IELTS scores are accepted by most academic institutions in Australia, the UK, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa, as well as more than 2,000 schools and various professional organizations in the United States.
History and Format of the IELTS
Once consisting of six modules covering information in five broad areas of education in the United Kingdom, IELTS was revised in 1989 and launched for global use. International teams of writers and researchers update the test regularly to ensure that it remains relevant and balanced. For example, the newest version of the test features a wide variety of accents and writing styles in an effort to minimize linguistic bias.
The IELTS test is offered at 500 locations every year. Examinees can choose between two test modules, Academic or General Training. The Academic test is geared toward prospective students and practitioners in certain fields, such as law or medicine. The General Training test is designed for those who seek temporary work or permanent immigration to an English-speaking country.
IELTS covers four basic language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The listening and speaking sections are part of the standard test issued to all candidates, but the reading and writing sections vary depending on which module the candidate is taking (Academic or General Training).
The IELTS test takes a total of 165 minutes (two hours, 45 minutes) to complete. Here is a breakdown of each section's time allowance:
- Listening: 30 minutes
- Reading: 60 minutes
- Writing: 60 minutes
- Speaking: 11-14 minutes (the speaking test is conducted face-to-face with an examiner, and may be taken at the same time as the other sections or up to seven days preceding or following test day)
Scoring
As scores are tallied, each of the four sub-skills (listening, reading, writing, and speaking) is assigned a “Band” score. The Band Scale ranges from 0 to 9; each number represents a corresponding English competency level. For example: 2 = Intermittent User; 5 = Modest User; 8 = Very Good User; etc. Scores can be presented in either whole or half numbers and they are reported on an IELTS Test Report Form (TRF). IELTS scores are valid for up to two years.