, magazines, or other academic sources.
This section assesses a candidate's ability to write in an academic context. It consists of two tasks that require candidates to produce well-structured and coherent pieces of writing. Candidates are required to discuss, argue, agree or disagree, offer solutions, or analyze a particular topic.
This section consists of four sections, and candidates are required to listen to a range of recordings, such as lectures, discussions, and conversations. The section is approximately 30 minutes long, and there is an additional 10 minutes to transfer answers to the answer sheet.
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