The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) measures the language proficiency of people who want to study or work where English is used as a language of communication. It uses a nine-band scale to clearly identify levels of proficiency, from non-user (band score 1) through to expert (band score 9).
IELTS is owned by three partners, the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, the British Council and IDP Education Pty Limited (through its subsidiary company, IELTS Australia Pty Limited). Further information on IELTS can be found on the IELTS website www.ielts.org.
The Test Format
IELTS Academic or IELTS General Training
IELTS is available in two test versions:
Academic – for people applying for higher education or professional registration and general training for those migrating to Australia, Canada and the UK, or applying for secondary education, training programs and work experience in an English-speaking environment. Both versions provide a valid and accurate assessment of the four language skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking.
- Listening: 4 Sections, 40 items approximately 30 minutes.
- Academic Reading: 3 sections, 40 items, 60 minutes.
- Academic Writing: 2 tasks, 60 minutes.
- Speaking: 11 to 14 minutes.
Total Test Time: 2 hours 44 minutes
General Training – for those who are going to English speaking countries for secondary education, work experience or training programs. It is also a requirement for migration to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK. The test focuses on basic survival skills in broad social and workplace contexts. It provides a valid and accurate assessment of the four language skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking.
- Listening: 4 Sections, 40 items, 30 minutes.
- General Reading: 3 sections, 40 items, 60 minutes.
- General Writing: 2 tasks, 60 minutes.
- Speaking: 11 to 14 minutes.
Total Test Time: 2 hours 44 minutes
