What is the IELTS exam?
IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System, which is a popular English proficiency exam, used by international students and universities around the world.
If your first language is not English, this qualification is recognised by more than 12,000 organisations worldwide, and it will prove to your university that you have the capacity to understand and communicate in English.
There are three different types of IELTS exams: IELTS Academic, IELTS General Training and IELTS Life Skills. The table below describes the purpose of each:
| IELTS tests | Purpose |
| Academic | University Higher education Professional registration |
| General Training | Immigration Work experience Training School/college |
| Life Skills | Family visa Extension to family, spouse or partner visa Citizenship of indefinite remain to leave |
As a student looking to study abroad, the IELTS Academic exam is the one for you. Whether you are looking to study a bachelors or a masters degree that is delivered in the English language, it is likely that your chosen university will request that you can prove that your level of English is sufficient for your studies.
The IELTS Academic exam is one of the most widely accepted English level examinations used by universities.
Where can you take the IELTS Academy exam?
You can take the IELTS exam at over 4,000 locations around the world at IELTS test centres. If you cannot travel to one of these, you also have the option of completing the test online in certain countries.
As an example, there are 70 IELTS tests locations available in Italy, 87 IELTS test centres in Nigeria and 58 IELTS test centres in Thailand.
The full list of test centres and their addresses can be found on the IELTS test centres webpage.
How much does it cost to take the IELTS Academy exam?
Taking the IELTS Academic exam does cost a small fee, which varies slightly depending on the country in which you are taking it. Our table below shows the exam fees in a selection of locations:
| Countries | IELTS exams costs |
| Italy | USD 270 |
| Austria | USD 200 |
| Germany | USD 210 |
| Netherlands | USD 280 |
| China | USD 280 |
| India | USD 200 |
| South Africa | USD 300 |
| Ghana | USD 290 |
| Lebanon | USD 225 |
The prices shown above are for exams in person and for the year 2024.
Understanding the IELTS test format
The IELTS exam is designed to show that you have a suitable grasp of the English language for your studies. It does this by evaluating your language skill across four key sections, as shown below:
| Listening | This section will evaluate your understanding of ideas, the ability to recognise opinions and your capacity to follow how an argument develops. This section will include 40 questions and you will have 30 minutes to complete. |
| Reading | This section will evaluate your reading abilities regarding common sense, details and main ideas, as well as your capacity to understand the author’s assumptions and opinions. This section will include 40 questions and you will have 60 minutes to complete. |
| Writing | This section will evaluate your capacity to organise your ideas and how well you write a response. It will also take into account the range of your vocabulary and grammar. This section includes 2 writing tasks with at least 250 words. You will have 40 minutes to complete this section of the exam. |
| Speaking | This section will look into how well you can communicate your ideas, opinions and information around everyday topics and common experiences. There will be 3 different sections and you will have 11-14 minutes to complete. |
During the exams, you will have 2 hours and 45 minutes to do the four sections, and you can choose to complete it on a computer or paper at the official test centre. In a select few countries, you might have the option to complete the exam online.
Your listening, reading and writing sections will have to be completed on the same day. On the other hand, the speaking section may be scheduled a week before or after the exam, or on the day of the other sections.
IELTS scoring explained
The four sections of your IELTS exams are graded with equal weighting to one another. Your performance in each section will be marked from 0-9, and we show in the table below what this means about your examination:
| Band Scores | Skills Level | Description |
| 0 | Did not attempt the exam | The questions were not answered. |
| 1 | Non-user | There is the capacity to use a few isolated words, but no ability to use the language. |
| 2 | Irregular user | Significant difficulty to comprehend written and spoken English. |
| 3 | Extremely limited user | There is the capacity to understand general meaning in familiar situations. |
| 4 | Limited user | Not able to use complex language in both familiar and unfamiliar situations. Frequently show problems in understanding and expessing. |
| 5 | Modest user | Partial command of the language, and can understand the meaning in most situations; however, it is likely there will be mistakes made. Will demonstrate the ability to communicate in their own field. |
| 6 | Competent user | Can use and understand complex language in familiar situations, but there are still some inaccuracies, misunderstandings and inappropriate usage. |
| 7 | Good user | General good handle of complex language and understand detailed reasoning. However, there are still occasional inaccuracies, inappropriate usage and misunderstandings in some situations. |
| 8 | Very good user | Handles complex detailed argumentation well. Will have some occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriate usage, but with overall fully operational command. |
| 9 | Expert user | Full ability to speak and comprehend the English language. The use of English is fluent, accurate and appropriate. |
Each section of the exam is graded in increments of .25, so for example, you may score 5.25 in Reading and 5.5 in Speaking.
Your overall score is calculated as the mean value of your results in the 4 sections of the exam. Overall scores of .25 are rounded up to .5, and .75 are rounded up to the next whole number.
For example, if your mean result is 5.25, it will be rounded up to a score of 5.5. If you result is 6.75, it will be rounded up to 7.
