What is IELTS?
The International English Language Testing System or IELTS is a globally accepted standardized test that officially allows a non-English speaker to enter any English-speaking country. The reason for entrance to the country may be either study or work.
IELTS is conducted in more than 1600 test centers in 140 countries. More than 3.5 million people sit for the test every year. This test tests your proficiency in the basics of the English language in terms of Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.
IELTS is conducted all over the world by 2 organizations: IDP and British Council. In India however, IELTS is conducted entirely by IDP as British Council has discontinued conducting IELTS exams in India since 2021.
Why Choose IELTS?
- IELTS for Study Abroad IELTS results are accepted by thousands of top-ranked educational institutions as proof of your English language proficiency. It is also an admission criterion.
- IELTS for Working Abroad to get employment in an English-speaking country you have to take the IELTS. Qualifying the test with an accepted band score will open doors to professions like law, medicine, accounting, engineering, etc.
- IELTS for Migration- to gain permanent residency in an English-speaking country you should qualify for the IELTS test. Foreign nations demand proof of your language skills in the form of language tests. Immigration departments in over 140 countries accept the IELTS score.
IELTS Computer-Based Test and IELTS Paper-Based Test
Computer-Based IELTS
In the computer-based IELTS test an examinee takes the Reading, Listening, and Writing sections test on a computer. You are required to type your answers on the computer instead of writing the answers on paper. The speaking test remains the same. The test results are available within 7 working days.
Paper-Based IELTS
In the paper-based IELTS test an examinee writes the answers(Reading, Listening, and Writing sections) on a paper. The candidates will be given a pencil and paper and an extra 10 mins for transferring their answers to the answer sheet. The results of the test are delivered 13 days from the test date.
IELTS Accepting Countries
IELTS is widely accepted in 140 countries including the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Germany and New Zealand. Over 11,000 organizations like schools, colleges, universities, and corporations across many countries accept the IELTS score.
Top Universities Accepting IELTS
Here is a country-wise list of top universities accepting the IELTS score:
USA
| University | IELTS Minimum Score |
|---|---|
| Yale University | 7.0 |
| Harvard University | 7.0 |
| Columbia University | 7.0 |
| Northwestern University | 7.5 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT) | 7.0 |
| University of Chicago | 7.0 |
| University of Washington | 7.5 |
CANADA
| University | IELTS Minimum Score |
|---|---|
| Oxford University | 7.5 |
| Cambridge University | 7.0 |
| King’s College London | 7.0 |
| University of Bristol | 6.0 |
| University of Edinburgh | 6.5 |
| University of Manchester | 6.0 – 7.5 |
AUSTRALIA
| University | IELTS Minimum Score |
|---|---|
| Sydney University | 6.5 |
| University of Melbourne | 7.0 |
| Monash University | 6.5 |
| University of Queensland | 6.5 |
| Australian National University | 6.5 – 7.0 |
| University of Adelaide | 6.5 |
Best IELTS Materials
Some of the Best IELTS Books for your solid test prep experience:
- The Official Cambridge Guide to IELTS
- Barron’s IELTS Superpack
- The Road to IELTS
- Official IELTS Practice Materials Volume 1 and Volume 2
- Simone Braverman’s Target Band 7
- Vocabulary for IELTS
- Grammar for IELTS
- IELTS Trainer
- Cambridge IELTS 15 Academic Student’s Book with Answers with Audio
- Mometrix IELTS Book for General Training and Academic 2021 – 2022
IELTS Exam Centres in India
ELTS exam is conducted in over 78 official test centres across India by IDP. To register for the IELTS test you should select the state and city name during your IELTS registration process.
IELTS Test Centres in India:
- Punjab
- Gujarat
- Jaipur, Rajasthan
- Andhra Pradesh
- Goa
- Raipur, Chhattisgarh
- Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
- Dehradun, Uttarakhand
- Mangaluru, Karnataka
- Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
- Rudrapur, Uttarakhand
- Siliguri, West Bengal
- Guwahati, Assam
- Bhubaneswar, Odisha
- Ranchi, Jharkhand
- Patna, Bihar
- Madhya Pradesh
- Gujarat
- Mangaluru, Karnataka
- Kerala
- Tamil Nadu
- New Delhi, Delhi
- Haryana
- Punjab
- Mehsana, Gujarat
- Jaipur, Rajasthan
- Kerala
- Navi Mumbai
IELTS is now conducted online due to the current pandemic scenario. Some of the test centres might not be functioning. Please check with the test centre during registration about the status of the test centres.
