Standardised test (either computer-delivered or paper-based). Available in 2 modules: "Academic" and "General Training". The IELTS test partners also offer IELTS Life Skills, a speaking and listening test used for UK Visas and Immigration.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS/ˈaɪ.ɛlts/)[6] is an international standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. It is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP and Cambridge English,[6] and was established in 1989. IELTS is one of the major English-language tests in the world. The IELTS test has two modules: Academic and General Training. IELTS One Skill Retake was introduced for computer-delivered tests in 2023, which allows a test taker to retake any one section (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking) of the test.[7]
No minimum score is required to pass the test. An IELTS result or Test Report Form is issued to all test takers with a score from "Band 1" ("non-user") to "Band 9" ("expert user") and each institution sets a different threshold. There is also a "Band 0" score for those who did not attempt the test. Institutions are advised not to consider a report older than two years to be valid, unless the user proves that they have worked to maintain their level.[11][12]
In 2017, over 3 million tests were taken in more than 140 countries, up from 2 million tests in 2012, 1.7 million tests in 2011 and 1.4 million tests in 2009. In 2007, IELTS administered more than one million tests in a single 12-month period for the first time ever, making it the world's most popular English language test for higher education and immigration.[3]
In 2019, over 508,000 international students came to study in the UK, making it the world's most popular UK ELT (English Language Test) destination. Over half (54%) of those students were under 18 years old.[13]
History
The English Language Testing Service (ELTS), as IELTS was then known, was launched in 1980 by Cambridge English Language Assessment (then known as "UCLES") and the British Council. It had an innovative format, which reflected changes in language learning and teaching, including the growth in 'communicative' language learning and 'English for specific purposes'. Test tasks were intended to reflect the use of English language in the 'real world'.
During the 1980s, test taker numbers were low (4,000 in 1981 rising to 10,000 in 1985) and there were practical difficulties administering the test. As a result, the IELTS Revision Project was set up to oversee the redesign of the test. In order to have international participation in the redesign, the International Development Program of Australian Universities and Colleges (IDP), now known as IDP: IELTS Australia, joined Cambridge English Language Assessment and the British Council to form the international IELTS partnership which delivers the test to this day. This international partnership was reflected in the new name for the test: The International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
IELTS went live in 1989. Test takers took two non-specialised modules, Listening and Speaking, and two specialised modules, Reading and Writing. Test taker numbers rose by approximately 15% per year and by 1995 there were 43,000 test takers in 210 test centres around the world.
IELTS was revised again in 1995, with three main changes:
There was one Academic Reading Module and one Academic Writing Module (previously there had been a choice of three field-specific Reading and Writing modules)
The thematic link between the Reading and Writing tasks was removed to avoid confusing the assessment of reading and writing ability
The General Training Reading and Writing modules were brought into line with the Academic Reading and Writing modules (same timing, length of responses, reporting of scores).
Further revisions went live in 2001 (revised Speaking Test) and 2005 (new assessment criteria for the Writing test).[14]
IELTS characteristics
IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training are designed to cover the full range of abilities from non-user or middle user to expert user. The Academic version is for test takers who want to study at the tertiary level in an English-speaking country or seek professional registration. The General Training version is for test takers who want to work, train, study at a secondary school or migrate to an English-speaking country.[15]
The difference between the Academic and General Training versions is the content, context, and purpose of the tasks. All other features, such as timing allocation, length of written responses, and reporting of scores, are the same.[16]
IELTS Academic and General Training both incorporate the following features:
The speaking module is a key component of IELTS. It is conducted in the form of a one-to-one interview with an examiner which can occur face to face or even through a video conference. The examiner assesses the test taker as they are speaking. The speaking session is also recorded for monitoring and for re-marking in case of an appeal against the score given.
A variety of accents and writing styles have been presented in test materials in order to minimize linguistic bias. The accents in the listening section are generally 80% British, Australian, New Zealander and 20% others (mostly American).
IELTS is developed by experts at Cambridge English Language Assessment with input from item writers from around the world. Teams are located in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and other English-speaking nations.
Band scores are used for each language sub-skill (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking). They are averaged out to derive the overall band score for each test taker.
IELTS test structure
Modules
There are two modules of the IELTS:
Academic Module
General Training Module
There is also a separate test offered by the IELTS test partners, called IELTS Life Skills:
IELTS Academic is intended for those who want to enroll in universities and other institutions of higher education and for professionals such as medical doctors, engineers and nurses who want to study or practice in an English-speaking country. Mainly for those who is trying for non-immigrant student visa.