Average IELTS score requirements by country
Below are the average scores required by universities for each country. However, always check the requirements for the specific university and course you are applying to, as they might require higher scores. The scores might also differ if you are applying to undergraduate and masters degree, or for a foundation year.
| Countries | Average Score |
| UK | 6.0 to 7.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area) |
| USA | 6.0 to 6.5 (with 6.0 in each skills area). For top universities, you need a score of 7.0-7.5 |
| Canada | 6.5 (with a minimum of 6.0 per skills area) |
| New Zealand | 6.0 (with 5.5-6.0 per section) |
| Malta | 6.0 (with 5.5-6.0 per skills area) |
| Ireland | 6.5 (with a 6.0-7.0 per skills area) |
| France | 6.5 (with a 6.0-7.0 per skills area) |
How to prepare for IELTS
Preparing for the IELTS test is very important, as it’s something that will help open many doors for your future. There are many free and cheap resources you can use to study and get ready. From books to websites and apps, there is a bit of everything to fit everyone’s needs.
IELTS study materials and resources
We list below some of our recommended resources to help you prepare.
Recommended books and guides
Online courses and tutorials
Mobile apps for IELTS preparation
- IELTS vocabulary prep app
- IELTS practice test
- IELTS prep app
- IELTS word power
- IELTS vocabulary flashcards
- IELTS skills
- IELTS test pro
- IELTS exam prep
Common challenges and how to overcome them
Improving your skills in a new language is not always easy, but with determination and practise you can certainly get to the level that is required to study abroad. Here are some of our tips to help you:
Dealing with listening difficulties
- Start watching movies in english, listening to podcasts with people with different accents, podcast and news in different english speaking countries
- Take advantage of the IELTS website and practise their free listening tests
- Improve your note taking skills to starting writing down quicker and filter important information
Improving reading speed and comprehension
- Read books, newspaper and journals in english to improve comprehension and reading speed
- Improve your time management skills so you are able to allocate enough time to each set of questions
- Practise various question formats such as true/false, sentence matching and summary completion
Enhancing writing skills
- Practice logically organising information and interpreting data
- Develop your ability to construct clear arguments and discussions, as well as support these with examples
- Practice vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure to improve the quality of your writing
Building confidence for the speaking test
- Practice speaking English with your friends and family
- Record yourself speaking in english and review it so you can identify and improve your weaknesses
- Develop your vocabulary and use it in different contexts
IELTS test day tips
A little bit of preparation on the test day can help you through the process successfully. Here are some of our handy tips that have helped us.
Double check the date, time, and location
- Make sure you get to the test centre with plenty of time to spare, as you might not be allowed in the room if you are late
- Make sure to check the location in advance as it can be different to the test centre you booked
What to bring on test day
- The passport or national identity card you used to book your test
- Pencil, pens and erasers
- Food to eat before and after the test
- A copy of your exam confirmation
- A watch (not a smartwatch as this is not allowed)
When you arrive to your IELTS test centre
- Make sure you read and understand the terms and conditions because they mention important information
- Turn off your phone and leave them outside the test room as they are not allowed inside. If you fail to do this, you might not receive the qualification
- Leave your food and drinks outside the room. You are only allowed to take in water in a transparent bottle
During your IELTS test
- Read each question carefully so you fully understand what it’s asking you to do
- Take deep breath and stay calm if you are feeling nervous or worried
- If you need to use the toilet during the test or have a question, put your hand up and wait for the invigilator to come to you
- Before the listening section starts, make sure you can hear clearly. If not, let the invigilator know
- After the listening section, you will be allocated 10 minutes to fill the answer sheet.
- Be sure to take into consideration the time limits in certain question and stick to them
When you finish your IELTS test
- Stay in your seat until the invigilator gives you permission to leave the room
How long will it take to get your results back?
The time it takes to receive your IELTS results depends on various factors, such as the country and test centre you took your test in, whether you completed it on a computer or paper, and so on. However, it will never take more than two weeks for you to receive your results.
| Test | Time till results |
| At a test centre on paper | 13 days |
| At a test centre on a computer | 3-5 days |
| Online | 6-8 days |
To check your results, you’ll receive an email notification with a link. The results will not be stated in the email, so you will need to use the link provided.
If you have completed your test on paper, you will be able to collect your Test Report Form (TRF) after 13 days of the completion of the test; if you completed it on a computer, it will be ready to collect in 3-5 days. Depending on your test centre, you might also have the option to have it delivered by post.
If you have taken your IELTS test online, you will only be able to receive your results electronically. You’ll be able to download your TRF 3-8 days after you take your test. An additional paper TRF will not be issued.
Post-IELTS steps
Sending scores to universities
In order to apply to universities, you will need what is called the Test Report Form (TRF). Most institutions you apply to will ask for the original copy of this, which means photocopies will not be allowed. However, if you have completed your IELTS online, you can print your eTRF or send it to the institutions via email. Another option available is the possibility to send your test scores directly through the Test Taker portal.
The third possibility is having the test centre send copies of your TRF directly to the institution you are applying for. However, note that it is only possible to send up to five through your test centre. If you want to take this option, don’t forget to include the relevant addresses on the Test Taker portal within two years of taking the test.
Retaking the exam if necessary
If you underperformed in one test skill, there is the option of doing the IELTS One Skill Retake. This allows you to retake any of the four IELTS skills to improve your score. This has to be done within 60 days of your original test date.