IELTS Exam Details
| IELTS full form | The International English language Testing System |
|---|---|
| Conducted by | IDP and British Council In India IELTS is conducted by only IDP |
| Eligibility | 16 years and above |
| Types | Academic and General Training |
| Mode | Computer and Paper Based tests |
| Score Validity | 2 years |
| Test centers | 4500 in 160 countries |
| Score range | 1-9 |
| Test Fee | Rs. 16,250 |
| Pattern | Speaking, Listening, Reading, Writing |
| Retake | As many times as you want in a year |
IELTS Types: IELTS Academic Test and IELTS General Training Test
There are two types of IELTS test:
1.IELTS Academic Test:The IELTS Academic Test is conducted for those people who are planning to study abroad. If you are looking forward to pursuing Bachelor’s, or Master’s then you should take the IELTS Academic test. In addition, this test certificate assesses your English language skills and opens doors to a number of universities in many countries.
2.IELTS General Test:The IELTS General test is for people who are planning to work or settle in an English-speaking country. Several countries like Canada, New Zealand, and the US provide work permits to immigrants on the basis of the IELTS General test certificate.
IELTS Mode: IELTS Computer Test vs IELTS Paper Test
1.Computer-Based IELTS:The computer-based IELTS test requires the candidates to take the Reading, Listening, and Writing sections test on a computer. You have to type your answers on the computer rather than type the answers on paper. The speaking test remains the same. The test results are available within 7 working days.
2.Paper-Based IELTS:The Paper-based IELTS test requires the candidates to write the answers for the Reading, Listening, and Writing sections on the test paper itself. The candidates will be given a pencil and paper and an extra 10 mins for transferring their answers to the answer sheet. Results of the paper-based test are delivered 13 days from the date of the test.
Retaking the IELTS
IELTS is conducted 4 times a month and 48 times a year. You can sit for the test as many times as you want until you get a satisfactory band score. You can, then, select your desired score and send it across to your university of choice.
Who should take the IELTS exam?
Candidates basically sit for the IELTS exam due to 3 major reasons. They are discussed below.
- IELTS for Study AbroadIf you are planning to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate courses abroad in an English-speaking country, you will have to prove your language proficiency by qualifying for the IELTS test. The band score varies from college to college. Moreover, fluency in the language will assist you to get along with your fellow students and help you in your course.
- IELTS for Working AbroadIf you are looking forward to pursuing a career in an English-speaking country, you have to provide proof of your language skills. In order to do so, you are required to qualify for the IELTS with an accepted band score. The sole reason behind proving your language proficiency to the Immigration Department with an IELTS score is that you are capable of communicating in a professional atmosphere in a foreign country. It also enhances your career opportunities as language is a valuable factor for any organization.
- IELTS for Immigration The IELTS score is used as a part of the application process for Permanent Residence. Government departments use the English language score as a selection process as it convinces the authorities that the candidate can blend easily into the foreign environment. Therefore, IELTS is a prerequisite for smooth application processing.
IELTS Types
There are two types of IELTS: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. The test you choose should be based on what you intend to do- study or work or migrate.
1.IELTS Academic Test IELTS Academic is taken by those candidates who plan to Study Abroad for their Higher Education. It is mandatory for students who are looking forward to pursuing their under graduation or post-graduation in countries like the USA, UK, and Canada to crack the IELTS.
You can sit for the IELTS Academic Test if you want to:
- study(under graduation or post-graduation, Ph.D.) in an English-speaking country
- apply for a student route visa ( tier 4 ) at an abroad university
2.IELTS General Training Test IELTS General Training is taken by those candidates who wish to work or migrate to an English-speaking country.
