The IELTS®
English Test
The IELTS®
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the world’s most popular English language proficiency test.
Why take IELTS?
Take IELTS to:
Apply to a university or higher education institution for a course taught in English in any country in the world.
Work in a professional organisation in an English-speaking country.
Immigrate to an English-speaking country such as Canada, Australia or New Zealand.
The Tests
The Tests
There are two IELTS tests available – IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training:
IELTS Academic measures whether your level of English language proficiency is suitable for an academic environment. It reflects aspects of academic language and evaluates whether you’re ready to begin training or studying.
IELTS General Training measures English language proficiency in a practical, everyday context. The tasks and tests reflect both workplace and social situations.
Please check which test you require with the institution you are applying to. IELTS is recognised by more than 12,500 organisations worldwide: https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/ielts-recognising-organisations/recognise-ielts.
Immigrate to an English-speaking country such as Canada, Australia or New Zealand.
Section
Estimated Timing
Listening
30 minutes
Reading
60 minutes
Writing
60 minutes
Speaking
11 – 14 minutes
More to know about IELTS
Test dates, locations and fees can be found here: https://ieltsregistration.britishcouncil.org/. The tests can be taken at a test centre or online at home (available for IELTS Academic only).
IELTS Preparation
Prepare for your test with a range of free IELTS study materials and resources from the British Council that are included in the test fee. IELTS Ready is a free all-in-one platform with mock tests, skill-building exercises, test-day tips, and progress tracking to help you prepare: https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/prepare/ielts-ready.
IELTS Results and One Skill Retake
By taking your IELTS test on computer, you are likely to get your result within 2 days (6-8 days for IELTS Online).
IELTS One Skill Retake allows you get your desired test score without retaking the full test: https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/one-skill-retake.
IELTS FAQ
Frequently asked questions can be found here: https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/frequently-asked-questions.
Further information: www.takeielts.org / https://www.britishcouncil.be/exam/ielts