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In most tests, as well as IELS, an understanding of the test itself is necessary to achieve the goal. Learn more about the exam through the frequently asked questions prepared.
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If you plan to migrate to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK or the USA, taking an IELTS General Training test makes sense. Or if you plan on studying in secondary education, or enrolling in vocational training, this might still be the right choice.
But if you plan to study in higher education or want professional registration in an English-speaking country, you might need to take an IELTS Academic test.
IELTS and IELTS for UKVI are the exact same test in terms of format, content, scoring and level of difficulty. The only difference is an IELTS for UKVI test is approved by the UK Home Office for work, study and migration purposes.
If you take an IELTS for UKVI test, your test report form will be a little different to show you have taken an IELTS for UKVI test at an approved test centre.
As IELTS is an international test, a variety of voices and native-speaker accents are used in both the General Training and Academic tests.
Of course! Every test question that appears on the IELTS test is designed, screened and tested by Cambridge Assessment English (CAE) to ensure it meets standard requirements before being released as test material. This can take up to two years to ensure every question complies with our high standards for all test takers.
Our research ensures IELTS remains fair and unbiased for anyone who sits the test, regardless of nationality, background, gender or lifestyle. Our highly trusted team ensures every version of the test is of comparable difficulty.
The Listening, Reading, and Writing parts of the test are completed immediately after each other on the same day. In some test centres, you will sit the Speaking test on the same day or after your test date.
If you take computer-delivered IELTS, the Speaking test will be taken on the same day or after the other three parts of the test.
IELTS Academic and General Training are two wholly separate types of test, for two different purposes. While some individual organisations may accept an Academic result in the place of General Training, this decision is up to them. You will need to contact your specific organisation to learn more.
Yes. IELTS on computer provides a note-taking and highlight function. You can try these functions on the familiarisation tests here. You can also write notes on the login details sheet you receive at the beginning of the test.
The Listening, Reading, and Writing parts of the test are completed immediately after each other on the same day. In some test centres, you will sit the Speaking test on the same day, or up to 7 days before or after your test date.
If you take IELTS on computer, the Speaking test will be taken on the same day, either before, or after the other three parts of the test.
If you choose to take IELTS on computer, you will take the Listening, Reading and Writing test parts using a computer.
If you choose to take the IELTS on paper, you will complete the Listening, Reading and Writing test parts on paper.
The Speaking test for both paper and computer are face to face with an examiner. This is the best way to measure your speaking skills as it takes a more realistic approach: a life-like conversation with an examiner.
You must bring the same passport or national identity card that you used to book your IELTS test. If you do an IELTS on paper test, you can take pens, pencils and erasers into the examination room. If you do an IELTS on computer test, the centre will provide you with pencils and paper.
You must leave all of your personal belongings outside the examination room in a secure area or locker. Mobile phones, pagers and smart watches must be switched off and left with your personal belongings.
If you keep mobile phones or electronic devices with you, you will be disqualified.
Headphones will always be provided for IELTS on computer.
For IELTS on paper, headphones are used in some countries, but not a requirement for all IELTS test centres.
You can ask your centre to use headphones or special amplification equipment to help you hear the recording, but you will need to ask at least two weeks before your test date.
The Academic and General Training test fee is the same. You can contact your nearest test centre to find out the test fee for your country and in your local currency. The approximate cost of the test is USD 245.
The band score you need to study abroad is set by the institution to which you are applying and not by IELTS.
The score needed to apply to a course may vary based on the institution or course you want to apply for. If you are not sure what band score you need to apply for your desired course, check out our Who accepts IELTS page or double-check with the institution you wish to apply to.
The band score you need to migrate to a particular country varies. Check our Who accepts IELTS page to check what band score you need.
About Test day
The Listening, Reading, and Writing parts of the test are completed immediately after each other on the same day. In some test centres, you will sit the Speaking test on the same day or after your test date.
If you take computer-delivered IELTS, the Speaking test will be taken on the same day or after the other three parts of the test.