You can take the IELTS General Training if you want to:
- study below degree level
- work in an English-speaking country
- get employment training for a job
- migrate to an English-speaking country
IELTS Syllabus
The IELTS Syllabus consists of 4 sections: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. The complete test duration is 2 hours and 45 minutes with an extra 10 minutes for transferring your answer. These tests have different parameters which help the examiners to judge your English language proficiency skills.
a) IELTS Reading: The IELTS Reading Section has questions ranging from factual and descriptive to analytical and discursive. The section includes a set of 40 questions with 1 mark for each question. The time duration is 60 minutes.
b) IELTS Writing: The IELTS Writing section comprises 2 questions:
- The first section will have questions on graphs, diagrams, etc. You will be asked to write a descriptive analysis in 150 words. The time duration is 20 mins.
- The second section will ask you to write an essay in 250 words within 40 mins. This question evaluates your clarity and understanding of external situations.
c) IELTS Listening: In the IELTS Listening section you will be presented with audio recordings of conversations of native English speakers. Questions will be asked based on the recordings. You have to answer 40 questions within a time limit of 30 minutes.
d) IELTS Speaking: the IELTS Speaking section evaluates you on the basis of your usage and knowledge of the English language. This test is an interaction between you and the examiner. You will be given an opportunity to speak at length on a specific topic. The examiner will evaluate you on your fluency in language, choice of vocabulary, and confidence.
The Reading and Writing tests are different for the General test takers.
IELTS Scoring
IELTS score is calculated on a scale of 0-9. Overall scores of 0.5 are calculated to the nearest whole band score.
IELTS Reading Score
The IELTS Reading scores are calculated on the basis of the number of correct answers. The scores are out of 40 questions. Academic Reading Scores
| Band Score | 9 | 8.5 | 8 | 7.5 | 7 | 6.5 | 6 | 5.5 | 5 | 4.5 | 4 | 3.5 | 2.5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Correct Answers | 40-39 | 38-37 | 36-35 | 34-33 | 32-30 | 29-27 | 26-23 | 22-19 | 18-15 | 14-13 | 12-10 | 9-8 | 5-4 |
General Training Scores
| Band Score | 9 | 8.5 | 8 | 7.5 | 7 | 6.5 | 6 | 5.5 | 5 | 4.5 | 4 | 3.5 | 2.5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Correct Answers | 40 | 39 | 37-38 | 36 | 34-35 | 32-33 | 30-31 | 27-29 | 23-26 | 19-22 | 15-18 | 12-14 | 6-8 |
IELTS Writing Scores
The IELTS Writing scores are assessed using 4 marking criteria.
| Task Achievement (Task 1) |
|
|---|---|
| Task Response( Task 2) |
|
| Coherence and Cohesion |
|
| Lexical Resource |
|
| Grammar Range & Accuracy |
|
IELTS Listening Scores
The IELTS Listening scores are calculated on the basis of the number of correct answers. The scores are out of 40 questions.
| Band Score | 9.0 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 7.0 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 2.5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Correct Answers | 39-40 | 37-38 | 35-36 | 32-34 | 30-31 | 26-29 | 23-25 | 18-22 | 16-17 | 13-15 | 10-12 | 8-10 | 4-5 |
IELTS Speaking Score
The IELTS Speaking score is based on 4 marking criteria:
- Coherence and Fluency
- Lexical Resource
- Grammatical Range
- Accuracy and Pronunciation
IELTS Band Score Description
A tabulated representation of the meaning of each point of the IELTS band scale is mentioned below:
| IELTS Band Score | Skill Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Expert | You are an expert user and have a great command over the English language. |
| 8 | Very good | You are a very good user and have a great operational command of the English language. Though, misunderstandings in certain unfamiliar situations may happen. |
| 7 | Good | You are a good user and have a good command of the English language with occasional mistakes. |
| 6 | Competent users | You are a competent user and have an effective command of the English language with some inaccuracies and inappropriate usage in certain situations |
| 5 | Modest users | You are a modest user and you have a partial command of the language. You can handle basic communication in your field. |
| 4 | Limited users | You are only a limited user and can understand the language only in familiar situations |
| 3 | Extremely limited users | You understand only the general meaning in very familiar situations, with repeated breakdowns in communication. |
| 2 | Intermittent | The examinee has great difficulty in understanding spoken and written English |
| 1 | Non-user | The examinee cannot use the English language in situations except a few isolated words |
| 0 | Did not attempt test | The test taker did not attempt any question. |
IELTS Slot Booking
IELTS aspirants can take the test either in a computer-delivered IELTS test or a paper-delivered test. To sit for the test you have to book a test date. You can register for IELTS either online or at your nearest IDP IELTS branch.