IELTS General Training is intended for those planning to undertake non-academic training or to gain work experience, or for immigration purposes.
Note 1: Listening, Reading and Writing are completed in one sitting. The Speaking test may be taken on the same day or up to seven days before or after the other tests.
Note 2: All test takers take the same Listening and Speaking tests, while the Reading and Writing tests differ depending on whether the test taker is taking the Academic or General Training versions of the test.
Note 3: The 10 minutes transfer time is for the paper-based option of the test. For the computer-delivered option, candidates will be given 2 minutes (at the end of the test) to re-check their answers. [20]
Listening
The module comprises four sections, with ten questions in each section. It takes around 40 (paper-based) or 32 (computer-delivered) minutes: 30 for testing, plus 10 for transferring the answers to an answer sheet (paper-based) or 2 for re-checking the answers (computer-delivered).[21][20]
Sections 1 and 2 are about everyday, social situations.
Section 1 has a conversation between two speakers (for example, a conversation about travel arrangements)
Section 2 has one person speaking (for example, a speech about local facilities).
Sections 3 and 4 are about educational and training situations
Section 3 is a conversation between two main speakers (for example, a discussion between two university students, perhaps guided by a tutor)
Section 4 has one person speaking about an academic subject.[22]
Each section begins with a short introduction telling the test taker about the situation and the speakers. Then they have some time to look through the questions. The questions are in the same order as the information in the recording, so the answer to the first question will be before the answer to the second question, and so on.[22] The first three sections have a break in the middle allowing test takers to look at the remaining questions. Each section is heard only once.
At the end of the test, candidates are given 10 minutes to transfer their answers to an answer sheet (if they take their test paper-based) or 2 minutes (at the end of the test of course) to re-check the answers (if they do so computer-delivered).[23][20] Test takers will lose marks for incorrect spelling and grammar.[24]
Reading
The Reading paper has three sections and texts totalling approximately 2,150–3,250 words. There will be a variety of question types, such as multiple-choice, short-answer questions, identifying information, identifying writer's views, labelling diagrams, completing a summary using words taken from the text and matching information/headings/features in the text/sentence endings. Test takers should be careful when writing down their answers as they will lose marks for incorrect spelling and grammar.
Texts in IELTS Academic
Three reading texts, which come from books, journals, magazines, newspapers and online resources written for non-specialist audiences. All the topics are of general interest to students at undergraduate or postgraduate level.[25]
Texts in IELTS General Training
Section 1 contains two or three short texts or several shorter texts, which deal with everyday topics. For example, timetables or notices – things a person would need to understand when living in an English-speaking country.
Section 2 contains two texts, which deal with work. For example, job descriptions, contracts, training materials.
Section 3 contains one long text about a topic of general interest. The text is generally descriptive, longer and more complex than the texts in Sections 1 and 2. The text will be taken from a newspaper, magazine, book or online resource.[26]
Writing
IELTS Academic
Task 1: test takers describe a graph, table, chart, map, process, pie chart or diagram in their own words.
Task 2: test takers discuss a point of view, argument, or problem. Depending on the task, test takers may be required to present a solution to a problem, present and justify an opinion, compare and contrast evidence, opinions and implications, and evaluate and challenge ideas, evidence or an argument.[27]
IELTS General Training
Task 1: test takers write a letter in response to a given everyday situation. For example, writing to an accommodation officer about problems with your accommodation, writing to a new employer about problems managing your time, or writing to a local newspaper about a plan to develop a local airport.
Task 2: test takers write an essay about a topic of general interest. For example, whether smoking should be banned in public places, whether children's leisure activities should be educational, or how environmental problems can be solved.[28]
Speaking
The speaking test is a face-to-face interview between the test taker and an examiner.
The speaking test contains three sections.
Section 1: introduction and interview (4–5 minutes). Test takers may be asked about their home, family, work, studies, hobbies, interests, reasons for taking IELTS exam, and other general topics such as clothing, free time, computers, and the Internet.
Section 2: long turn (3–4 minutes). Test takers are given a task card about a particular topic. Test takers have one minute to prepare to talk about this topic. The task card states the points that should be included in the talk and one aspect of the topic which must be explained during the talk. Test takers are then expected to talk about the topic for one to two minutes, after which the examiner may ask one or two questions.
