About IELTS

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What is IELTS?

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is designed to assess your ability to communicate in English-speaking countries and was taken by over 1 700 000 candidates last year.

IELTS is recognised by:

  • universities and professional associations in countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the USA
  • government agencies in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK

There are two versions of the test: IELTS Academic and General Training.

Should you take IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training?

The version of the IELTS test you should take depends on whether you are taking IELTS for university, IELTS for immigration, or IELTS for registration as a teacher, doctor, nurse of other professional.

What is the format of the IELTS Academic test?

The IELTS Academic test contains a listening, reading, writing and speaking test. The listening and speaking tests are the same format as those used in the IELTS General Training test.

IELTS Listening:

  • 4 sections, 40 questions, 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes to transfer your answers to an answer sheet)

IELTS Academic Reading:

  • 3 texts, 40 questions, 60 minutes

IELTS Academic Writing:

  • 2 tasks, 60 minutes

IELTS Speaking:

  • 3 parts, 11-14 minutes

To find out more about format of the IELTS Academic Writing and Speaking tests, have a look at ‘What happens in the IELTS Writing test‘ on our IELTS Writing page and ‘What happens in the IELTS Speaking test‘ on our IELTS Speaking page.

What is the format of the IELTS General Training test?

The IELTS General Training test contains a listening, reading, writing and speaking test. The listening and speaking tests are the same format as those used in the IELTS Academic test.

IELTS Listening:

  • 4 sections, 40 questions, 30 minutes (plus 10 minutes to transfer your answers to an answer sheet)

IELTS General Training Reading:

  • 3 sections, 40 questions, 60 minutes

IELTS General Training Writing:

  • 2 tasks, 60 minutes

IELTS Speaking:

  • 3 parts, 11-14 minutes

To find out more about format of the IELTS General Training Writing and Speaking tests, have a look at ‘What happens in the IELTS Writing test‘ on our IELTS Writing page and ‘What happens in the IELTS Speaking test‘ on our IELTS Speaking page.

How is listening assessed in IELTS?

Every IELTS Listening paper has 40 questions and each question is worth one point.

The number of correct answers you need to get a particular band score is based on how difficult a particular test paper is.

The average number of correct answers for various band scores on IELTS Listening papers are:

  • 16/40 is a band score of 5
  • 23/40 is a band score of 6
  • 30/40 is a band score of 7
  • 35/40 is a band score of 8

(Source: the official IELTS website)

How is reading assessed in IELTS?

Every IELTS Academic and General Training Reading paper has 40 questions and each question is worth one point.

The number of correct answers you need to get a particular band score is based on how difficult a particular test paper is.

The average number of correct answers for various band scores on IELTS Academic Reading papers are:

  • 15/40 is a band score of 5
  • 23/40 is a band score of 6
  • 30/40 is a band score of 7
  • 35/40 is a band score of 8

The average number of correct answers for various band scores on IELTS General Training Reading papers are:

  • 15/40 is a band score of 4
  • 23/40 is a band score of 5
  • 30/40 is a band score of 6
  • 34/40 is a band score of 7

(Source: the official IELTS website)

How is writing assessed in IELTS?

To find out more about the IELTS Writing test, including how your writing will be assessed, have a look at ‘How will your writing be assessed in the IELTS test‘ on our IELTS Writing page.

How is speaking assessed in IELTS?

To find out more about the IELTS Speaking test, including how your speaking will be assessed, have a look at ‘How will your speaking be assessed in the IELTS test‘ on our IELTS Speaking page.

How is your score reported in IELTS?

Thirteen days after you take your IELTS test, you’ll receive a Test Report Form with an overall band score from 1 to 9 (where 1 is a ‘Non-user’ and 9 is an ‘Expert user’) and individual band scores from 1 to 9 for listening, reading, writing and speaking.

The majority of IELTS candidates get an overall band score between 5 and 7. (Source: the official IELTS website).

  • 5 – Modest Users can communicate and understand the general meaning in most situations but are likely to make a lot of mistakes.
  • 6 – Competent Users can generally communicate effectively but will still make some mistakes and have some misunderstandings. They can use and understand some complex language.
  • 7 – Good Users can communicate effectively, using and understanding complex language. They will still make occasional mistakes, however, and have misunderstandings in some situations.

Your overall and indivdual band scores can be whole bands like 7.0 or half bands like 6.5.

How are IELTS band scores calculated?

When you receive your results, you’ll get an overall band score and individual band scores for your listening, reading, writing and speaking.

Your overall band score will be calculated by averaging your individual band scores and then rounding to the nearest whole or half band.

If you score 6.5 for listening, 6.5 for reading, 6.0 for writing and 6.5 for speaking, for example, you’ll receive an overall band score of 6.5 (25.5 ÷ 4 = 6.375 = Band 6.5).

Where and when can you take IELTS?

IELTS is available throughout the year at approved test centres in over 135 countries.

You can find upcoming test dates at your nearest test centre using the IELTS Worldwide Search on the official IELTS website.

 

 

To see how we can help you improve your English and get the IELTS band score you need, have a look at our IELTS tutor profiles or check out our IELTS tutoring options.

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