IELTS paper-delivered test is conducted 4 times every month. However, the computer-delivered IELTS test is conducted several times a year. You must have a valid passport while applying for the IELTS exam.
IELTS Registration
IELTS Registration can be done in 3 methods:
- The first method is registering for IELTS online and paying the test fee through a credit card
- The second method is visiting any IDP branch or Input Node and registering in person
- The third method is registering through courier and paying the test fee by Demand Draft or ICICI deposit/HDFC deposit slip
Online IELTS Slot Booking
Please follow the steps for IELTS slot booking for your online IELTS test
- Visit IELTS official website
- Click on the ‘Register for Test’ option
- Fill in the details and create your profile
- Select your preferred IELTS test center, exam date, and IELTS exam slot
- Make the payment for your IELTS test
- You will receive the IELTS test fee confirmation for the IELTS slot booking on your registered email id
- Keep that mail for future reference
For More info about IELTS online exam slot booking
Offline IELTS Slot Booking
Please follow the steps for IELTS slot booking for your offline IELTS test
- Visit the IELTS official website
- Select the nearest IELTS test center of your choice
- Register and pay the online IELTS registration fee of INR 16,250. Moreover, you can also download the registration form and submit it at your nearest test center.
- The test center will send the confirmation of your IELTS test date and time selected by the candidate
For More info about IELTS offline exam slot booking
IELTS slot booking for your IELTS Speaking Test can be done by you, as per your preferred date and time. However, if you fail to book an IELTS exam slot yourself, the system will automatically select a time slot for you.
A time slot will be automatically allocated to you if you fail to choose a slot yourself. This is applied for Paper-based on IELTS test takers.
IELTS Refund
A cancellation or postpone fee will be administered to you in case you cancel or postpone your exam date. You will receive the refund after deducting the administration fee which is 25% (roughly Rs 3,875) of the test fee.
Documents Required for IELTS Slot Booking
Online Registration
- Photocopy of passport
- Proof of successful payment made through demand draft (DD) or ‘British Council Copy’ of ICICI bank payment slip
- Copy of IELTS application acknowledgment document received after online registration
Offline Registration
- photocopy of your passport
- IELTS application form
- proof of successful IELTS payment done through demand draft (DD) or ‘British Council Copy’ of ICICI bank payment slip
IELTS Test Day
Here are some IELTS tips and advice to help you understand what to expect on IELTS test day. Follow these steps for a smooth and hassle-free IELTS test.
Arriving at your IELTS Test Center
- be on time, arrive at the test center well ahead of your test time, you will not be allowed to enter the center if you are late.
- keep all your personal belongings outside including your cell phones, watches, and other electronic belongings
- you will not get any breaks during the test
Identity Documents
- carry your identity proof such as your passport and other documents to the test center
- some centers might ask you for a finger scan
During the Test
- you can carry a pen, pencil and eraser and your ID inside the examination room
- check if you can hear the recording clearly, before the Listening test starts, raise your hand and inform the inspector if you have any problems
- make sure you write the answer on the answer sheet as you complete each section as you will not be given extra 10 minutes after the Reading section.
IELTS Score Reporting
IELTS Result Availability Time in India
| IELTS Test Mode | Result Availability Time |
|---|---|
| Online test | 3 – 5 days after the test |
| Offline test | After 13 days from the test date |
IELTS Test Report Form(TRF)
You will get your IELTS test score in the form of a paper copy called IELTS Test Report Form (TRF). TRF will be shared with you within 13 days of your test date. You can personally visit the test center and collect your TRF, Furthermore, it can also be delivered to you by post.
Please note: The IELTS test results will not be shared over the phone or via email.
How to Send IELTS Scores Electronically?
There are 2 methods of sending your IELTS scores to universities.
- You may get the IELTS test center to send your IELTS scores to your selected universities. The IDP office sends your scores report to the recipient universities free of cost. However, there are additional charges if it exceeds 5 universities.
- IELTS candidates may attach a copy of their TRF or ATRF with their college application. They can send this application via mail to their selected universities.
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