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IELTS Content Outline

There are two different versions of the IELTS exam: the Academic and General Training tests. The Academic IELTS exam is for people who want to study at a college or university. It’s also for degree-holders who want to register for professions that require an advanced degree.

The General Training IELTS exam is for people who want to immigrate to the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, or New Zealand. It’s also for students who want to study in an English-language country below the degree level.

The IELTS exam is divided into four different sections. There’s a listening section, a reading section, a writing section, and a speaking section. The reading, writing, and speaking portions are all given at once. The speaking section can either be taken at the same time, or up to a week later depending on your testing center.

The reading and writing portions of the exam are different, depending whether you’re taking the Academic or General Training exam. They can be taken either on paper or on a computer. The listening and speaking portions are the same between both tests, and are taken with a live supervisor. The total time for the IELTS exam is 2 hours and 45 minutes.

IELTS Exam Administration

So, how do you sign up for the IELTS exam? The first step is to find your local test center. There are over 1,600 test centers throughout the world, located in 140 countries. Once you’ve chosen your test center, you’ll need to register.

This can be done online, or you can print off a paper application from the IELTS website. Have your passport or government ID handy, as this information will be required.

Registration will also require a fee. Depending on your country, the fee can vary. Payment methods also vary by country, but almost all countries allow for credit card or check payment.

Once you’ve registered and paid the fee, your test center will send you a form confirming the date and time of your exam. If the speaking portion of the exam is being held at a different time, you’ll also get confirmation of that. On the test day, make sure you bring the same ID you used to register for the exam. If you don’t have ID, you will not be permitted to take the test.

Even under the best of circumstances, you might need to cancel or reschedule your exam. The British Council allows cancellations or rescheduling up to five weeks before the exam date. If you cancel before that time, you’ll get a full refund, with the exception of a small administration fee.

There’s one exception to this rule. If you have a serious illness, you can cancel at any time for a full refund. However, you’ll need to provide a doctor’s note to certify your illness. The note must be an original, not a copy. Keep in mind that these are the rules for the British Council, which oversees most IELTS tests. If your test center is working with a different provider, their rules may be different.

IELTS Exam Requirements

There are no requirements to take the IELTS exam. Anyone can take the exam, as long as they provide payment and a government ID. However, there are accommodations available for people with certain disabilities. These include:

• Longer time periods for individuals with dyslexia or for breastfeeding mothers.
• Braille tests for individuals who are blind.
• Enlarged print tests for individuals with vision difficulties.
• Special listening CDs that allow you to pause.
• A lip-reading version of the listening test for hearing-impaired individuals.

If you need any of these services, contact your IELTS testing center as soon as possible. For modified versions of the test, you’ll need to give three months’ notice. If you simply need extra time, you’ll need to give at least six weeks’ notice.

IELTS Scores

IELTS exam scores are based on a combination of the four different test sections. Test takers are rated on a 40-point scale, and can earn up to 10 points from each section of the test. At that point, they are sorted into nine different “bands”. Here’s a quick look at how those bands work:

0: The test taker did not take the test. If you simply don’t show up for your exam, you will fall into this band.

1: “Non user”. Very limited English comprehension, only a few words. If you fall into this band, you won’t even be able to read this article.

2: “Intermittent user”. You might understand some everyday phrases, but only with great difficulty.

3: “Extremely limited user”. You can understand everyday phrases, but not anything else.

4: “Limited user”. You can understand everyday phrases, as well as some familiar situations. But you’re not able to understand complex sentences or deal with unfamiliar situations.

5: “Modest user”. You can handle basic communication in your field. You can also deal with everyday conversations, but you’re likely to make some mistakes.

6: “Competent user”. You can effectively speak English in most familiar situations. You can also handle unfamiliar situations, but you’re likely to make some mistakes.

7: “Good user”. You can understand complex and detailed sentences. You might occasionally make mistakes, though.

8: “Very good user”. You can speak English almost as well as a native speaker. Any mistakes are unimportant and easy to clear up.

9: “Expert user”. You have complete command of the English language. You can understand and communicate effectively under any circumstances.

If you take the computer-based version of the test, you will receive your results in 5 to 7 days. For the paper-based version, you will receive your results in 13 days. You can either pick up your results from the testing center, or they will be mailed to you.

IELTS Mean Scores by First Language (Academic)

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