Section 3: discussions (4–5 minutes). The third section involves a discussion between the examiner and the test taker, generally on questions relating to the theme which they have already spoken about in Section 2.[29] These questions usually consist of two sets of four or five questions.
Band scale and scoring
Test takers receive a score for each test component – Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. The individual scores are then averaged and rounded to produce an Overall Band Score.[30]
There is no pass or fail.[31] IELTS is scored on a nine-band scale, with each band corresponding to a specified competence in English. Overall Band Scores are reported to the nearest half band.
The following rounding convention applies: if the average across the four skills ends in .25, it is rounded up to the next half band, and if it ends in .75, it is rounded up to the next whole band.
The nine bands are described as follows:
Band
Competency
Description
9
Expert User
Has full operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate, and fluent with complete understanding. The individual has a full operational command of the English language. Their use of
English is appropriate, accurate, fluent, and shows complete understanding.[32]
8
Very Good User
Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well.
7
Good User
Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriateness and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning.
6
Competent User
Has generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.
5
Modest user
Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field.
4
Limited User
Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language.
3
Extremely Limited User
Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication occur.
2
Intermittent User
No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English.
1
Non User
Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words.
For a computer-delivered test, results are released between 3–5 days.[34] For a paper-based test, a Test Report Form will be sent to test takers 13 days after their test.[35]
It shows:
An Overall Band Score (from 1–9)
A band score (from 1–9) for each section of the test (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking)
The test taker's estimated CEFR level in the English language
Whether IELTS Academic or General Training was completed
Test date and the date that the certificate was signed
Test report form number (15–18 characters as a mixture of numbers and capital letters)
The test taker's photo, sex (male/female), nationality, candidate ID, first and last name, first language and date of birth
Test takers can take IELTS in more than 140 countries and in over 4,000 locations.[2]
There are up to 48 test dates available per year. Each test centre offers tests up to four times a month depending on local demand. The Academic version is available on all 48 dates per year and the General Training version is available on 24 dates.[1]
There used to be a minimum time limit of 90 days before a person was allowed to retake the test. However this restriction has been withdrawn and currently there is no limit for applicants to retake the test.[37]
Level required by academic institutions for admission
Just over half (51%) of test takers take IELTS to enter higher education in a foreign country.[38] The IELTS minimum scores required by academic institutions and by course vary. As a general rule, the top ranked universities in the United States tend to require a higher IELTS band (typically 7.0). Most universities accept scores between 6–7 as being suitable for undergraduate study in English.[39] Full details about the organizations which accept IELTS and the scores they require can be found on the IELTS Global Recognition System website.
IELTS use for immigration purposes
A number of Commonwealth countries use IELTS scores as a proof of prospective immigrants' competence in English.[40]
Australia
Australia's immigration authorities have used IELTS to assess English proficiency of prospective migrants since May 1998, when this test replaced the 'access:' test that had been previously used.[41]
There are different IELTS score requirements for different types of visa.[42]
Department of Immigration Level of English
Minimum IELTS score (Mar 2019)
Visas
Functional English
4.5 every subscore
Permanent and provisional skilled visas (to avoid paying the English Language Charge)
Vocational English
5.0 every subscore
457 visa, ENS and RSMS visas through the Temporary Residence Transitional stream for people who have held a 457 visa for 2 years with the employer
Competent English
6.0 every subscore
ENS and RSMS visas through the Direct Entry Stream, Skilled migration (6.0 is the minimum threshold, but receives 0 points)
Proficient English
7.0 every subscore
Points Tested Skilled visas (to obtain 10 points)
Superior English
8.0 every subscore
Points Tested Skilled visas (to obtain 20 points)
New Zealand
New Zealand has used the IELTS test since 1995. There are different IELTS score requirements for different types of visa and type of applicant.[43]
Visa category
Minimum IELTS score required if the applicant is not demonstrating the minimum standard in another way (May 2015)
Skilled Migrant
Principal applicant: 6.5. Partners and children aged 16 and over: 5.0
Business categories (Investor, Entrepreneur, Long Term Business Visa, Employees of Relocating Business)
Principal applicants: 5.0. Partners and children aged 16 and over: In some cases partners and children are not required to meet the minimum level of English at the time the application is lodged, but can provide evidence at a later stage.
