Overview
IELTS
IELTS is an internationally recognized English language proficiency test that is administered worldwide. The test is jointly owned by the British Council, IDP Australia, and Cambridge English Language Assessment, and is available in over 1,000 locations across 140 countries.
As the most popular English language test for higher education and global migration, IELTS plays a vital role in language testing for studying and immigrating in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries.
The test assesses the four key language skills of listening, reading, writing, and speaking, and is widely recognized as a secure, valid, and reliable measure of a candidate’s ability to communicate in real-life situations, for purposes such as education, immigration, and professional accreditation.
IELTS is conducted under strict quality control measures, with 1.4 million tests administered globally each year. Candidates can choose between two test types – Academic, General Training, or UKVI Approved – depending on their study, work, or migration goals. Both test modules consist of four parts, and results are graded on the unique IELTS 9-band scale.
IELTS has two formats
The IELTS test comes in two types: Academic and General Training. The Academic test is intended for students who wish to pursue higher education in foreign universities, as well as for medical professionals who want to study or practice in an English-speaking country. On the other hand, the General Training test is for those who seek non-academic training, work experience, or immigration to English-speaking countries.
Both types of IELTS tests consist of four parts, which are Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking, and take around three hours to complete. The test scores are typically valid for two years and are recognized globally, including in countries such as France, Singapore, Australia, the UK, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, the USA, Dubai, and numerous institutions in Europe.