What Is IELTS? All You Need To Know

What is IELTS?

Launched over 40 years ago, the International English Language Testing System has solidified its reputation as the world’s most popular English proficiency test. It is suitable for individuals aspiring to pursue higher education, career opportunities, or migrate to English-speaking countries. The IELTS test result is widely accepted by universities, employers, professional associations and governments in over 140 countries. You can find out who accepts IELTS here.

How Does IELTS Work?

Test Format

The exam comprises four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. Unlike traditional tests, IELTS does not subscribe to a pass-or-fail paradigm. Instead, it offers a nuanced scoring system ranging from 1 to 9, reflecting your proficiency level with precision.

  • Listening: Assesses the ability to understand spoken English from various native accents, which is relevant and applicable if you choose to study in Australia, study in the UK, and more.
  • Reading: Tests reading and comprehension skills through diverse question types and content.
  • Writing: Measures ability to communicate effectively in written English.
  • Speaking: Face-to-face to gauge spoken English fluency and coherence.

The Listening, Reading and Writing tests all on the same day one after the other, with no breaks in between. Depending on your test centre, your Speaking test may be on the same day as the other three tests or up to seven days before or after that. The total test time is under three hours. For more detailed information, click here. 

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