What is IELTS? The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) isthe world’s most popular high-stakes English language proficiency test forstudy, work and migration with more than two million tests taken inthe past year. IELTS results are recognized by more than 10,000 organisations, including educational institutions, employers, professional associations and governments, in 135 countries around the world. IELTS test content is developed by an international team of experts andundergoes extensive research to ensure the test remains fair and unbiased forany candidate regardless of nationality, background, gender, lifestyle orlocation. You can take IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training,depending on the organisation you are applying to and your plans for thefuture. IELTS test format IELTS is a test of all four language skills: Listening, Reading,Writing and Speaking. You will take the Listening, Readingand Writing tests all on the same day one after the other, with no breaks inbetween. Depending on your test centre, your Speaking test may be on the sameday as the other three tests, or up to seven days before or after that. Thetotal test time is under three hours. Why is the IELTS format fairer for you? You deserve a fair chance to do your best. That’s why,unlike other tests, IELTS gives you a quiet room for an individual Speakingtest with no distractions or interruptions. IELTS also recognises that people have different approachesto answering questions. For example, with IELTS you can answer questions withinthe Reading test or within theWriting test in the order that suits you. You can also make changes to your Readinganswers during the hour of the Readingtest and adjust your Writing responses during the hour of the Writing test. IELTS9-band Scale You will be given a score from 1 to 9 for eachpart of the test – Listening, Reading, Writing andSpeaking. The average produces your overall band score. You can score whole(e.g., 5.0, 6.0, 7.0) or half (e.g., 5.5., 6.5, 7.5) bands in each part of thetest. Band Score Skill Level Description Band 9 Expert user has fully operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding. Band 8 Very good user has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well. Band 7 Good user has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning. Band 6 Competent user has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations. Band 5 Modest user has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field. Band 4 Limited user basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language. Band 3 Extremely limited user conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication occur. Band 2 Intermittent user no real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English. Band 1 Non-user essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words. Band 0 Did not attempt the test No assessable information provided. Whichorganisations accept IELTS scores? Choosing IELTS gives you more options for thefuture. IELTS is accepted by more than 10,000 organisations in over 145countries. This includes: Universities, schools, training colleges and tertiary institutes Government departments and agencies Professional and industry bodies Companies and employers. What IELTS score doyou need? Universities, colleges, employers andmigration bodies each set their own IELTS score requirements, depending on thelevel of English they require for their purposes. That's why the score you are asked to demonstrate for entry to high school isdifferent from the score you are asked to demonstrate for professionalregistration. It's always best to confirm the score you needdirectly with your chosen organisation.
What is IELTS?
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) isthe world’s most popular high-stakes English language proficiency test forstudy, work and migration with more than two million tests taken inthe past year.
IELTS results are recognized by more than 10,000 organisations, including educational institutions, employers, professional associations and governments, in 135 countries around the world.
IELTS test content is developed by an international team of experts andundergoes extensive research to ensure the test remains fair and unbiased forany candidate regardless of nationality, background, gender, lifestyle orlocation.
You can take IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training,depending on the organisation you are applying to and your plans for thefuture.
IELTS test format
IELTS is a test of all four language skills: Listening, Reading,Writing and Speaking. You will take the Listening, Readingand Writing tests all on the same day one after the other, with no breaks inbetween. Depending on your test centre, your Speaking test may be on the sameday as the other three tests, or up to seven days before or after that. Thetotal test time is under three hours.
Why is the IELTS format fairer for you?
You deserve a fair chance to do your best. That’s why,unlike other tests, IELTS gives you a quiet room for an individual Speakingtest with no distractions or interruptions.
IELTS also recognises that people have different approachesto answering questions. For example, with IELTS you can answer questions withinthe Reading test or within theWriting test in the order that suits you. You can also make changes to your Readinganswers during the hour of the Readingtest and adjust your Writing responses during the hour of the Writing test.
You will be given a score from 1 to 9 for eachpart of the test – Listening, Reading, Writing andSpeaking. The average produces your overall band score. You can score whole(e.g., 5.0, 6.0, 7.0) or half (e.g., 5.5., 6.5, 7.5) bands in each part of thetest.
Band Score
Skill Level
Description
Band 9
Expert user
has fully operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding.
Band 8
Very good user
has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well.
Band 7
Good user
has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning.
Band 6
Competent user
has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.
Band 5
Modest user
has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field.
Band 4
Limited user
basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language.
Band 3
Extremely limited user
conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication occur.
Band 2
Intermittent user
no real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English.
Band 1
Non-user
essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words.
Band 0
Did not attempt the test
No assessable information provided.
Choosing IELTS gives you more options for thefuture. IELTS is accepted by more than 10,000 organisations in over 145countries.
This includes:
Universities, colleges, employers andmigration bodies each set their own IELTS score requirements, depending on thelevel of English they require for their purposes.
That's why the score you are asked to demonstrate for entry to high school isdifferent from the score you are asked to demonstrate for professionalregistration.
It's always best to confirm the score you needdirectly with your chosen organisation.