IT is the world’s most popular test of English language proficiency for non-native English speakers, used for higher education, global migration, and employment. It assesses your skills in four areas: listening, reading, writing, and speaking, and is jointly owned and developed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and Cambridge English. The test offers two main modules, Academic and General Training, with a score ranging from 1 to 9
Purpose of the IELTS Exam
IELTS scores assess an individual’s ability to communicate in English effectively. IELTS facilitates international mobility and communication across diverse contexts.
- Study: Countless esteemed universities and colleges across the globe acknowledge IELTS results as validation of one’s English language proficiency.
- Work: Various professional registration bodies, spanning fields such as accounting engineering, law, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and education, recognise IELTS scores. This underscores the necessity of undertaking the IELTS to obtain professional accreditation in English-speaking nations.
- Migrate: Many governments prioritise IELTS scores over other English language assessments for permanent residency applications. The IELTS General Training test is the only non-academic examination accepted for migration to English-speaking countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the UK, and the USA.
Different Types of IELTS Tests
The test is available in two main formats: Academic, for those seeking higher education opportunities, and General Training, which focuses on practical language skills for work and migration purposes.
IELTS Academic
IELTS Academic evaluates your English language proficiency and determines its suitability for an academic setting. This test assesses your grasp of academic language and determines if you are adequately prepared to commence training or studying in English.
IELTS General Training
IELTS General Training measures your English language skills in practical, everyday scenarios. This test includes workplace and social situations, comprehensively evaluating your language abilities in real-life contexts.
IELTS for Life Skills
IELTS for Life Skills is a specialised version of IELTS that assesses a candidate’s English language proficiency in everyday contexts. It is designed for individuals who need to demonstrate their English speaking and listening skills for UK visa applications. The test has two levels (A1 and B1) aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
IELTS exam details: The IELTS test assesses your English language proficiency in four skill sets: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
IELTS test modes of delivery
You can appear for the test in two ways – IELTS on Paper and IELTS on Computer. Let’s discuss these in detail.
IELTS on Paper test
The IELTS on Paper test is the traditional format where you must complete the Listening, Reading, and Writing sections using a physical test booklet and answer sheet. The Speaking test is conducted in person with an examiner. For this format of the test, you will be provided with question booklets and answer sheets for respective sections. You must write and complete the test in the allocated time.
IELTS on Computer
The IELTS on Computer exam is an alternative format to the traditional IELTS on Paper test. It allows you to complete your listening, reading and writing sections on a computer at the ease of your home or any location with a stable internet connection. However, the speaking test is conducted in person with an examiner. The advantages of IELTS on computer include faster results, flexible test dates, and a user-friendly interface.
