The International English Language Testing System or IELTS is a test for non-native English speakers who want to study, work or live in an English-speaking country. It tests your reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. The result of this test gives you a score from 1 (the weakest) to 9 (the strongest). This report can be used as proof that you have the language skills needed to succeed in an academic environment where English is used as the main language.
Who takes the IELTS?
IELTS is taken by over 2 million people each year in more than 140 countries. About half of those who take it are studying abroad at universities or doing gap years before university. Others may wish to work in an English-speaking country or want to migrate there. IELTS is also part of some professional registration requirements.
What is IELTS Academic?
IELTS Academic is used by universities to test language skills for academic purposes. It is mostly taken by non-native English speakers who want to study in an English-speaking country. Note that most British and Australian universities require a band score of 6 or above for entry requirements, so if you are thinking of studying abroad, it is recommended that you take this test.
How long does IELTS Academic take?
There are two versions: one lasts 2 hours 45 minutes, and the other 3 hours 15 minutes (including a 10-minute break). The Academic version takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes – 2 hours extra per section as compared to General Training. The results are available 13 days after the test.
What does IELTS Academic Test include?
IELTS Academic includes reading, writing, listening and speaking components:
IELTS Academic Reading Test:
Length: 60 minutes
Total Questions: 40 Questions.
Format:
Task type 1 – Multiple choice
Task type 2 – Identifying information
Task type 3 – Identifying the writer’s views/claims
Task type 4 – Matching information
Task type 5 – Matching headings
Task type 6 – Matching features
Task type 7 – Matching sentence endings
Task type 8 – Sentence completion
Task type 9 – Summary, note, table, flow-chart completion
Task type 10 – Diagram label completion
Task type 11 – Short-answer questions
IELTS Academic Writing Test:
Length: 60 minutes
Total Questions: 2 Questions.
Format:
IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
Task 1 responses are assessed on:
- Task achievement
- Coherence and cohesion
- Lexical resource
- Grammatical range and accuracy.
IELTS Academic Writing Task 2
Task 2 responses are assessed on:
- Task response
- Coherence and cohesion
- Lexical resource
- Grammatical range and accuracy.
IELTS Academic Listening Test:
Length: 30 minutes + 10 minutes transfer time.
Total Questions:40 Questions.
Format:
There are four recordings of native English speakers. For each recording, you will answer a set of questions afterwards.
Recording 1 – a conversation between two people in an every day social context.
Recording 2 – A monologue by one person in an every day social context, such as talking about local facilities.
Recording 3 – A conversation between up to four people in an educational or training setting, like a university tutor and student discussing an assignment..
Recording 4 – A monologue on an academic subject given by one person, similar to a lecture at University
Assessors will be looking to see if you can understand the main ideas, details, and opinions in a piece of writing. They will also want to see if you can follow the development of ideas.
IELTS Academic Speaking Test:
Length: 10 – 15 minutes
Total Questions: 3 Questions.
Format:
The General Speaking Test consists of 3 parts.
Part 1, you will be asked to introduce yourself and answer general questions about your personal interests and experiences.
Part 2, you will have a short conversation with a test examiner on a specific topic that is provided in advance.
Part 3, you will be asked to speak at length on a familiar topic of your choice.
The Academic Speaking Test is designed to assess your ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and non-verbally. This includes the ability to express yourself clearly and coherently, as well as the ability to understand and interpret information from others when speaking in both one-on-one and group contexts. It also assesses your ability to engage in meaningful, spontaneous conversations as well as your ability to respond thoughtfully to questions on a variety of topics related to general life experiences and interests.
Who accepts IELTS Academic Tests?
IELTS is accepted by most British universities and many other institutions around the world, including Australia, USA and New Zealand.
Why take IELTS Academic Test?
IELTS is accepted by universities in many countries as evidence of your ability to study in English. It is also a requirement for some professional organisations, such as medical and social work courses. Finally, it’s an important first step on the way to becoming fluent in English: even if you don’t need it for application purposes, believing that you can do well will make you more confident – which makes it more likely that you will be successful!
How long does it take?
The total testing time is 2h 40m (including a 10 min break after the Listening module).
How long does it last?
IELTS is valid for 2 years from the test date. Test scores are reported in whole and half band scores, as per the IELTS scoring system.
What if I was absent? What do I need to bring to the test?
If you are sick and cannot take your IELTS test, you can get a refund as long as you have a medical certificate. But if you don’t show up for the test and did not tell anyone ahead of time, you will lose your whole fee.
On the day of the IELTS test, the most crucial item to bring is your identification. Your passport or national ID will work, as long as it’s the same one you used for registering for the IELTS test. You’ll need that identical form of identification while taking the IELTS Speaking test too.
Can I reschedule?
Yes, provided that we receive your request at least three working days before the test date and there is available space in our schedule.
How long will my results be available?
IELTS Academic paper Test results are available 13 days after your test date.