IELTS (The International English Language Testing System) is taken by non-native candidates who want to study or work in an English-speaking country. Universities and employers in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, the UK and the US accept IELTS scores. It is estimated that over 700,000 people take the IELTS test every year.

The IELTS test has two modules – an Academic Module and a General Training Module: The Academic Module is taken by students seeking admission to universities and colleges of higher learning. The General Training Module is taken by candidates who want to pursue non-academic training or gain work experience.

The IELTS tests a student’s listening, reading, writing and speaking skills in English. The test consists of four modules.

Listening – 4 sections, 40 questions, 30 minutes

The listening section has four subsections. During the listening module, candidates are required to listen to pre-recorded tapes and answer questions based on what they hear. The listening module lasts for 30 minutes. Candidates are allowed 20 minutes to listen to the tapes and another 10 minutes to transfer their answers to the Answer Sheet. While listening they are allowed to take notes.

Speaking – interview, 15 minutes

The speaking module lasts for 15 minutes. There will usually be a personal interview, a little speech and a discussion.

Reading – 3 sections, 40 questions, 60 minutes

The reading module has three sections. It lasts for 60 minutes. Passages are given for reading and candidates are required to answer 40 questions based on the given passages. Note that the reading module is different for academic and general training. The reading test may also consist of other kinds of assignments.

Writing – 2 tasks, 60 minutes

The writing test lasts for 1 hour. There will be two tasks. Candidates are given 20 minutes to write a letter or report and 40 minutes to write an essay. The writing module is different for academic and general training.

Score

The IELTS test is rated on a score of 1 to 9. Candidates can also get half scores such as 6.5 or 7.5. Prestigious universities usually demand a score of 6 or above. Many universities also specify a minimum score in each of the 4 sections.

Where do I take the test?

Accredited IELTS test centers are available throughout the world. Up to 48 test dates are available in a year. Some test centers allow students to take the computer-based version of IELTS.