You must bring the same passport that you used to book your IELTS test. If you do a paper-based IELTS test, you can take pens, pencils and erasers into the examination room. If you do a computer-delivered IELTS test, the centre will provide you with pencils and paper.
You must leave all of your personal belongings outside the examination room in a secure area or locker. Mobile phones, pagers and smart watches must be switched off and left with your personal belongings.
If you keep mobile phones or electronic devices with you, you will be disqualified.
You must bring the same passport that you used to book your IELTS test. Your ID will be checked before you enter the interview room and again during the interview.
As IELTS is an international test, a variety of voices and native-speaker accents are used in both the General Training and Academic tests.
Pencil is recommended for the IELTS Listening, Reading, and Writing tests. This is because tests are scanned and work best with pencil. It also means that you can easily erase and rewrite words. If you forget to bring a pencil, the test centre will provide one for you.
Yes, you are encouraged to write notes on the question booklets. IELTS examiners do not have access to your question booklets.
If you have already made a booking, please check your booking confirmation email and contact our IELTS IDP centers directly for any clarification.
If you are interested in booking a test, you may email us your enquiry with the preferred venue.
Please note the changes in our operation schedules
For any rescheduling, venue change or canceling test, please refer to Rescheduling/Cancellation for more details.
For each IELTS test taken, you will receive only one Test Report Form (TRF). You may request for additional TRFs for study, work or migration applications to be sent to the institutions/organisations as necessary.
If you are not satisfied with your results, you can apply for a review of your results (Enquiry on Results). An IELTS examiner from Cambridge Assessment English will mark your test again without knowing your original test scores.
When you request a remark, your IELTS test will be remarked by an experienced senior IELTS examiner who is not aware of the original marks awarded for each part - Writing, Reading, Listening and Speaking. Your test centre is then notified of the remarked result and if the mark has changed, you will receive a new Test Report Form (TRF).
The request for a remark must be made within 6 weeks of the date shown on your Test Report Form (TRF). You can request a remark on the whole test or any part of it (Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking).
You must pay an enquiry fee, which is fully refunded if your band score changes. Contact your local test centre for more information about fees.
Your reviewed results will be available within 21 days of applying for a remark, depending on several factors including the number of sections requested for remark. If you have not received a response after 28 days, please contact your test centre.
If you feel confident that you have done better than your score shows, applying for an EOR is one option for you. This is marked by a senior examiner who marks it independently from your first examiner. After this second assessment, your score either stays the same or is higher, depending on the senior examiner’s rating.
EOR requests and all IELTS test day matters are handled by your test centre. IDP responds to the EOR requests by using a team of senior examiners.
About IELTS Online
IELTS Online is the new way to take the IELTS Academic test. You can now choose to take the world’s leading English language test at home or in a private location with a stable internet connection.
It has the same test format and duration as IELTS Academic taken in a test centre, but IELTS Online gives you the opportunity to choose where you want to take the test from.
The Speaking test is conducted online via video call with an IELTS Examiner.
It uses the same IELTS multi-layered security processes in pre-test, test day and post-test operations. Recognising Organisations (ROs) will use the same online verification system as the one used to verify in-centre results.
No, you don’t need to be at home to take your test. You will need a private, well-lit space where you won’t be interrupted with a stable internet connection.
IELTS Online is currently available to test takers aged 18 and above.
You will need a laptop or desktop computer with the right hardware and software installed. Your microphone and camera must be on for the duration of the test. See full list of system and equipment requirements below.
Prior to taking the test you will also need to download and install Inspera Exam Portal (IEP). Once you book your test, you will be emailed a link to download the portal. We recommend you install the portal the day before your test as it has a systems check to ensure your computer is compatible.
You can access the IELTS Online test taker guide here.
No, IELTS Online is currently only available for IELTS Academic. It is not accepted for migration purposes.
IELTS Online is being rolled out to select countries. Register your interest and be the first to know when bookings are open in your area.
