IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is a standardised English language assessment test that measures the test takers’ ability to handle the English language. This test is jointly owned and managed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment. This test was introduced in the year 1989 and nowadays this is the most common English language assessment test in the world.
Basically non-native English language speakers take this test to prove their English language proficiency to get a visa or permit to work or study in a country where English language is used for the communication.
Universities, colleges, immigration authorities, professional bodies and employers in countries like Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US require the prospective students, employees and immigrants to prove their language proficiency before they are allowed enter the country. To prove the language proficiency candidates take the IELTS exam and they are they get a band score. This sore denotes the level of their proficiency in handling English in academic, professional and personal life. The test results is used for assess someone’s level of English in academic, professional or social life.
This is the only test that UKVI (UK Visa and Immigration) approves as the proof of English language proficiency for people applying for immigration in the UK. New Zealand and Australian immigration authorities also use this test as part of their requirement for immigration.
More than 2.5 million test takers appear in IETLS test each year and this is the most popular English language test in the world.
There are two versions of the IELTS test: Academic and General Training.
Academic IELTS test is suitable for candidates who want to enroll in a higher education in academic level.
General Training IELTS test is suitable for people planning to gain work experience, participate in training programs, secondary school or migrate to an English-speaking country.
Find out which version of IELTS you need to take from Academic or GT IELTS?
Apart from Academic and General training IELTS, there is also a special version of IELTS known as ‘IELTS Life Skills’ which is suitable for people who wants to apply to UK Visas and Immigration for a ‘family of a settled person’ visa or for indefinite leave to remain or citizenship.
Find more details about the ‘IELTS Life Skills’ test.
IELTS test takers can choose between two versions of the test – Academic or General Training – depending on their academic or professional aims, or visa requirements. All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking components but different Reading and Writing components.
IELTS exam has four parts:
- Listening (30 minutes)
- Reading (60 minutes)
- Writing (60 minutes) and
- Speaking (11–14 minutes).
The total test takes 2 hours and 45 minutes. The Listening, Reading and Writing tests are done in one sitting. The Speaking test may be on the same day or up to seven days before or after the other tests.
All candidates take the same Listening and Speaking tests but different Reading and Writing components.
The IELTS practice test, sample answers, tips, idea generation, preparation materials etc. designed in this website will help student to achieve a band score they require.