The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is one of the most widely accepted English language proficiency tests in the world. It is used by universities, immigration authorities, professional organizations, and governments to assess a person’s ability to communicate in English across all four language skills: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.

IELTS is accepted in countries like Australia, the UK, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, and many institutions in the USA. It is often a mandatory requirement for international students applying for admission, scholarships, or student visas.

Two Main Types of IELTS:

• IELTS Academic

  • For students applying to higher education or professional registration

  • Focuses on academic English and formal usage

• IELTS General Training

  • For work experience, training programs, or immigration

  • More focused on social and workplace English

Scoring System:

• Each section is scored on a band scale from 0 to 9

• The overall score is the average of all four sections

  • 9 = Expert

  • 7 = Good

  • 6 = Competent

  • 5 = Modest

• Example: If your scores are 7.0 (Listening), 6.5 (Reading), 7.0 (Writing), and 6.0 (Speaking), your overall band score = 6.5

Test Format:

• Listening (30 minutes): 4 recorded conversations + questions

• Reading (60 minutes): 3 academic passages

• Writing (60 minutes): Describe a chart (Task 1) + Essay (Task 2)

• Speaking (11–14 minutes): One-on-one interview with an examiner

Total test time: ~2 hours 45 minutes