Originally, applicants who could not achieve the required score could pay a NZ$20,000 fee instead, which would be fully or partially refunded later if the migrant were able to successfully take the test within a certain period (3 to 12 months) after his or her arrival to the country. A few years later, the policy was changed: the fee was reduced, and, instead of being potentially refundable, it became treated as a "pre-purchase" of post-arrival ESL tuition.[44]
Canada
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) uses IELTS and/or TEF as evidence of one's ability to communicate in English and/or French. The CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) test scores are an alternative to IELTS.[45]
The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) are the national standards used in Canada for describing, measuring and recognizing the English language proficiency of prospective immigrants.[46] The following table shows the IELTS scores needed for each CLB level.[47]
Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB)
Reading
Writing
Listening
Speaking
10
8.0
7.5
8.5
7.5
9
7.0
7.0
8.0
7.0
8
6.5
6.5
7.5
6.5
7
6.0
6.0
6.0
6.0
6
5.0
5.5
5.5
5.5
5
4.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
4
3.5
4.0
4.5
4.0
There are different language requirements for different types of immigration program as shown below:
Visa category
Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) required (May 2015)
Submitting one's IELTS scores is also one of the several ways to prove one's proficiency in an official language when applying for Canadian citizenship (minimum of CLB level 4 required).[53]
United Kingdom
On 6 April 2015, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) changed its English language requirements for UK visa and immigration applications.
A new test, IELTS Life Skills, assesses Speaking and Listening at CEFR level A1 and at CEFR Level B1. IELTS Life Skills can be used to meet the English language requirements for some classes of visa application, including 'family of a settled person' visas and indefinite leave and citizenship.
To be used for visa and immigration purposes, IELTS and IELTS Life Skills must be taken in test centres approved by the UKVI.[8]
Visa
Minimum CEFR level required (May 2015)
Minimum IELTS score required overall and in each skill (May 2015)[54]
Tier 1 (General) visa
C1
7.0 overall, and in each of the four skills
Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa
B1
4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills
Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa
B1
4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills
Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa
B1
4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills
Tier 2 (General) visa
B1
4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills
Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa
A1
4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills
Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) visa
B2
5.5 overall, and in each of the four skills
Tier 4 (General) student visa - below degree level
B1
4.0 overall, and in each of the four skills
Tier 4 (General) student visa - degree level and above and including some pre-sessional courses
B2
5.5 overall, and in each of the four skills
'Family of a settled person' visa
A1
IELTS Life Skills at A1 – Pass, IELTS – 4.0 in Speaking and Listening
Indefinite leave to remain (to settle) or citizenship
B1
IELTS Life Skills at B1 – Pass, IELTS – 4.0 in Speaking and Listening
For UK visa purposes the test is designed to meet certain administrative requirements specified by UKVI. These Test Report Forms are slightly different, to show that the test taker has taken the test at an IELTS UKVI session. The actual test taken is the same – same content, examiners, format, level of difficulty, scoring and so on.[54]
Criticism
One of the key criticisms of IELTS relates to its perceived lack of fairness and reliability. Since the speaking section of the test is conducted in a face-to-face interview format, there are concerns about examiner bias, as different examiners may score candidates differently based on subjective factors. This subjectivity raises concerns about consistency in scoring, as candidates may be unfairly disadvantaged or benefited depending on the personal perceptions of the examiner.[55] Another thing that it was found that IELTS examiners' gender and cultural background impacted how examinees performed in their speaking test. Test-takers tended to prefer certain examiner genders and often adjusted their behavior to create social distance, reflecting strong identity awareness.[56]
Additionally, some critics argue that the IELTS Writing and Speaking components lack clear, objective grading standards. Research suggests that scoring varies between test centers, leading to potential disparities in how candidates are assessed.[57]
Another significant criticism revolves around the accessibility and affordability of the IELTS test. The cost of taking the test, which varies by region but is generally considered expensive, can be a major barrier for test-takers from developing countries.[58] For many, the test is prohibitively expensive, particularly if they need to retake it multiple times to achieve their desired score.[59]
In addition to cost, accessibility issues arise from the limited availability of IELTS test centers. These centers are concentrated in urban areas, making it difficult for candidates in rural or remote locations to access testing facilities. This uneven distribution of test centers disproportionately affects individuals from less economically developed regions.[60]
^Branch, Government of Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Communications (17 September 2008). "Who can apply – Canadian Experience Class". cic.gc.ca.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Branch, Government of Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Communications (7 November 2012). "How can I qualify to get a Start-up Visa?". cic.gc.ca.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
