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What is IELTS?

Find out what you need to know about the IELTS test.

Test types

  • list?.image?.titleIELTS Academic: for higher education or professional registration
  • list?.image?.titleIELTS General Training: for migration, work, or secondary studies

Ways to take the test

  • list?.image?.titleIELTS on paper: answer on paper using a pencil or pen
  • list?.image?.titleIELTS on computer: type your answers on a keyboard

Test sections

  • list?.image?.titleListening
  • list?.image?.titleReading
  • list?.image?.titleWriting
  • list?.image?.titleSpeaking

Results

  • list?.image?.titleIELTS on paper test: 13 calendar days after the test
  • list?.image?.titleIELTS on computer test: most results available within one day
  • list?.image?.titleYou will receive a Test Report Form (TRF) as official results of your IELTS test
  • list?.image?.titleYour TRF can either be in paper form or electronic/online results (eTRF)

Scoring

  • list?.image?.titleThe IELTS test is scored on a 9-band scale ranging from 0 to 9
  • list?.image?.titleIELTS gives band scores as whole or half band scores
  • list?.image?.titleYou will get a band score for each test section and an overall band score for the entire test
  • list?.image?.titleThe overall band score is the average of the four section band scores rounded to the nearest half band

Acceptance

  • list?.image?.titleIELTS results are accepted for study, work, and migration
  • list?.image?.titleIELTS is accepted by more than 12,500 organisations in over 150 countries worldwide
  • list?.image?.titleIELTS is the only major English test to offer One Skill Retake, which is accepted by more than 1,200 organisations worldwide
list?.image?.media?.titleBook your IELTS test
list?.image?.media?.titlePrepare for your IELTS test

IELTS (the International English Language Testing System) is the world’s most popular English language test for work, study and migration. More than 12,500 organisations trust IELTS as a reliable indicator of true-to-life ability to communicate in English.

IELTS assesses a test taker’s English language proficiency across four skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking.

Delivered on either a computer or paper, IELTS is the only high-stakes language test recognized for migration across Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. With a focus on human conversations, IELTS was a pioneer of four-skills English language testing more than 30 years ago. IELTS continues to set the standard for English language testing today.

IELTS Test Types

Types of IELTS tests are categorized according to the purpose of taking IELTS

  • IELTS Academic is suitable for those wanting to study in an English-speaking environment or university (higher education). You can also take IELTS Academic for professional registration purposes. The test measures if you are ready to begin studying in English. It features vocabulary that is familiar withing an academic setting.

  • The IELTS General Training is suitable for those applying to study below degree level. This includes an English-speaking school or college. It can also be taken for work experience or other employment training. IELTS General Training is also required for migration to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK. The test features everyday English language skills that you will need in social and workplace environments.

IELTS Test Format

Candidates are tested on all four language skills – listening, reading, writing, and speaking, respectively. Everyone takes the same Listening and Speaking tests. However, the IELTS Reading and Writing tests are different in the Academic and General Training tests.

IELTS Academic

IELTS General Training

For higher education or professional registration.

Assesses your English-language proficiency at an academic level.

For migration, work, or secondary studies.

Developed to test your every-day, non-academic English.

Listening

You will listen to four recorded monologues and conversations.

Listening

You will listen to four recorded monologues and conversations.

Reading

Three long reading passage with tasks.

All the topics are of general interest to students at undergraduate or postgraduate level.

The texts may be written in different styles and may contain diagrams, graphs, or illustrations.

The texts will come from a variety of sources (e.g. books, journals, newspapers).

There are 40 questions. A variety of different question types are used.

Reading

Five or six texts of varying length with tasks.

Section 1: contains two or three short texts or several shorter texts on everyday topics.

Section 2: contains two short, work-related, factual texts.

Section 3: contains one longer text on a topic of general interest.

The texts will come from a variety of sources (e.g. advertisements, company handbooks, official documents, books, newspapers).

There are 40 questions. A variety of different question types are used.

Writing

Task 1: at least 150 words to summarise, describe, or explain a graph, table, chart, or diagram.

Task 2: short essay of at least 250 words.

Writing

Task 1: letter-writing task of at least 150 words.

Task 2: short essay of at least 250 words.

Speaking

Face-to-face with a human examiner, in a private speaking room.

The test is recorded and conducted in three parts.

Includes short questions, speaking at length about a familiar topic, and a structured discussion.

Speaking

Face-to-face with a human examiner, in a private speaking room.

The test is recorded and conducted in three parts.

Includes short questions, speaking at length about a familiar topic, and a structured discussion.

Learn more about IELTS

undefinedIELTS on paper
undefinedIELTS on computer
undefinedIELTS Academic and General free practice tests
undefinedHow is IELTS marked?
undefinedWhen & how to get your IELTS results