The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is a widely recognized English language proficiency test used by universities, employers, and other organizations to evaluate the language skills of non-native English speakers. It is administered by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and the University of Cambridge English Language Assessment. IELTS scores are reported on a nine-band scale. Each section receives a separate band score. Additionally, the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) offers a specific version of the IELTS test for visa and immigration purposes. It is recognized by universities, employers, and immigration authorities in many countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the United States. 

IELTS Categories 

1. IELTS Academic Test 

The IELTS Academic Test is appropriate for people who want to start their professional careers abroad or who want to enroll in undergraduate or graduate programs at overseas universities. The purpose of this exam is to assess candidates' English language skills in preparation for pursuing higher education in an English-speaking country. 

2. IELTS General Training 

The IELTS General Training test is appropriate for candidates looking to apply to undergraduate programs. It can also be taken for other employment training or for work-related purposes. The practical English language abilities required for regular communication in a social and professional setting are evaluated by this test. 

IETS Test Format 

Listening 

The IELTS Listening test is designed to assess a wide range of listening skills, including how well you 

•  understand main ideas and specific information. 

• recognize the opinions, attitudes and purpose of a speaker 

• follow the development of an argument. 

Format: You will listen to four recordings of native English speakers and then write your answers to a series of questions. 

Section 1: a conversation between two people set in an everyday social context. 

Section 2: a monologue set in an everyday social context, e.g. a speech about local facilities. 

Section 3: a conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context, e.g. a university tutor and a student discussing an assignment. 

Section 4: a monologue on an academic subject, e.g. a university lecture. 

Duration: The IELTS Listening test takes approximately 30 minutes, and you are allowed an extra 10 minutes to transfer your answers from your question booklet to your answer sheet. 

Number of questions: 40 questions. 

Reading  

The IELTS Reading test comes in two versions: Academic and General Training. Each version is designed to assess different reading skills based on the specific needs of test-takers. 

The IELTS Reading test is designed to assess a wide range of reading skills, including how well you: 

• read for the general sense of a passage 

• read for the main ideas 

• read for detail 

• understand a writer’s opinions, attitudes and purpose 

• follow the development of an argument. 

IELTS Academic Reading 

Format 

• Three long texts, usually extracted from books, journals, magazines, or newspapers. 

• A variety of question types, including multiple-choice, matching headings, sentence completion, summary completion, and more. 

Content 

• Texts are academically oriented and reflect the types of materials students might encounter in a university setting. 

• Topics cover a range of academic disciplines. 

Skills Assessed 

• Ability to understand, analyze, and interpret complex information. 

• Skills required for academic study, such as identifying main ideas, supporting details, and opinions. 

Time Duration 

60 minutes for the entire Reading section. 

IELTS General Training Reading 

Format 

• Three sections, each with a different text. 

• Texts are taken from materials such as newspapers, advertisements, instruction manuals, notices, and more. 

• Question types include multiple-choice, matching information, True/False/Not Given, and short-answer questions. 

Content 

• Reflects everyday situations and general interest topics. 

• Emphasis on understanding practical information relevant to work, daily life, and social contexts. 

Skills Assessed 

• Ability to extract information from everyday texts. 

• Skills required for survival in an English-speaking environment, such as understanding workplace communications or public notices. 

Time Duration 

60 minutes for the entire Reading section. 

Speaking 

The content of the IELTS Speaking test is the same for both the IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training tests. 

The examiner will want to see how well you can: 

• Communicate fluently, give your opinions and information on the topics  

• Speak at length on a given topic using appropriate language 

• Organize your ideas coherently 

• Analyse, discuss and speculate about issues. 

Speaking Sections  

Part 1: The examiner will introduce him or herself and ask you to introduce yourself and confirm your identity. The examiner will ask you general questions on familiar topics, e.g. home, family, work, studies and interests.  

Part 2: The examiner will give you a task card which asks you to talk about a particular topic, including points to include in your talk. You will be given one minute to prepare and make notes. You will then be asked to talk for 1-2 minutes on the topic.  

Part 3: The examiner will ask you further questions which are connected to the topic of Part 2.  

Duration 

11-14 minutes. 

Writing 

The IELTS Writing test consists of two tasks: Task 1 and Task 2. Both tasks are designed to assess your ability to communicate in writing in an academic or general training context.  

Academic Writing 

Format 

• In Task 1: You will be presented with a graph, table, chart or diagram.  

You will be asked to describe, summarize or explain the information in your own words. Your task is to describe the information in a report of at least 150 words. 

• In Task 2 you will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. Your task is to write an essay of at least 250 words. 

Duration  

The IELTS Writing test takes 60 minutes. Spend 20 minutes on Task 1, and 40 minutes on Task 2. You will need to manage your own time, so make sure you move on to Task 2 after 20 minutes. 

General Training Writing 

Format 

• In Task 1 you will be presented with a situation and asked to write a letter requesting information or explaining the situation. You can write the letter in a personal, semi-formal or formal style. You should write the letter of at least 150 words. 

• In Task 2 you will be asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. Your task is to write an essay of at least 250 words. 

Duration 

The IELTS Writing test takes 60 minutes. Spend 20 minutes on Task 1, and 40 minutes on Task 2. You will need to manage your own time, so make sure you move on to Task 2 after 20 minutes. 

Number of questions, 2 questions. 

IELTS Scoring and validity 

Scores are reported on a nine-band scale, with each section and an overall band score. IELTS scores are typically valid for two years. 

IELTS UKVI 

IELTS UKVI is specifically designed for individuals applying for a UK visa or immigration. UKVI accepts both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. IELTS UKVI stands for "International English Language Testing System for UK Visas and Immigration." It is a variant of the standard IELTS test, specifically designed to meet the requirements for UK visa and immigration purposes. The IELTS UKVI test assesses the English language proficiency of individuals who wish to work, study, or settle in the United Kingdom. The test format and content are the same as the regular IELTS exam, but the results are accepted by UK Visas and Immigration as proof of English language ability for visa applications.

Test Format 

The test format is the same as regular IELTS, but it is administered in a secure test environment to meet UKVI's requirements. 

Validity for UK Visas 

IELTS UKVI scores are generally accepted for UK visa applications. 

The specific type of test (Academic or General Training) required depends on the visa category. 

Test Centers 

IELTS UKVI tests are administered in approved centers authorized by the UK government. 

Secure Test Conditions 

IELTS UKVI is conducted under secure conditions to meet the strict requirements of UKVI for visa and immigration purposes. 

Results Submission 

Test results are directly sent to the UKVI, ensuring the security and authenticity of the scores. 

Booking your IELTS test - A step-by-step guide 

Step 1: Register for your IELTS test 

Simply visit the official IELTS website and select: “Register for test”. You’ll need to choose between an IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training. Then, based on your convenience and preference, you can choose between taking an IELTS on paper OR IELTS on computer test. 

Step 2: Select your city for your IELTS test 

Step 3: Pick a date & time for your IELTS test 

Step 4: Complete the online IELTS application 

Step 5: Pay the application fee 

You can choose to pay using a Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card.