- IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System, pronounced “EYE-elts”.
- It tests Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, and takes about 2 hours 45 minutes.
- Choose Academic for university, General Training for work and migration, and the UKVI versions for some UK visas.
- There is no pass or fail: you get a band from 0 to 9, and each organisation sets the score it needs.
If you want to study, work or live in an English-speaking country, there is a good chance you will be asked for an IELTS score. It is one of the most widely accepted English tests in the world, used by universities, employers and governments in more than 140 countries.
This guide explains what IELTS is in plain English: what the letters mean, the different types of test, what's in each part, how it's scored and how to book.
IELTS full form and meaning
IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System. It measures how well you can use English in real life: listening, reading, writing and speaking.
It is pronounced “EYE-elts”, with the stress on the first syllable. You don't spell out the letters.
Who runs IELTS?
IELTS is jointly owned by three organisations: the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge University Press & Assessment. The British Council and IDP run test centres around the world, so you book your test with one of them. The test, the marking and the certificate are the same whichever you choose.
The types of IELTS test
| Test | Who it's for |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | University study (undergraduate and postgraduate) and professional registration, such as medicine or nursing. |
| IELTS General Training | Work, migration (for example to Canada, Australia or New Zealand) and some school or training courses. |
| IELTS for UKVI | UK visa applications that need a Secure English Language Test (SELT). It comes in Academic and General Training versions. |
| IELTS Life Skills | Some UK visas, such as family visas and settlement. It tests only Speaking and Listening, at A1, A2 or B1 level. |
Which IELTS do you need?
Always check with the organisation you are applying to, but this is the usual rule:
- Going to university? Take IELTS Academic.
- Moving abroad to work or settle? Take IELTS General Training. For Canadian permanent residence, for example, IELTS General Training is accepted, but Academic is not.
- Applying for a UK visa? Check whether you need a Secure English Language Test. If so, take IELTS for UKVI (Academic or General Training), or IELTS Life Skills for some family and settlement visas.
What's in the IELTS test
| Part | Time | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | About 30 minutes | 4 recordings and 40 questions, from everyday conversations to an academic lecture. |
| Reading | 60 minutes | 3 sections and 40 questions. Academic uses long texts from books and journals; General Training uses everyday and work texts. |
| Writing | 60 minutes | Task 1: describe a graph or diagram (Academic) or write a letter (General Training). Task 2: an essay. |
| Speaking | 11–14 minutes | A face-to-face conversation with an examiner in 3 parts. |
Listening, Reading and Writing are taken in one sitting, without breaks, and in most countries they are now done on a computer at a test centre. The Speaking test is always with a real examiner, on the same day or a few days before or after. Our IELTS syllabus and exam pattern guide covers every question type, and IELTS on computer explains how the computer test works.
How IELTS is scored
You get a band from 0 to 9 for each skill, in whole or half bands, plus an overall band, which is the average of the four. For example, a 7 means you are a “good user” of English, and a 6 a “competent user”.
There is no pass mark. Most universities ask for 6.0 to 7.0 overall, often with a minimum in each skill. Our guide to IELTS band scores explains the calculation in detail, and results are generally valid for two years.
How to book IELTS
- 1Check which test you need
Academic, General Training, or a UKVI version. Ask your university or check the visa rules.
- 2Choose a test centre and date
Book online through the British Council or IDP website for your country. Computer tests have many dates each week.
- 3Pay the fee
Fees are set by country. See our IELTS exam fee guide for current prices in India and Pakistan.
- 4Bring the right ID
Take the same passport or ID you used to book. Without it, you can't sit the test.
How to prepare for IELTS
- Learn the test format, so nothing on the day surprises you.
- Take a full practice test to find your current band and your weakest skill.
- Study each part with our guides, starting with Speaking Part 1, Writing Task 2 topics and True, False, Not Given.
- Set a target, then follow our plan for getting band 7.
Find out your IELTS band for free
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